I think I was out on my fourth walk in four days ... back in April 2011 !
So, who was I out with ? Who's this ?
It's my grandson ... with his mother !
I had told Katy that it would only be a stroll so we parked on the Rowthorne Trail not so very far from Hardwick Hall ... and set off in the sunshine ...
We left the Trail and headed across a field of oil seed rape towards Norwood ...
The ground was very dry ...
We entered Norwood ...
The bluebells were in flower ...
They grow quite a lot of oil seed rape in this area but at least the footpath across the large field leading to Norwood Lodge was clear ...
There are three or four properties at Norwood Lodge but the path is easy enough to follow between the gardens ...
We turned right along Newbound Lane and after a few hundred yards entered Lady Spencer's Wood owned by the National Trust ...
As you can imagine, with eleven year old Benjamin with us [as he was then] the walk was far from dull ...
The next wood we passed through was Park Piece where there was a wonderful display of Dryad's Saddle ...
After leaving the wood and crossing a field we reached the driveway which led us away from the Hardwick Estate ... and back to the car.
This walk was followed on the 28th April 2011
Length of stroll ~ 2.84 miles *
Total mileage walked so far in 2011 ~ 149.93 miles
Total mileage between the 1st September 2009 and the 28th April 2011 ~ 677.98 miles
34 of 2011 [which means in 2011 I was averaging just over 4.40 miles a walk.]
* distance calculated on Ordnance Survey's Getamap
After the walk we went to Hardwick Hall ...
This lady was dressed as a gardener of the time ...
I often go to Hardwick just to look around the garden [as I did yesterday !] though all these photographs were taken a couple of years ago ...
It is a marvellous place, well worth a visit.
We finish as we started with a photograph of Benjamin. I think he was just about to take flight off the mounting block ...
A rather enjoyable walk, with additional company this time. Considering how dry the ground was, I was surprised how healthy the Oil Seed Rape was looking. Of course, the woodland part was the bit I enjoyed the most.
ReplyDeleteHardwick Hall and it's gardens look very appealing to a photographer :-))
By the way.....I have some new animal shots posted, if you want ot have a look, they are HERE
DeleteWill be along to look at the photographs Mitch ~ I've had wifi problems and have only just resolved them. In short I had to get a new router.
DeleteYes, it was surprising how well the oil seed rape was doing. Hardwick Hall and the area around it is a fantastic place for photography, there's no doubt.
DeleteLovely story of a walk! I have a few childhood memories of Hardwick Hall, and one from a few years ago when I went with my father for a meal in the nearby pub, and some people came in dressed in costume, rather like the one in your photograph - unfortunately I wasn't carrying my camera at the time.
ReplyDeleteI never travel without a camera of some sort though I hate to admit that more often than not nowadays it is my Samsung Galaxy SIII ~ a mobile phone ! I never thought I would type that.
DeleteI am rarely without at least one + mobile phone, now. In fact I may have to check back through my files, though I may have lacked the nerve to photograph the people - i am getting braver these days.
DeleteI have asked some of the people dressed in Elizabethan clothing at Hardwick whether it's ok to photograph them and they have always said yes. The 'gardener' was however snapped as she walked towards me. I think people are getting more used to being photographed anyway nowadays.
DeleteA lovely walk as usual,and even more enjoyable to have Katy and Benjamin with you.I love the tulips in the garden.Ann
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann. It was lovely being out with Benjamin ... and Katy. I don't know that we have done it again since though. She's hard work when it comes to getting her walking.
DeleteThe only place I have seen miles of bluebells like in England is in Oregan State, USA. We came around a corner on a mountain road and they were everywhere for miles along the shady highway.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the greatest percentage of bluebells is in the UK. Whether this will be the case in 20 or 30 years remains to be seen !
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