A common Azure Bluet Dragonfly

With no work or other meetings today, we decided to go on a jaunt towards the River Severn to enjoy the sunshine in a quiet place. Helena did some research and suggested a visit to the Ship Inn at Framilode, a hamlet in the remote area between the Sharpness Canal and the river, which is remarkably isolated because of the difficulty of access across the canal.

We arrived at lunchtime and Helena had a cider whilst I chose the only real ale, all the way from Youngs brewery in South London. The publican when questioned told us that the river was only a quarter of a mile away up the towpath to the last lock, before a short walk along a road to Framilode Church, on the river bank, where I've previously blipped some housemartins.

The canal is extremely old, having opened in 1763 and has been long abandoned, and this short stretch is mostly silted up. Originally the lock provided an entry point for barges from the extremely tidal river Severn to enter the canal to make the journey of about ten miles to Stroud. (It 'ended' when it joined the Severn and Thames canal at Wallbridge, from where I blipped yesterday). When the Sharpness canal was built, at right angles to this canal, it allowed a much safer route for seagoing boats up from the docks at Sharpness on the Severn estuary, all the way to Gloucester, and its docks. The route is still open and occasionally Gloucester gets visits from the tall-ships when they are in the area, which is a sight I still haven't managed to see.

We returned eventually to the Ship Inn and Helena bought me a chunky roll filled with freshly cooked gammon and a hunk of excellent Gloucester cheese. Whilst waiting in the garden beside the canal, I strolled backwards and forwards beside the stretch of open water, which I think has been cleared there as a feature to attract water fowl and fish. I had a long lens on board and tried to film the abundant small fish which stayed close to the surface. A few much larger fish surfaced from deeper water and pushed the smaller ones away.

I suddenly noticed this small dragonfly fluttering amongst the reeds and then finally alighting on this reed to apparently bask in the sun. I have now checked and it appears to be a common Azure Bluet Dragonfly - Enallagma aspersum- and is only about two inches long. Seeing the finished image, I am not surprised that my zoom didn't produce a sharper result. I definitely need to use a tripod in such circumstances, and even a prime lens, if i know I can get up close as I managed to do today. More practice which in such circumstances will be a pleasure.

We really enjoyed out jaunt, and will be back for more, when we have free time. It is so rewarding to slow down and enjoy the glories of nature left to its own devices.


The Stroudwater Navigation
In the 1740s Richard Owen Cambridge built a man made waterway near to Wheatenhurst for pleasure purposes. The Kemmett Canal was then constructed between 1759 and 1763 from Framilode to the Stonehouse area.

This mainly consisted of making sections of the river Frome navigable between weirs or mill ponds. Cargo was then craned, up or down, from boats on one side of the weir to a boat on the other side.

This system was the earliest known example of container traffic on an inland waterway. The Stroudwater Navigation as we see it today was built between 1775 and 1779 from Framilode, on the banks of the River Severn, to Wallbridge, Stroud.

From the beginning, it was very profitable. Such success meant that the Company of Proprietors was keen that their canal form part of the proposed link with the Thames and thereby London. In 1781 they commissioned a survey of the line from Stroud to Cricklade on the River Thames.

The report recommended the Stroud to Cirencester route. However, the surveyor, Robert Whitworth, warned that trouble would be encountered on the summit, which was to be built over "bad rocky ground".