Adventures Archives - Page 26 of 36

Spring at RHS Wisley

We recently had the most fabulous time at RHS Wisley with Annie from Mammasaurus, Kitty and Ozzy. The day started well with the discovery of fish under one of the bridges – POD has not quite mastered disguising her excitement!

We visited the wonderful Orchid display first which took place in the state-of-the-art Glasshouse. It really is as impressive as it looks with dry, moist and tropical temperature zones housing beautiful and exotic species.

After the Glasshouse and a picnic by the Alpine Meadow we ventured into the Wild Garden. POD loves this area and spent a time peering into one of the streams.

At Seven Aces we admired the view,

said hello the ducks and watched a few more fish.

There were many pretties to see along the way

but we stopped for an ice-cream. Sitting on a bench, our view was a blossom tree with Grape Hyacinth beneath it.

We then made our way back past the canal and loggia to the walled garden. There we saw these wonderful Crown Imperials and an array of colourful blooms.

We even had the adjacent garden to ourselves for a little while

although a couple of ducks dropped by.

The Top Terrace was awash with hundreds of daffodils.

A great photo opportunity had POD faced the camera!

From there we headed to the Alpine Houses and Centenary Crevice Garden. Having only discovered the alpine area last month, it was a treat to return so soon. With miniature displays from all over the World, there’s a huge variety of alpines to see.

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These hairy Pasque flowers are just lovely

and these were amazing.

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There are many succulents to see as well.

The nearby Rock Garden was our next stop, the children enticed by its waterfalls and rocky steps,

but we did stop for a few minutes to watch a duck.

Beneath us the bridge beckoned

and there was just enough time to look at the fish again before we left. It was a great day which saw POD asleep before we’d even left the car park!

Linking up with #HDYGG at Mammasaurus and #CountryKids at Coombe Mill.

Bank Holiday fun

Bluebells, fairies and a beach were just a few of our Bank Holiday highlights. POD also rode on a pony for the first time. It was a leisurely weekend spent hanging out.

Good Friday saw Daddy hide Easter eggs in flowerbeds, bushes and shrubs around the garden for POD to find.

Having located her eggs, she sat outside her playhouse savouring the first. Mummy and Daddy sampled a couple too.

On Saturday we headed to Devon where we spent the afternoon at the beach. It was the most glorious day!

We skimmed stones, ate ice-cream and admired the views.

The weather took a turn for the worse on Easter Sunday. We took cover from the downpours in a local coffee shop and shared cake. POD had her first babychino too. Then after lunch we headed back home.

On Bank Holiday Monday we visited National Trust owned Hatchlands Park in Surrey. POD did us proud when she took to her first pony ride with aplomb.

After saying goodbye to Dotty the pony, we followed the Easter egg trail

looking for items required for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Once we’d located them, POD received a Cadbury’s Easter Egg. We enjoyed a picnic beside a meadow of cowslips before we devoured it!

After lunch we hit the bluebell wood keeping an eye out for fairies hidden in the trees. Daddy had clearly run out of names when he called one Bernard!

So that was our Easter weekend, how was your break?

Linking up with The Gallery at Sticky Fingers where this week’s prompt is Easter.

The Easter Egg Hunt

Good Friday saw POD partake in her first Easter Egg Hunt after Daddy hid foil covered eggs in flowerbeds and bushes around the garden. The first couple were more visible to get her started – a look of joy spread across her face when she found them.

After launching herself off the decking (she’s jumping off everything at the moment), she continued in her quest to find eggs.

She found eggs in flowerbeds, bushes and in the grass. One even slid down her slide!

When POD spotted this golden egg above her head, she wondered how she was going to get it.

But after taking instruction from Daddy, the egg dropped to the ground and POD added it to her collection. She nearly missed one Daddy had camouflaged in the magnolia tree!

Once all ten eggs had been found, POD sat outside her playhouse enjoying every mouthful of her first chocolate egg. Mummy and Daddy ‘helped’ by eating a couple of eggs themselves.

But the fun didn’t end there, we scoured the garden for dandelion clocks and blew what we found.

The swing then became the focus with POD wanting to be pushed “high, high up in the sky”. Raucous giggles followed until the swing slowed and the process began once again.

It was a lazy Good Friday spent mostly in the garden enjoying the simple things in life. What more could you ask for?

Linking up with #CountryKids at Coombe Mill and #WhatsTheStory here on PODcast.

