Ickworth (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Lambs at Ickworth

As members of the National Trust, we are very lucky to have several properties with fine grounds nearby.  Today, as the sun was shining, we went to Ickworth not far from Bury St Edmunds. Although there were lots of lambs, the daffodils are still not out, in the main. A few are, but most are still in bud. All the NT places nearby are very different. We also made use of our free "tea for 2" voucher which came with a card.

Skyscape - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon we enjoyed a walk at Ickworth, a lovely National Trust property near Bury St Edmunds. It is about 20 miles from home. The sky was mostly sunny, but it occasionally popped behind the clouds. It was about 7 deg C.  We saw some tree creepers (birds).

Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

So far this month, we have been to 4 different National Trust properties and one of them twice. If the weather is dry, we hope to visit Wicken Fen this afternoon. This is near here. It is a small remnant of original fen. It can be quite bleak, but is very good for birds if one is patient. Years ago I saw a bittern here. The National Trust is hoping to buy land all the way to Cambridge so there is a corridor for wildlife for years to come.

UPDATE 1742z:  See later post.

House Martins at Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey today

Well, there are still house martins around. We saw at least 6 this afternoon at Anglesey Abbey. These may be the stragglers or young ones. They will soon be gone to warmer climes. We also heard long tail tits and saw a buzzard.

The grounds here are very large and there is always something to see at any time of the year. The picture shows pompoms hung in trees made from old dahlia heads. They dig up the dahlia bed Oct 4th. The dahlias have been splendid for a couple of months.

Blickling Hall (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Today we did a 135 mile round-trip to Aylesham and Blickling in north Norfolk. We ate a light lunch in The Old Tearoom in Aylesham (this is our 3rd time here) before visiting the market square and church where they were celebrating VJ Day later.

Archetypal English scenery - Blickling

Blickling has fine grounds and gardens and was where Prime Minister Baldwin first heard about Edward VIII's affair with American divorcee Mrs Simpson. These days no-one would bat an eyelid but in the 1930s things were different. On the lake was a great crested grebe with 3 chicks. Blickling has fine yew hedges on the approach to the house. If I was fit, there are lots of decent walks around the grounds. Sadly, just a walk around part of the formal gardens had me exhausted.

Oxburgh Hall

This is not amateur radio....

Today we visited Oxburgh Hall, looked after by the National Trust, in Norfolk.  This is a fine moated house that looks more like a fortified castle. It has excellent grounds that had lots of snowdrops out. At the moment the daffodils have still to come out.  Although it has ancient origins, parts were changed inside in the 19th century.

We had the tasty homemade leek and potato soup for lunch in the National Trust cafe which is just inside the main house on the LHS over the bridge (just inside).

Oxburgh Hall is a fine property and worth a visit.

See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall/ .

I have updated our East Anglian churches visited blog too.
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .