A Friday Five from Trentham Gardens. We've walked there twice in the last week and I've included photos from both visits as different things are spotted each time. On both days it was calm and slightly sunny.
The second visit was a day when loads of birds were in the air. As we walked skeins of geese were flying over the lake making a cacophony of sound. Swans were taking off with a great deal of flapping and clapping of wings and cormorants were fishing and then settling on logs to open and dry their wings. So first up are -
1. Waterbirds and Waders
The black swans practising their ballet movements.
Greylag geese, always my favourites, with a coot trying to get in the photo.
Cormorants - there were loads of them up in the trees as well as on the water. There is a heron on the far bank.
A fine looking heron at the end of the lake, preening and watching the world go by.
Cygnets on the River Trent.
We also saw a Little Egret across the lake on the heronry island but it was very shy. Later, across the lake, we saw a tree with at least half a dozen of them amongst the branches.
We also saw a Little Egret across the lake on the heronry island but it was very shy. Later, across the lake, we saw a tree with at least half a dozen of them amongst the branches.
2. Fungi
Lots of different ones including boletus, inkcap and bracket fungus. I haven't seen any Fly Agaric this year.
3. Events
The circus is in town, well in the gardens, for its 'Spooktacular' performances.
The Big Top looked cheerful in the morning sunshine.
Not sure what their 'spooktacular' displays will include. Ghostly acrobats and ghoulish clowns perhaps?
For children there is the 'Room on the Broom' trail.
It ends with brooms you can sit on and a 'selfie' spot for photographs.
The 'Pods and Picnic' area was seasonally decorated.
They looked as if they were awaiting lunchtime visitors.
4. Rivers of Grass
Piet Oudolf's creation 'Rivers of Grass' which is at the side of the formal Italian gardens is still looking good.
It blends in well and looked wonderful in the bright sunlight.
5. Other seasonal things spotted.
Always love the grasses, so beautiful. Greylag geese look good too. We are waiting for our Brent geese to arrive on our beach. Shouldn’t be long. Lots to enjoy in your park especially for children. Enjoy your weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteThe grasses were wonderful and so tall you couldn't see beyong them. Hope your Brent geese arrive soon,that will be a wonderful sight. Have a lovely weekend:)
DeleteWhat lovely photos. Very impressed with the fungi spotted. And love all those water birds. I haven't seen a black swan for many a year. X
ReplyDeleteThank you:) The fungi changed from one visit to the next with so many different varieties to spot though not all my photos were good, I had some out of focus ones. There are five black swans on the lake and we saw them all along the way:)
DeleteBeautiful birds!
ReplyDeleteThey are all such elegant birds in the water:)
DeleteAn excellent couple of days walking in Trentham. I love the photo-bombing coot, all those different fungi and what great fun for the children to be able to sit on a witches broom. I wonder if you had a go too! 😊
ReplyDeleteIt's great to be able to pop in again without making appointments. The coot was great, it was running towards me to see if I had any grain to give it and many others too. I expect there will be queues for those brooms at half term. I confess I did sit on one side saddle just briefly before anyone came along and thought 'silly old woman':)
DeleteTwo lovely outings Rosie and super photos. Good to see all the waterbirds and geese - it looks a great place to walk. The Rivers of Grass is an unusual feature too. Have a great weekend and take care :)
ReplyDeleteThank you RR, yes it is a lovely place to walk it was wonderful to see so many birds around the lake. The grasses are at their best in late summer and Autumn and looked lovely against the blue sky. Take care:)
DeleteI love to see the fungi, they're all different and quite beautiful I think! It looks like you had some good days out :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, the fungi has been wonderful this year so many different ones on each visit:)
DeleteA fantastic five post! Love the majestic black swans and, of course, the circus.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you Amalia, the circus seems popular with the children on their half term break. There are five black swans there and we always look to see if we can stil see the five. Too many white swans to count of course:)
DeleteTrentham Gardens looks like a great place for all ages. It's interesting to see the water birds especially the heron and the swans.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lind, yes the gardens are fascinating in all seasons, the water birds are wonderful at the moment it's the season for spotting them, many herons and little egrets as well as comorants and geese:)
DeleteWe still have not made it to Trenthem Gardens, it's on the list! lovely blog post Rosie, thank you for giving me a nudge xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyn, it is worth a visit sometime. Probably best late Spring/ early Summer and late Summer/early Autumn it will be good when all is back to normal after the blue/green algae has gone from the lake:)
Delete