A Walk in Historic Parkland and a Plant Hunt

 

Last week D and I went on a walk around Castle Bromwich Historic Parkland partly because it is a lovely local place to walk and partly to look for some new plants for this year's 2026 Wild Plant Challenge.

The parkland is a Local Nature Reserve, and once part of the Earl of Bradford's estate and now part of the Castle Bromwich Conservation Area.

The last resident of the Bradford family at Castle Bromwich Hall was Lady Ida Bradford (1848-1936) who was the widow of George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford.

The parkland is known locally as Lady Bradford's and a few years ago restoration work was carried to improve paths and access to the reserve. The LNR consists of grassland, woodland, wetland and ponds.

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The woodland contained quite a few areas where there were bluebells.

Dog Kennel Pond

During the walk we managed to add quite a few new species to this year's plant list where the challenge is to see 100 different wild plants, trees or ferns.  Bryophytes and Lichens are not included in the challenge which is a relief really as I find them hard to id!

Dock

White Dead Nettle

Bramble

Horse Chestnut

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Yew

Greater Reedmace (or Bulrush)

Herb Robert or as D calls it Stinking Robert!  We have this taking over pots at home!

Two Umbellifers - I am still working on the identity of these. I need to go through some wild flower books with D. Some umbellifers I can identify but not all!

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Bluebells - I am pretty sure from the drooping heads they were native bluebells and not the horrid Spanish variety.

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Ribwort Plantain

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D took some photos of a Blue Tit investigating a nest box.

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Common Comfrey  - hopefully a wild plant and not a garden escapee!!!

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A lovely display of tulips by the entrance to the car parks with an Orange Tip butterfly nearby.

It was a lovely walk and we really had ought to do it more often although I seem to remember saying this last year and we only visited twice!  It will be worth visiting next month as from last year's blog post I notice we saw Pignut, one of the Buttercup species and Ox-eye Daisies there.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked by *D taken by my son with the Canon SX50 HS bridge camera.  (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Herefordshire April Visit - Part 2: St Leonard's, Hatfield

 

On the Thursday there was a complete change in the weather - it was cold and windy.  I decided to drive up the lane to St Leonard's to look for primroses in the churchyard.

(If you've read my posts on this church before please miss out the part below on the history of the church).

St Leonard's is the third oldest church in Herefordshire. The nave is C11th and may even be pre-Conquest in origin.  The church is constructed partly of tufa and was extended to the west in the C14th when the chancel was probably rebuilt.  There were restorations of the chancel in 1878 and the nave in 1903.  The bell turret may be medieval and the weatherboarding was added in 1903.

I was delighted to find the primroses were flowering and also lesser celandine.

Quoins on the corner of the church wall.

The open porch is probably C14th.

View from the rear churchyard.

Herb Robert

I did go inside the church briefly - not too many photos as I have done so many posts on this church.

East Window by Mayer and Co 1878

Looking down the nave towards the West Gallery.

Memorial to Johannes Colles Amiger who lived at Hatfield Court.

I love this blocked north doorway with three lintels and a tympanum of Opus reticulatum (square stones set diagonally).

I am glad I made the effort to visit because it is such a peaceful and relaxing place.

As I got back into the car after my visit the rain started!  

We didn't go anywhere on the Friday (I so miss D when he doesn't come to the caravan as he motivates me to go out).  I did manage to do some cleaning of the interior of the caravan as I never had time to do much before we left last November.

We came home on the Saturday lunchtime - hopefully it won't be too long before we return and D is hoping to come with us next time so, all being well, I will have more days out :)

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).