Scawby Snow
I was raised in Scawby, North Lincolnshire after moving here from Yorkshire as a child. When Sarah and I met we moved back here and spent a wonderful 4 years in the most sought after village in the area. We bought an old house and refurbished it and had some fantastic times here. One of those times was the winter of 2005 when there was enough snow to enjoy, without any of the chaos that snow usually brings to the UK.
You can just make out our house in this first shot (the large roof poking above and between the trees) it was a fantastic location backing onto fields from Gainsborough Lane.
We decided to take a walk around our favourite place in the area, Scawby lakes. We walked down Mill Lane then across to Park Lane and down the snow covered route toward the park.
The old wood yard was a magical place in winter, we would go there to collect our fresh cut Christmas Tree and haul it back up to the house before spending an evening decorating it.
The park is part of the Nelthorpe Estate and Scawby Hall (in the background here) is the residency for that estate
The park is typical English parkland with a scattering of trees across open green fields (or white in this case)
In the woods that surround one of the two lakes Sarah tries the old 'pull a snow covered branch' trick
As we reach the lake I see the remains of a huge tree that used to overhang here felled into the lake, such a shame I told Sarah; that was the 'go to' place for a perch if no other fish were biting, guaranteed a bite under that tree, not any more I guess.
The snow then returns as we wander along the lakeside, the reeds and bull-rushes are long since dead and the water frozen solid
Across the lake the sun colours the black and white scene as we stop to capture some more photos.
All too soon the snow starts falling again as we look out across 'bottom pond' as it is known. I could tell so many tales of growing up in these woods, night fishing, fires and 'scrumping' every fruit tree and bush in the village....but some things are better left unwritten.
The platform in this picture was one of many built by us local lads for fishing from, Sarah used to laugh so much about the fact that they all had names. When my friends are around we will refer to 'steps', '2nd willow', long, 'perch corner' and others during conversation, leaving her smirking every time.
This shot is taken from 'Perch Corner' looking back across the lake towards 'Boathouse'
walking up behind 'long' and the sun returns to brighten the way
When we arrive at 'Top Pond' the sky is again blue but the snow still falling quite hard, a couple walking in front give some perspective to the shot
How I love this place, I have such great memories of fishing here as a boy, of making friends here and growing up with incredible friends who have supported me ever since in everything I've done. Now I have memories of sitting here with my own son, fishing, laughing and calling Sarah to come down and see our catch, maybe I'll get to sit here with my Grandson too....
Even though the snow is still falling slowly it is a beautiful winters day in a wonderful place where memories are many.
Heading back across the park the sun struggles to stay out in the fast moving snow clouds
We take the route around the back of the wood-yard for the walk home
With the snow still coming down I grab a shot of St Hybalds Church and we head home.