Old Lancashire Hawthorne Turton and darwen Landscapes

High above Bolton and Blackburn or should I really say Turton and Darwen near Owshow Clough  is an old pit tramway that leads past a decaying and overgrown coal yard. The tram way goes in a straight line past a couple of pit heads and up parallel to a track. Alongside the track a group of 8 Hawthornes string in a line bent and twisted with age and the effect of wind.

According to an internet wicca site the Hawthorn, Crataegus oxyacantha, is the The May Tree Sixth month of the Celtic Tree calendar, May 13th June 9 Sixth consonant of the Ogham alphabet uath Huathe (Hoo-ah) - H  This Ogham symbol is used in Celtic Reiki and its essence represents the energy of cleansing and preparation. It clears the mind of negative thoughts and mental confusion, offering clarity. It gives patience and offers stillness. Hawthorn is burned to purify, and draw faery to your eye. The Hawthorne is a family favourite we always look forward to its show of creamy white flowers that dominant the landscape in May around our Pennine home. Here's the beginning of an acrylic painting that Im working on. Its a sort of joyful experiment which started by chance when I went on a high moorland walk u above Turton Lancashire.

For me they are a return to an old subject and a narrative of survival. The small drawings below are from my Lancashire Walks Sketch book. Today I've started on some larger acrylics and hope to post them. If anyone  has access to music on the hawthorn tree it would be great if you could share. I was drawn to the shapes of the trees, the way they followed the lads dip and the way that their dark shadows divided and dominated the expanse of moor. Rob

more coming soon

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