It’s sometimes easy to forget just how close you are to the countryside in Preston. Wherever you are in the city, it’s not too far to some great countryside. As a boy I used to ride out into the countryside regularly. I can remember one expedition that took three intrepid youngsters to Lytham on pushbikes only for one of us to get a puncture miles from home. With no puncture repair kit, no money and the light fading fast we made our way to the local police station to explain our predicament. After a bit of a lecture we were made to sit and wait while parents were dispatched from Preston on the bus – we didn’t own a car at that time and neither did the other parents. Needless to say we were in big trouble.

Other trips into the countryside often took us up Lea Road – one friend in particular used to collect birds’ eggs so that was one of the reasons we’d head out – it’s probably illegal now but it was an innocent interest in nature at the time. This photograph was taken on Bartle Lane, just off Lea Road and it was a very pleasant summer’s evening that brought back pleasant memories. It’s nice to be reminded sometimes that you don’t have to travel too far to experience the gorgeous Lancashire countryside.

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Photo: Nikon D700, 16-35mm f8 1/125

Paul Melling [paulmellingphotography]