Tuesday 26th March

The promise of lambs, calves and piglets led us to a very enjoyable afternoon at Temple Newsam.

There were drifts of daffodils all over the park.

The geraniums were as the usual splash of welcome colour on the greenhouse.

The South African section was superb.

A new adventure section for over 10's and adults is being constructed.

The donkeys were out enjoying the sunshine.

Wednesday 20th March

Golden Acre Park was warm and sunny this afternoon. It may be midweek but the car park was crowded with people enjoying a lovely first day of Spring.

The lake was full but the drainage channels and streams were clear and running well.

The bird hides were busy and some people had huge long range cameras.

The skunk cabbages look quite menacing as they emerge from the thick mud.

Sunday 17th March

The afternoon was sunny but windy so the riverside at Knaresborough seemed the perfect choice for a walk.

The rocks provide shelter and the sun shines across the road here.

The river was flowing very fast and we saw people studying at the edges of their lawns. Many have small walls or barriers of some kind at the river's edge.

This kingfisher is one of the best tree trunk carvings that we have seen.

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag is a 'Marian' shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary and her son, Jesus Christ. The Chapel was built by someone known as 'John the Mason' in 1408. The bank had been washed away and volunteers were replanting large sections.

The House in the Rock was created between 1770 and 1786 by mining into the magnesium limestone and using the quarried stone to build with. The castellations were added later and the views must be superb.

We didn't discover what was happening here and those involved seemed too focused for any spectators to interrupt the proceedings.

Saturday 9th March
An email from the National Trust prompted us to visit Beningbrough Hall this afternoon. The National Portrait Gallery, York Art Gallery & the Arts Council are supporting an exhibition there with the title; 'Yorkshire! Achievement, Grit & Controversy'.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough-hall-gallery-and-gardens

No photos were allowed. This was a shame as the information on the labels was very interesting and not included in the leaflet that everyone was given. Herbert Read by Patrick Heron was excellent and the information helped to make sense of the choices that the artist had made in the portrait. Michael Parkinson by Jonathan Yeo was also first rate. Superb small pieces by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore featured in the Saloon. 25 art works in all and opportunities for visitors to add comments, personalities, witticisms & local adages.

The views from the first floor exhibition rooms encouraged us to explore the gardens.

Primroses made an effective border here & the hedges sheltered us from the cold winds.

 

The old laundry is interesting. I remember a set pot and a mangle being used yet they say that this is Victorian. I must be older than I thought...