Exploring Haughley Park

The bank holiday saw The Doves venture to Suffolk for a couple of days. There we got to explore the exceptional grounds of Haughley Park – parts of which are only open to the public for limited periods.

Built around 1620, the Jacobean manor house is a Grade 1 listed building and privately owned. The grounds of the estate span some 250 acres and its barn is a popular venue for weddings.

Events held include Haughley Park’s annual Weird & Wonderful Wood – a specialised art and craft event coupled with street performers and acoustic musicians.

Six acres of landscaped gardens surround the house and barn. Our walk started at the kitchen garden where a walled garden boasted herbs, rose arches, greenhouses, fruit and vegetables. The dell on the other hand was a shady woodland garden in a hollow.

Heading across the main lawn we saw mature shrubs, an enormous magnolia and an amazing oak tree that is over 1,000 years old.

Open space is heaven to a toddler and after a brief period of hand holding, POD enjoyed running the adults ragged. There’s nothing funnier to a toddler than running in zig zags, chased by an unfit adult. Our walk across
the parkland was just beautiful with flocks of sheep and their lambs visible as far as the eye could see.

A thirty acre landscaped woodland garden provides decorate trees and flowering shrubs. A rich seam of lime-free soil runs through the east woods allowing rhododendrons and azaleas to flourish. Naturally occurring bluebells covered acres of old woodland. Although not  fully in bloom due to the weather we’ve had, they were an amazing sight.

We were lucky enough to see a deer dart through the woodland too which resulted in POD accidentally wandering into the blue carpet. Much to her amusement.

After the delight of the bluebells, she had tree trunks to climb, sticks to collect and a mushroom to admire. Then we returned to the delights of the parkland once more, where we even had a couple of lambs come over and say hello. What an idyllic setting for a great walk and some active play.

We’re linking this post up with Mark Warner’s Active Family Challenge over at The Oliver’s Madhouse. To find out more and join in, click on the badge below.