Blue Lake

Blue Lake (Left with a Lie) by Dale Hall 

Through the lush tranquil valley of Apedale wood
a Blue Lake of rich colour turned into falsehood.
We’d skip School to swim in the lake of a lie
and grew up too late without saying goodbye.
Each year that passed more appreciative we became
although much of our childhood is merely a name.
Today kids play on devices to pass time away
parents tell of the outdoors they think they should play.
They look up to their parents and give their reply
these devices are out there hence our era can't lie…

Blue lake was literally one of the most beautiful sights I’ve seen in Staffordshire, although I was too young to appreciate it when living in Apedale, I certainly did when regularly swimming in it whilst living in Halmerend. (Blue lake did, however, claim the lives of a few good swimmers because at one end of the lake was a high bank irresistible for diving, and the roots of large trees spread out into the lake that would deflate the lungs of any unfortunate person that got trapped after diving within them). Approximately a little less than half a mile long it was from an emerald green to turquoise in colour. The blue lagoon was let to be contaminated with industrial waste via a brook a few years after the lake was partially filled to stop further fatalities. This was set in a lovely valley between Apedale & Wood lane. A disused railway line made a walkway from Leycett to Chesterton sawmills passing the lake. A bridge taking traffic above the walkway in Halmerend up from Riley'sPost Office (opposite the old Co-op )was completely filled in with rubble instead of given support like the bridge over the much shorter & a far less scenic walkway from Halmerend to Bignall End.

There’s no way the council should have blocked the bridge denying easy walkway through to the beautiful wooded valley of Apedale and I think it was absolutely disgusting that no action was ever taken to prevent it.. The bridge was also home to numerous bats, the old street lights made perfect hunting ground as they attracted a large number of insects. The poem I’ve written about bats called A Golden Moment is actually true although it is referring to decades later.

If anyone has photo's relating this post they are willing to share (via link or download) I would be very grateful