After a lovely meal with the in-laws I noticed that the sun was setting and so we drove up to Helsby Hill to see the sun set over Cheshire and the River Mersey. This particular dark blue cloud really caught my eye. It isn’t the most interesting sunset I have ever captured on my camera, but it has been a very long time since I have seen so many strange patterns and colours at dusk.

Chester Zoo is one of the largest and most popular zoos in England and it is famous for its fine collection of beasts from around the world. However I would imagine that few take much notice of this house, which was here long before the zoo. The founder George Mottershead purchased Oakfield house in 1930 for £3,500 with 9 acres of gardens. The zoo opened a year later and nearly 80 years on has expanded to 111 acres with over 420 different species.

Late last year I was driving between Chester and Nantwich and past Snugbury’s Ice Cream factory / farm. I took a photograph of their model of Big Ben made from straw bales. The night before a large storm had blown the structure over. This year they have made a 30 foot tall meerkat out of straw and I really hope the same doesn’t happen again. I wonder what other animals they might make out of straw. I think a cow would look very interesting (and be topical to the ice cream!)

On the rock in the middle of this round pond is a fountain with two or three model otters (not live ones). This is in the central garden area of the zoo and one of my favourite areas to bring a picnic. Behind the fountain you can see the side of Oakfield Manor. I think a lot of people and photographers especially walk past this fountain. When we go to the zoo we have our eyes out for animals rather than fountains and other interesting things to make a photograph with.