More from Keele
Originally published Jan 29, 2016.
Whilst the sun tried to shine yesterday, we took advantage of the nice winter weather while we could. Following on from the location of my last post from Keele, we walked much of the same woodland walk and took the chance to explore areas we hadn’t visited previously.
Most of the campus waterways seem to end up here in the lake, creating many trails and running waterfalls. You can easily see where many of the natural elements have now blended into the man made. Creating a beautiful mixture of history and nature throughout not only the woodland walks, but the campus as well.
Taking advantage of the fresh air is always rewarding and its wonderful to have a campus situated on a plethora of natural spaces, which seems to be one of the best ways to explore the local countryside.
There is an abundance of animals that inhabit the woodland area, with ducks, squirrels and sparrows to name a few. Everywhere you turn you can hear groups of little grey squirrels foraging in the leaves. Much of the background noise is often filled with the sounds of a mixture of birdlife.
When the light falls through the tree canopies, it creates some interesting textures. The light here is very different to harsh sunlight that is often associated with Australia. Walking within the woodland, you can see the image of an idyllic English backdrop, no matter where you are everywhere is beautiful in this landscape.
Running to the top of the hill from the path, you are rewarded with an expansive view of the field. It stretches as far as the eye can see and seems to meet the horizon, a full sea of lush greenery. We were greeted with an awe inspiring sight of traditional English farmland with the edges of the winter sunlight beaming at us.
The small patches of green that have thrived through out the woodland are the minimal signs of life. Without them the areas seem dull and in a state of transition. Winter is the season of new growth and change and we are very much looking forward to coming back in the Spring time and seeing the changes in the landscape.
Many of the international students have begun making plans for further travel as the semester progresses. With that in mind I look further to bringing you future posts from other areas around the UK and abroad.
Kathleen Freeman is a graphic designer and freelance writer; she is currently undertaking a Media and Communications degree. In her spare time she continues the search to find the book/coffee shop combination store throughout the globe.
All images, unless otherwise stated, are copyright of Kathleen Freeman, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of the author.