The gloves are off......for the moment

Expecting a cold day, much the pattern of the winter, now declared the coldest for many years, it was a delight to go without gloves. On the previous day, I was walking above Sheffield around Redmires reservoirs. It was bitingly, stingingly cold with each of us, red faced from the chill factor, were glad to get out of the sharp, southerly airstream.

But this day was, in contrast, quite balmy.

This meteorological feeling was supported by the evidence I can provide. We sat, during our interval flask break, on the base of Wentworth's Queen Anne monument, for 15 minutes, and did not feel any sense of chill. The monument is a simple sandstone obelisk. Erected to the political sponsor of Thomas Wentworth, Queen Anne was the last of the Stuart monarchs. She was the daughter of James II, who was nudged off the throne during a period called the Glorious Revolution. Her sister, Mary was married to William of Orange who became William III, once her father was allowed to flee his kingdom. Thomas' successful career during the reign of Queen Anne must have fuelled Thomas Wentworth's hope of a Jacobite restoration.

But today, blue tits sang and flitted about and hares, at least a pair, approached and then set off at a dash perhaps 30 yards away. It was a very restful spot and has been earmarked for future flask stops.
We had a further purpose to our work. We passed the pathway markers with a critical eye, in view of the possibility of a new walking map for future visitors. Despite all the efforts of many people, the signs are straight forward enough but are, at times, vague. There are plans to identify colour coded routes with guidance to distance and points of interest, both natural and historical.
Our patrol took us along the wooded bank for the Serpentine. This was once a wonderful waterway constructed in the parkland and a complete artifice. Now it is reduced to several watery ponds. Plans are ahead to restore and reveal it was intended to be seen.