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Photography Group One 1st May 2024
Ten of us met at the roadside Car Park in Finstown on a day with little wind and some low cloud but with the sun trying to get through. We set off to the Community Garden where we found lots of lovely colourful flowers out as well as tree buds bursting forth. The Burn was a great source of images.
Jocky Wood was painting a new picnic bench with the appropriately titled Wood Stain! He does a great deal of the work on the garden as well as his own just up the hill opposite.
Six of us then headed for Binsgarth Woods.
The track was muddy in places but the spring flowers were out all the way. There was Pink Purselaine, Wild Garlic, Wood Anemone, and the invasive Salmon Berry. Since the tree leaves were not blanketing the light, one was able to get good photos close up. The Burn had lots of interesting tree roots and hanging tyres and ropes from the kids' dare devil antics. Then it was back to the shop for rolls and along to Tom's house for a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. Thank you very much for that Tom and all the stories too.
The next meeting will be going to Westray on Wednesday 29th May for the day. Arrangement will be made nearer the time.
All in all a lovely morning, taking time to look at the flowers and listen to the Wrens, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Robins singing in the woods.
Keep clicking.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
U3A Botany Group August 2015
by Beryl Matthews - 07:52 on 07 August 2015
Orkney U3A Botany Group 4th August 2015
On a sunny but windy afternoon six members of the Botany Group met to look at the plants to be found in the Sutherland Links, Burray. Armed with a note of some possible finds, kindly supplied by John Crossely, we were soon trying to work out whether what we were looking at was one of the plants on John’s list or not and learning what such words as ‘mucronate’ mean. His advice to look at bare and disturbed areas rather than overgrown ones was wise advice.
In addition to the slightly more rare plants John suggested we look for there were lots of more readily identified plants and such things as the spikiness and glorious purple and grey of a Spear Thistle were admired. Watching three different types of butterfly dance in a sheltered patch of sunshine was a special treat.
The afternoon concluded with excellent tea, coffee and shortbread at the Sands Hotel.
The Group’s next meeting is planned for Tuesday 18th August meeting at Deesbreck on the road towards Durkadale S of Hundland (map reference HY298254).
CANCELLED DUE TO FORECAST.
Plants recognised:-
Spear thistle
Eyebright sp
Pineappleweed
Spear-leafed orache
Common ragwort
Yarrow
Common mouse-ear
Sea campion
Mayweed sp.
Tufted vetch
Greater knapweed
Red dead-nettle
Dock sp.
Bird’s foot trefoil
Meadow vetchling
Opium poppy
White clover
Dandelion sp
White/red campion
Smooth sow-thistle
Red clover
Wild angelica
Yellow rattle
Chickweed
Black medick
Marsh marigold
Ragged robin
Sea sandwort
Silverweed
Cleavers
White mustard
Long-headed poppy
Ribwort plantain
Daisy
Cat’s-ear
Wild radish
Hogweed
Creeping thistle
Butterbur
Common comfrey
Cow parsley
Forget-me-not sp
Marsh cinquefoil
Shepherd’s purse
Lady’s bedstraw
Water-cress
Common buttercup
Common nettle
Flag iris
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