The Weir

Cried off a long run over the Pennines in favour of the shelter of Borsdane Wood. As the wind gusted above the trees and the rain hammered down I wasn't disappointed to find myself in the heart of this Ancient Woodland. This is a specific term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales (or 1750 in Scotland). Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally.

The wood follows the course of the Borsdane Brook which is the boundary between Hindley and Westhoughton and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Wigan and Bolton. The brook flows through Wigan, Pennington Flash and into the Glaze Brook,
ultimately draining into the River Mersey section of the Manchester Ship Canal near Cadishead.

Normally the Brook is no more than a trickle but this morning it was in full spate. I took quite a few shots, but really needed a tripod due to low light levels. This was the best of the bunch, as it made the most of the light in the backdrop of leaves behind the weir. Short run reflecting the conditions but good to get out and about - is it summer soon ?