The Hill

At last, a sunny morning..!  So, not wanting to waste the good weather, we set out fro a longer walk this morning, taking in the delights of Shipley Hill.  One of the old lodge houses which once stood sentinel to Shipley Hall, now known as Nottingham Lodge, was bathed in the morning sun highlighting the contrast between the colourful autumn foliage and the darkness of the wet path.

Close by, a cut-leaf Maple bush is undergoing a remarkable (and rather late) transformation from its green summer gown, to that of more autumnal shades.

Also nearby, a particularly handsome specimen of a mature Silver Birch (Betula pendula) has all but lost its leaves and is now displaying its pendulous and rather spindly twigs and branches.  It is at this time of year that the species name pendula begins to become rather more clear.  Set against the clear and deep blue sky of a sunny November morning, it makes a lovely sight.