A Winter's Morning at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

I visited Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens this morning to renew my membership and go for a quick walk through the Gardens. It was cold - the sun had been trying to break through but half way through my walk it clouded over.

For any new visitors to my blog these gardens are a unique example of an English Baroque Garden. They were rediscovered in 1982 in a derelict and overgrown state and for the last 25 years a Trust has been restoring the 10 acre walled gardens to the period 1680 to 1740. The gardens contain over 600 species of plant that would have been grown in this period.

I've tried to include photos of different parts of the garden but apologies to any regular visitors if some look remarkably familiar!

Variegated holly in Lady Bridgeman's Garden




Near the Melon Ground



Green House built around 1729



Photos take in Extra Gardens - located outside the walled garden





A view from West Pond looking along the West Claire-vole towards the Hall



The Stumpery



South Pond and Spinney



Lichens, Tree Bark and Seedhead







Back in the Walled Garden - some photos of the Lower Wilderness









There were a few signs that Spring is not far away such as these snowdrop buds



The Gardens are holding a Snowdrop Day on Saturday, 12th February, between 11.00 and 3.00 p.m. so if you live nearby do pop along and visit these beautiful gardens. There is just a small entrance fee.

I found a few clumps of cyclamen in flower



There were lots of hazel catkins in the Extra Gardens on this photo you can also make out the small female flower with red stigmas.



Castle Bromwich Hall - privately owned and in the process of being turned into a hotel



I've "cheated" a bit here the next few photos were taken last January, 2010, when it was actually sunny and the light was better.

North Pond (home to Great Crested Newt) and Reedmace



South-west Pier






View from the Upper Wilderness looking towards West Claire-vole



Not too many birds around today - just magpie, blackbird, carrion crow, wood pigeon, great and blue tit. The fieldfare and redwings seen in the area in December seem to have moved on.

I've made a list of the birds I saw last year in the gardens (sad person that I am I do love keeping various bird lists :D).

Robin
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Blackbird
Mallard
Wren
Wood Pigeon
Long-tailed Tit
Goldfinch
Dunnock
Carrion Crow
Magpie,
Cuckoo (heard) Was overmoon with this last April
Mistle Thrush
Redwing

I am sure the Gardens must attract more species than this so I'm hoping to add to this list this year.

I'm afraid this has been a bit of a long post! but I'll just finish off with a quotation from a poem by Violet Fane (1843-1905)called "In Green Old Gardens" which the Gardens use on one of their leaflets which really sums up the attraction of these beautiful and peaceful gardens for me:

"In green old gardens hidden away
From sight of revel, and sound of strife..."