Orchids in the Glasshouse

Monday was spent with Mammasaurus, Ozzy and Kitty at RHS Wisley. We had the most wonderful day and it was gloriously sunny to boot. POD explored the gardens, watched fish and jumped a lot.

But what she loved most of all was making friends.

As well as Gardening Week, and the Lindt Easter bunny hunt, we timed our visit with Wisley’s annual orchid display. The cathedral-like Glasshouse was our first stop. It’s an amazing structure, equivalent to 10 tennis courts. It looked even more incredible gleaming in the sunshine with the bright blue sky above.

It always feels like a sense of calm washes over you when you enter it. The sound of the waterfall is immense and that’s before you take in your jungle-like surroundings. There are three interlinked temperature zones – dry, moist and tropical.

Having passed the spectacular display of cacti, we hit the tropical zone which can reach temperatures of 30 degrees. We were able to take in all the colour and the amazing displays while our lenses accclimatised.

There were orchids all around us, even hanging from above. It was the most beautiful sight and a great way to kick off our day after we’d checked out fish, ducks and giant buttercups.

The Glasshouse never fails to impress with its impressive plant collection which includes rare and endangered species. Like the rest of Wisley, it offers something different each time we visit.

Outside the tropical zone, there were more unusual gems to be discovered

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including this Lady’s Slipper.

After the Glasshouse, it was off to the children’s play area before relaxing in the the alpine meadow and having a picnic. We then explored the rest of Wisley taking in the wild garden, the rock garden and the alpines. Far too much for one post so these adventures will follow in next week’s post. If you can’t wait until then, Annie’s post is here.

Linking up with Mammasaurus for #HDYGG.

Spring at Alice Holt Forest

We always enjoy the Alice Holt Forest which is located near Farnham in Surrey. Managed by the Forestry Commission, it offers much in the way of family fun whether exploring by foot, bike or swinging through the trees with Go Ape. My mother and father-in-law had not previously been so we visited when they last stayed.

POD received a scooter for her Christmas Day birthday so Alice Holt provided a good opportunity for another practice. It was short lived though as POD’s not quite mastered steering yet! She did opt to keep the crash helmet on for a time though.

The smiles returned when POD spotted the first of the giant play structures – the 3D Maze. She had much fun inside with Daddy crawling around after her.

A little further along there was the Timberline Play Area which had a circuit that included a balancing beam, a scramble net

and a climbing wall. Although designed for older children, POD decided she wanted to give it a go. She only needed help with her footing once and

reached the top super fast. Here she is 6 foot up wondering how to get down the other side. She did brilliantly although she’s always been a climber – of furniture mostly!

The Habitat Trail is specifically designed for families although there are longer routes too. There’s a spiral staircase inside a tree trunk, an owl that’s back can be scaled, a bridge guarded by snakes, a bat and a moth to be climbed and a Giant’s Play area.

POD was happy spending time with her Grandparents and exploring today. She sought out a stick, which later became a broomstick, and examined a few fir cones en route.

But there was a fair amount of running and playing hide and seek with Daddy too.

For the first time in a long while, we got a photograph of the three of us together. We all spent time larking around here – it’s always too tempting to re-create that scene from The Shining!

In the Playwood play area, POD got to climb a pirate sheep, have a go on a swing and whizz down a slide before driving a wooden tractor. Then it was back home for a wonderful roast lunch and a sneaky doze in front of the television!

Linking up with Country Kids at Coombe Mill, Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse and What’s The Story? here on PODcast.

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RHS Secret Garden Sundays

The Royal Horticultural Society launched Secret Garden Sundays last weekend. Combining local and independent food producers, with everything you need to know to grow your own, this series of events has been created to get us growing, eating and celebrating the very best of seasonal British produce. What’s great about these events is that they appeal to everyone.

There was a huge array of plants and flowers as you’d expect from the RHS. From sweet smelling Lilies and these incredible Tulips

to potted roses, mysterious Auriculas and these perfectly formed Ranunculus.

Primulas, Hostas, Nerines and air plants could also be found along with some unusual varieties. Live trees, citrus and bay trees were on offer too as were a plethora of bulbs, seeds and perennials. You really were spoilt for choice!

If you fancied learning how to grow your own chilli and tomato plants, the RHS Growing Together Club were on hand to teach you how. The National Vegetable Society and the Herb Society also offered guidance. As did Young Hort, a new initiative created by young horticulturalists for young horticulturalists.

