The continuing hunt for the Pyl.

I had the pleasure to combine my hunt for the Pyl with a visit to The Lord Nelson at Stonecot Hill. The stream passes the pub following alongside Trafalgar Road and Hamilton Road.

The Pyl by the Lord Nelson

Please help Save Merton Bowls Club online petition

Please support this. I don't play but always remember my Grandma's love of the game up in Birkenhead. I am making arrangements to visit and get some pics.

Copied from change.org

Petition updatehttps://www.change.org/p/gilli-lewis-lavender-save-merton-bowls-club

Double it!!

Merton Bowling Club

3 Feb 2016 — AMAZING!!
We have reached our first 1,000, if everyone now got their partner or a close friend to sign, we could double the figure.
It's important that we look to show that all social & sporting communities are important, so please pass on details of our petition.

https://www.change.org/p/gilli-lewis-lavender-save-merton-bowls-club?recruiter=467491186&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink


Very humbled by the support to date, a big thank you to all of the 1,000 who took time out to support Merton Bowling Club
Enjoy your Wednesday everyone
Best wishes
Tina Smith
Secretary Merton Bowling Club

Success!

I am very happy to report that the Merton Bowling Club has been saved. The Council has had the good sense to cancel the closure of the club.

The search for the Pyl - Grand Drive

It's amazing to discover you have a direct link to The Thames across the road by the bus stop you use to get in to Wimbledon. The Pyl Brook rises over in Sutton but there are two tributaries that form by Grand Drive having collected rain water that gathers on Cannon Hill. The Pyl joins up with the Beverley Brook before flowing into the Thames between Barnes and Putney.

This means I am going to go 'off piste' out of the borough to Sutton and Wandsworth. Watch this space.

The Beverley Brook is one of the 16 rivers and canals (not including The Thames) which form the London Blue Ribbon Network:

https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/current-london-plan/london-plan-chapter-7/blue-ribbon-network-0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ribbon_Network

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree.

Pocket Parks

No images today, I spent most of yesterday searching for anything like this in Merton (Pocket Parks), see the link below. I found nothing that was up to date and many dead links. I am going to have a go with the council because it sounds good.

ttps://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/parks-green-spaces-and-biodiversity/pocket-parks-project

Pocket Parks project
Pocket parks are part of the Mayor’s London’s Great Outdoors - the programme to improve streets, squares, parks, and canal and riverside spaces across London. Pocket parks are small areas of inviting public space for all people to enjoy, providing relief from the hustle and bustle of the city. These spaces have trees and greenery; they are open to all; they have places to sit and relax and for people to come together; and they contribute to making the city friendlier, greener and more resilient. All of our £2 million pocket park funding has now been allocated to over 100 parks in 26 London boroughs.

I will report back.

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree.

https://www.justgiving.com/Mike-Roberts-Bleeding-London/

Breathing London is launched

http://www.rps.org/events/2016/january/20/breathing-london-project

The Breathing London project has now been officially launch and is open to all. The aim is to photograph all of the capitals green open spaces.

Here is the official take on the project:

Following the success of the Bleeding London Project, our new project, Breathing London is designed to capture the diversity of London's Open Spaces - the lungs of the Capital.

To take part:

• You don't have to be an RPS Member and you don't have to live in London
• You don't have to be a photographer and you don't even have to own a camera! Any device which captures images, including phones and tablets, will do.

The project will run from now until 31st December 2016, with monthly competitions, walks, workshops and events during the year.

A major Exhibition is planned for 2017.

Merton is one of London's greenest boroughs and as part of my personal health regime I try and take pictures everyday. I have had 2 strokes and now developed Parkinson's 

My 5 a Day

Setting sun, rising moon

Grand Drive

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree.

https://www.justgiving.com/Mike-Roberts-Bleeding-London/

RSPB's Big Garden Watch

Here is a date for your diary, the weekend of 30/31 January. I will be setting an hour over to taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Watch. They are interested in all your feedback

Big Garden Watch

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdwatch

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

JustGiving - Sponsor me now! 2,091 streets photographed - £2,091 for the Stroke Association

The RPS London AGM

I had a very enjoyable time at the AGM of RPS London on Thursday night when Breathing London was launched. I will post details of how to get involved as soon as details are revealed in the next few weeks.

The plan is to record all of London's open spaces in a similar way to last years Bleeding London recorded every street.

Congratulations to the winners of RPS medals for three great pics recording natural London. My hat off to 


Gold Medal – Penny Dixie ARPS
Silver Medal – Jennette Russell LRPS
Bronze Medal – Mo Greig ARPS

- See more at: http://rps.org/regions-and-chapters/regions/london/blogs/2016/january/london-update#sthash.wtNhpeix.dpuf

Well done!

I look forward to taking guidance from  award-winning wildlife and landscape photographer, Robert Canis who judged the images brought along. I hope to conduct an interview with Robert - watch this space.

The following images where kindly taken by Judy Hicks when it became obvious that I was in no position to get them. I am very unsafe balancing on my stick while taking photographs.

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

JustGiving - Sponsor me now! 2,091 streets photographed - £2,091 for the Stroke Association

Night and Day

The first image was taken at 01/01/2016 00.22, and it will be continually photographed at different times of the day. The second was taken this morning. I hope to show it through all the seasons.

I will also use this view point to improve my PS/Lightroom skills which are sadly lacking. Less of waiting for tomorrow to start the RPS Breathing London project, alright I am only guessing the tasks ahead of us.

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

JustGiving - Sponsor me now! 2,091 streets photographed - £2,091 for the Stroke Association

Cannon Hill Common

Cannon Hill Common covers 21 hectares of open space, and is a Site of Borough Importance – Grade 1 for Nature Conservation.  It boasts mature woodland, which is over 140 years old and is home to a variety of plants and animals. Cannon Hill Common is a great place for walking, recreational fishing and angling, dog walking, bird watching and simply getting away from urban life and enjoying a small piece of countryside in the city.

http://www.merton.gov.uk/environment/openspaces/parks/parks_in_the_morden_area/cannon_hill_common.htm

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

JustGiving - Sponsor me now! 2,091 streets photographed - £2,091 for the Stroke Association

A touch of Monet in Merton

Clear running River Wandle

The River Wandle is a river in south-east England. The names of the river and of Wandsworth are thought to have derived from the Old English "Wendlesworth" meaning "Wendle's Settlement". The river runs through southwest London and is about 9 miles (14 km) long. It passes through the London Boroughs of Croydon, Sutton, Merton, and Wandsworth to join the River Thames on the Tideway at Wandsworth. Much of the River is accessible using the Wandle Trail. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Wandle

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

2015/2016 midnight

As the chimes of midnight rang out on Radio 4 I took my first pictures to record the playing fields and park which can be seen from my bedroom window. I will be using the same spot to record the changing seasons. You can see fireworks recording the new year on the horizon.

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

JustGiving - Sponsor me now! 2,091 streets photographed - £2,091 for the Stroke Association

Dusk over Wimbledon Common

This blog will record my journey recording the beauty that is nature in the borough of Merton while taking part in Breathing London which kicks off on January 14. I plan to visit as many parks and open spaces etc over the year as I can. Merton list over 60 such sites

No photos of mine may be copied, linked, sold, or shared by anyone. Only exceptions are those who express a request in writing first and then only if I agree

    JustGiving - Sponsor me now! 2,091 streets photographed - £2,091 for the      Stroke Association