The Trent Valley Noon Column.

We have a free day before we head back home.  The weather wasn't great but we decided after a liesurely morning and a visit to the marina to visit the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's reserve at Croxall Lakes.

When we arrived it was very windy, cloudy but dry.  So we thought we would have a walk round to the two hides on the reserve.  Unfortunately the wind meant that the birds were spending their time in the shelter of the vegetation.

Near one of the hides is this "Noon Column"  the slit in the middle of the column allows a shaft of light to fall on the shadow of the column at true noon on Midsummer and Midwinters days.  This lasts for 10 or 15 minutes.