Posted on by susurrus

Bold Venture Park In Winter

War memorial topped by an angel with trees in the background

My home town, Darwen, has several Victorian parks, including Bold Venture Park. At the entrance, an angel, now nearly 100 years old, holds up a wreath and an olive branch to remind us of the consequences of war and to commemorate those who fell in WW1. The angel’s wings are the first things you see when approaching from the town.

Looking out over a snow-covered park towards the war memorial

Bold Venture is a hillside park with an interesting topography, built around quarries and steep ravines. A small lake, home to ducks, is another visual magnet. The lake rarely freezes right over, but was cold enough to support a band of ice, covered in snow in places.

View of a frosted lake surrounded by snow covered trees

The park has a children’s playground and a smattering of decorative plants, including Pampas grass, but is mainly trees and large shrubs such as rhododendrons.

Tall grass with a covering of snow

The paths, steep in places at any time, can be treacherous on a frosty winter’s day, but we met several people braving the weather to exercise dogs (or themselves).

View down through trees in a snowy park to a bridge

Bold Venture Park is dissected by a road and I much prefer the lower half. The upper half is too steep for my pleasure and too closed in for rapture, although there are little surprises in the form of artwork for those who press on. I usually turn left after the first half and walk around the second, up a dirt road (technically, a continuation of Belgrave Road) that leads towards Darwen moor with its Jubilee tower. Yes, that’s a steep climb too, but it gets easier the more you do it, and being out in the natural world has its consolations. Moss. Grass. Brambles. Bracken. That sort of thing.

Bramble hanging down, its leaves covered in frost

I’m also adding a picture of cemetery rose buds in the snow. Another place, another time, but so atmospheric and wintry that I couldn’t resist slipping it in.

Pointed orange rose buds in snow covered cemetery

29 Replies to “Bold Venture Park In Winter”

  2. That is pretty sweet frost! I could not engage that challenge because we are without frost.. It happens sometimes, but it is not very impressive. Besides, the last thing I need is another meme. They can be addicting.

    1. We’ve had more snow today – massive, floaty flakes – but it melted almost as soon as it fell. I’d love to try my hand at photographing one of our winter gardens in the snow, but there isn’t one within convenient driving distance when it is really snowy. We tried to do it last year by staying overnight beside a garden, but the forecast turned out to be wrong.

  3. Beautiful photos Susan! I thought the fern was my favorite, but then as I read further, I liked each new photo just as much. Roses in snow have always fascinated me.

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