Amelia's photos

SC84 - Post 25 February - Someone at work - person/people or animal/s The locomotive is being turned ready for the return trip to Aylsham. With no power available, the crew are obviously putting their backs into the task, while passengers are waiting for the train to be turned round. www.bvrw.co.uk/trains/locomotive-number-9 www.bvrw.co.uk

www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/beaver-project www.myshrewsbury.co.uk/blog/beavers-to-return-to-shrewsbury-old-river-bed The 280m (920ft) route crosses the Old River Bed Site of Special Scientific Interest is now open. The plan is to reintroduce the species to the relatively urban habitat between two housing estates. A family of the dam-building mammals is expected to be released there this summer. The scheme is a partnership between Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the town council. It is envisaged that the beavers will clear the young willow and alder trees to make room for a wetland habitat which will support more species.

The world-renowned exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, was on display in Shrewsbury Museum in the Square, from Saturday 6th January to Sunday 18th February 2024. This is the display from young photographers. There was exceptional work on show, but unfortunately we arrived when the room was very crowded. One of the most tragic photographs on display can be found here: www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2023-the-face-of-the-persecuted

SC83 - post 18 February - random subject For this weeks' challenge I have chosen 'Hope' as my subject. Each year in late spring, the joyous awakening of the world fills many of us with hope for the future. This week started last Sunday with the background photo of snowdrop carpets, and along came bursts of more flowers including the male catkins of hazel. followed by the white froth of blackthorn flowers, the pale yellow beauty of wild primroses, beautiful early Prunus blossom and the glorious yellow of the Tenby daffodil - Narcissus obvalaris. There are many other flowers that have opened this week too, including Crocus thomasinianus, Anemone blanda, Pulmonaria officianalis, Cyclamen, and winter jasmine. But if i put all of this onto the photo the snowdrops, which are one of my favourite flowers would be hidden. Spring is nearly upon us in the Northern hemisphere, so I wish for you all the precious gift of hope.

A very dull morning, but mood enhancing when I came across the Autumn colours of the beech hedge in juxtaposition with what I think is blackthorn blossom.

SC82 - post 11 Feb - Village or Town Square What a difference a week makes to the weather. 2 people didn't want to be identified in the sunny photo.

The footpath is still covered in river mud after the recent floods.

SC81 - Post 4 February - Scrapbook page Just a few of my favourite photos taken over the years.

SC80 - Post 28 January - Archive You may wonder why this is one of my favourite photos of 2023. After all, it is a fairly unremarkable coastal photo with not a lot to commend it. For me though, this takes me back to the late 40s and early 50s when I lived in St.Andrews. I passed this beach every day on the way to school, and visited it almost every day in the school holidays. It represents freedom and so many hours of pleasure, lost in my own little world of shells and seaweed, sounds and smells of the sea, and carefree days. I'd paint some of the shells I found here with water colour paints, and they would eventually return to the beach. Sandcastles with protective moats were built against the ravages of the tides as I stood, like Knut, wishing to control the inevitable destruction, only to start building again the next day. We walked along this pier so many times, my dad and I, never tiring of the view. Each day was different, the sky, the sea, the weather, the coastal flowers, the birds, and the inevitable crowds of summer visitors who came to play golf in the town and left the women to amuse the children for the day. Yes - it brings back so many happy memories, one of which was even the distinctive smell of calamine lotion, starting pink and soon turning to white on my sunburnt skin. No factor 40 in those days to prevent the UV rays. This is my favourite place in the world. Unremarkable to most, yet I still feel at home here, and lose myself in childhood memories. The East Sands in St.Andrews.