History and Perfect Spring Conditions. Taking a more "unusual look" at a Historic 13th Century Priory.

"Underrated, Understated, Ignored." For they are just three ways in which I could describe the county of Nottinghamshire to many a landscape photographer, and those three ways of describing Nottinghamshire are really quite sad. For the county of Nottinghamshire is a county that offers so much for the landscape photographer, from beautiful woodlands to explore, vistas and views complete with rolling gentle hills that change during the seasons and of course many a location that is off the beaten track and is just waiting to be explored. But it was on Thursday the 26th of March 2026 that I had the chance to visit one of Nottinghamshire's secret "Hidden Valley's." A valley not too far away from the town of Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, and a landscape that features heavily in many of DH Lawrence's many works. 

Within this hidden valley, sits a historic 13th century priory, the remains of that can still be seen today, and that of course is Beauvale Priory, a location that despite its proximity to Nottingham - seems that little bit more removed from the rushes of everyday life, and the purpose of the visit of course was for a delicious lunch! But it was afterwards that I had the opportunity to capture Beauvale Priory from lets just say "a slightly different perspective altogether." And that of course was from the air, and with that I managed to capture the following photos. Thankfully the weather conditions were just perfect which made capturing these photos even better somehow, as there sure was a sense of Spring within the air. 

"Upon the Spring of Beauvale Air."

"Spring Blue, the Priory down Below."

"Shades of Green, Woodland Glow, the Priory located below."

"From the Priory, the View to afar."

"Nestled under The Woodlands, The Priory it Stands."

"The Big Sky above, History stands Below."

"A Priory of a Panorama."

When Urban Art brings Colour to Suburbia. Taking a look at the new DH Lawrence Mural in Eastwood.

I was recently told by a friend of mine the following, "that there is a new Mural in Eastwood dedicated to DH Lawrence, and have I seen it?" The answer to that was a resounding, sadly not. But it was on Wednesday the 18th of March 2026, that with a bit of time on my side that I just had to capture this new Mural, yes I had already seen a few photos of it, but to see it in the metaphorical flesh, well that was even better, and underneath a delightful sunny blue sky, I managed to capture the following photos of this incredibly colourful and beautiful new Mural dedicated of course to DH Lawrence, and wow it really is something else to see, and to see colour/art within an urban area is certainly just spectacular and another bonus. 

If you are interested in finding out about the artist who designed and painted this glorious and colourful Mural, you can do here: kid30.smallkid.co.uk

"Snapshot, Colour Wall."

"In the moment. Under the Blue, Arts of Suburbia Found."

"The Mural, Sun and Sky Glow."

"Quote of DH Under Blue."

Perfect Spring Conditions and a Sunday delight of Light and Landscape Beauty.

There is one crucial element that remains a kind of backbone for any kind of photography - including Landscape Photography and that happens to be a little element called "Light." For all the time the light constantly changes and with those changes it can have effects on what you are capturing. Still it was on Sunday the 15th of March 2026 that the chance to head out towards Moorgreen/The area near Beauvale Priory arose, and with that thankfully the weather was looking just delightful, with a glorious light and thankfully the return of some delightful blue skies!

Heading up and around New Road/Narrow Lane, well the views were just something else, yes Meteorological Spring has arrived and whilst some of the landscape was looking slightly bare still - there was albeit a rather delightful and slow return to yet more colour and greenery, and below are the photos that I had managed to capture from the Moorgreen/Beauvale area. 

"Under a Spring Beauvale Blue."

"The Landscape, the Change within Seasons Beauty."

"Over the hedge, towards the Priory."

"A Sense of Moorgreen/Beauvale Blue."

"Sundown Rays, Dance across the Land."

"Across the Ray lit Land."

"Light, Cloud, Abstract, Art."

"Light and Shine, The Beauty of Light Art."

"The Spring at the Side of the Road." - (This photo was shown on ITV Central Weather for The East Midlands, on Monday the 16th of March 2026.)

"Cloudscape Abstract Blue."

"Cloudscape Abstract Mono."

Upon arriving back to Eastwood, I noticed that the sky was doing something magical, there was a glorious sunset taking place - although sadly I missed the sunset by moments :(. But looking due east, and by sending "the metaphorical flying camera into the air" what did I see? Well a truly glorious landscape and cloudscape which was akin to artwork, and here are the photos that I managed to capture. Again looking due east, over the suburban reaches of Eastwood, towards Kimberley and of course Moorgreen and The Erewash Valley. 

"Cloud, Art, Distant Faint Rainbow Dreams."

"A Bank of Cloud, The Shades of Blue."

"Swirling Clouds, Distant Rainbow."

"Light and Gold, The evening Beauty and Blue."

"The gentle Spring Light it Glows."

A perfect Spring Light, the beauty and magic of Shipley Hill/Horsepool Hill.

As I currently write this, well the "delightful Spring skies and sunshine" have somewhat disappeared and instead the grey weather has seemingly returned. But it was on Wednesday the 5th of March 2026 that a visit to Shipley Country Park was on the cards, this time again it was time to explore Shipley Hill/Horsepool Hill - but this time the direction of the walk was in a somewhat "Anti Clockwise" manner, and walking around well what did I encounter? Well for a start a glorious and delightful Spring Light, combined of course with delightful works of art that nature provides, and below are the photos that I captured.

"Spring Blue, and a Spring Lane."

"Bare and into Spring."

"Yellow and Woodland Shadows."

"The Yellow Glow, takes away The Woodland Bare."

"Branches bare, Blue above."

"Dappled Gentle Light of Bark."

"The Blue, The Bare, Little Elements of Green."

"Yellow is the carpet, below the trunks that Stand."

"Strands and Flakes."

"Layers, Flakes and Veins."

"A Barkscape of a Panorama."

"Woodland Light, a Clear Spring Bright."

"The Spring Hill Side."

"Guardians and the Blue."

"Woodland Bare and Bright."

"The Sculpture of Wood, under Spring Blue."

"The Dappling of Delicate Afternoon Spring."

"Uniform, Bright Bark Light."

"Icehouse is the Abstract."

"Abstract Elements of The Icehouse."

"A Gentle Spring Magic."

"Like Sculpture, against Blue."

"Tentacles and Green."

"Tentacle Spring City Light."

"Birches bathed in Afternoon Light."