Family time

I just celebrated my birthday. (Never really welcome these days but, as my sister says, better than the alternative!) My family came over and, as it was a lovely day, we walked into Saltaire and enjoyed the simple pleasures of ice cream and a ride on the Shipley Glen Tramway. I often wonder how many people, over the years, have walked along this low wall by the almshouses. It's a comfortable height and width and so you very often see children skipping along it. I love this photo. We're all young at heart. 

Foam patterns

The River Skell flows through the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate, entering at the Abbey end (where it was once important to the monastic community as a source of power and food). It is transformed in the middle section into the formal ponds and lakes of the 18th century water gardens, before being released back as nothing more than a stream, which then flows towards Ripon, joining the River Laver before being subsumed into the River Ure. Despite the ongoing rainfall of the last few months, the stream was little more than a trickle, before drying up more or less completely (perhaps flowing underground?) At the final pool, a large amount of foam had formed (perhaps agricultural run-off?) and swirled into patterns that I found quite photogenic. 

Seven Bridges Valley Walk

From the lakeside at Studley Royal, there is a path up through a valley that is known as 'The Seven Bridges Valley Walk'. It's been on my list to explore for a long time, so I'm pleased to have finally ticked it off. The walk follows the River Skell up a narrowing valley. The river was originally criss-crossed by seven ornamental wooden bridges in a Chinese Lattice style but when they deteriorated they were replaced by rustic stone arched bridges, of which only five remain. There's also a ford by each bridge, used by carriages that transported the Aislabie's guests on tours around the estate. 

There are some wonderful old trees, their bark now twisted and rough. Up above on the hillsides there were apparently some monuments and follies, as in the more formal gardens on the estate, but most of these have disappeared. 

Leaving the valley, you climb steeply up through a wooded area, eventually arriving at Mackershaw Lodge, a strange arched structure whose purpose is not really known, though it was most likely simply another focal point on the estate. 

From there, the walk passes downhill through open fields, returning to the lakeside. Around 300 deer live on the estate and some were grazing there. They looked up as I passed (at a sensible distance!) but were curious rather than spooked. I think these were red deer, though there are also fallow deer and Manchurian sikas in the deer park.  

The bad news, following my walk, was that, a day or so later, I discovered a tick attached to my shin, most likely picked up from the deer park. I removed it as soon as I saw it and can only pray it wasn't one of the estimated 2 - 4% of ticks in the UK that carry Lyme Disease. I'll have to keep an eye on the bite and make sure I don't develop a rash or any other symptoms. 😟  I think it is peak tick season and it's been so wet and rather warmer than average, so there are possibly more about. Nasty things, though as far as I'm aware it's the first time I've been bitten. 

Studley Royal

I enjoyed a trip to the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal recently. In the 18th century, the ruined abbey was incorporated into a pleasure garden by the landowners, the Aislabie family. Rather than visit the Abbey and gardens this time (which I have done countless times before) I explored the wider area, which is a deer park with acres of fields and trees. 

From the main drive at this end of the estate, you can see just how careful the planning of the gardens was. At one end stands a ceremonial gatehouse, with Ripon Cathedral visible in the distance. 

Turn round and the drive leads right up to the Victorian Gothic Revival church. 

The drive at this point is at a higher level than the Water Gardens, and there's a lovely view across the lake and along the first of the ornamental ponds. 

I didn't go into the formal gardens this time, but there is a tearoom at the gate where I had a cuppa. A lady was up a ladder applying gold leaf to the ornamental crest on the entrance gates, quite painstaking work. 

If you'd like to see more photos of this world-class heritage site, click the 'Fountains Abbey' label below:

Secrets and charms

 A few of the charming details in the Secret Forest.

The Witch's House

Deep at the heart of the Secret Forest lies the Witch's House, dark and spooky inside, and full of miniature scenarios. 

Above the door, the witch's cat, secure in a cage - but it meowed and spun around and its eyes glowed in the dark whenever it detected movement. 

Elsewhere, scary holographic eyes followed you around the room. 

Inside the grandfather clock, exquisite little scenes drew you in to imaginative stories. 

All rather fun, even for seven-going-on-seventy year olds! 

The Secret Forest

I went with a friend to explore the newly-opened 'Secret Forest' trail at Hazlewood Castle near Tadcaster. It's meant for children but, as we're only seven inside, we decided we qualified. Unfortunately it was a damp and unexpectedly cold day and we were both a little underdressed, both for the temperatures and the mud. Nevertheless, we enjoyed following the trail through the forest and exploring the story. 

Legend has it that in 1086, Sir Mauger Le Vavasour received the land at Hazlewood from the King. As he built his grand castle, he discovered a fairy named Willow trapped in a cage by a nearby witch. Sir Mauger freed Willow, earning the gratitude of the Fairy Queen. The Queen warned Sir Mauger of the witch's desire to steal fairy magic. In exchange for his protection, the fairies bestowed magical blessings upon his family and castle. With the fairies' help, the Vavasours prospered, much to the witch's dismay. She conjured Bogglins to attack the fairies and the Vavasour family, leading to dark times at Hazlewood. In a final battle, the Fairy Queen summoned a guardian dragon who defeated the witch and her army, banishing her from the land. The Vavasours remained at Hazlewood for centuries, but over time, the memory of the fairies faded. Today, it's said that fairies and Bogglins coexist in harmony within the woods of Hazlewood.