Katie Spragg’s collection of ceramic tableware and porcelain jewellery was great as each piece tells a bizarre yet true story. Like the fox that lived on the 72nd floor of The Shard to the penguin that is a soldier in the Norweigan army! There were many other gifts and gardening related products available too.

I wish I’d had the time to make my own garden mosiac. Such a great opportunity and it was wonderful to see so many people beavering away on their individual designs.

Demonstrations covered a wide range of subjects such as learning which plants and flowers work well in small gardens, how to grow things without having a garden and how to make a bouquet of fresh Spring flowers. Children could have a go at planting a broad bean seed while the adults learnt about runner beans!

As well as the flowers, the plants, the gifts and the demonstrations there was also a wide selection of food. From the finest British charcuterie to cheeses, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food, pies, breads, cakes, jams and chutneys.

Plus fresh juice, coffee and tea to wash it all down. If you fancied a rest there was always the Mezzanine Cafe which offered a bird’s eye view of the hall.

The RHS Secret Garden Sundays take place on the first Sunday of each month at RHS Lindley Hall, Vincent Square, London SW1 until September. A special Christmas event will take place on Sunday November 2nd.

Linking up with Mammasaurus for #HDYGG and Verily Victoria Vocalises for #PoCoLo.

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Exploring Hatchlands Park

We always enjoy Hatchlands Park with its parkland and ancient trees. Owned by the National Trust, it’s one of the nearest properties to us along with Clandon Park.

The house was built in 1756, replacing a Tudor house on this estate and was designed in the Palladian tradition. Today the mansion is a family home, containing tenant Alec Cobbe’s collection of paintings and fine furniture. Also on display is the Cobbe Collection, Europe’s largest collection of keyboard instruments associated with famous composers.

Hatchlands Park re-opened for the season this month. Although we visited on a day the house wasn’t open, we could still admire it’s beauty – POD asked if we could live there! As we were heading towards Wix Woods, we could still see the temple and an ancient tree with hundreds of daffodils and Spring blooms beneath it.

We came across lots of beautiful cows with shiny coats en route. They kept their distance (this photograph was taken with a 250mm lens) but POD loved them. Initially she wanted to play with them but we managed to distract her attention by talking about where milk comes from and showing her where the cows go for a drink.

We’d purposely not taken the buggy with us so it was great to see POD having a race to the Wix Woods gate with Daddy. She won.

They then thought it would be highly entertaining to hide from Mummy behind the gate while holding it shut!

POD has always been a climber and adores clambering onto trees as a result. The Great Wix Wood provided the perfect opportunity to do this and make silly faces with Daddy. She loved this tree!

We then headed over to the Wizard Wix’s Willow Warren which is a natural adventure area for children. The she took advantage of the stepping stones, the willow tunnels and admiring the sculptures including the wonderful totem pole. She also got to see a bird grabbing a bite from one of the many feeders and watch some older children build a den.

She requested Daddy follow her on the balance beam where we spotted Wizard Wix himself.

Just up from the Wizard Wix’s Willow Warren is Little Wix Wood where there will soon be the most wonderful display of bluebells. Last year we even spotted fairies much to POD’s excitement. As we’ll be back soon, next on the agenda today was more tree climbing and looking for trolls.

POD found a big stick too which doubled up as a wand although she didn’t manage to turn this tree into a frog.

With the rain clouds fast approaching, POD hitched a ride with Daddy to the Tea Room. We made it to cake just in time! POD took it upon herself to bow to an invisible Prince while we were there. It was an impressive bow with much arm swirling – Disney would have been proud!

After re-charging we had a good look round the stable

before exploring the NGS Quiet Garden. The formal gardens at Hatchlands are open when the house is so we’re looking forward to seeing Gertrude Jekyll Garden and the house. There’s also a wildflower meadow we’ve not seen yet – cowslips can be seen in Spring and orchids in the Summer.

After displaying superb balancing skills, there was just time for POD to grab a side saddle piggy back before we headed home.

Linking up with Country Kids at Coombe Mill, Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse and What’s The Story? here on PODcast.

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Discovering Hinton Ampner

It’s always exciting discovering National Trust sites we’ve not previously visited although we love all the ones we’ve explored so far. Located in Hamphire, Hinton Ampner is an elegant country house with distinctive gardens and woodland sprawled across 1600 acres.

The Hinton Ampner House is current closed due to structural damage from the recent storms. The gardens and estate are open though so you can still explore the grounds which are steeped in 700 years of history.

