Re: Travelog 2026
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2026 3:02 pm
Lovely photo's Caroline. Nice to see a bit of the country this time of year.
Gosh and I are now home for a few weeks - Just in time for the record breaking heat wave so we have both spent most the time hiding in the house. 39c is far too warm for a big, hairy dog. The sailing home was excellent -flat calm and a cool cabin so we both had a good day time snooze.
Before we headed off for the Island we had a couple of quick adventures -first was NT Dudmanston. It has beautiful sweeping grounds that run down to the Big Pond. Really pleased that decent areas of grasses and wild flowers are being left for pollinators, there were lots of damsels and dragons in evidence and all 3 speed merchants were in evidence.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCXDof
The next visit was NT Wightwick Manor -Oh My - This is probably the best example of an Arts and Crafts building -still full of all the original furniture and wall coverings of William Morris and other members of the movement, there was also an exhibition of Rossetti family pieces. Again the gardens had plenty of wild areas in among the more formal plantings. Poppies are the theme of the year and red was quite stunning.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCXJw2
I also did a quick swing by Prees Heath - the eggs were still on the Orchid - and there were lots of Silver-studded Blues dancing over the Heather