Have you noticed that in winter you can see much further? Things that were out of sight during the summer months now come into view. This is mainly because the leaves have fallen from the (deciduous) hedgerows and trees. Gaps appear: cracks and openings that let us see through to what’s beyond.
As is commonly understood, the sun is low in the sky for us here in the northern hemisphere during the winter months. We have shorter days and a ‘weak’ sun that never gets high above our heads. This creates long shadows and, depending on the atmospheric conditions, anything from a mellow golden light towards the evenings and blue hues throughout the day. Add snow to the mix and, as the sunlight reflects off the snow, this creates other interesting visual effects.
Am I being kept in? Or out?
Following on from the fresh, vibrant colours of a Spring Dene and the earth-coloured russets, purples and reds of an autumn Dene it was time for a walk in the muted, monochromes of a winter Crawley Dene today.
Inevitably after the recent snow in the valley and the snow around Hedgeley Lake, there was going to be a thawing. And that began yesterday.
When out on my once-a-day-exercise (how many times can I say, ‘Déja vu’?) yesterday, I attempted to walk along the course of the Pow Burn and on to Hedgeley Lakes. However, the rapid melting of the ice and snow led to the Pow Burn overflowing its banks and blocking off the path.
Do you remember April 2020? It was during the first UK Lockdown and we were limited to just a once-a-day exercise regime and I saw a buzzard! And because we had to ‘stay local’ this meant seeing the same things again and again. And when I was out in the changing light recently it gave me that déjà vu feeling once more.
Having seen the snow on them ‘ills a few days ago, followed by the frozen Branton lakes, it was fairly inevitable that the snow would reach the valley floor. And, sure enough, we all awoke yesterday to a carpet of snow all across north Northumberland.
There was a thin covering of snow along the Breamish Valley yesterday that quickly turned to ice in the just-below-zero temperatures. This made for some striking photos while on my walk around Branton Lakes Nature Reserve.
Well…it’s that déjà vu feeling again, isn’t it? Exercising in the lockdowns – still, I do keep reminding myself how lucky we are to live in such beautiful surroundings.
And, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, the light at this time of the year is pretty terrific – changing from moment to moment.
Following the recent ice day in the Breamish Valley and the suggestion of another Beast from the East, there was still some snow capping the Cheviots yesterday despite the temperatures having increased slightly.
