Spent a lovely day here. Walks and trails, small cafe and play areas for the kids.
Lightwater Country Park
Tag: Park
Marwell Sunday
Spent the day with my granddaughter and her kids. Had a great time at Marwell Zoo, in Hampshire. The weather was fabulous. Here are just a few snaps of the animals ….
Araluen – An Afternoon Stroll
Monday and it’s time to clear out of the Perth suburbs and get some fresh air. Where better to go than Araluen Botanical Park.
We have visited a few times before but never tire of returning. There is always something to see and during the week, in term time, so tranquil. There were only a few cars in the car park and once we were in the park everyone was so spread out it was as if we had the place to ourselves.
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park – Grove of the Unforgotten
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park
Araluen – Botanical Park – Grove of the Unforgotten
Araluen – Botanical Park
Part way round the park we popped into Chalet Healy Cafe, where they prepared lunch, a very nice Seafood Basket for each of us. Each basket comprising fish, prawns, scallops, and fish bites with chips and salad. Very tasty.
On any visit to Araluen, you never know what you will see, as you follow the many meandering paths. On this occasion we were treated to a close up view of a bird of prey, too quick to be captured in a photo. A large, almost black, lizard that darted under the steps to the cafe. Around the pool there were several families of ducks, Terrapins and large gold fish.
Sculpture Park Pleasure
Last Saturday we spent a fabulous few hours, with friends, exploring this sculpture park at Churt in Surrey.
The park comprises some 650 modern and contemporary sculptures displayed throughout ten acres of arboretum and water gardens. To do it justice you really need to have 360 degree vision as you explore the various trails. Not only that, but you also have to remember to look up into the trees as the owners of the park have done a marvelous job, secreting many of the exhibits above ones head or within the shrubs and bushes.
The following photos reflect just a subset of the exhibits on view. Where possible, I have added the name of the piece and that of its creator.
The Twins
Silverback Gorilla
Driftwood Peacock
3 papillons (Butterfly Trio)
Florescense
Rutting Stags
Global
Flying Dream
GENERATION
Icarus II
Rutting Stags
Doctor Foster
Sharing Secrets
Pre-Hysteric
Ewe-nicycle
Double Eye
Ferryman
MODULUS TTS
ARION
Hornbill
Jazz Man
BI-POLAR EXPRESS II
Stork in a Top Hat
DICENTRA BLEEDING HEART
THE 4 HORSES OF APOCALYPSE
by Ruth Moiliet
Jonah
Polar Bear
Boris, Polar Bear
Narcissus
Aida
Passion Flower
Dave
Conversation
PIN BALL WIZZ
SKATERS
Cork Eagle
THE 4 HORSES OF APOCALYPSE
Pair of Goats
Weasel
Wheels
Final Throes of Dragon Tableaux (Horseshoe Dragon)
As you can see there is a huge variety of styles. Many of the sculptures are totally surreal and many are just beautiful. All provoke thought and some, even with the aid of the guide book, are just plain confusing. Sometimes you need to look behind an exhibit to understand what is going on. They are not always what they seem ….
The following is my own particular favourite …… beautiful.
Throughout the park there was a recurring humorous theme …… these guys kept popping up, putting a smile on our faces even when theirs were looking a little manic.
Man Trap
Hard Labour
Penny Farthing
Penny Farthing
Hard Labour
Acrobats
I Beg Your Pardon
And finally, whatever else is said about this park, it’s certainly larger than life.
Oh, and remember, many of these pieces are available to buy…… get your wallets out.
Staunton Country Park Farm
A few days ago we spent a cracking day with some of our grand children. We visited Staunton Country Park Farm, a calm oasis just a short distance out-of-town. Calm that is, if you ignore the general hubbub of the excited children feeding the animals or in the play park.
From the Staunton website ….
Our farm, based on the 1830s style ferme ormeé (ornamental farm), is home to many different animals. Ranging from the everyday farm animal, like pigs, sheep, Shetland ponies, and chickens, to a selection of other animals such as llamas, a Poitou donkey and alpacas.
Here are just a few snaps that I took between pushing grandchildren on swings or carrying the youngest. Operating a Canon EOS 7D Mk II single-handed is no mean feat, weighing, as it does, nearly as much as my great-grandson.
So, for your delectation and delight ….
Turks Turban Squash
Alpaccas and Llamas
Feed Me, Feed Me Now
Goats, goats and more goats
Happy as a Pig in Mud
Ice Cream Smile
Flowers in Walled Garden
Flowers in Walled Garden
Goats, goats and more goats
Goats, goats and more goats
Goats, goats and more goats
Alpaccas and Llamas
Goats, goats and more goats
Piglets and Mum
Alpaccas and Llamas
Flowers in Walled Garden
What’s in there ?
Flowers in Walled Garden
Heavily Pregnant Cow
Goats, goats and more goats
Goats, goats and more goats
Pygmy Goat
The only way to sound the horn is to head butt it
Fallow Deer and Goat
Boo !!!
Alpaccas and Llamas
All in all a great place to take young children.
The farm is just part of the greater country park which has walking and cycling trails as well as three permanent orienteering courses. In the past we have hired bikes and explored the park. Sadly they no longer do the bike hire.
Staunton Country Park is a real gem and right on my doorstep.
WrAnTz 