Strip

The Wild Garlic, or Ramsons, are in full bloom now, bringing a spectacular cascading froth to the woodland floor. This patch is in Midgely Wood, which is part of the strip connecting Baildon Bank with Shipley Glen.

There were quite a few butterflies about Large White (first for year), Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Peacock, Holly Blue, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. 

I’d walked out along the Bank to the Glen and then down through Trench Meadows en route to another game at Salts FC. After last week’s 7-1 win over bottom of the table Sherburn White Rose, things were reversed with a 1-5 defeat to top of the table Ripon City. 

Coincidentally, the evening saw the episode of Ripping Yarns filmed at Salts’ ground - Golden Gordon - shown again on BBC4. While much about the infrastructure around the ground has  changed a lot, the stands with the deep concrete steps are still there (extra). And the shot where Michael Palin cycles past the canal locks is just to the rear of the current clubhouse at Hirst Locks. Watching again also reminded me how frustratingly close Salts had been lat weekend to emulating the famous Barnstoneworth United scoreline of Eight Bloody One!