Walking around Trentham Estate yesterday morning we discovered two new things.
In the retail village was a new bookshop in a horsebox. According to their sign it is the smallest bookshop in the world. I've been on a book barge on the canal, seen small libraries in telephone boxes but never a bookshop in a horsebox. Unfortunately it closes on Mondays so we didn't get to peek inside.
In the gardens close to the education Tipi there is a new sculpture of a Beaver.
It was carved with a chainsaw from a dead cedar stump by Simon O'Rourke.
The real Beavers live on an island in the middle of the lake. They have recently built a dam closer to the lakeside path.
It's that time of year when British blooms are back in the shops.
Daffodils and Tulips both bringing colour to a dull day, brightening up windowsills and table centres. I can't resist buying a bunch every so often.
We took part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch over the weekend. The weather wasn't great, we had a large group of Rock Doves (feral pigeons) appear and towards the end of the count a female Sparrowhawk flew like an arrow from the side fence around the hanging feeders and up into the tree at the top of the garden. She didn't catch anything. All went silent, the count was over.
Final total - 3 blackbirds, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, 1 Magpie, 1 Great Tit, 10 Goldfinches, 19 Rock Doves and 1 Sparrowhawk.
All for now.
How lovely to have a new bookshop and beavers living near you. Spring blooms really do cheer things up. B x
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DeleteThank you B, I will try and visit the little shop when it is open:)
What an unusual idea for a bookshop. I do hope you can visit when it is open. I love the carving of the beaver. I didn't know they had beavers on the Trentham Estate. Have you seen any Rosie? I love the Spring flowers. My daughter bought me a bunch of daffodils recently and it is lovely to see them in the hall when I walk past. We did the Big Garden Birdwatch too - will do a brief post when I get chance. It was our worst year yet I think but we had a cat in the garden at the beginning and I think that put the birds off visiting for ages.
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline, I'm sure we'll visit again soon so I can peek inside the bookshop. We tend to go on Monday mornings as it is quieter, except in the summer. Not seen any live Beavers, just seen them on the webcams on the Trentham website. You can book evening ' beaver safaris' on summer evenings, best time to see them after 8p.m. Daffodils are so cheering at this time of year. Look forward to seeing your bird watch results. Take care:)
DeleteI love the idea of a bookshop in a horsebox! I can't even give books away at the moment! I was leaving a box of free books for people to take at the bottom of my drive and no one took any - not even on Christmas week! Lovely to see spring flowers making a welcome return. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone, it was an unusual place for a bookshop. What a shame about your books, I hope you have since been able to pass them on. We saw the first crocus and daffodils on our walk this morning:)
DeleteThat's a good haul of Birds for your count, a pity the sparrowhawk chose that 10 minutes to pay you a visit! That beaver is excellent, how do they do that so well with a chainsaw! I don't think I'd fit in that horsebox once all the books were in! 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK, we did see the sculptor working on the Beaver a few weeks ago with a large and noisy chain saw but the result is wonderful. Ha, yes once books and owner are inside I doubt customers could squeeze in too:)
DeleteI do like the beaver sculpture and the real beavers building the dam is really good news. The daffodils and tulips in a vase look very cheerful and definitely brighten a dreary day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverley, yes it is good news about the Beavers, we keep saying we will go on a Beaver safari there in the summer so we could actually see one but haven't so far:)
DeleteThe beaver sculpture is well done. I'm glad your native beavers are returning. We see them or their beaver houses frequently here. How lovely fresh flowers are while we wait for spring.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorrie, yes Beavers are returning across the country. How wonderful that you can see them often. We haven't seen one yet but hopefully as they have multiplied over the last few years we'll spot one soon:)
DeleteLove the beaver sculpture, such a talent to be able to do that with a chainsaw! I am gad to see the back of January, lovely seeing daffodils starting to sprout too. My RSPB Birdcount was poor this year as I left it until the Sunday and it was heavy rain all day. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyn, January is always a long month. We did our count on the Friday, damp and dreary but not heavy rain, there have been lots of birds about this year:)
DeleteDaffodils and Tullips..........so pretty. Love seeing color this time of the year. What a cute little book store. People are sooooooo creative. Looks like you're going to have to plan to return so you can see inside. The Beaver is fantastic, he is very talented.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandy, yes, it's good to see the Spring flowers. Hopefully next time we visit it will be an open day for the bookshop. I love the Beaver carving, I think there is another of his works there which is Otters:)
DeleteI'm so intrigued to peek inside the horsebox.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you Amalia. I hope to eventually find out what it is like inside:)
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