Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Saturday 29 May 2021

Herefordshire - Part 1: Wednesday 26th May Kyre Park

 

As the weather looked drier! we decided to spend a few days in Herefordshire last week.  We travelled down on Tuesday morning and again had a "click and collect" from Morrisons in Leominster which saves taking food from home.


Timothy (still in his jumper as its not warm enough yet for a t-shirt) next to an Alice in Wonderland teapot D and E bought me recently. Thank goodness it is not a teapot that drips - every other one we have bought recently does!



D and E bought us a handmade sign for the caravan from a small company on the Isle of Wight for Christmas.  It took us a while to work out how to display it and keep it safe.  It is "glued" to the lower pot with outdoor adhesive and the plant in the upper pot is a bay B grew.  We decided to call the caravan Offa as Offa's Dyke is so close and one my favourite churches in Warwickshire at Offchurch has Offa connections.









Views from the rear of the caravan.  Herefordshire is looking particularly lovely at the moment with Cow Parsley filling the verges and Hawthorn in flower.  We also saw several orchards with fruit tree blossom.







The tree I have been watching now has leaves!





B noticed on the caravan site's facebook page a recommendation for a place called Kyre Park which is only 10 minutes drive a way so on Wednesday we went to take a look.


The Park was home to the Pytts family from 1756 until the early 20th century.  There was once a deer park which dated back to Medieval times and was licensed in 1329.

In the late 18th century Pleasure Grounds with a chain of pools, winding paths and a shrubbery were developed. Many of the trees though remained and were older.  Tradition suggests that the grounds were designed by Capability Brown who had just designed Croome Park for the Earl of Coventry and may have been introduced to Kyre by the Dowager Countess.  The park also contains follies, waterfalls, bridges and a summer house.  There are Peacocks too but we didn't see any sign of them or hear them!





The earliest features of the house and church are possibly Norman.  In the cellars at the western end of the house there are the remains of a border castle once the home of the Wyards and Mortimers successively who lived at Kyre until the 15th century.


In 1588 the house was a ruin destroyed either by fire or by Civil War and neglect.  In 1754 much that remained of the earlier work was destroyed when alterations were made, stables built and a kitchen garden enclosed.   Today's house has a medieval west wing and the rest is a mix of Elizabethan, Jacobean and Georgian architecture.





There were lots of wild flowers - cow parsley, speedwell, dandelions, cowslips, buttercups, bluebells and daisies.















Cropped record shot of a Grey Wagtail.










The first pool known as the Water Lily Pool.













You could actually go along passageways in and behind the tower where there were "surprises" awaiting in a chamber.

















Cupola












There are four or five pools/lakes - to be honest I lost count! I think this might be Hanning's Pool (a fish pond).





St Mary's Church






Bugle




This tree was just amazing!







The Top Pool










The River - a long winding lake of three acres.











Although it was busier around the cafe the actual parkland walk was very quiet and peaceful. We only saw two dog walkers in 90 minutes! 


We also visited St Mary's Church and churchyard (briefly!), Antiques Centre and a Medieval Dovecote but I will write about them in Part 2.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.


All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.



14 comments:

Rustic Pumpkin said...

It's good to dip your toe back into some semblance of normality, isn't it? Timothy looks well chuffed, and I love your non drip Alice tea pot. I also love the sign, I think it is just perfect. Kyre looks a good place to watch unfold through the year. The naming of Wagtails by colour is confusing, isn't it? What is that amazing tree? I've never seen anything like it.

Ragged Robin said...

Rustic Pumpkin - Thanks so much and yes it is! :) It is a relief to use a teapot that does not soak the worktop every time you pour tea like the bigger one we have at home! Glad you like the sign - it was a lovely surprise. Kyre does look a good place to visit through the seasons and it is so close. Amazing it had escaped my "radar" as I thought I had listed all the places to visit - just goes to show!!! Yes it is re: wagtails! Don't see Yellow often these days :( Not sure about tree - will google. Son thought it wasn't real but I assured him it was!

Ragged Robin said...

Rustic Pumpkin - googled the tree but can't find anything that looks like it! OH got chatting to a lovely lady who was the Estate Manager - if I see her again I will ask her! Also will go closer next time and check it is real!!!!

Bovey Belle said...

What a lovely place to visit, and so close to your caravan. I imagine you will be going back regularly through the seasons. The house looks Queen Anne in design now doesn't it?

We get glimpses of the Grey Wagtail (and Pied ones) in the garden, but we had more about the place at our old home. No complaints though - I will have to do a wildlife post as the birds here are amazing.

Ragged Robin said...

Bovey Belle - Thanks so much. Yes we will go back often and I agree house does look Queen Anneish. Someone lives there so I didn't like to go too close!

Interestingly at home we get more Grey Wagtail sightings than Pied (on passage mainly) but at the caravan site there is a pair of Pied Wagtails. Look forward to your wildlife post :)

Rosie said...

How wonderful to have your quiet retreat to pop to for a few days. Lovely name for you caravan, I remembner learnng about Offa of Mercia many years ago and also walking along Offa's Dyke for a few miles in very misty weather:) Kyre Park looks and sounds wonderful with plenty to do and lots of space to walk around, I'm sure as it isn't far away you will return again for another visit. Lovely teapot. I was imagining the lid opening and the dormouse popping up to surprise Timothy. Take care:)

The Quacks of Life said...

i've never been there! it looks good.

Everyone here waves at Timothy

Pam said...

It all looks lovely, i've never quite seen anything like that tree before! Great photo of the Wagtail and the sign is quite cute :) Hopefully the start of a good summer in Herefordshire for you!

Ragged Robin said...

Pam - Thanks so much. It really was a good find and I would still love to know what that tree is :) Fingers crossed yes as long as no more waves or lockdowns!!!

CherryPie said...

The parkland looks wonderful.

Hello Timothy, I think Ted after staying home for so long is ready for a new adventure!

Ragged Robin said...

CherryPie - Thank you. Timothy says hello and he is looking forward to when life may be safer again and he can go out and about more!

Millymollymandy said...

That's a very interesting looking house with the stone work still visible amongst the brickwork. The gardens look lovely, especially with all the ponds and interesting trees. The multicoloured tree is really strange! Glad you have got back to the caravan again, and having a name and sign for it really makes it home away from home, I think. :-)

Amanda Peters said...

Great set of photos to look through, and what a wonderful place to have so close to the caravan. Love the multi coloured tree.
Amanda xx

Ragged Robin said...

Millymollymandy - Thanks so much - will try and find out more about that multi-coloured tree! House is occupied by just one person now I think plus housekeeper! Yes I did feel very at home there last time we went to caravan. The more we go and the more items I take the more it seems like a second home.

Amanda Peters - Thanks Amanda - yes very grateful to site owners for recommending the place as I had completely missed it!!!