Banks of bluebells, Dartmoor in late May.

Fourwinds Dartmoor May 2014

Tavistock in Spring yesterday

Beech trees on Plasterdown April 2014

Spring around Tavistock

Early Spring in Tavistock, Devon

Brief bit of sun in Tavistock Devon yesterday

Spring waterfalls, woodlands and rain…..Devon in May.

Spring has come late to Devon it seems, the bluebells have yet to spread the woods with their blue carpets, although yesterday I saw some unfurl in the woodlands near Meavy.

Last week in a rare moment of warm weather I made the hike up the hill from the village of Peter Tavy to Peter Tavy Coombe, a wooded area of hazels and blackthorns which is home to a fabulous waterfall and stream.

 

I was suprised how many of the thorn bushes are actually blackthorns (above) I presumed they were hawthorns. The hawthorns are in leaf here but not in flower yet. The path to the Coombe (above again), looked lovely with it’s unfurling undergrowth and scents of Spring.

I walked up to the waterfall which looked lovely in the sun and set up the tripod to get some slower shutter speeds. I love this place, it reminds me somehow of the western woodlands of Ireland, it has that feel of wildness to it. I got a few nice shots that day …..

Last weekend my colleague and I ran a group workshop http://www.devonphotographyworkshops.co.uk/Devon_Photography_Workshops/Welcome.html

at Burator reservoir, despite the rain we donned our waterproofs and explored the misty Dartmoor woodlands.

 

The rain ceased and left a mist that made for some nice shots of the Spring foliage (see above).

This piece of woodland was carpeted with bluebell leaves so I plan to go back in a few days and capture them.

Finally I paid a quick visit to a lovely spot near Meavy, where the Meavy Brook has stepping stones over it in a pretty clearing. I managed to capture the lovely green of the beech leaves as they unfurled in a nearby woodland.

I love this time of year.

🙂

 

Blossom, ancient cloisters and slate angels in Tavistock Devon

I decided to walk out my forthcoming Tavistock Photography walk this morning in the cold temperatures. The light was challenging shall we say but I did manage to get a few shot of interest.

I walked from the Weir to St Johns well, an ancient well tucked away in a corner of the meadows, the main park in Tavistock.

I also found the first Spring leaves, wild garlic and a Hawthorn coming into bud. So lovely to see the green again.

 

I converted this image of St Johns well into black and white and it seemed to work. I walked over the bridge that crossed the Tavy and walked into the main bit of the park where I found a cherry tree flowering in the cold and ducks and pigeons vying for food!

 

I decided to walk back up the Plymouth road towards St Eustatice church, the large C of E church in the centre of town, it has the remains of the 13th century abbey in its churchyard and some great, unusual headstones.

 

 

Having taken the headstones I was ready for my lunch and surprisingly managed to get some decent shots !