April Showers

Snow, rain, sleet, hail & intermittent sunny blue skies - superb light in the evenings. Unfortunately we just got to the Mere a little late today to capture the full intensity of the purple cloud of a hailstorm above the orange setting sun.

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal

A cotton mill during the 18th century, Quarry Bank Mill is now owned by the National Trust.

'The Secret Garden' is a project to restore the back garden of the mill owner's house - the basics such as pathwork and design are there, but it still requires a lot of work, planting & growth! and is not currently at its projected best.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-quarrybankmillandstyalestate/

Flower Shop, Congleton town centre

The Flower Gallery, Congleton town centre

Spring flowers appearing, Focus is stocking hanging basket liners and bedding plants are on sale.

The weather forecast for the Easter weekend is: cold, wet and wintry with the chance of sleet and snow on high ground.

Cloverbank Farmers Market, Gawsworth

Cloverbank Organic Farm at Shellow Lane, North Rode near Congleton/Macclesfield is an organic meat farm which also holds a farmers' market on the 3rd Saturday of every month (Feb-Dec), 8.30am to 12.30pm - plus they donate the stall holders' fees to the East Cheshire Hospice appeal. Recent stalls have included (but are not at every event) fresh fish, smoked meats/fish, honey & preserves, pies, meats (inc. ostrich & boar), juices, mushrooms, beers/wines, plants, fruits/vegetables, ice cream, yoghurts, bread, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, desserts, ready meals, a local bookseller, local artist, hanging baskets/herbs/plants & shrubs, tea/coffees and the most amazing lamb sandwiches - served hot.

Plenty of people there today, the round house is coming on a treat and the stalls in the barn are benefitting from the new floor. Imbolc is here and half the barn is being used for the ewes. Lots of lambs & piglets for the kids to see!

Directions from Macclesfield : Take A523 signposted Leek, past Fools Nook pub on the left. Further on there is a white bungalow on the left - opposite that is a right-turn filter lane signposted North Rode. Turn here into Bullgate Lane. You will go over a canal bridge, then a right hand bend over the railway, then a left hand bend over a narrow brick river bridge. Farm is next on right (just over 2 miles from the A523).

Cheshire no more

More bad news for Cheshire as a bunch of idiots far, far away decide to wave their magic wands and split the county into East Cheshire and West Cheshire.
http://www.wilmslowexpress.co.uk/news/s/1039462_cheshires_fate_finally_sealed

Jodrell Bank

Sad news as the government announced plans this week to close 7 radiotelescopes including Jodrell Bank to save a paltry £2.5million a year. £8million has just been plugged into setting up e-Merlin which was planned to go live next year ... money down the drain. Guess we'll never know what discoveries Merlin may have made.

Webcam

http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/webcams/jodrellbank_1.shtml

UK's Greatest 'Unsung Landmark' 2006...
http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/news/landmark/

Jodrell Bank in 360°...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/interactive/360/jodrell_bank.shtml

Petition !..
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RadioAstronomy/

Congleton Park

View of Congleton Park from the Pavilion Cafe.

The Cloud just visible in the far distance.

The Round Table host the annual Fireworks night here.