Trees at Anglesey Abbey

• Not much to see at this time of year, but new growth is just around the corner. These were some trees at Anglesey Abbey yesterday.

Bridge at Anglesey Abbey

Everything looks wintery at this time of year. It is little wonder that Christmas, and before that a pagan festival, is held close to the winter solstice.

Another month and new growth starts to appear clearly. By mid January there should be some snowdrops and daffodils. Dark nights, short days - roll on spring!

Wimpole

"It will be quiet today", said my wife. Famous last words!  Wimpole Hall (National  Trust) was heaving today! I have never seen it so busy. It was "Lambing Day" and most schools were still on holiday. We walked to Home Farm and then had a sandwich at the cafe near the entrance.

A decent walk for me and a surprise to see so many daffodils still in bloom. Lambs were in short supply though: there were lots at Ickworth a few weeks ago.

Ickworth (National Trust) walk.

As members of the National Trust, we are very lucky to have several properties with fine grounds nearby.  Today, as the sun was shining, we went to Ickworth not far from Bury St Edmunds. Although there were lots of lambs, the daffodils are still not out, in the main. A few are, but most are still in bud. All the NT places nearby are very different. We also made use of our free "tea for 2" voucher which came with a card.

Sun shining - visit to Ickworth NT

After what seems like ages, the sun shone, we had a real winter day (cold and frosty) and we visited the National Trust grounds at Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds and did a walk down to the bridge. Unlike at Anglesey Abbey, there were no signs yet of spring flowers. It was muddy off the main paths. There were even signs of snow.

House Martins at Anglesey Abbey today

Well, there are still house martins around. We saw at least 6 this afternoon at Anglesey Abbey. These may be the stragglers or young ones. They will soon be gone to warmer climes. We also heard long tail tits and saw a buzzard.

The grounds here are very large and there is always something to see at any time of the year. The picture shows pompoms hung in trees made from old dahlia heads. They dig up the dahlia bed Oct 4th. The dahlias have been splendid for a couple of months.

Aylesham and Blickling, Norfolk

Today we did a 135 mile round-trip to Aylesham and Blickling in north Norfolk. We ate a light lunch in The Old Tearoom in Aylesham (this is our 3rd time here) before visiting the market square and church where they were celebrating VJ Day later.

Just outside Blickling - archetypal English scenery

Blickling Estate (National Trust) has fine grounds and gardens and was where Prime Minister Baldwin first heard about Edward VIII's affair with American divorcee Mrs Simpson. These days no-one would bat an eyelid but in the 1930s things were different. The house and estate were transferred to the National Trust in 1937.

On the lake was a great crested grebe with 3 chicks. Blickling has fine yew hedges on the approach to the house. If I was fit, there are lots of decent walks around the grounds. Sadly, just a walk around part of the formal gardens had me exhausted.

National Trust

Ickworth's wild flower meadow

For a fixed amount each year we get no charge family entry into every National Trust property in the country. We are lucky to have several properties with extensive grounds near us including Wicken Fen, Ickworth and Anglesey Abbey. We have been to 2 already just this week!

Ickworth has a fine walled garden that contains a wild flower meadow. Anglesey Abbey has both wild parts and formal gardens.  The dahlias there are just out now at Anglesey Abbey but will be even better in a few weeks.

Wimpole Hall

As it was bright, mild and sunny (14 deg C) we decided to go for a walk at Wimpole Hall, the National Trust place west of Cambridge. We also stopped there for a simple lunch.

See  http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate/ .

Oxburgh Hall

Today we visited Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk.  This is a  fine moated house that looks more like a fortified castle. It has excellent grounds that had lots of snowdrops out. At the moment the daffodils have still to come out. We had the fine homemade leek and potato soup for lunch.

Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk, UK

See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall/ .

See also http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

Ickworth

Yesterday, as the weather was mild and sunny, we decided to visit the grounds of Ickworth House, a National Trust property near Bury-St-Edmunds. It was very autumnal there with most trees now without leaves. Come the spring it will look quite different.

Sutton Hoo trip

Today, I made my longest trip yet since being allowed to drive again after my stroke. We went to Sutton Hoo a National Trust location which is the far side of Woodbridge, Suffolk where a famous ship burial was discovered in WW2.  This was a round trip of around 122 miles, mostly on the A14.  Driving was fine:  I get tired when walking, but in the car I am fine. Whilst there I managed some soup and bread.

