Saturday, 8 June 2019
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
It was that Hill of Stags,
A beacon fires to Hameldon,
No Stags upon them hills away,
No antlers hung by Stags heads
The general area to where the poem relates is in the main the hill to the East/NE of Haslingden in Rossendale, Lancashire which are high grounds and part of the Pennines.
Photo: Cribden Hill is the hill shown in the photograph above and it's summit is around the 1317ft (Triangulation Point)
Relates to Cribden or Cridden or Keirudon = The Hill of Stags in Haslingden or (Hazeldene),
Then walk over the top of Cribden and across to Clowbridge, (Bridge upon a Cloud)
Peat should include historic Stags, Deer, Silver Birch and Hazel Trees.
Reference to local Cribden topography and local landmarks upon its sides eg: Pinner Caves, Top O'th Slate Caves and Mining Shafts on the head of Cribden now smothered in its Moor Grass.
The haunting calls of Curlews and summer drumming snipe, that lovely sweet smell from the fields below. The waters from Cridden gave the first food to thirst, then it powered the industry in the vale, and freshened flora and fauna alike. Haslingden or (Hazeldene) was built on the sides of and lived by the fruits offered by Cridden.
At one time I worked in the Duckworth Clough Quarry which was blasted out for its fine Millstone Grit. The quarry was later used for "landfill" purposes. I remember on a couple of occasions being told by reliable persons that there was a preserved fossil of a Red Deer somewhere in the sedimental layers of stone within that area. Never checked it out at the time!! SHAME.......
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Friday, 29 April 2011
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Friday, 25 September 2009
Friday, 4 September 2009
Friday, 12 June 2009
Sunday, 7 June 2009
On Tuesday last June 2nd 2009 we were again mothing at Top O'th Slate and we (Charlie Payne, Arlene Harris and me) had the following species which came to light: (Photo: A Peach Blossom and a Angle Shades by Arlene Harris)
8 different species which included:
Clouded Bordered Brindle - approx 30 specimens.
Peach Blossom (5)
Angle Shades (5)
Flame Shoulder (1)
Scalloped Hazel (3)
Small Phoenix (1)
Clouded Silver (4)
We also had: The largest true fly - Crane Fly (Tipula Maxima) A female specimen, and Ophion Luteus
If you would like to look at the identification photos please click hereThis photo above I took earlier in the week of Hawthorn blossom and notice the many micro moths "Glyphipterix simpliciella" (thanks to Brian Clegg for identification of moths)
Monday, 1 June 2009
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Yesterday evening we were mothing at Top O'th Slate, starting off at 2130hrs..and there were four of us decided to brave it.. we caught up to about a total of 8 moths (3 species) before it went very cold, the winds were still coming from the East but had increased in strength, and after 2200hrs we were catching nothing and decided to give up by 2230hrs. However we managed to catch one or two Hebrew Character and a couple of Common Quaker and one Clouded Drab....
Top left is Hebrew Character,Top Right: is a Clouded Drab moth, Bottom left is Common Quaker. Thanks to Brian Clegg and Steve Palmer for help with identifications...
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Here are some photos of the lovely memorial seat in rememberance of Dr. Eugenie Cheesmond - the first one above, actually shows the view as if you are sat on the seat which directly overlooks Hutch Bank and also Eugenie's house at No.2 Deardengate.....
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Click over photos to enlarge..
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Rossendale Shoe Trail – Coming Spring 2009! Published by Rossendale Borough Council on Tuesday 24th March 09 This is an exciting project that takes inspiration from Rossendale’s historical links with the shoe and brick industry. The Shoe Trail will direct people from Rawtenstall town centre, through the Rossendale Valley and up to the Halo Panopticon at Top o’ Slate using giant footwear designs as way markers. (See artist immpression above right hand side - courtesy of Mid Pennine Arts...)
The giant, ceramic shoes have been designed by school groups from All Saints High School and Haslingden High School in Rossendale. The students worked with artist Julie Miles to produce designs that could be recreated using clay. Each of the way markers is hand carved to provide a truly unique way of guiding people into the beautiful Rossendale countryside.
The giant shoes will be positioned on the top of dry-stone walling and other key sites at regular intervals along the Trail. They will be placed at sites where trail users can admire the view or examine points of specific interest.
