Herefordshire 2023 (6) - Part 5: Leominster

 

We came home on Tuesday 6th June  as D had his second exam on the Wednesday. We couldn't have stayed at the caravan for him to take it there as for some reason the internet connection  was very unreliable again. We decided to return in the evening to avoid the rush hour on the dreaded M42 roadworks so in the afternoon we popped into Leominster to buy a few things.

I felt a bit sorry for this little owl made out of shells shoved in a box outside a shop selling for just £1 - I didn't buy it though as I suspect like many people my age I already have far too many ornaments!

B disappeared into this converted chapel trying to find a cheap crate to store items for recycling.

Grafton House is Grade II listed and  dates probably from the C14th with later additions.

I like Leominster Town Centre and it has a great selection of independent shops.  The family wandered off towards the supermarkets to buy coffee while I had a browse round the excellent Rossiter's bookshop.  I could have spent a fortune in there and did spend more than I intended!

This is a really good stationery shop and I managed to buy some birthday cards.

Hopefully, we will return to Herefordshire soon although I could do with more than 3 days at home  this time to catch up on washing and housework!  

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate most of my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Herefordshire 2023 (6) - Part 4: Moors Meadow Garden

 

On Monday 5th June we  all visited a ngs open garden called Moors Meadow only 20 minutes away at Collington near Bromyard. In fact it wasn't far from the first ngs open garden we visited a few weeks ago.  The gardens cover 7 acres and are located on a hillside. They are organic and contain many unusual and exotic plants.  There are many paths to explore as you wander round the gardens.  The gardens have won several awards over the years. They have about 3 dates when they are open for ngs and the rest of the time you can visit by prior arrangement.  The gardens have a website so if you want to read more about them please see Moors Meadow Garden website

Not too much text in this post just mainly photos of these lovely gardens. There are a lot of old garden and farming tools in the garden and many sculptures.

This was the fernery with a wonderful display of Candelabra Primula.

This was the lake but it seems to have turned into more of a wetland/marsh.

I wasn't over keen on this dragon! and Timothy was going nowhere near him for a selfie!

The kitchen garden

There was a particularly lovely garden right by the house

There is a resident blacksmith on site and we were able to look round the forge.

D's photos

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The gardens were well worth a visit and we spent several hours exploring. I would certainly go again as it would be lovely to see it at a different season and looking at the map I suspect there were areas we missed.

Wessex Reiver - if you see this after your comment I did look for a group of gardens in a village but the nearest were in Ross on Wye about an hour away - too far for the family to want to travel. I can't believe I haven't thought of visiting NGS open gardens before!

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