At the back of the house there are superb views across the South Downs,

many sheep and this little fella – captured on a 250mm lens.

The garden at Hinton Ampner is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century garden design.

It’s a wonderful mix of the formal and informal with fine vistas

and beautifully kept lawns.

The rhododendron garden is an abyss of colour with wax-like varieties

and these veined beauties.

A nearby church is surrounded by hundreds of daffodils and trees of blossom. It’s a beautiful area located next to Hinton Ampner’s magnificent walled garden. If you read Spring at Polesden Lacey last week, you’ll know I love them.

The walled garden is lined with 19th century apple and pear trees and is currently used to grow fruit and vegetables. The produce is often used in the tea room and flowers in the house.

There were tulips aplenty lining the greenhouse,

many varieties of plant

and numerous flowers including these yellow ones that look like peppers.

Not forgetting the final treat – a carpet of daffodils along the ancient walls of the garden.

Linking up with #HDYGG over at Mammasaurus.

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LolliBop 2014 announces Hatfield House

LolliBop, the UK’s biggest kids festival, has announced its 2014 festival will take place at Hatfield House from the 15th to 17th August 2014.

Situated just off the A1 in Hertfordshire or a 22 minute train journey from London Kings Cross, the stunning country house and gardens of Hatfield House offer an incredible array of spaces to house LolliBop’s vast activity and entertainment programme.

Renowned for bringing some of the biggest names in children’s entertainment to its live stages, LolliBop also plays host to science and educational zones, craft areas and adventure activities. The 2014 lineup promises to be more diverse; exciting and extraordinary than ever before, with a host of brand new names, partnerships and play never before seen at LolliBop.

Hatfield House is famous for its beautiful gardens and attractions, including the incredible sundial garden and fountains, magical woodlands and the famous knot garden adjoining the Tudor Old Palace where Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her time as a child. It is one of the Treasure Houses of England, making it one of the top 10 most magnificent palaces in the UK.

Festival Director Gareth Cooper said: “For a family destination, Hatfield House can’t be beaten. LolliBop has taken place in numerous locations over the years, and we firmly believe our home for 2014 is our best yet.

The setting is breathtaking – with stunning gardens, lush green areas and woodlands just waiting to be explored – it’s allowed us to open our imaginations and programme an event like never before.

He went on to say they’ve been working hard to secure some of the best-loved names in children’s entertainment. The 2014 lineup will be jam packed with big names for the main stage, alongside an unprecedented number of live theatre performances; plus sporting activities; creative workshops; nature talks and brand new areas and acts, never seen before at LolliBop.

LolliBop is a family event and suitable for children up to the age of 12. Head over to the LolliBop website for more information and to purchase tickets. The full line-up will be announced on 28th April 2014.

Fun at Claremont

Claremont is a beautiful National Trust Landscape Garden located in Surrey. Described as somewhere where the views change, the water sparkles and the secret glades wait, it was once a Duke’s retreat and the playground of Princesses.

From the turf amphitheatre (the only surviving example of its kind in Europe) to the serpentine lake, bowling alley, grotto, Camellia Terrace and Belvedere Tower, Claremont is a superb place to visit. There’s even a Thatched Cottage filled with Victorian toys, games and clothes to play in. And a wooden play area.

The walk around the serpentine lake was wonderful. We saw many varieties of bird, hundreds of daffodils and we always enjoy admiring the knobbly trees!

Whenever we visit Claremont, we love to have fun in the Ha-Ha. It’s a hidden ditch originally created in the 18th century to keep livestock away from the pleasure grounds without spoiling the view.

POD loved running down into the Ha-Ha and up the other side with Daddy, she had the best time. There was much zig zagging as we followed its path, finding dried leaves perfect for throwing in the process. There was much giggling!

POD loved exploring the surrounding area too. She jumped across the log stepping stones, bounced on moss

and smelt the flowers.

She also found a great stick which she adopted as a her wand.

The lake was almost as popular as the Ha-Ha on this occasion. She sat by the waters edge under Daddy’s watchful eye poking her stick in and out of the water before taking a stance near the path ‘do magic’.

It was a spur of the moment visit to Claremont following POD’s gymnastics class. Unplanned trips are just the best!

Linking up with Country Kids at Coombe Mill, Magic Moments at The Olivers Madhouse and the Mid Week Blog Hop at Super Busy Mum.

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