National Trust in Early Spring

Spring is here, the days are getting lighter and warmer and the parks and gardens are changing with the arrival of flowers.

And at this moment I feel so grateful for the membership of the National Trust I did. The best membership I have ever paid for!

So far we have not visited that many places, but we loved what we saw and it has definitely paid for the membership already.

Our first two visits were to Lacock Abbey and Nymans Gardens last autumn, and I have already posted on that one here.

Nymans Gardens is very close to us, so I have been going there almost every other weekend. The garden is constantly changing at the moment and it is easy to notice the transformation in 15 days. First there were the snow drops, then we had some daffodils, and last time I was there the trees were flowering.



  Nymans Gardens - Early March    	  Nymans Gardens - Late March  



         

The atmosphere also changed. During the winter there were very few people, it was a very calm place to get fresh air and think about life. Now with the warmer days, the gardens are busier and busier, vibrant with children running around, a really happy place, and full of life.

Last month we also visited Sheffield Park, also here in the south.

The lakes were stunning! How beautiful that place is. I went for the Daffodils, but the lakes and camellias were so beautiful that I forgot about the daffodils and ended up running out of time.

Shefield Park is an internationally renowned landscape garden and parkland. The landscape garden is informal and was laid out in the 18th century by 'Capability' Brown and further developed in the early years of the 20th century by its owner, Arthur G. Soames. The original four lakes form the centrepiece. 

           

Before that, late winter, we went to The Vyne, near Basingstoke, a very pleasant surprise too.

I put pictures here to share with you.

It is a 16th-century house and estate and a treasure trove of history. Originally built as a great Tudor 'power house', The Vyne was visited by King Henry VIII on at least three occasions and later became a family home, cherished by the Chute family for more than 350 years. The attractive gardens and grounds feature an ornamental lake, woodlands and wetlands. 

 

          

And I almost forgot about Polesden Lacey and Newtimber Hill, how could I do that?

Newtimber Hill is near Brighton. It is open for the public and free for anyone, you don't need to be a member of the National Trust. The views from the South Downs are amazing and you can get very close to the sheep they have living in there.

Polesden Lacey is a beautiful country house and gardens near Dorking. It was bought by Mrs Greville, an Edwardian hostess, in 1906 and re-modelled to be the perfect setting for her famous weekend parties where she entertained royalty, politicians and the best of society. 

The views of the Surrey Hills are also amazing from there.

         

I have been there twice, both during the winter. On my second visit there were doing guided tours in the house. It was very good, interesting and organised. We could choose which type of tour we wanted - focused on art, history of the family, restoration of the furniture, or family if you have children with you.

For the family tours they included games with the toys in the house.

I now must return this spring; they have a very good display with tulips.

Autumn...... it is time to travel in England

Autumn is one of these moments when you can see the "glass half full or half empty".
I think it is half full !

The trees start to lose their leaves and the whole place can look quite sad and messy ..... but it is also the time when nature presents us with an explosion of intense colours.... from deep reds to orange and green, it is just amazing.

It is a good time to travel and enjoy the wonderful scenery.

This year we have been to Nymans Gardens, few places in Somerset and a Nature Reserve.

Everywhere was beautiful, but Nymans Gardens has to be the winner. I think I have never seen red trees like there.


At the same time, the recent rain in the south of England made the lawn a vivid green, creating beautiful contrasts.

In Lacock Abbey, the red foliage over the walls made it all look more vivid.... and it was a splendid day, with beautiful blue sky. Inside the abbey, they were playing a movie - a record of a party they had in there many years ago - in the main hall the music was on, in the games room they had background record of people playing music and games, in the great hall the fireplace was lit, leaving the smell and heat play with our imagination .... it helped me imagine what it would be like to live in such a wonderful place, with all those gardens at your disposal.

Just imagine the wonderful parties they enjoyed there!