Another Trip to Herefordshire - Part 3: Croft Castle - Fishpool Valley Walk and Ghost Tree Exhibition

 

On the Saturday we went to Croft Castle although with hindsight we probably should have gone on Friday when it might have been quieter! The car park was heaving with cars but we decided to walk along the Fish Pool Valley first which was very quiet - we only saw a few other people. We really do enjoy our visits to Croft Castle as there is so much to see and do from the Fishpool Valley walk to the house and walled garden together with the church of St Michael and All Angels and even an Ancient Tree Trail.  You can also walk to Croft Ambrey fort - something we will do one day!

Croft Castle (now in the care of the National Trust) has been lived in by the Croft family since the Norman Conquest, apart from a period of around 177 years. The estate covers 644 hectares (1591 acres).

The original castle was a motte and bailey located to the west of the house we see today.  The castle was rebuilt as a walled stone manor and was transformed by Sir James Croft in Tudor times.  It was badly damaged during the Civil War.  In 1746,  due to bankruptcy in the Croft family, the castle was taken over by the Knight family who turned the castle into the Gothic Castle we see today.

Fishpool Valley is a wooded deeply incised combe and a small stream has been dammed to provide a series of small pools.  The valley was originally landscaped by Thomas Johnes II in the late C18th/early C19th.  

There is a history of light industry in the valley - wood fired lime kilns, quarries and charcoal burners.  The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the ponds are home to the native protected White Clawed Crayfish. 

In 2017 the National Trust restored the valley back to its "Picturesque" origin.

Meadow Sweet and Water Mint by one of the pools.

Hogweed

Thistle Seedheads and Willowherb

The Gothic Pumphouse which has recently been restored. It was built to feed water back up to the castle and was in advance of its time.

After the walk we ate our sandwiches in the car and then went to the castle as there was a Ghost Tree Art Exhibition I wanted to see.

 

Interestingly there is now a Ghost Tree Art Trail which takes in part of the Ancient Tree walk that we have done in the past.

The exhibition and artwork displayed shows the beauty of the dead and decaying trees at Croft Castle.  They celebrate the past of the ancient trees.  Work has been created by artists Richard Gilbert (fine artist), Sara-Jane Arbury (poet) and Paul Ligas (photographer). Ghost Trees are relics of lost past woodlands and the National Trust at Croft has left the dead trees to provide important habitat for wildlife.

First Ghost "The Silurian"

2nd Ghost "The William Croft Oak"

3rd Ghost "The Lightening Tree (Sweet Chestnut)

4th Ghost "The Cauldron" Sweet Chestnut

5th Ghost "The Tree that Swallowed Itself"

The 6th Ghost "The Sentinels

7th Ghost - "The Dryad" - Oak

Hopefully, you can read the poems but it might be easier to click on the photo to enlarge the image.

After viewing the exhibition we visited the walled garden and I had a quick look around the church of St Michael and All Angels and house interior. I'll write about those in the next post(s).

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).

Reference: National Trust Guide Book to Croft Castle and Information Boards on the site.

October Visit to Herefordshire - Part 4 Fishpool Valley Walk at Croft Castle

 

On the Thursday after a picnic lunch and cup of tea in the car we debated whether to follow the  Ancient Tree Trail or walk along Fishpool Valley. In the end we did the latter.

Sheep along the drive.

Already I am lagging behind!!!  

Down into the wooded valley. It is a deeply incised coombe and a small stream has been dammed in places to make a series of small pools.

The valley was originally landscaped by Thomas Johnes II in the late 18th century and possibly into the early 19th century.  

There is a history of light industry in the valley - wood fired lime kilns, quarries and charcol burning.

The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and home to the native protected white clawed crayfish in the ponds.

In 2017 the National Trust restored the valley back to its "Picturesque" origins.

The Gothic Pumphouse recently restored.  It was built to feed water up to the castle and was in advance of its time.

Along the path we had met a lady who told us about an impressive display of different species of fungi by what I think is possibly an old quarry.

You can walk further but again we left the valley at this point.

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On Friday the weather was not good - sunshine and very heavy prolonged showers so we stayed at the caravan although now I wish I had ventured to a local church.  We came home on the Saturday as E was on her own but did journey via Tenbury Wells stopping off at Burford House Gardens which will be the subject of my last post on this short break.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Reference: National Trust Guide Book to Croft Castle