Completing my account of the WNAG visit to Pensthorpe a week ago with the trailer ride.
Welcome to the final post in my series (posts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 can be viewed by clicking the appropriate number). about the West Norfolk Autism Group trip to Pensthorpe. This post deals with the trailer ride (we had two booked, and I was on the second at 12 noon).
THE JOURNEY
There are some parts of Pensthorpe that cannot be accessed on foot, and others that sufficiently far from the starting point that doing so would take a very long time. The vehicle that pulls the trailer is a Land Rover Defender. In the course of the journey one sees some of the farm area, both old and new growth woodland, lakes, ponds that are a remnant of the last ice age and nesting sites of one sort and another for birds and bats. We got a glimpse of the Aberdeen Angus cattle but not the longhorns that they also have. The route takes in parts of two former railway routes which crossed the land – one was part of a major railway company, the other a smaller local route, and both were killed by Beeching in the 1960s. We also saw a family of greylag geese, with six youngsters. On a day like we had the absence of shelter was never an issue, and being in such an open vehicle did make photography easier. If you do not do the trailer ride you will never have anything close to a complete picture of Pensthorpe.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Here are my photographs from the trailer ride…
A nesting box for barn owls.This is for terns.bat boxes – ensuring that the bats can always be away from the direction of the sun (all the species in this area are tiny, with the pipistrelle the most frequent visitor).The greylag goose family (four shots).
The penultimate post in my series about the West Norfolk Autism Group trip to Pensthorpe, featuring the cranes and flamingos.
Welcome to the penultimate post in my series about the West Norfolk Autism Group trip to Pensthorpe (posts 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be viewed by clicking the relevant number, and the final post, about the trailer ride, will appear tomorrow, one week after the trip took place).
FLAMINGOS AND CRANES
The Flamingo and Crane Enclosures are accessed in the same way when on the way round Pensthorpe. The path into the area that houses both enclosures arrives in between the two – flamingos one way, cranes the other. Although one cannot get close to the flamingos their enclosure is open, with nothing concealed. The cranes, of which Pensthorpe has four distinct species, are viewable only from a hide, which has four separate hatches through which one can look, one for each species. The cranes are one of many conservation projects being undertaken at Pensthorpe.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Here are the photographs I got of the cranes and flamingos:
Flamingo doing a cormorant impression – the feature image is a composite featuring this and the most impressive of the cranes.This shelduck was near the path linking the flamingo and crane areas.The East African Crowned Crane……and a close up of that ‘crown’.
Welcome to the fourth post in my series about the West Norfolk Autism Group trip to Pensthorpe Natural Park (see here, here and here). Today I look at the Waders Aviary.
THE WADERS AVIARY
The Waders Aviary is accessed by a door from the gift shop/ viewing gallery area, and is the only part of the site accessible via that door – it is entirely self contained, and one must therefore fully intend to visit it. It is extremely well worth visiting. There is a walkway along one side of the aviary which is the only part of the enclosure that is accessible to the public. To prepare for the main photo gallery here is the information about which birds can be seen here:
A look at the more artistic elements of Pensthorpe Natural Park.
Welcome to the third post in my mini-series about the West Norfolk Autism Group’s trip to Pensthorpe on Saturday (see here and here). Today I focus on one particular aspect of the site – the artistic element thereof.
ART AT PENSTHORPE
Art is clearly highly appreciated by the people who run Pensthorpe Natural Park, with a number of nature inspired sculptures dotted around the site, at least one very artistic gate (I did actually use it for its intended purpose, as well as photographing it) and a bridge inspired by a great artist of the past. I do not know if Claude Monet ever visited Norfolk (I suspect not) but he would certainly recognize the bridge modelled on his own at Giverny. The artistic element undoubtedly enhances the overall experience.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Here are my photographs of the artistic elements of Pensthorpe (those that I managed to capture anyway).
A look at Pensthorpe in general before I move on to the more specialized posts that will make up the rest of this series.
