When The Gravel's All Gone

A glorious, bright day.

Lets have a wander around Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

Yes, I said "Pits",
these are not natural lakes but old gravel pits
in the valley of the River Great Ouse.

Now the gravel and sand have been extracted

they've been allowed to flood and provide a great home for wildlife,

even if today the birds were mostly Greylag Geese, Mute Swans,

Wigeon, Gadwall and assorted gulls.

The Silver Birches know that it's Autumn

though most of the trees haven't realised yet!

The whole valley is riddled with old workings,

now taken over once more by nature.

There are even woodlands

along the lake margins.

Gravel and sand extraction is still going on nearby

though a peacefuller scene is hard to imagine.

A few late flowers 

including Crown Vetch,

a straggling, untidy plant but with attractive flowers.

The gravel company partly finances the environmental work here,

compensation to the community for having to put up with 

the quarrying.

A cracking good place to walk

even when, like today, the birds were not co-operating.

That's not one of the pits,

that's the River Great Ouse itself.

And finally...

I used to care for a young man who was very fond of "diggers".

If he knew I'd been out walking and birdwatching he always used to ask if I'd 

photographed any for him - I usually had.

Though he sadly passed away when he was just sixteen

I still find myself photographing the diggers whenever I come this way.

Take care.