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| The Whitley Court Lake |
Part of Whitley Court is a less formal wood, with a
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| On the path through the wood |
large naturalistic lake, which supplies the Shawley
Brook from it's cascade. A large clear path through
the wood leads you along the brook, and you could
happily imagine all is as nature intended, but if you
look closely you realise that much of the planting,
including the trees, are American species, imported
in the 1870's and 1880's.
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| The giant spiders web in the wilderness garden |
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| Willow Nessies |
In the 1990's a wilderness garden was developed to showcase native trees and plants. This area is being developed for children, and already boasts a giant spider and to willow "Loch Ness Monsters".
This year two beautiful wooden play areas have been built. One is for young primary age children and the other for older junior age children. They are due to be opened very soon.
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| The younger children's play area |
Gardening today I spotted a spider camouflaged in a tulip. These spiders sit and wait for another unwary insects, and then spring out and devour them. Native to many countries, until now I had never seen them in my garden before. Incredibly beautiful this one was a nervous model, and after I took the first picture it came out of the flower bell, and stood upon the edge of the bloom waving its long front legs aggressively.
