Those who have visited before will know that we spend a lot of time at Severn Valley Country Park……. It is actually the site of a very old coal mine that has gradually drifted back to a natural environment, Just a few miles from our front door in fact 10 minutes drive at most, many Saturdays or Sundays (assuming I wasn’t working) we’d take the drive and spend hours just snapping away at all sorts of wildlife and landscapes……….
Last year they (the council) decided to charge for parking, not really a big deal, one pound for the day or ten pounds for an annual ticket……… we bought the annual because there was rarely a weekend we didn’t visit, last week they decided that they’d send us a demand for this years parking…. twenty pounds this year?….. what planet are they on then 100% increase? anyone would think they were the Greek government!…..:(
Needless to say we’ll be spending less time there this year, but I remind myself that Severn Valley Country Park litters my hard drive anyway and I will continue to share these images!……:)
Happy Friday!……………:))
What Andy Sees 
H2O by Joanna
February 16, 2012 at 9:26 pm
What an amazing shots! My compliments! The little bird with all the colours, I don’t know what it is, but that shot is really incredible…the perfect reflection in the water….love it!
Andy
February 16, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Hi Joanna, Thank you for your kind comment, the painted ‘little bird’ is called a Manderin Duck they really are a sight to behold in real life!…..:)
Andy…….
H2O by Joanna
February 16, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Thanks for your info Andy, I will never forget a Manderin Duck again…once you’ve seen it, if only on a picture, it’s not easy to forget I guess.
yvonne ayoub
February 16, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Oh Dear Andy, this would be so disheartening if your beautiful photography didn’t do so much to lift the spirit! what on earth are they playing at?!! There will be a charge on breathing fresh air next if we’re not careful!
Andy
February 17, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Hi Yvonne, I’m not planning on selling the camera just yet!…..;)
The Country Park claim that the local council have reduced their budget and in order to maintain income thay have had to introduce parking charges. However they have managed to spend thousands on a ‘play area’ bang in the middle of “A haven of peace and tranquility”?…… and at the same time bird feeders that were filled daily during previous winter months have lain empty for most of this feeding season?….. The amount of bird activity has been seriously reduced as a result?….. very sad state of affairs!…..:(
Pieces of Sunshine
February 17, 2012 at 9:57 am
Wonderful photos Andy. Shame about the rise in prices, some things don’t make sense.
Love the first duck photo, stunning!
Andy
February 17, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Thank you for your comment Karen, It is a shame that commercialism has to creep into our lives in such an insiduous fashion, however as I know you do, we appreciate the simple things around us that many appear not to notice!…. that will never alter and my eyes are always open for the next pic!…..:)
jesusdeavila
April 18, 2012 at 5:10 am
no words!…. I thank God for yout life and your amazing sensitivity.