On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Good Morning All,
On The Road and In Your Backyard is a weekday feature spotlighting reader submissions. From the exotic to the familiar, please share your part of the world, whether you’re traveling or just in your locality. Share some photos and a narrative, let us see through your pictures and words. We’re so lucky each and every day to see and appreciate the world around us!
Submissions from commenters are welcome at tools.balloon-juice.com
Apologies-in-advance for any errors or incomplete resolution, things are in flux; please bear with us.
Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the pictures!
Today, pictures from valued commenter Litlebritdifrnt.
At the bottom of my street when I was growing up there was a wonderful walking path (called “The Pads”) along open fields that led to the Canal. I spent many happy hours walking there, picking blackberries, paddling in the Canal, fishing for Tadpoles etc. In the early 90s a building developer bought the land above it and built a housing estate. Not content with that they went after The Pads and the kids playground. In 1996 the Fairfield Association was formed to fight them. http://www.fairfieldassociation.org/ They not only fought them, they won, they saved the playing field, they saved The Pads and they won the right to raise funds and purchase the land. They kept the walking paths for the use of everyone and they turned the entire area into a Nature Reserve which has now been designated as such and therefore cannot be touched by developers. One of their first projects was planting a Community Orchard, now know as the Millennium Orchard. This time of year it is spectacular.
The Orchard, Lancaster, UK
o
Taken on 2019-04-24 00:00:00
The Orchard, Lancaster, UK
Close up of the Apple Blossoms
Taken on 2019-04-24 00:00:00
The Orchard, Lancaster, UK
The Pads used to be basically dirt and got muddy when it rained but the Fairfield Association have now leveled them and laid down gravel to make them more wheelchair friendly.
Taken on 2019-04-24 00:00:00
The Orchard, Lancaster, UK
The view from one of the seating areas that the Association has put in place.
Taken on 2019-04-24 00:00:00
The Orchard, Lancaster, UK
They have left several snags in place to accommodate wildlife.
Thank you so much Litlebritdifrnt, do send us more when you can.
Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.
One again, to submit pictures: Use the Form or Send an Email
Mary G
Gorgeous orchard and nature saved from developers. Those places are so good for the soul.
Amir Khalid
I can see all the pictures! Even the sideways tree! It’s a miracle!
All kidding aside, it’s heartening to see something the developers didn’t get to tear down so they could pave it over or put up something profitable. And to judge from these picures, the Pads were well worth saving.
HinTN
@Amir Khalid: Amen
J R in WV
Sweet pics, of a delightful area!
Has your husband finally been able to join you across the pond?
Best of luck.
arrieve
What a wonderful story. I love those apple blossoms!
Litlebritdifrnt
Thanks for our comments everyone. JR in WV not yet we are still working on it. I just got back from my polling place where I voted for the Green Candidates for our local City council. The are both heavily involved in preserving our green spaces like the one above. It really is a testament to locals getting together and fighting for something they believe in.
KSinMA
What a lovely place, and what a heartening story. Thanks!