Christmas & winter scenes in Berkeley Vale – stage 2 – mid December
LATEST ADDITION: Sunday 20th December
– Walking north towards Berkeley on the previously permissive path around the deer park – taken 18 December 2010.
Throughout December 2020, Berkness will be adding photos taken in the Vale of Berkeley in winters past and present.
A new photo will be added almost daily to bring you a festive mood whilst celebrating the local sights. Each photo of the second week is included below, most recent first. Photos taken this season unless specified otherwise.
Looking south down Berkeley High Street at sundown...
The weather has been typically variable but unusually warm this month – or is that the new norm?
This recent December’s day had a bright close to the daylight. But even when it is raining, the lanterns and window displays make a walk down Berkeley High Street a spirit lifting occasion.
You may also notice the recently redone pavements!!!
Teasel and umbellifer seed heads line the Little Avon...
The Little Avon takes rain water just a few miles from the Cotswolds near Wotton-under-Edge towards the Severn Estuary at Berkeley Pill.
Seen here between Stone and Berkeley, seed heads lining the winter river bank give the promise of new life next year.
Red deer graze through the snow in Berkeley Deer Park...
This photo was taken when there was still the permissive route which allowed a circular walk around Berkeley Deer park – also know as Whitcliff Park. This is looking east on the top with my back to the hunting lodge.
The walk was open to the public for many years in return for public money for improving the park. Once the funding ceased during austerity, the Berkeley Estate were quick to close the paths and put up huge, nasty signs all over the route. The signs have an unpleasant tone with threatening messages and are eyesores spoiling the remaining right of way which goes along the ridge.
I cannot see signs there of much conservation effort or biodiversity to show for the taxpayers’ money.
Cool white & warm white in Berkeley town centre...
The warm amber interior lighting seen through the windows of the United Reform Church creates a dramatic contrast with the cool white Christmas lights of Berkeley town hall – all set against a deep blue sky at dusk this December.
Dreaming of a white Christmas...
A lot of snow, let alone a white Christmas, is rare in Berkeley Vale and will be increasingly so.
But it can happen! Christmas Day 2010 was very white and finger numbing cold. The photo above captures the sunshine that day just before a fog descended.
A pylon can be see with its head in the fog. This was part of a chain of large pylons which marched across Hamfields Lane and beyond but have since been dismantled.
One of many good reasons to pop into Berkeley town centre...
Each day from 1st to 24th December, a house in Berkeley plus a house in Sharpness or Hamfallow are broadcasting the switch on of their Christmas lights. This is in aid of Winston’s Wish, a child bereavement charity – donations can be made on justgiving.com
A frosty morning in the Berkeley Castle meadows at sunrise...
This is looking east towards the sunrise. I don’t like getting up early, especially when it is cold. In the event, I got there far too early because the sun rose slowly from behind some tall woods!
Las Vegas or Lynch Road...
I took a photo of this house around sunset earlier in December – but just could not resist going back to get a shot in the dark.
Berkness hopes you enjoyed the photos and wishes everyone a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and all the best throughout 2021.