Does Lincolnshire get much snow?

Whatever your perspective on being warm or cold (and either extreme can be dangerous) I think snow is God's way of reminding us that we too are part of Creation. There is a harsh beauty in snow that we see nowhere else. Snow has a purity that is a shame to sully with our heavy footsteps. Sometimes frost has a way of preserving little things in a refracted light that makes them shine in new surprising and incredibly beautiful ways. I shall continue to photograph Lincolnshire in the ice and share it here....

When the ponds freeze we worry about build up of toxic gases killing fish and frogs. Birds have no drinking or bathing water either. However, the very worst thing you can do of course is to break the ice. This creates a shock wave which disturbs and can kill wildlife. It is best to fill a pan with hot water and place it on the ice in several places to make holes that allow gases to escape and birds to drink.

This picture shows holes that have refrozen and also an area of thin ice where holes had been created and refilling created a larger area of open water. The zazzle images were taken of birds enjoying holes I made with the hot pan technique.


Blackbird On Ice by persimew

Nature's Mirror by persimew

A Cold Bath by persimew

My first point is, however well prepared you may be, travel on snow and ice is always going to be difficult. There will always be those who think that a 60mph limit is always 60mph!

A good driver knows that a speed limit is a maximum in GOOD conditions. In poor visibility or icy driving conditions 30mph can be dangerous. In heavy snow , where it is untreated and compressed, traction can be lost at any speed and cars spin off or become stranded. Where snow is a usual feature of winter, you can buy snow tires.

It is worth carrying some winter equipment with you. This should include snow shovel, blankets and extra clothing, cellphone, carpets for traction in snow, hot drinks in a flask, sweets or snacks, essential medication and of course de-icer. Keep your de-icer in the house though, because it works better when it is not frozen in a car you cannot enter because of frozen locks and seals.