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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Susan Rushton 
Oh! That’s a beauty of a rose photo.
The buds almost seem to be hanging outside of the picture because of the white background.
I like the frosted Fern.
I like the colour of that one – its pure gold in places.
As ever, wonderful photos. But no frost just across the Pennines? This was the first frost-free morning in several days. But we’ll be back on track next week, apparently.
All’s clear at the moment, assuming you don’t count the rain! I’m hoping for no frost in the morning – I have an early start.
Beautiful description and pictures. Somehow reminded of the Famous Five stories of my childhood and the places they visited on their various adventures.
I wished we could see the curious couple who asked “what they might be missing”.
Susie
I was a find-outers fan too, back in the day, but I’ve forgotten that bit!
I think parks have so much to offer in winter and this post helps support that! Gorgeous photos.
I agree – the more green we have, the merrier.
Great photos, I love the rose buds. Bold Venture Park is on my list for this year but I haven’t a clue yet where it is or where to park though no doubt Google maps will show me 🙂
It’s not a large park and rarely busy, so you can park on the road outside. Another local park I like is Sunnyhurst Wood. Either of them will lead you up towards moorland and Darwen Tower.
Thanks, it’s good to know I can park outside Bold Venture Park. I’ve been to Sunnyhurst Wood many times, got some good photos there at the end of last October – my aim for this summer is to walk from there up to the tower 🙂
Love these – wonderful rose buds.
The snow seems to give them extra warmth in contrast.
Those rosebuds are a lovely sight, but not one this Mainer associates with winter.;)
I can imagine!
I am speechless! Well, almost. Rosebuds in snow?? It is magical how the buds seem detached from the background; of course the unexpectedness of it makes it magical too. What a wonderful image! But I love that top one too: the touch of snow on the trees seems to give them a bit of a lowering, a kind of homage to the angel. Somber and elegant to my eyes. A very good start to my day — thank you!
I was going to say they aren’t the perkiest of buds, but then to be ready to bloom at all in those conditions is impressive!
In the rose picture, I really like the way the snow leaves a space for the buds to pierce
The uneven edge is an interesting effect. I was lucky that the two whites (the page and the snow) match so well.
Your hometown park sound lovely. And the last picture is a welcome burst of colour.
I’ve been looking for an ‘excuse’ to post it for a while now. 🙂
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.
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.