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Mark Ellis

@mark-ellis.bsky.social

420 followers 720 following 330 posts

Particular fondness for family, friends, sport, music, festivals (see you at Glastonbury), walking, heritage, conservation, and fun. Sometimes found working at the National Memorial Arboretum, leading Scouts, and talking about Staffordshire. Allons-y

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Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 2d

The changing of the seasons is marked by the pin oaks (Quercus palustris) displaying their gorgeous autumnal colours in Heroes’ Square at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Not only a powerful reminder of the inherent beauty of nature but they also provide a great excuse for a daily walk around site

Three trees in various stages of turning from green to autumnal colours stand in front of a modern building

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 4d

Ride To The Wall (RTTW) brings thousands of motorcycle fans from around the UK to the National Memorial Arboretum for huge show of remembrance and respect - always a highlight of my working year.

And despite the challenges brought by Storm Amy this year’s event has been as great as always.

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 8d

An afternoon off near Coventry … and time well spent in my opinion

A cathedral spire standing at the end of a paved area between ruined walls

A bronze sculpture of a winged St Micheal holding a spear, hovering above a prone figure of Satan

A view down a cathedral nave with a huge figure of Christ above the alter

A metal sculpture in front of stained glass window.

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 12d

Amazing who you meet at work sometimes …

On this occasion to dedicate a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to the 97 men who died in the Le Paradis Massacre in 1940: www.leparadismassacre.com/massacre-ove...

Myself, on the left, shaking hands with HRH The Princess Royal with the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire behind us.

A group of people stand watching HRH The Princess Royal preparing to return to her car, flanked by standard bearers.

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 17d

After a very dry summer it’s lovely to see some vibrant greenery return to the National Forest before we head into autumn.

Green fields and trees under a blue sky scattered with some white fluffy clouds

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 19d

A completely fearless performance … not sure I could walk along that pathway - let alone run and dance down it in heals while belting out a total banger of a tune.

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 20d

Fixing a broken laptop hinge with nothing but some basic tools, a YouTube video and a sense of adventure … what could possibly go wrong?

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 23d

Brilliant

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 24d

Next door’s cat waiting, with hope over expectation, that a bird decides to take a bath.

A black cat sits next to a green bird bath.

A black cat looking at the photographer whist sat next to a green bird bath and a chimera

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Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 25d

So you probably worked out my last post was Blackpool - and whilst I was there to discuss the many challenges facing the visitor attraction sector with some brilliant people from across our industry, it was also a lot of fun to be at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at night.

Illuminated roller coaster track over the heads of people walking through a theme park at night

The fabulous art-deco style entrance to The Grand National 'coaster illuminated at night at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The White Tower Restaurant building in twilight at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The seafront in evening light from the balcony of the White Tower Restaurant at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 27d

So close …

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · 27d

Can you guess where I am …

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Sep 8

Oooo - that felt good

Wordle 1,542 3/6

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Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Sep 6

🤣

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Sep 6

This week we bought both an Air Fryer and a Hair Dryer … we are, of course, now conflating them - “I’ll do some Cajun style chicken in the hair dryer this evening”.

#OhHowWeLaugh

Close up off the controls on a hair dryer

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Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Sep 1

Another brilliant weekend at @endoftheroadfestival.com - great bands, great food and drink (so many real ales on offer), great company and a stunningly gorgeous site.

(The Garden Stage wins a prize for not only the best looking stage I have ever seen but also the best sound quality)

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 28

Bags packed and ready to go.

See you later @endoftheroadfestival.com

Illuminated letters spell out END OF THE ROAD

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 24

The tap is fixed … I did all by myself … I am feeling just a little bit proud.

An old tap fixed to a wall with a yellow hosed attached.

Water spurting vertically out of a severed pipe.

A new tap joined to a length of new copper piping with a valve attachment bridging the gap to the old pipe.

A bright shiny new tap is releasing water. There are no unwanted leakages or drips.

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Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 22

Fabulous idea 🌺🐝🪻🐝🌳

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 22

‘Bee buffets’: the pollinator pathways turning drab alleys into insect havens

Corridors of nectar-rich plants encourage pollination and brighten up city streets at the same time

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Mark Ellis

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Aug 19

NEW: Ever heard of a grätzloase? It means “neighbourhood oasis”– a miniature park replacing a parking space, aka parklets. With the blessing of city hall, more than 100 of them have sprung up across Vienna since 2015. And in theory, anyone in Vienna can build one. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘Why would you take away a parking place?’: the city where anyone can build an urban oasis

Grätzloasen – low-cost, urban ‘parklets’ built by volunteers – are on the rise in Vienna as sceptics are being won over by the splash of welcome greenery and boost to community spirits

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 20

All creatures great and small at Chester Zoo today.

A Sumatran Tiger laying on rock with its mouth open to display some very large teeth

A black and white butterfly on a pink flower

Two elephants, one reaching up with its trunk to feed from a suspended bag of hay

A lar gibbon sat on top of a wooden pole

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 19

He got it right about Sid Cowans

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 19

Ok - DIY advice needed …

I need to change this tap and it is stuck fast - if I apply more pressure I’m just bending the copper pipe it is fixed to.

Any tips for loosening it or do I need to cut the pipe and join on a new section on which I can mount a new tap?

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 18

A few days after the VJ80 commemorations at the @natmemarb.bsky.social the memorials in the Far East section of the site are still looking wonderful, dressed in flowers and displaying the wreaths laid with such respect by so many people.

A grey granite memorial is surrounded by flowers. Poppy wreaths have been placed at the base of the Burma Star Memorial.

A stone plinth holds a statue of a mythical lion-like creature. The Chindit Memorial is dressed with flowers and has wreaths laid around the base.

A section of the original Burma Railway is dressed with flowers and wreaths

A wooden lych gate - originally built at Changhi Prsion and now installed at the National Memorial Arboretum - is dressed with flowers.

Mark Ellis @mark-ellis.bsky.social · Aug 18

There's something about 'walk the walk' as well as 'talk the tack' if football (everywhere, not just Derby) really wants to tackle racism.

We keep hearing versions of "it societal problem not a football problem", but clearly football is uniquely placed to be a major part of solving a societal issue

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