Geograph - photograph every grid square

Frost covered leaves and ivy, close to the River Lagan south of Belfast. There was a hard frost on the ground which did not shift in shaded areas all day with temperatures close to 0ºC.

Not a sandpit and not a golf course, the Sandpit Field lies to the east of the Giant’s Ring Road J3268 : The Giant's Ring Road, Belfast (4). The National Trust Minnowburn leaflet describes it as “a natural amphitheatre carved out during the last Ice Age”. The view is... (more)

See J3268 : The Minnowburn in flood (1). The Lagan was also in exceptionally fine form today. This view is downstream at the Minnowburn car park. It has burst its banks and flooded the path (running diagonally from lower left). Continue to J3268 : The River Lagan in flood (2).

See J3268 : Alder leaves and galls, Minnowburn, Belfast (June 2010). Another example of the galls caused by the mite eriophyes laevis Link.

It seemed as if Spring would never arrive. Last week saw a change. Today, the Minnowburn Beeches, along the Ballylesson Road, were verdant. J3268 : Autumn at Minnowburn 2008 (2) shows the traditional autumnal scene.

This has been covered in detail already in this square but easily warrants a few more. This is the view downstream.

See J3268 : New planting, Minnowburn, Belfast (2). More of the same – further south along the path.

Part of a large tree in the mixed woodland at Barnett Demesne, south Belfast.

A chain pump at the NT Warden's Office at Ballynahatty. The pump was made by Lee Howl of Tipton, Staffordshire.

The now-leafless Minnowburn beeches on the Ballylesson Road. J3268 : Autumn, Minnowburn, Belfast 2010-1 shows the same view 14 days ago.

Part of an extensive growth, in the grass, between the car park and the towpath. J3268 : Fungi, Minnowburn, Belfast - November 2014(2) shows the gills on another, nearby.