This week I have been back in the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales working, although it didn’t feel like work, on an upland farm. I was there to help advise on management and to survey the magnificent heathland that has developed on the mountain in the last 30 years.
There are some rare and unique plant communities growing up there now because the traditional farming practice of burning and grazing by sheep has been absent for all that time.
On the valley floor is the beautiful lake (Llyn Dinas)….
I only have a very small, cheap digital camera, but it’s a times like these that I wish I’d made that upgrade! Here’s one from someone who has…
Mike Howe 
Looks rugged which makes for gorgeous rich toned pix, but that heathland ecosystem must have adapted to cope with harsh elements..?
Hi thanks for dropping in! Yes the heathland has adapted and changed beautifully and is full of quite rare species, mostly because the habitat is quite unusual 🙂
What beautiful shots if a beautiful part of the world Mike. Your photos are great, not sure you need an upgrade, and like an earlier commenter I love that first lake shot with the water like glass and the light shining through the oak and birch leaves….I love autumn 🙂
Thank you that’s very kind coming from such an excellent photographer as you! The lake was lovely, I couldn’t fail really 🙂
I can imagine how rewarding it must be to work in/with country like that!
Thanks mate, yes it is great, I’m very lucky
What a beautiful place! How I would love to get to Europe one day – and stay a year or two.
Thank you Emilie, I hope you make it over. You haven’t sent me your address yet via my contact page….I have something for you.
Your photos are beautiful – they take me back to when we lived in North Wales. It looks as if you are having lovely weather, and the first autumn colours look beautiful.
Thank you Jo, yes the weather was lovely and it made the most of the emerging autumn colours. I’m enjoying your magic photos of Scotland, makes me miss it so 🙂
Well, Mike A’s photo is gorgeous but yours are wonderful, too, and convey the heart-stopping beauty of the area. And it must be heart-warming to see the changes for the better in the environment.
Thank you and yes it is very heart warming to be able to be part of and see good things happening in the environment when we know so many other bad things are happening. I need to start posting pictures of wind and rain though, I think I’m giving the wrong impression of what it’s usually like here 🙂
Bring on the wind and rain; we can handle it!
We can handle it because some parts of Christchurch are very Welsh ” Bryndwr, meaning ‘hillside by water’ (from Bryn “hillside” + dŵr “by water”), and probably named for the slopes beside the Wairarapa and Wai iti streams which run through the suburb, is one of the few places in New Zealand with a name of Welsh origin. It was given this name by Charles Alured Jeffreys, (1821-1904) of Glandyfi, Machynlleth, Wales. He farmed this area after being given 100 acres (40 ha) freehold by his father-in-law Thomas Parr in 1851, who was granted Rural Section 188 from the Canterbury Association.[1] Jeffreys also took a further 100 acres (40 ha) leasehold.[2] He and his wife Clara Ellen emigrated on the Tasmania arriving in Lyttleton in 1853.[3]
His land, sections 503 and 504,[4] was known as Bryndwr Farm, Fendall Town. Jeffreys subdivided the land, selling 180 lots at auction as the “valuable suburb of Bryndwr”, in 1880.[5] Many streets he named in the area have Welsh associations including Jeffreys, Plynlimon, Penhelig, Glandovey (Anglicised over time from Glandyfi), Idris, (from Cadair Idris),[6] Snowdon, Garreg, and Bryndwr Road. Jeffreys, his wife and daughter returned to Glandyfi castle after his elder brother, Edward, died in 1888.[7]”
From your photos an upgrade hardly seems necessary. They are very beautiful. What a great place, for work and pleasure.
Thank you Bente, although looking at your fabulous photographs tells me I do need an upgrade 🙂
Hej Mike!
It looks/ feels like a very beautiful place and I love all the images. My favourite one is the first lake picture, where the sun is shining through the branches which are pointing at the smooth water. I can feel the sun warming my heart when I look at it.
Thank you for sharing those beautiful impressions of your work week! Have another great one!
Much love,
Steffi
Thank you Steffi, always seeing the beauty in life and being supportive 🙂 Have a great week yourself!
Reblogged this on Photos That Inspire Words.
Thank you Paulette 🙂
You are welcome Mike.
I really enjoyed your post.
Paulette Motzko