Wimbledon Village

Any part of London that gets called a 'village' is pretty much guaranteed to have house prices starting around £1.5 million. That is certainly the case for Wimbledon Village. It's a 10 minute walk up a slight hill from the station and next to the common. Although if you want a decent view of that, you will need to add another 3 or 4 million to your house budget. It's a posh area with shops to match. I like to go there occasionally, to window shop, people watch and buy things from their fabulous delicatessens. 

I was there last Saturday, the middle Saturday of the tennis. It's fair to say that all the local businesses were running with the theme. I hadn't planned on taking any photos (just buying cheese), so I could only use my iPhone. All edits were done with Snapseed.

 

Ickworth - Abandoned Glasshouses

The walled garden at Ickworth is much larger that the one at Wimpole. But much of it isn't in use, turned over to lawn rather than food and flowers. There are several large, disused glasshouses, that are slowly being reclaimed by nature. Lots of peeling paint, stagnant water, rust and brambles. The sort of derelict scene that appeals to many photographers. They certainly did to me.

 

Ickworth- Interiors

As well as my IR camera, I also had my Fuji X100vi, which I used for some shots of the inside of the house. 

Ickworth Infra-red

I used a rare day off to make my first visit to Ickworth House. It was a hot sunny day, conditions that lent themselves to infra-red photography. Lots of subjects to choose from. Apart from the impressive main house, I particularly enjoyed the large walled garden.

 

Insects at Paxton Pits

A selection of insects found on a recent stroll around Paxton Pits. 

Dockey Wood

On the last Sunday in April, I visited Dockey Wood on the Ashridge Estate. This is still the best bluebell wood that I know. Despite this I hadn't visited in many years. Not since before the fences went up.

At the height of the bluebell season this small wood can attract large numbers of visitors. This popularity was starting to impact on the bluebells. So a few years ago the National Trust enclosed the wood with a perimeter fence, accessed by a single gate. At peak times visitor numbers are controlled and an entrance charge is made for non-members. Within the wood, low rough wood fences delineate the paths. I fully understand the need for all of this. But the changes have removed what I considered the best viewpoint in the wood. An old cart track, which gave a lovely double lead-line, can no longer be seen.

Cowslips

This seems to have been a particularly good year for cowslips. I have seem them in abundance in every verge and hedgerow I have passed. These shots were taken over Easter, when I found a lovely big patch next to Grafham Water.