Soggy days.

Well, that was another week of ‘will it, won’t it?’  - rain that is!  Sometimes it did and sometimes it didn’t so some planned activities did take place and others were not so lucky.

The dogs waiting where they saw a mink go to ground.  Bottom left of the picture  and the mink has resurfaced behind the dogs to watch them!

I helped out with one of the lucky ones - a guided walk looking at the geology of Borrowdale.  Borrowdale has a lot to interest keen geologists including the Skiddaw slates, the Borrowdale volcanics, a number of metallic mineral deposits ... and of course the famous graphite (or black lead, black cawke, wad, plumbago as it is variously known).  There’s also the evidence of Neolithic settlement.

Good camouflage

At some time in the 16^th century a discovery of a large graphite deposit on the approaches to Grey Knotts from Seathwaite was the trigger for two important developments.  The first was the development of the world’s first pencil industry – an industry that continues to this day although it no longer uses local graphite. 

Owl chick

 More important in the 16^th century was its use in lining the molds to make smoother cannon balls that could be fired further.  As the monarch of a maritime nation that made much use of cannon balls, Elizabeth 1 exercised strict controls over this valuable resource and the Crown monitored all aspects of the mining.  The mine was guarded day and night by armed guards.  Despite that, there is evidence that some individuals took the risk and profited from illegal activities! This is where the saying the black market comes from.

The weekend was not so lucky with the weather and the annual Borrowdale Show turned out to be a rather soggy event.  At the Trust we had prepared a display of our work in Borrowdale. Either it was very popular or a lot of people were taking advantage of the shelter we provided.

Parent on guard duty

A decision has already been made to cancel a Buttermere Fun Day that was to take place on September 23^rd – the field is too muddy.

Otter tracks (Library picture)

The photographs today are of some of the wild-life around here – there’s a limit to how interesting pictures of muddy fields can be!