Welcome to the second post in my mini-series about the WNAG day out at Pensthorpe Natural Park on Saturday. In this post I cover the stuff that does not fit in any of the more specialized posts that will follow. Here is a map of the site:
EXPLORING THE SITE
My general explorations occurred in three phases: before my first visit to the flamingo and crane areas, between that and my first visit to the waders area and between the trailer ride and my second visits to those two areas. On the last occasion I saw some of the stretch of the Wensum which winds through Pensthorpe (incidentally ‘Wensum’ derives from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘winding river’ and it certainly does follow a winding course – Pensthorpe to Norwich is 23 miles by road – and 30 by river). Unfortunately none of the really exotic stuff (otters and voles in one stretch, and the eponymous birds that give Kingfisher Reach its name, while it is too early in the year for dragonflies to be present) was in evidence. The main sights were a huge variety of water birds.
PHOTOGRAPHS
I start with a couple of standalone pictures to help you with identifying the birds I photographed.
Now for the full gallery…
A harvest mouse habitat – these are very tiny creatures and the glass makes photographing one an extra challenge……but I managed one usable picture of it.
Setting the scene for a mini-series about yesterday’s visit to Pensthorpe.
Yesterday was the West Norfolk Autism Group’s third annual outing to Pensthorpe Natural Park. This post will set the stage for a mini-series about the day.
THE PRELIMINARIES
Some of the group were making their own way to Pensthorpe, but there was also a coach laid on which was picking up and dropping back off at Gaywood. The departure time of the coach was set for 9:30AM, so I aimed to arrive at the pick up point at 9:15. I did exactly that, walking by way of the Gaywood river path, and arriving at the pick up point just as the coach was pulling in. We set off promptly, and the roads were clear. On arrival at Pensthorpe a couple of us were presented with trophies from the bowling event on April 7th.
My trophy for winning the adults section.The trophy in its new location, next to The Mallard.
PLANNING THE DAY
Only three parts of the day were fixed: I was booked on a trailer ride at noon, lunch was scheduled for 2PM, and the coach was making its return journey to Gaywood at 3:30PM. For the rest the day was what one chose to make of it. I will now introduce the various parts of my experience, on what was a perfect day for the event – warm and sunny but not absolutely roasting.
PENSTHORPE GENERAL
One starts by putting on a wristband that indicates that admission is paid for, and then proceeds through the gift shop. I opted to start with the exit at the far end of the viewing gallery, which takes one straight to the water fowl. There were many interesting species…
SCULPTURES/ ART
I will be producing a post about this aspect of Pensthorpe. Suffice it to say for the moment that there are a number of sculptures and other art pieces to be seen along the way. Here are a few images to whet your appetite…
I put this bridge among the art elements because it is inspired by Monet’s bridge at Giverny.
THE FLAMINGOS AND CRANES
My two visits to these birds (either side of the trailer ride) will get a full blog post. For the moment…
A flamingo doing a cormorant impression.Group shot of flamingosThe most remarkable of the four crane species at Pensthorpe, the East African Crowned Crane.
THE WADERS
The wading birds have their own special enclosure, with a netting roof over it. I visited it twice, as with the flamingos and cranes, and will be giving it a full blog post. For the moment…
THE TRAILER RIDE
This experience is not to be missed, and will get full blog post treatment. For the moment…
The trailer.Aberdeen Angus cattle grazing.The MaltingsThe structure in the middle of this lake is for migrating terns.bat boxes – all round the tree trunk so that the bats can always be away from direct sunshine during the day.A greylag goose family with six youngsters walking close to the trailer.
A look at developments in the match between Essex and Somerset in the county championship, a mention of yesterday’s elections and a photo gallery.
It is a grim, grey day here in Norfolk (after several fine ones), but there is play happening in the County Championship. The main body of this post will look at developments in that match so far. Yesterday saw voting in various local, regional and Police and Crime Commissioner elections (only the latter for us in King’s Lynn, but I made sure to vote – Green of course). Results are coming in, and the Tories, from an already poor starting position, have had an absolute nightmare overall. Labour, the main opposition party, are not benefitting as much from this as they ought – smaller parties and well organized Independents have been gaining more in general. In relative terms the biggest gainers are my own Green party, who have gained a number of seats, including at least one, in Peterborough, where it looks very like Tory votes went mainly to Labour and some to the hard right Reform UK while a greater number of previous Labour voters switched to Green, resulting overall in “Green GAIN from Conservative”.
