Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

This is a very old National Trust piece of land. In the UK, members can visit any National Trust property for free. Others pay an entry fee. NT properties include old houses, clifftops and other land of interest. It is a great resource.  I think Wicken Fen was the first NT property in the country. We visited here on Saturday. 

We heard lots of cuckoos. Cuckoos like reed warbler nests - there are plenty!  Cuckoos are often heard and not seen.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/cuckoo .

Dad's seats - NOT amateur radio

My dad died in 1987 after working for the water board in South Devon for a very long time. Before that he was a plumber and before that a Pathfinder in Lancasters in WW2. he rarely spoke of his war. I think he hated it.

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories for today was from 10 years ago with me on one of the seats in Devon in 2012. It was erected in memory of my dad who died in 1987. After he retired, he ran a job creation team for the National Trust.  The odd thing is if he walked in the door now, it would seem natural!

New normal? - NOT amateur radio

For the last week we have been in a second lockdown in England. Luckily our nearest National Trust gardens are still open. As part of this new lockdown, they have again closed their cafe and have set up a couple of outdoor kiosks serving take-aways.

For those not in the UK, the National Trust owns some gardens, homes and wild places for the nation. Members can visit free and non-members can visit for a fee.

Bees - NOT amateur radio

These bees were busy last week at Anglesey Abbey, which is owned by the National Trust. After many months, most National Trust gardens are again open.

We go to Anglesey Abbey quite often as it is very near. We are NT members, but you have to pre-book. Social distancing is never a problem.

Dad's benches - NOT amateur radio

My father died in 1987.

He retired from his job on the local water board in South Devon at 60 and then led a team of young people working for the National Trust mending the coastal footpaths. He loved his work and when he died the National Trust erected a couple of benches with plaques in his honour.

In WW2 he was a flight engineer in a Pathfinder squadron. Later I realised, too late, just how brave he must have been. He hated the war and the thought of killing innocent people. He rarely wanted to speak of those dark days. My biggest regret now is not being able to speak with him about how he felt.

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

My dad died in 1987. In his last years, he worked for the National Trust running a job creation scheme with young people maintaining the South West Coastal Path.

He loved this part of Devon and when he died they erected a couple of seats in his honour.

This picture was taken a few years ago and shows me sitting on one of them on Bolberry Down.

Better weather - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday it rained heavily. Today couldn't be more different: blue skies, sunshine and warmth. We are off to one of our favourite National Trust places - Coleton Fishacre near Brixham.

See https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre .

Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

We are just a few miles from several National Trust places including Wicken Fen. Many years ago I saw a bittern (bird) coming in to roost late one day. It is an ideal place for a walk on a sunny day. It can be bleak, but that is part of its attraction.

Snapes Point (Near Salcombe) - NOT amateur radio

Our latest National Trust (2017) Handbook has just arrived. We were amazed to see Snapes Point near Salcombe is not shown on the map of Devon and not listed. It is about a 2km walk with some of the best views in Devon! Every time we go back to Devon we do this walk.

See https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/east-soar/features/snapes-point .

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This is a National Trust house not far from us. We visit the grounds every month. The house dates (in parts) from the 1100s.

In the last season, there were some daffodils out in late November 2015. This year we saw none out and just a few snowdrops. We have had more frosts this winter than last.

Bridge at Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Everything looks wintery at this time of year. It is little wonder that Christmas, and before that a pagan festival, is held close to the winter solstice.

Another month and new growth starts to appear clearly. By mid January there should be some snowdrops and daffodils. Dark nights, short days - roll on spring!

Winter Trees - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge yesterday. There were a few daffodils out at the end of November last year but none this year. Just one patch of snowdrops so far. Another month and things will really be happening.

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

We seem to have moved very rapidly from warm summer days to winter. Already we have had more frosts than in all of last winter and it is still December.

Yesterday we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey, where the trees are now bare and the herbaceous borders "sleeping". Another month and the snowdrops and some daffodils will be out.

Autumn (again) - NOT amateur radio

We are fortunate to have several National Trust properties nearby. One of our best is Anglesey Abbey, which is about 4 miles away. In every season, there is something worth seeing in the grounds. At the moment it is the autumn colours. In the next few weeks the first daffodils will be out, then the snowdrops. There are acres and acres of grounds, some formal and some wild. Parts of the house date from the 1100s I believe.

The picture, taken on the "Winter Walk" shows a tree with incredibly tactile bark. Very many people just have to touch it.

Dragonflies - NOT amateur radio

Black-tailed Skimmer?

This must be the season for dragonflies as we saw loads at Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge today. Most were flying, so hard to photograph. This one was very obliging! The dahlia garden there is now open.

Bee (at Anglesey Abbey) - NOT amateur radio

We went to nearby Anglesey Abbey, expecting the dahlias to be well out. Sadly, they are not out in the usual dahlia bed in great numbers. They need a few more weeks.

We saw plenty of bees.

Ickworth (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Today, we went for a walk at the National Trust grounds at Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds. It was very hot, for a change. In the car coming home it touched 30 degrees Celsius. There were several dragon flies and damsel flies about.

Coleton Fishacre - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre .

This is a very fine Art Deco house near Kingwear, Devon with gardens in a sheltered valley going down to the sea. We visited it (again!) today. It is one of our favourites and the gardens were a riot of colour. It is owned by the National Trust but was owned by the D'Oyly Cart family in the 1920s and 30s.

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

My dad worked for the local water board in South Devon until he was 60, Then, for a few years he worked for the National Trust supervising youngsters on a job creation scheme restoring coastal footpaths. When he died the NT erected a couple of seats on the coast path in his memory. This is me sitting on one of them earlier.

 On the path it is quite common to see dung beetles and, of course, spectacular coastal views.