Meanygate meanderings (and beyond) - a farmed landscape

Definitely in the 'beyond' category this time, and something new. Around Southport there is a lot of turf grown, mostly further south than where I live. But from time to time it is grown on the mere. I always wonder where it ends up.

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I was going to take a walk around the moss yesterday evening but my way was barred by a flood still lying from last weekend's rain. The wet July has put the brakes on harvest round here.


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The maize shot is mesmerising.
Thanks. I've taken lots of similar shots of maize over the years, but this is the first time I've managed to get a sense of depth in one. I think the more distant rows of maize make the picture.
 
I must stop taking my slow lenses out at dusk...

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Because you never know what you might see. Sprout the young merlin flying free for just the second time.

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That last is unusual and one for @Cobra I think!
 
You don't often see Merlins in private collections.
He'd traveled to Essex to collect Sprout. It's not the only one he has, plus two Peregrines, and a couple of Harris Hawks. More than he has time for so one Peregrine is going to a new home.

Lovely little bird.

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It's that time of year when night comes quickly.

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I was tempted to hang around while the sun was low and casting a golden light, but I knew I'd get bored and take the same pictures over and over on each 'lap' of the forage harvester. I went for a walk instead. If I was lucky they'd still be at it after the sun set.

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A pity about the blurred leaf top right. I couldn't get a decent angle that kept it out of shot.

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Frost after what seemed like months of rain. Not much happening out there this afternoon, apart from what looked like someone setting up a new irrigation system. That's what I cann forward planning!

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Not much happening out there this afternoon, apart from what looked like someone setting up a new irrigation system.
All is now revealed! In a rubbish photo...

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There were three people there today who didn't look like farming types. And they weren't. This plot is a trial to see if sphagnum moss can be grown commercially. The trial is being run by a company who's name I've forgotten and Manchester Met. University. There was a weather station being put up and soil carbon information being recorded. The sphagnum is being considered as a potential peat replacer in compost, among other uses. It'll be interesting to see how things develop.

Elsewhere I was surprised to see ice still present in places after two frost free nights.

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Less surprised to see a ditch diversion had been cut.

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And the maize stubble still waterlogged.

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More developments from locally, but they're going in my sheep thread.
 
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A whole month since it's been fit to go for a wander! Not much had changed, apart from more water lying on the fields, some with a covering of ice today.

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The sphagnum trial plot was waterlogged and frozen.

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Weather station.

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Ice. Technically poor (e.g. foolish ISO 22800) but nice enough at this size.

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And a sunset - just before a large cloud put the lights out.

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Things are drying out but there's still water lying in places.

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Although the pump isn't running.

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I like the composition of the middle one, and the curve of the pipe on the last one is great too.
 
I like the composition of the middle one, and the curve of the pipe on the last one is great too.
Thanks. The curve of the pipe is what caught my eye. (y)
 
It was only a light dusting of snow, and certain to disappear quickly, but I thought it was worth a walk. I was only out for a little over an hour but by the time I got home most of the snow had cleared.Not sure it was, but the pictures are something different.

Maize stubble always makes me want to take a photo or two.

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Couldn't decide where to place the horizon...

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Flooded, frozen, covered in melting snow.

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It's that pump again!

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A nice set. I prefer the first maize stalks, and the low horizon - but as always, it's your choice!
 
The sots of the maize are intriguing and withut the explanation my first thought was of WWI battlefields
Interesting. I can see where you're coming from.
 
A dry week has seen the growers able to get back on the land and start work. Also a chance to get help the lying water drain away.

Tight or wide? I'm thinking tight as it shows the digger and pump-house and /pipes more clearly while still showing the flood.

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A dry week has seen the growers able to get back on the land and start work. Also a chance to get help the lying water drain away.

Tight or wide? I'm thinking tight as it shows the digger and pump-house and /pipes more clearly while still showing the flood.

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I preferred the wide, for the sense of perspective and setting it provided.
 
For the reason Toni mentioned, wide for me also.
 
I preferred the wide, for the sense of perspective and setting it provided.
For the reason Toni mentioned, wide for me also.
Thanks.

I think I agree after sleeping on it. I guess it could also depend on how large the picture is displayed, as a larger version of the wide shot would also reveal more detail.
 
The rain actually stopped and the sun actually shone. It was a bitter wind though so I didn't linger long! Just more pics of bags in fields, but different coloured bags and different light,

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I've got out of the habit of walking the moss with the rain we've had all winter, but this evening looked like it would stay dry and the sun woulds stay out. The land is starting to dry out and there was some tractor activity - and some nice light.

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The flooded field is still flooded.

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A few seconds later the light went from the trees.

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I like the ones with the trees as backdrop, partic the one with the pylon
I was wishing I'd had a longer lens for some of those. Not much longer, just enough to make the tractor a little larger in the frame. Can't take everything with me for a walk though.
 
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