Anglesey Abbey - Nov 6th 2014

This morning we went for an autumn walk at Anglesey Abbey, our local National Trust property. In the weeks, it is quiet and at this time of year a lovely place for a walk. Even at weekends, there are plenty of places to roam to get away from others.

Actually, it is beautiful at any time of year: there is always sometime to see in the gardens, and the house is also lovely. See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey/ .

Anglesey Abbey - Nov 6th 2014

Autumn here (almost)

The leaves are starting to fall now in our garden and another few weeks will see autumn set in strongly.

Our garden - leaves now falling fast.

This morning we went to Anglesey Abbey (National Trust) where the weather was good with temperatures due to reach the low 20 deg C mark this afternoon.

Anglesey Abbey - leaves starting to fall. Colours changing.

Are we being spoiled? Is this the calm before the storm of a very harsh winter?

Anglesey Abbey in autumn

Today we went to Anglesey Abbey (National Trust) for what will be a series of visits this autumn as the leaves change colour and fall. We hope to visit most weeks, weather permitting. Some trees are turning, but most (Oct 5th 2014) are still green-leafed. A few cold snaps and autumn gales could change things.

Pilgrim's Lawn - Anglesey Abbey (NT), Oct 5th 2014 3.30pm

Even when Anglesey Abbey is busy, at the weekends, Pilgrim's Lawn tends to be quite quiet. It is not on the main "winter walk"  and "mill" route that most visitors tend to take. The dahlias have been good again, but have now finished.

Anglesey Abbey (National Trust)

Anglesey Abbey (NT)

This afternoon we went to Anglesey Abbey (NT) for a walk of about 1.6km. The dahlias are still out but they are now past their best.  They have a novel way of using the old dahlias heads - see picture. Some are in a 220m line of dahlia heads and some are hung from a tree as in the photo.

Although still giddy and I tire easily, the walking itself is not problematic. In fact I enjoy it very much. We bumped into 3 old friends whilst there.

Little Moreton Hall

Today we visited this National Trust home in Cheshire. I sat in the garden whilst my wife and the others went around the house. Splendid moated house little changed in hundreds of years .

Anglesey Abbey (again)

Silver birches and tulips

This afternoon we went for a walk at Anglesey Abbey (National Trust) yet again. Every time we go there is something new to see and enjoy. The daffodils are dying, snowdrops mostly dead but there are lots of trees in blossom and lots of tulips and bluebells out.

Bluebells

Blossom (in Burwell)

Weekdays are quieter than weekends but the place is large enough to get lost away from others. With my blue badge we are able to park near the entrance - one small advantage of my stroke. Walking around is not an issue - the only problem is my balance is not good. Taking a break on the way around (on a bench) helps.

Anglesey Abbey

Another visit today to Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge (our 8th this year!) to enjoy the mild weather and the lovely walks. Today was quite quiet and all the lawn walks are now open. Plenty to see including lots of woolen bikes (yarn bombing) to promote the Tour de France which comes through Cambridge this summer. Snowdrops are dying fast but there are plenty of other flowers to see now and most trees are starting to bud.

Lis next to the bike wheels

Masses of daffodils

Penny Farthing

Small violet-like flowers - not bluebells I think

Ickworth House and Grounds - National Trust

See: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/ .

Lambs outside the little church at Ickworth

Part of the extensive grounds

Ickworth House and its extensive grounds are located not far from Bury-St-Edmunds in Suffolk. The grounds make a fine place for walks that vary in length from less than a mile to over 7 miles in length. At this time of year there should be plenty of daffodils and young lambs. My wife and I hope to go there this afternoon and walk to the newly restored little church on the estate about 500m from the main house. Although wobbly, I should be able to manage this. The image (LHS) is located at http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/suffolk/Ickworth_House.htm .

Very young Ickworth lamb enjoying the sunshine

Part of the main building is nowadays a 4 star hotel called The Ickworth Hotel.

UPDATE 1645z:  Plenty of lambs at Ickworth but the daffodils are 1-2 weeks behind those at nearby Anglesey Abbey 25 miles west.