Flookburgh Steam Gathering

Last weekend was the 42nd Cumbria Steam Gathering at Cark airfield near Flookburgh. 

 

As well as steam engines, Cumbria Steam & Vintage Vehicle Society bring together vintage commercal vehicles, plus hundreds of classic transport favourites including cars, motorcycles, military vehicles and pedal cycles.

Proud owners show off their painstakingly restored motorcycles.

Click here to see the motorcycles in the parade ring
Hundreds of classic cars on display evoked memories of a more sedate driving era.

 









Music was provided by various vintage fairground organs and live music by the Pantonic Steel Orchestra. 
Click here to listen to the steel orchestra
It was a colourful and noisy event with a huge variety of entertainments including craft exhibits and demonstrations such as lace making and basket weaving. 
A magic show to keep young children occupied and a food fair selling all kinds of tempting locally made goods were popular attractions.
 All the fun of the fair on old fashioned rides.

  On display in various marquees were collections of everything imaginable. From old phones and coachbuilt prams to keyrings and bricks. Yes, bricks.
It would appear that nothing is too mundane to become someone's passion!

 

My favourite was this complete model farm. I would have given my right arm for this when I was a child.
The sun blazed down on the airfield all day, so a cold drink under the shade of a marquee was a popular choice.  For real-ale connoisseurs, a Steam Gathering Ale was available, brewed especially for the event by the Ulverston Brewery.

 All this and dozens of stalls selling everything from plants to raincoats. Enough second hand junk ... sorry, I mean treasure, to keep the most ardent collector happy. A great day out for all the family. 

Thanks for visiting, hope you've enjoyed the photos. 

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A busy day at the nectar bar

The boots are having a bit of time out at the moment, but there's plenty going on right on my doorstep.

 

Last year I resolved to plant a nectar bar in order to encourage and support bees and butterflies in my garden.
 

 Scabious is a great addition as it has a long flowering season, as long as you dead head regularly. It comes in a pleasing array of colours, from pale blues and lilacs to deep pink.

Centaurea Montana - Cornflower

Inula Hookeri

Eryngium - Blue Thistle

Solidago - Goldenrod

Of course, no nectar bar would be complete without the ubiquitous Buddleia, whose common name of Butterfly Bush is self explanatory.

Red Admiral

 

Small Tortoiseshell on Alchemilla Mollis - Lady's Mantle

 2014 seems to have been a very successful year for the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, at least in my garden. I was very happy to see my first Peacock butterflies this morning when I looked round the garden.

 My white Buddleia is not as prolific a bloomer as the purple variety, but is just as popular with butterflies.

 Meanwhile, the native hedgerow around the perimeter of the garden attracts a different variety of insects. I'm not expert enough to identify most of them.

Gatekeeper butterfly on bramble

I've unintentionally disturbed a few slumbering moths while I've been gardening.

This one pictured left seems to be under or behind every pot I move. It has beautiful orange underwings, but I haven't managed to get a photo of it in flight yet.

 I don't know which plants they favour, but they seem to be very plentiful despite the nightly visits by Pipistrelle bats.

Last but not least... Sugar Stealers! I thought these were magical when I was a child and I still love to see them floating round on a Summer's day.

Thanks for visiting, hope you've enjoyed the photos. 

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