Travel diary of gardens, nature reserves, walks, houses and historic places to escape to and explore in the UK, USA and Portugal. Includes travel photography, botanical stories and ideas for a family day out with kids.
A visit to a friend’s house last week admiring and picking her heather reminded me that I needed to take my twins for a walk exploring the heathland in Ashdown Forest. Nearly two thirds of it is heathland. “More than 80% of our lowland heaths have been destroyed since the 19th century. Even rarer than […]
A heathland valley rarer than a rainforest Read More »
I like to think of my visits to Nymans as courses from a seasonal menu. I could indulge in an all day banquet by touring the 33 acres of formal gardens, the house and the 265 acres of woodland trails but prefer to taste what it offers throughout the year. Already this year I have savoured
Nymans Part 1 – a seasonal menu Read More »
It was by chance that I discovered Chiddingstone Castle. I was told that an old friend I hadn’t seen in years – Virge Gilchrist – was appearing in the play The Song of Lunch with Robert Bathurst of Cold Feet and Downton Abbey fame. It was part of a literary festival that took place on
Chiddingstone Castle – authors, eccentrics and gardens Read More »
I visited Gravetye Manor’s gardens yesterday to see what was blooming. Frank Sinatra’s song ‘It had to be you’ suddenly was in my head when I saw the flower beds filled with tulips. Yes, it’s tulip time. They’re the spring flowers that show up in April and early May with a dizzying array of colours.
I spent a couple of days with Luce and Theo on the East Sussex coast this past week. It was really a spur of the moment ‘let’s go and be by the seaside.’ One afternoon we headed for Cuckmere Haven where you have a perfect view of the chalk cliffs of The Seven Sisters. I actually
This week my twins were thrilled by the experience of bottle feeding some baby lambs. Usually I’m the one in our family that gets rather excited by the sight of baby lambs in the English countryside. It just gives me that spring feeling and makes me think they just look right “In England’s green and pleasant
Bottle feed a baby lamb Read More »
