Rocks

What about rocks?

How many rocks have you spotted around the Staffordshire Moorlands other than the Roaches ?

Well as you wander around some parts of Leekbrook and Cheddleton you will actually notice a fair few rocky sites, within the fields across the railway tracks at Leekbrook Junction there are a few stones lying around, and I am not talking rocks that make up dry stone walling (although there are those as well). On the entrance to St Edwards housing estate, which lies between Cheddleton and Leekbrook, off the Cheadle Road, there are rocks, opposite one entrance, the Leekbrook entrance, there is a very rocky area, as seen below.

Apart from Lud's church and the Roaches, and Hen cloud, there are more rocks around the Staffordshire moorlands than some of us realise. Was Leek a town cut out of stone originally? hmmm!

The sun shines the exploring begins...

I had totally intended to take EJ to the other park at St Edwards Park (housing estate up the road from where we live) but somebody has blocked the way between the Churnet Valley rail track at Leekbrook Junction and the woods, but I would not be won over by this blockage, somebody else had seemingly had a go at getting through before us, and flattened/broken down the barbwire and post, so I carefully lifted EJ over the barb wire, stepped through it carefully myself and off we went, through the lovely wooded area, one of my favourite walking paths of Leekbrook.

We came across lots of nature here ...

Once ventured into the Woods between Leekbrook and the St Edwards Housing estate (it thereby stands on the old Cheddleton Mental Hospital Grounds) I just wanted to take a photo of the trees in their splendour as due to the access renovations to the access of St Edwards Housing estate at the Leekbrook End, some of the trees have been cut down, which is a shame actually...

Here is evidence that new trees have been planted, hopefully this is to replace the view that have been taken down at the top of the woods, near to Cheadle Road...


On walking through the woods between the Leekbrook Line and the old houses below the new St Edwards Housing estate you will find a gap in the trees to look over the fields, over splendiforous countryside. If you were to climb over this gate and over the fields, go to your left and follow the path, you would end up at the Cauldon Canal.



Also, I took advantage of my macro facility on my camera again and captured some lovely colourful and floral images of nature found on our doorstep (in the woods).
The scottish thistle!


I believe this is called 'Crowsfoot' or something similar.

Hawthorn I believe although It could be a home to some gorgeous blackberries come around August time.

There are two places we have yet to explore and these are within Cheddleton...

St Edwards the Confessor

AND Cheddleton Flint Mill.

I will take the children towards these two architectural and historical beauties in our area as the Summer holidays begin! (If I dont go on my own on the masters bicicyle)!