Rossendale Valley is famous for its shoe industry, but in the early part of the 20th century the area was also a major contributor to brick making and manufacture. The Shoe Trail aims to recognise this 'forgotten' industry by using clay to produce the way markers. Top o' Slate was once a clay pit for the brick factories of Heys and Duckworth, Haslingden Brick and Tile Co. and R. Holding Pike Law Patent Brick works making the ceramic way markers even more important in celebrating the area's heritage.
The Shoe Trail will start and end with carved relief brick plaques produced by artist Julie Miles. At Top o' Slate the plaque will depict the historical industry of the area from felt making, block printing, carpet printing through to the production of slippers, brick making and the railway. A similar plaque will be worked into the ground outside Rawtenstall station. This piece will be carved with images that celebrate the town's heritage as well as pictures that represent the Rossendale landscape.
A carved image of the Halo Panopticon will be included to encourage walkers to visit Top o' Slate. These plaques have also been designed with the help of school groups.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Signs like this have been put up letting us know of the Shoe Trail Installation which is currently taking place (see tomorrows blog for more details).
The Meadow Pipits where coming through on a regular basis probably every 3 or 4 minutes, usually in singles and heading straight through in the direction of Pendle (Ribble Valley)... there where also some Pipits back on territory at TOS and you could see them doing the parachute display has other birds came overhead. Skylarks have been back on territory for some time now and they where happily singing away...
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) have started to appear. Also this miniature Daffodil was present in the disturbed soils. Gorse, Chickweeds and Mouse-Ear is also beginning to show up..
Friday, 6 March 2009
Friday, 26 December 2008
This poem/song was performed by a great late friend of mine from the 60s Harry Boardman of Middleton and he included it on the Compilation album "Owdham Edge"...
Tramping on this Hill will always bring back some happy childhood memories, when on one occasion over 50 years ago, I remember coming back over the Cribden Hill from either a days fishing on Pinner Lodge (above Crawshawbooth) or birdwatching in Brooks Wood, can't remember which but it was certainly becoming dusk and whilst on the Haslingden side of Cribden, all at once there seemed to be such a "explosive" cackle from under my feet which frightened the living daylights, and a Red Grouse flew off from that very place, followed by about 12 little grouse chicks which seemed to be running off in all directions. I quickly made my exit..
Saturday, 22 November 2008
1200hrs - 1330hrs..... They where carrying out repairs to the Panoptican today (See Photo)..
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Things have been going quiet at Slate, after all its that time of year once again. Also most other stuff, especially the flora now seems well spent....so I will be turning the bulk of my attention to the Haslingden Grane to register counts of migratory thrushes over the next few weeks, has they past through on a East - West corridor.. So I would now expect very little will be recorded on the Top O'th Slate site for a while, although I will try and get some photos on from time to time.... Please keep checking...... thanks... (photo: Spent Rosebay Willowherb - click on photo to enlarge)... If in the meantime you want to check out the Grane site please click on this link: http://haslingdengrane.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Today Wednesday October 8th 2008 0700hrs-0900hrs... Pied Wagtail: 16 (2NW), Meadow Pipit: 56 & 20+ blogging, Chaffinch: 7, LBBG:6, Goldfinch: 1N, Linnet: 5W, Greenfinch: 7, Common Snipe: 5 (one party N), Lapwing: 30 off Cribden Flatts SW probably local.. Stonechat: 2, Woodpigeon: 5, 1N, Blackbird: 1 Reed Bunting: 1 BHG: 17 moving S down below at Carrs (presumed local) Carrion Crow:5, Raven: 2 W, Redpoll: 2, Cormorant: 1 SW Siskin: 1
Monday, 6 October 2008
Saturday 4th October: Goldfinch: 6, Meadow Pipit: 14, Linnet: 2, Chaffinch: 1,
Sunday 5th October: 0700-0900hrs BHG: 121 moving down at Carrs, LBBG: 11, Meadow Pipit: 12, Chaffinch: 13, Siskin: Audible only one party, Kestrel: 1 local....
Wind: SE 6mph 0700hrs - 0900hrs Movement South unless stated otherwise. Meadow Pipit: 147, Pied Wagtail: 15 (1N) one party 11, Siskin:2, Swallow: 1, Chaffinch: 10, Greenfinch: 1, Goldfinch: 27 (one party at 10,12), Starling: 8 (one party 5, first migrant Starlings), Cormorant: 1, LBBG: 3, Carrion Crow: 1, Kestrel: 1 presumed local/
Photo: The Red Sky this morning looking East... click over photo to enlarge..