CARD IMAGE GALLERY

Pannel Valley Nature Reserve meets Royal Military Canal Path ❖ Icklesham ❖ East Sussex ❖ England ❖ 10 November 2019 ❖ 3:22pm Waymarkers and waysigns dot the landscape of England's countryside. I've developed a fascination with them over the years whilst walking the endless footpaths, Although similar in design, each sign develops a unique look and presence depending on where it rests. In 1697, England formalised the installation of waymarkers along public footpaths. Signs can be fashioned from metal, engraved into stone, or, my favourite, made from oak. They can be hidden by foliage, covered in English Ivy, or, like the one you see here, proudly standing alone in the landscape. As the years pass, weather, sun, and the occasional bird creates each sign into a work of art. This particular waysign resides at the intersection of Pannel Valley Nature Reserve and the Royal Military Canal Path. Stand here and direct your gaze to the right to see the sprawling marshlands between the canals and the sea. The sea wall that prevents the English Channel from washing through surrounding marsh land has a 1.5 mile footpath along its apex. Turn left to wander into Pannel Valley Nature Reserve, dotted with lakes and several bird hides. In the spring, the incessant chatter of nesting birds fills the area with a loud chorus. About halfway, you will encounter a wooden bridge, allowing passage northward towards Wickham Rock Lane. It was this bridge that allowed me to capture 'Swan Family Procession.' The end of this path empties onto Pannel Lane in Pett, where I captured the image featured in 'January Morning Frosted,' also featuring a waysign. Straight ahead is a permissive path, meandering up a steep cliff which offers spectacular views of the canal, marshland, and English Channel. On this spot, I could hear the distant roar of the sea, birdsong, and nearby sheep sharing monosyllabic conversation. The afternoon light, 97 minutes before sunset, bathes the area with a warm glow. The blue of a near-cloudless sky and it's watery reflection, a patchy green and yellow tint of the area's grass, the golden colour of the sign's arrows, and the faded reds of the footbridge rails and rusty waterpipe offer a pleasing primary colour palette.