A walk around the grounds and gardens of Broomriggs first thing in the morning on the Sunday.
We have seen Red Squirrels here on previous visits but apparently the sad news is that none have been seen in the grounds for 5 years.
From the grounds you can access Claife Heights (seen in the distance here) and the lovely tarns of Moss Eccles and Wise Een tarns which Beatrix Potter visited when she lived at Hill Top in nearby Near Sawrey. We didn't do the walk this holiday but we have done so on previous visits.
The feeders on the terrace were full of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches and this Coal Tit
B was keen to visit Coniston to see the grave of Donald Campbell as he has recently watched the film "Across the Lake" starring Anthony Hopkins which covers Campbell's attempts in Bluebird to break the water speed record. Initially we planned first to walk around High Dam Tarn near Finthswaite which is much quieter than Tarn Hows and just as lovely. But as Tarn Hows is on the way to Coniston we went to the latter - big mistake! - the car park was full! Going to the Lake District at half term is definitely not a good idea although we used to go this week when D and E were at school and it never seemed anywhere near as busy as it is now.
A few photos D took from the car around the beautiful Tarn Hows area.
So we went straight to Coniston and unbelievably the car park there was full too!!!! Luckily we found a car parking space along the side of a road and went a wander round the town. The Old Man of Coniston towers over the village.
Donald Cambell's Grave in the cemetery.
Donald Campbell CBE (1921-1967) broke the water speed record on Coniston Water in 1955 and died attempting to regain it in Bluebird on Coniston Water in 1967. On 8th March 2001 Bluebird was brought up from the lake floor and on 28th May the remains of Donald Campbell were raised from the lake. He was buried in the cemetery on 12th September 2001.
St Andrew's Church which has an etched glass memorial to Donald Campbell and in the churchyard where John Ruskin is buried you can see the John Ruskin Cross.
I was very tempted by this bee cushion!
Timothy was glad of his scarf - the weather was rather cold.
We had a look round the very informative Ruskin museum which also had exhibits in connection with Donald Campbell - no photos I am afraid as they weren't allowed.
Part 2 will cover a tour of the church and a boat trip on Coniston Water on the National Trust Steam Yacht Gondola.
*D Photos taken by D with the Canon SX50 bridge camera
Rest of photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330
The extirpation of the Red Squirrel from that area makes me quite sad. I think of it as an iconic piece of British wildlife and to know that it is no longer seen there verges on distressing. I suspect that the introduction of our Grey Squirrel may have something to do with it, an ill considered move if ever there was one. We never seem to learn do we? During our recent visit to Australia we saw time and again the disastrous effects of introduced species.
ReplyDeleteDavid Gascoigne - Thank you. Yes the decline of the Red Squirrel is exceedingly sad. I was reading an article recently in Warwickshire Wildlife Trust magazine about the history of Red squirrels in Warwickshire and trying to remember if I had seen one locally as a child but I think not.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the Lake District - we used to see 1 or 2 every holiday but rarely these days. They do still occur in many parts of the LD and there are "control" programmes of Grey Squirrels in place. Introduced species as you say can often cause havoc in native wildlife. Over here mink have had a devastating impact on water vole populations for example.
Another beautiful place shame about the Red Squirrels, we do have them over in Haws (closed is the trail at the moment for maintenance ) Love the photos with all the hills in the background. Was it half term while you were there, that would make it busier than normal. The weather looks good even though it was cold.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much. So glad you still have Red Squirrels near you.
ReplyDeleteYes sadly it was half term - a week I would have avoided but D had already booked that week off :(
Weather was lovely although freezing cold! Apart from last day when it chucked it down - in the way only the Lake District can!
Such a shame about our native squirrels! They seem to thrive in west Scotland thankfully.
ReplyDeleteThat is the problem with the Lake District - too many people and too much rain!
Toffeeapple - Thank you. Such a relief that Red Squirrels thrive still in some areas.
ReplyDeletelol! re: the Lake District and I totally agree. Years ago when we used to go twice a year and it seemed quieter I always hoped to retire there - not any more too busy. The one thing I loved about Scotland was the vast amount of empty space totally devoid of people! :)
a most beautiful area and wonderful photographs of it. Shame about the Reds disappearing. we have 40 now in Mount Stewart and keeping an eye when a Grey turns up.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson - Thanks so much Margaret. That is wonderful news about the 40 Red Squirrels at Mount Stewart.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame about the red squirrels, we've seen them at Formby on the Lancashire Coast and in Scotand near Dumfries. The Lancashire ones were more coppery brown whilst the Scottish ones were gingery red, both lovely. Your photos are wonderful, the Ruskin Museum looks interesting. I remember driving around Ambleside looking for parking and this was years ago, we gave up in the end so I never saw the town. I seem to remember when they found Blue Bird they found Donald Campbell's bear mascot, was it in the museum? Maybe it was returned to his family:)
ReplyDeleteRosie - Thanks so much Rosie - Formby is on my list of places to visit. I am sure there are places in the LD where Red Squirrels are doing better. We've seen them in Scotland too and the Isle of Wight.
ReplyDeleteAmbleside looked packed when we drove through it! It seems strange though about the west side of the lake being so busy as it always used to be so much quieter. Will definitely not be going at half term again!
I think Mr. Whoppit is with the family and yes I think it was found when Bluebird was recovered. If you google Mr. Whoppit there is a link to a bbc website story about DC's daughter going to Coniston on the 50th anniversary of his death and clutching the teddy bear. Sorry can't get the link to paste and work! I think also there may have been some controversy with some of the family (his sister???) about his burial as he always said he should be left with his craft. Might be wrong though so don't quote me!
Such a beautiful area. I wonder if the Red Squirrels you have over there are the same as the ones in my home state. They are quite naughty:) And they get into everything. It's sad when a native species is wiped out. This is a world wide event. Most introduced species are really bad anywhere!
ReplyDeleteChris Rohrer - Thanks so much. I think our native Red Squirrels only occur in the UK and parts of Europe so different to the species in North America which was the one introduced here! So definitely the Grey Squirrels in my garden are the same as yours and yes they are naughty!!! :)I have to use a baffle to stop them getting to my bird feeders as not only do they eat all the bird food they destroy the feeders in the process!
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit behind on blog posts at the minute, i'm doing a slow catch up! I love the Bee cushion, very cute!
ReplyDeletePam - Thanks so much and please don't worry about getting behind - it happens to me all the time! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that the red squirrels have vanished from the area. I have only been lucky enough to see red squirrels on two occasions.
ReplyDeleteI love that bee cushion, I would have been tempted too :-)
CherryPie - Thank you. We've had more luck in the past seeing Red Squirrels there than on the Isle of Wight although all views have been fleeting and none this visit.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I have a pack of cards with the same bee motif as the cushion.