SOMERSET IN CONTROL
Somerset won the toss and put Essex in to bat. Dean Elgar was out cheaply, which is something of a rarity, and Somerset built on that start, picking up wickets throughout the morning. By lunch the score was 97-5. Essex suffered a body blow not very long after the resumption, when Westley was bowled by Lewis Gregory for 43 to make it 111-6. A rash shot by Harmer, a great delivery from Pretorius to bowl Harry Duke and a good delivery from Jake Ball to find the edge of Sam Cook’s bat have added to the wicket tally. Essex are now 150-9, with Snater (born in Zimbabwe, now officially Dutch and a cousin of former England white ball international Jason Roy) having brought up that score with a four. Somerset have bowled very well overall and are currently well placed.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
I got off one stop earlier than usual on my way back from work yesterday as the weather was ideal for walking . This enabled me to photograph St Faith’s Churcb
A look at developments in today’s Rachael heyhoe-Flint Trophy match between Diamonds and Blaze and a large photo gallery.
After a busy morning (a visit to the library, a visit to the bank to make a payment to the West Norfolk Autism Group and a visit to Well King’s Lynn on Loke Road for my spring Covid vaccination) I am enjoying the afternoon listening to commentary on the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy match between Diamonds and Blaze. This post looks at developments in that game so far.
THE DIAMONDS INNINGS
The Diamonds started appallingly and it took a late flourish from number nine Abigail Glen, who followed the maiden 50 she scored last time out with a robust 38 today, to boost their score even as high as 188, a total which on the face of it should not be defensible in a 50 overs per side match.
THE BLAZE REPLY
The Blaze started reasonably well, but it was the Diamonds spinners, Erin Burns of Australia and the vastly experienced Katie Levick, possibly the best female bowler in terms of documented domestic success to not have appeared at international level, who put the skids under the Blaze. Levick’s figures are barely credible for a professional limited overs match in the 2020s – she has bowled her full allocation and ended with 10-2-13-1. Burns has two wickets, Abigail Glen one, Jessica Woolston one, and Diamonds skipper Hollie Armitage has pulled of a direct hit run out. Blaze at 117-6 after 38 overs, needing 72 off the last 12 to win are definitely in some trouble. While I have been preparing this for publication three further overs have elapsed and Blaze are on to 135-6, needing 54 off nine overs to win.
PHOTOGRAPHS
With the arrival of the month of May some nice properly springlike weather has already arrived, so I have had plentiful opportunities to take photographs…
This pic and the three that follow were taken while performing an errand of mercy – in between taking the pictures I was ushering the wasp towards a window I had opened to enable it to escape into the outside where it belongs.My first Holly Blue of the year (two pics)
This is my third and final post about a big family gathering over a long weekend in honour of an aunt’s 70th birthday.
THE ACTUAL PARTY
On Saturday evening it was the party itself, which was professionally catered. The food was absolutely delicious as was the drinks, and the presents went down well with the recipient. The main course was lamb tagine, and there was pavlova for pudding. There was a large quantity of champagne, and other fine liquids.
SUNDAY
After the events of Saturday the Sunday was unsurprisingly a quiet day. Many of the guests went home that day. I got out for a walk in the middle of the day, exploring beyond the church and getting a couple of glimpses of the local river, which is a very small one. On Sunday evening I took part in a game called Seven Wonders of the World, which was a bit of fun.
TODAY
I had taken advantage of people leaving on Sunday to move into a room of my own, with rather more space than I had previously had. I was awake bright and early and packed up my stuff ready for the journey back. Just before the journey back to King’s Lynn I managed to go for a very brief walk in the morning sun and got some decent photographs. The journey back to King’s Lynn was largely uneventful, and I got back to my bungalow in north Lynn just after the start of play on day four of the fourth round of the county championship.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Here are the photographs I took from Sunday morning onwards…
I photographed this hare through the window of my then bedroom very early on Sunday morning.Aelfric is the feature image for this post – town and village signs are a major thing in Norfolk, but even by Norfolk standards this one is impressive.A glimpse of the river.I walked past this thatched house as my made my way back towards the centre of Loddon from the furthest point of my walk.
Loddon Church, mainly in pictures (including the mini-museum which is partway up the church tower).
Loddon Church is a remarkable edifice, and there is much that is remarkable in the inside of the building as well. There is also a mini-museum of local history up a tricky flight of stairs (it is one floor up in the church tower). The church is also a meeting point for several footpaths. If you are in the vicinity of Loddon it is a must visit.
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