Summer Walk No4, Ladyburn Lake - Tuesday 5th July 2022.
The Morpeth Camera Club Summer programme of walks and visits to local places continued on Tuesday 5th July
as walk Number four saw us explore Ladyburn Lake. This freshwater lake covers 25 acres and is fed by the Lady
Burn to form the centre piece of Druridge Bay Country Park. From 1965 until 1971, most of the area was the site
of the National Coal Board's Coldrife Opencast Mine. When mining ceased, the large ponds, pools and overburden
were reworked over many years to form the country park that we see today, officially opening in July 1989.
The park is now a focal point for walkers, birdwatchers, water sport activities and the 1.7 mile walk around the
lake is surrounded by meadows and mixed woodland making it ideal for photography. On a warm sunny evening
the group set off from the east end of the lake near the visitor centre, looking for images. Heron, Canada Geese
and swans were soon encountered on the lakeshore as we walked past the lush green reedbeds and the prominent
pink flowers of the Rosebay Willow Herb.
Members were soon spread out along the paths, meadows and grassland areas with Rock Rose, Marsh Orchid,
Ragwort, Bloody Cranesbill, Bugle and Selfheal amongst those flowers identified. On reaching the west end of
the lake, most of the group took a short diversion through the nature reserve to cross the Lady Burn via the
wooden Chinese bridge rather than negotiate the forty four round stepping stones in the water.
Now on the north shore, the solid footpaths and tracks made it easy to explore and from the seats and viewing
points we saw and photographed Moorhen, Little Grebe and numerous ducks on the calm water. As the evening
sun backlit the small white flowerers of Water Crow Foot, we crossed the metal bridge over the spillway at the
north east corner of the park and returned to our start point to complete our circular walk of the lake. A huge
thank you to everyone who attended for making this a very enjoyable evening.
Davy.
as walk Number four saw us explore Ladyburn Lake. This freshwater lake covers 25 acres and is fed by the Lady
Burn to form the centre piece of Druridge Bay Country Park. From 1965 until 1971, most of the area was the site
of the National Coal Board's Coldrife Opencast Mine. When mining ceased, the large ponds, pools and overburden
were reworked over many years to form the country park that we see today, officially opening in July 1989.
The park is now a focal point for walkers, birdwatchers, water sport activities and the 1.7 mile walk around the
lake is surrounded by meadows and mixed woodland making it ideal for photography. On a warm sunny evening
the group set off from the east end of the lake near the visitor centre, looking for images. Heron, Canada Geese
and swans were soon encountered on the lakeshore as we walked past the lush green reedbeds and the prominent
pink flowers of the Rosebay Willow Herb.
Members were soon spread out along the paths, meadows and grassland areas with Rock Rose, Marsh Orchid,
Ragwort, Bloody Cranesbill, Bugle and Selfheal amongst those flowers identified. On reaching the west end of
the lake, most of the group took a short diversion through the nature reserve to cross the Lady Burn via the
wooden Chinese bridge rather than negotiate the forty four round stepping stones in the water.
Now on the north shore, the solid footpaths and tracks made it easy to explore and from the seats and viewing
points we saw and photographed Moorhen, Little Grebe and numerous ducks on the calm water. As the evening
sun backlit the small white flowerers of Water Crow Foot, we crossed the metal bridge over the spillway at the
north east corner of the park and returned to our start point to complete our circular walk of the lake. A huge
thank you to everyone who attended for making this a very enjoyable evening.
Davy.