A legacy of the Cold War

This austere structure is located in central Manchester between George St and St James St. I believe it to be an entrance to the Guardian Exchange. This underground communications bunker was built in the 1950s and was designed to withstand atomic attack on Manchester and preserve regional and national communications links. The development of the H bomb reputedly led to its security being compromised. The bunker and its tunnels are still used to route telecommunications cables under the city. A fire in such a tunnel in 2004 put parts of the telephone network out of action for several days.

Whitworth Park, Manchester

An entrance to the park from Denmark Road. The park is owned by Manchester University and leased to the City Council who maintain it. Set by Oxford Road in a now very busy location the park provides an area of tranquillity. The park and adjacent Whitworth Art Gallery were established by Joseph Whitworth a local industrialist and inventor in 1890.

A glacial erratic

A boulder in the quadrangle of the University of Manchester. Found nearby about 30 feet below the surface during an excavation. Carried here by ice during the Ice Age from its origin in the Lake District about 100 miles distant.

Blackthorn

Flowers of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) on trees near Brynteg, Anglesey. The flowers are about 1.5cm across and appear before the leaves, unlike the similarly flowered Hawthorn whose leaves appear before it flowers.

Easter Monday tea

Peter enjoying his Toffee Sundae!

Spring

Wood Anenome and Celandine, Lon y Glyn, Benllech.

Llynnon Mill and Celtic Roundhouses

Llanddeusant, Anglesey. A working windmill flanked by reconstructions of communal dwellings that were used by local people in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, approx 3000 years ago.