Trees - 1

The sun is out, and it's time to move on. I've a show to work towards and I need to produce a few things that I don't mind selling. Willington is a small village south of Derby, they've not had a festival there before, so I don't know what to expect. Yesterday I set off with my sketch pad and camera to have a look around Willington and surrounding area for some inspiration. The Trent and Mersey canal runs straight through the village and is to be the site of a multi million pound Marina development in the near future.

Canals were the freight transport backbone of this country before the motorways took their place.Much of the canal system fell into disrepair over time.But recent years have seen a boom in their use.With the growing awareness of environmental issues and concern for our resources, canals are once again seeing freight traffic. Then of course, there is the huge tourism and holiday market. The waterways of Britain are home to some of the most highly decorated canal barges which for some are permanent homes.

I took a walk up one of the stretches of Canal from a lock called Stenson Bubble (see below).the drawing is of some trees I saw on my walk. Join me each day to see it grow...and I can assure you..it won't take 9 weeks this time!