A Walk in Didsbury Village 4

Image: © Tom Jolliffe Taken: 20 Jul 2023

A small bay which has been reclaimed from dereliction by caring residents. Formerly a neglected space in front of the electricity substation; active residents prevailed upon the owners of the ground, "the powers that be" (a lovely term) to organise the legal steps to allow the small improvement to take shape behind the protective bollards and new railings. The "Didsbury in Bloom" containers made a suitable boundary. The overhanging trees have made it a little challenging for those planting flowers, but at a glance I can see there are Calendula (marigolds), Digitalis pupurea (foxglove), a Geranium, bedding plants, Lunaria annua (honesty), Sedum and shrubs such as Mahonia, Cotoneaster, Buxus sempervivens (?) (box) along with plenty of indigenous moss, ferns, "weeds", brambles and even trees which have relished an improved space - such as ash tree - and the ivy has stormed back up the tree trunk. It is easy to be annoyed by ivy's resilience but it is as well to remember that it flowers late in the year and is a very useful source for foraging pollinators such as bees. There is a also a birdbox and what looks like a bughut for bees attached to the trees. Emily Williamson who lived in Didsbury for thirty years until 1912, a pioneer wildlife protector, campaigner and co-founder of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (originally the Plumage League) would strongly approve. The ivy, the sycamore and the bramble were here when "Dyddi" founded Didsbury in the first place (over 800 years ago?) and from where its name originates. This is a place to stop and stare, reflect on life and wonder at and enjoy the resilience of Nature. "What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?" W H Davies

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