The attraction has only recently opened and it is still a little 'raw round the edges'. The small outdoor café is rudimentary; the toilet facilities more rudimentary still (portaloos!) and the car park was a mud bath, though they were spreading stone chippings on it as we left. Nevertheless, it would appeal to imaginative small children, I think, and we enjoyed our wander through the forest. It's fun to try something different. 

Harmony

Quite a brave choice of colour for a Saltaire front door, I think - but somehow, with the pink rose in bloom, it works quite well. Spotted on Victoria Road.   

A benchmark

I spotted this etched into a wall in Saltaire. It amazes me how I can walk past the same places a thousand times and then suddenly spot something I've never consciously noticed before. I took it for some kind of mason's mark but my learned (engineer) friend told me it is a benchmark. It's obviously been there for many years, though I don't think the benchmark network existed when the village was built; I think it dates back to the early 20th century. 

Dr Google tells me that: 'Bench marks are the visible manifestation of Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN), which is the national height system for mainland Great Britain and forms the reference frame for heights above mean sea level.'  So, in Britain, they tell you how high above sea level you are relative to the base level in Newlyn, Cornwall. 'ODN is realised on the ground by a network of approximately 190 fundamental bench marks (FBMs). From these FBMs tens of thousands of lower-order BMs were established. The network has had little maintenance for 30 years, and in some areas (mining areas for example), subsidence has affected the levelling values. In these regions the BMs cannot be relied upon to accurately define ODN. Most commonly, the BMs are found on buildings or other semi-permanent features. Although the main network is no longer being updated, the record is still in existence and the markers will remain until they are eventually destroyed by redevelopment or erosion.'

They were used in building projects, for levelling, though I suppose there are more modern technologies these days. But the network remains. 

There's an exciting map on the Ordnance Survey website that shows the locations of all of them in the UK. Look at the map for Saltaire: 

There are lots more for me to find!

I see from the data that, in moving house, I've risen from about 83m above sea level to about 115m. Going up in the world, literally! 

More from the Himalayan Garden...

... just because it's so beautiful, with its engaging mixture of lush garden views, trees, planting and sculptures.

The Ting Pagoda is in fact classed as a sculpture, by David t'Hoen, and sits at the end of the Magnolia Lake, called after the magnolia blossom sculpture (Rebecca Newnham) floating on its surface. 

One of my favourite artworks is the exuberant Red Scarf (Carol Peace) whose coppery surface wonderfully catches the light. 

Oceanus, one of three pieces by Magda of Magdooska Creates, was a creative use of recycled glass and a bicycle wheel, which I rather liked.  

Love-in-a-Mist (Michael Kusz), the common name of a Nigella flower, was an attractive rendition of a flower that has a very complex structure. 

The few remaining azaleas in flower offered bright punctuations in the landscape. Blue iris were one of my mother's favourite blooms, glorious in colour and themselves quite sculptural in form. 

The metal stork and herons beside the lake were by an unnamed Zimbabwean artist. 

'Bursting from the Slumber'

Ilkley-based sculptor Anna Whitehouse has overseen this installation of Himalayan Blue Poppies tumbling down a hillside, at the Himalayan Garden. Its creation was impacted by the Covid pandemic but, when people were allowed once again to gather together, over 1300 ceramic poppies were handmade in workshops in schools, colleges and community groups, then glazed, fired and assembled into this riverlike cascade. The artist comments that 'it is a symbol of re-emergence and the power of community'. The makers were able to relax and socialise whilst engaged in a soothing and tactile creative activity. Each poppy has been personalised by its maker, with messages of freedom and the names of family, friends and, in some cases, those they lost to the Covid virus. 

Tucked away in the garden were some real Himalayan Blue Poppies (Meconopsis) too. Rare in the UK and apparently difficult to grow, they need moist conditions to flourish and have a short flowering season. They are unusual and rather pretty, with a slight pink flush to their blue petals. 

Ways of relaxing?

Different ways of relaxing, perhaps? 

Thai Buddha (artist unknown)

Juliet - Study of a Dancer (Tom Merrifield)

A Brisk Walk (Simon Conolly)

All photographed at the Himlayan Garden and Sculpture Park near Ripon, North Yorkshire.

'The Ocean comes to Yorkshire'

I enjoyed this installation at the Himalayan Garden: 'The Ocean comes to Yorkshire' by Subodh Kerkar from Goa in India. Kerkar, an artist, activist and former medical professional, uses shells, pebbles, sand and leaves, often in situ on the seashore, to create ephemeral land art installations. Here, he's used cowri shells which were once employed as currency. The carved poles and suspended disc celebrate the ocean 'as a medium of cultural diffusions' (whatever that means!) Whatever meaning you take from it, I found it visually and photographically interesting.