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earthstar

~ a celebration of nature

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Tag Archives: Taff Trail

Down by the riverside

04 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by sconzani in nature, parks, trees, winter

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Blackweir, Cardiff, Llandaff Weir, River Taff, Taff Trail, Taffside trail

Today was a glorious early winter day: bright blue skies; chilly enough to wrap up in winter woollies, hat, scarf and gloves; crisp underfoot. So, duly rugged up, I headed down to the riverside. I walked part of the Taff Trail north from Blackweir, crossed the river at the next bridge and continued on along the riverside trail to Llandaff, then completed the circuit back to Blackweir on the western side of the river. I hope you can see from my photos why I think it has been the most perfect day!

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The Taff Trail heading north alongside the River Taff

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Still on the Taff Trail

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Gulls enjoying a bath at Llandaff Weir

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Trees along the edge of Pontcanna Fields

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River Taff, almost directly opposite where I took the first photo

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The footbridge across the Taff at Blackweir

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From the bridge looking south down the Taff

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Almost back to where I started, with the riverside looking glorious in the late afternoon sun

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A new wildflower meadow

02 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by sconzani in nature, wildflowers

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Corncockle, Cornflower, Field bindweed, Gypsywort, Radyr Weir, Sopawort, Taff Trail, Tansy, White campion, wildflower meadow

Last Monday was a holiday here in Britain so I took myself off for a long walk along Cardiff’s River Taff, starting at the new hydro-electric scheme at Radyr Weir. While the Archimedes Screw turbines that power the scheme were impressive to see in action, it was the adjacent wildflower meadow that I loved best. It appears newly planted so was perhaps part of the reinstatement plan following the hydro scheme’s construction.

160902 wildflower meadow (2)

Though late in the season, the flowers were in full bloom, providing a welcome feast for bees, wasps, flies and hoverflies. I imagine the flowers were an off-the-shelf wildflower seed mix but they were still lovely, especially my favourites, the eye-popping red of the poppies and blue of the cornflowers.

160902 wildflower meadow (1)

Strolling along the adjacent, much older pathways I also found other beautiful wildflowers so today’s Floral Friday photos include the Corncockle (Agrostemma githago), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and White campion (Silene latifolia sub alba).

160902 Corncockle
160902 Cornflower
160902 Field bindweed
160902 Gypsywort
160902 Soapwort
160902 Tansy
160902 White campion
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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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