Wednesday last week before leaving Herefordshire we paid a brief visit to Queenswood Arboretum. We have tried several times before but the first time the place looked packed (it always does!) and the second time we had problems paying with Ringo for the car park as the car details and debit card details were both out of date. This time we finally made it - I didn't want to go all the way to Herefordshire for a night without visiting just one place.
Queenswood Arboretum and Country Park is a fragment of a huge ancient oakwood that once reached as far as the Welsh Border. It is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) managed by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with New Leaf Sustainable Development. It comprises 123 aces of ancient native woodland together with a 43 acre collection of more than 1200 rare and exotic trees from around the world.
On the Gruffalo and Pumpkin Trail
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330.
Bonfire Night
We always have a few fireworks and fortunately had a box not used last year. I must admit these days I always feel a bit antisocial but we have the display early evening and it only lasts about 20 minutes and we only have the more traditional fireworks similar to the ones I had as a child as opposed to the very noisy expensive ones.
Photos taken by D with the Canon SX50HS
My mum always used to make Catherine Wheel savouries and I've never found a recipe so I make up my own. Served here with hot chocolate and cinder toffee.
I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
12 comments:
So glad you managed one place to visit. I often wonder what our nation looked like when they were under all that ancient forest. It must have been spectacular. I'm glad you managed Bonfire Night too, and your plate of snacks looks good. I have never made cinder, but love to eat it, even if it does give me toothache!
Rustic Pumpkin - Thank you. Yes it must have been incredible although I think the latest theory is that due to presence of large herbivores it may have been more open in the lowlands rather than continuous forest.
I daren't eat toffees - also lose bits of teeth or fillings and not a good time to do that!! I did make Cinder once and it was perfect but when I tried it the second time for a MB icecream recipe it failed!!!
Hi again - thank goodness you got to visit the arboretum this time! It's a better time to visit anyway now with some lovely colours forming. I spied some liquidambar leaves on the ground! And yum again at your delicious bonfire night feast! I need to start baking.... :-)
Millymollymandy - Thanks so much. I was surprised at how busy it was for mid week but it is also a country park. Missed the liquidambar leave! Nearly time to start Christmas baking!! :)
the arboretum looks a good spot.... i'm sure Timothy could find a spot to pose ;) keep smiling
The Quacks of Life - Thank you. Arboretum less than 20 minutes from caravan so a handy spot to walk but wouldn't want to go at weekends (popular). Keep smiling too :)
Hello and happy Tuesday! Looks beautiful. I'm missing fall right now although I can't complain about the weather here. It has been warmer but still nice enough to go outside. Your drink looks very tasty. And being antisocial.....that's probably the silver lining with this whole pandemic. Have a good week!
Rohrerbot - Hi Chris and thanks - so lovely to hear from you. Weather here cold miserable cloudy and damp!!! I've missed seeing the autumn colours here at home. Only on last few trips to Herefordshire have I seen them. lol! re: antisocial and agreed :) Have a good week too.
The arboretum looks lovely. I am glad you were able to visit.
Your bonfire night celebrations look fun.
CherryPie - Thank you. We will certainly be going to the Arboretum although probably next Spring now.
That looks lovely and Autumny and who doesn't love the Gruffalo! I like the sound of Catherine Wheel savouries, i'll have to look them up!
Pam - Thanks. I couldn't find a recipe for them so what I do is either use a ready rolled sheet of bought short crust pastry or make my own and roll to a rectangular. Spread lightly with marmite (or you can fry some chopped onions and when cold spread that over instead). Then top with grated cheddar. Roll up like a swiss roll and then cut into slices. (You may need to mould them back a bit into circles). Brush with milk. Put on greased baking sheet gas 6 for about 15/20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked. You can freeze them too.
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