Spring is almost here

Trees do need managing whatever some more extreme activists seem to think to encourage fresh growth, remove any damaged branches that may pose a hazard or even be taken out completely and replaced if diseased.

Playing in the bed of leaves by this one was a load of fun.
 

The Moat

 Moats are a common feature of castles and here is the one at Framlingham  that doesn't use water but when looking into the distance you can see the river levels were running high.

Playing games

The secluded grounds of our base camp with its many trees made for a fine spot for playing games that involved being hidden and having to be discovered as you could easily merge into the background apart from watching the local birds and squirrels at play.
 

More castle

 Part of the castle was used for a workhouse for the poor until the 1834 Poor law Act and this part of the building was a part of that workhouse where assistance would be administered by the Parish before the more centralized and inhuman system set out under The Act came into place that seperate man from wife and both from their children all of which were ill treated.

Here we can see the chiney stack of the castle in all its glory.

Wartime in Suffolk

 

At the castle there was a museum and these WW2 uniforms were on display plus various badges of both soldiers and those who helped on the "Home Front" such as ARP Wardens and first aiders.

Suffolk like much of East Anglia was home not to just many a RAF airfield by USAF bases too during this period and during the "cold war".

Castles

This week I did visit Framingham castle in Suffolk.

Framlingham Castle is located in the market town of Framlingham in Suffolk. It was built by Roger Bigod, a knight, after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Mary Tudor, the daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon, was proclaimed the Queen of England here on 19 July 1553. Thomas was released from the Tower by Mary as a reward for his loyalty, but retired to Kenninghall rather than Framlingham.

Homecoming Wolf Cub

 The old school Wolf Cub from "Grand Howl" to salute well practised, everything this last few days away has been influenced by all I know and the standards I live by.

We did have some sun whilst away where I took this photograph of a tree canopy yesterday using the Sony pocket camera.

Winter views

 Winter can give you anything from cold grey skies, dark ominious clouds ready to give you a good soaking to pleasant sunshine as here looking towards the local fields with the cattle all out a few days ago.

Leaf identication

 Knowing what species a tree is by the leaf isn't just fascinating but can help to keep you safe while you're exploring on foot.

Things on the doorstep

 I don't have to travel very far to get out to some great countryside such as this, The Roaches near the market town of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands with its great fields and drystone walls.

Where have all the years gone?

 It's hard to believe some forty years have elapsed since this photograph was taken when I took over some of roles in community associated with my brothers involvement in scouts following changes in his life.

Some of that involved contact with Cubs as well as Scouts as well as other bodies in the community all of which have change some in more superficial ways others more structural through reorganizations but what they meant and for that matter I learned through them remain as strong as ever.

Say cheese!

 

Posed taking a break from spending time outdoors this group of cubs and scouts clearly have had an enjoyable time exploring the woods in the Winter.

Wouldn't you rather be doing something like that?