Pip’s Patch

The copyright for all the photographs in this gallery belongs to Pip Land. If you wish to purchase any photographs contact me at pip.land@virgin.net. The photographs have been greatly reduced in size and this affects the quality of reproduction on the website. Keep scrolling down through the gallery to find all the photographs about the sports pavilion at Carperby.

TO AYSGARTH FALLS

One of the joys of living at The Warren in Aysgarth is that it is so easy to walk out of the gate, through a stile and onto the footpath to Aysgarth Church and Aysgarth Falls.  In springtime the drystone walls seem to provide no barrier to the adventurous lambs – but we still prefer walkers to carefully close all gates.  Late April  is a special time at Aysgarth Church, with its golden carpet of celandines and daffodils, and Freeholders Wood by Aysgarth Falls. Go at the right time and so many wild flowers will be in bloom in the wood  including wood anemones, bluebells, violets, cowslips, primroses, wild strawberries, early purple orchids, kingcups (marsh marigolds), wild garlic (ramsons), and cuckoo flower (lady’s smock). When the river is very low – as it has been following such a hot April – it is possible to walk right across it in many places and get some especially good views of the three falls. My favourite at such a time is the Lower Falls.  Sitting below those falls enjoying the peace and tranquility and meditating on God’s love for us I was probably blocking a dipper’s route to her nest. As she eyed me in irritation I took the opportunity to take her photograph. The foam  “bath” below the Middle Falls was obviously full of juicy morsels for a mother duck and her two ducklings.  The walk back home provided another opportunity to enjoy Aysgarth church (St Andrew’s) especially after it had been bedecked with flowers for Easter.

FOOTBALL WITH PETER CROUCH AT CARPERBY

There was a tremendous sense of anticipation at Carperby sport pavilion on Thursday, January 27, as residents, friends, local footballers and the camera crew awaited the arrival of Spurs and England star footballer, Peter Crouch. And no matter how cold it was, or how many takes the camera crew’s director requested, Peter was the perfect role model for the youngsters who were there. He was always cheerful and approachable – so willing to share with the community the joy of finally having a modern, well-equipped sports pavilion.  In the past few months the locals have come to know the camera crew very well and so they have been included in this group of photographs.

The Carperby and Askrigg football teams had the opportunity to play football with Peter – so long as they didn’t try to tackle him.  They saw him kick some great goals – the most awe inspiring of them being before the cameras were rolling. The community was very grateful to Mars Ltd for the chance to meet him, and for the help towards finishing their new sports pavilion.

FILMING AT CARPERBY

The film crew returned on January 14 for another long, cold filming session. All were grateful for the hot food produced by the catering team – or for a chance to be inside the new pavilion. The underfloor heating (thanks to the air-source heat pump) helped them to thaw out as the temperatures dropped late in the afternoon.  With a strong  cold wind blowing across the football field some of the villagers took shelter while Alistair and Harry Dinsdale (helping-one&two) helped to keep some of the equipment from being blown away.

CARPERBY SATURDAY JANUARY 8

After a busy day of filming the villagers and their friends were at last able to celebrate the construction of the new sports pavilion. Many of them had to go home first and get de-frosted after standing for so long in a biting cold wind while the film crew made sure they had sufficient takes from which to make a good advert for Mars. The advert will be shown on TV for the first time on February 2.

CONSTRUCTION OF CARPERBY SPORTS PAVILION

Over 50 villagers and Carperby football team have been very busy in the big effort to finish the new sports pavilion before Saturday, January 8, 2011. More photographs coming soon….

WILLIAM HAGUE MP AT CARPERBY SPORTS FIELD

William Hague MP joined in the celebrations at Carperby playing field on Friday, October 22 2010, after villagers heard that they had won the support of Mars for their new pavilion project.  He was invited for a foundation stone ceremony as the village had raised sufficient funds for a water tight shell to be erected. Instead the local builders who won the blind tender (Scott Stephenson, Steve Harrison and Chris Peacock) have now been asked to complete the whole project by the end of this year. For more information see the playing fields section of Carperby-cum-Thoresby Parish Council’s website.

A CRUISE FROM SKIPTON TO SALTAIRE

A narrow boat cruise along the canal from Skipton to Saltaire proved to be a memorable event in October. Farndale Wood looked especially beautifully bedecked as it was in its autumn glory. For more about that trip see Skipton to Saltaire by Narrow Boat. But here are some photographs to enjoy.

Sunsets: Penhill Sunset 1-2 in Wensleydale;  Stormy Sunset at Thurne in North Norfolk; Into the Sunset, sailing into the sunset on the Norfolk Broads; Abstract Sunset – again on the Norfolk Broads.

Nature provides many fascinating shapes and patterns!

Wensleydale is a special place to live. The views constantly change with the weather. Often (as with the  photographs of heather burning on Carperby moor and of sunrises) I look out of my window and grab my camera because the view is so interesting.

Queenly view was taken at Bolton Castle where Queen Mary of Scotland was imprisoned for a while.

Snow not only highlights the geographic features of the Dales but often reveals the ancient farming patterns. It is also interesting to see what  happens to hedges when they have been left to grow into odd shapes – as in old hedge and also snow trees.

I call this section Fun Time – so that I can include special little visitors to my garden, and other photographs I have had fun taking.

Sadly during the snowy conditions over Christmas 2009 I was not well enough to go for some long walks and enjoy the photographic opportunities. But here are some photos from that icy and snow period. I included that of the table in the front garden as it was interesting to see how long the snow “table cloth” would stay on. The first photograph was taken on December 22. I thought it would fall off by Christmas Day but more snow over night helped to anchor it for a further 24 hours.

Aysgarth church was transformed over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 1-3 thanks to all the local artists and flower arrangers who took part in the Festival of Flowers and Art. See also Flowers and Art at Aysgarth church.

Members of the North East Mercedes-Benz club created a particularly fine display of classic cars at Newby Hall on July 18, 2010.