The view along the railway line towards Saltaire has been opened up quite a lot since Network Rail has been assiduously felling trees along the length of the line. I assume it is to prevent problems with fallen trees, and leaves on the rails in the autumn, though I did read that it was part of a programme to encourage lower shrub and hedge growth, which are apparently better as wildlife corridors. Who knows? I was a bit dismayed as the bare patches and stumps left behind currently look a bit unsightly but I suppose it will all recover somehow. I note that they have also removed the young birch tree that was growing through the parapet of the railway bridge. That did need doing, as it would soon have seriously destabilised the stonework.
Meanwhile, growth in our woodlands is unchecked. There are currently hundreds of celandines blooming. Their yellow, sunburst flowers look very pretty en masse. I almost like them as much as the bluebells that come later... and I especially like them when they're interspersed with wood anemones.
There are a few early bluebells just beginning to unfurl on the south-facing banking alongside the river. These are always much earlier to flower than those in Hirst Woods, where it's more shaded.
The old, repurposed boat by Hirst Locks is getting more fragile as time goes on, but when the spring flowers bloom it still looks quite attractive.
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