Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 7th March, 2025)

i proper good photo even if i say so my self. well done michael.

I have crocus popping up all over the gardens but not seen any snowdrops which I planted.On the photo the crocus look thin on the ground maybe many more are going to flower over the next few days

It looks more like a peaceful hamlet than a village. It looks cared for as if neighbours get together and discuss how they want their houses to conform in a particular way. I love older houses I must say. Credit to the folk who live there.
I notice how the crocus are all white as well. Mine have come through and they’re nearly all purple. The yellow crocus seem more scarce these days. Saffron is quite expensive to buy.
A nice neat photo today.

I can hear WW Pad viewers saying to themselves. What a lovely spring photo to be waking up to this morning in the month of March.
For those that don't know Crooke Village is part of Shevington and gets the name of Crooke. from a bend (crooke) on the river Douglas

A heartening photo of nature following it's annual pattern. The person at the far end of the grass appears to be a tree-hugger! I'm sure it's just an illusion but why not hug a tree in celebration of Spring if the mood takes you?

Them crocus is out of focus.

Beautiful Crocuses love them, yellows are nice too. I've noticed they blend well with Daffodils now in flower too.

Now that's stands out, such beauty.
One of the most loveliest parts of Wigan and District.
I really love Crocuses but noticed when it rains the flower heads lie on the
ground, shame.
It's raining today so the display might not look so nice.

It’s closer to Standish Lower Ground than Shevington but who cares.
It’s a nice photo Mick and Crook Village is much more pleasant than it used to be.
Pity they turned The Royal Oak into flats and built on the car park, it might have done well with all those new builds in the area.
My boss said to me about 50 years ago, don’t be afraid of blowing your own trumpet because no one will do it for you. So trumpet away Mick, nowt wrong with that!

I agree Crooke is nice in parts, so is every other part of Wigan District.
Here in Aspull, we have lovely green grassed areas flooded with Spring bulbs now in Bloom, the Daffodils stand tall, they look fantastic, all credit to Wigan Council.

Yes, you are correct, Aspuller, but what lets Aspull down is all the heavy, noisy traffic.
Teasy, it's only a PAD, so the focus doesn't matter at all unless you're going to blow it up and put it on display in an art gallery.
Colin, Crooke and SLG as Mill Brooke as a boundary, there is no boundary in between Shevy and Crooke

"...all credit to Wigan Council."

Brave man.

I can hear the pitchforks being readied.

I have a lot of crocus, not many white ones and not many yellow ones, in my garden at the moment; it seems to be a very good year for crocus. Also, there are many daffodils among the crocus and these are now beginning to bloom.
I had a lot of snowdrops, but the white flowers are now turning brown.
Thanks for the photo, Mick. It brings back many happy memories of being there with some friends and having a few pints. It was always a nice place to be in summer, when the weather was wonderful, sitting outside with a cold beer.

Now come on Veronica I hope you don't need to go for an eye test but on my screen there are blue/violet crocus. I know the crocus are out of focus but there are different colours

Must be 'a better class of crocus' in Crooke,or so misguided Mick thinks ! He's wrong of course

Yes I I should have enlarged the photo Peter P ..drat! Yes I see there are more lilac coloured. All mine are deep purple a few yellow and some white.

I miss going through Aspull on the bus as the Spring displays were always the best to see. The 715 should never have been taken off. Mind you there’s nothing in Wigan to go for these days.

I can't understand why Diamond bus stop this important route on Bolton road, vital for Westhoughton and Bolton. So pleased the Spring flower display through Aspull made you smile, Veronica.

Ian, a lady near me has ignored the developments and buildings around her telling her progress is around her . Her house is old but her front garden is overwhelmed with yellow crocuses! You can feel their energy , which clearly comes from her soul , saying , Up yours , don’t you dare tell my children when or how !

Most , if not all of the houses in Crooke belong to a housing association Veronica . It’s been that way for decades , so I doubt if any of the tenants have any input in the way that their houses are maintained . This would no doubt help to explain the uniform appearance of the terraced properties .

Veronica there's so much choice at Horwich, especially living in Westhoughton.

If they aren’t yellow, how can they be a crocus?
That’s like calling a lime a lemon, or William of Orange Erik the Red.

I’m surprised at that Ozy it's usually new build flats that become housing associations.
Yes that’s where I go Malc up to Horwich and Westhoughton is not bad for shopping. We have gone from 1 Supermarket to 4 and B&M and GeeTees. Also a good Hardware shop. I do miss Wigan as it was though.

Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. They are much appreciated.

Veronica, Westhoughton Hardware shop is the best around. They are very helpful and sell everything you need at great prices. Parking a bit awkward but ok round the back. I also agree Westhoughton have enough shops to serve everyone.

You’re right Alan. They always deliver anything heavy for me such as big bags of compost or paint etc and don’t charge me. They bring it on their way home…yes they are helpful..

I’ve found the same products for half the price in the Pakistani Shop adjacent to Westhoughton Hardware. Always check there first.