WNAG Pensthorpe Trip 2026 1: Setting the Scene

An introduction to yesterday’s excursion to Pensthorpe with the West Norfolk Autism Group, setting the scene for several more posts, with a selection of photographs.

three damselflies of different varieties enjoying bracken at Pensthorpe. The insects are at the bottom left, upper right and mid-to-lower right of the picture.

Yesterday was the day of the annual West Norfolk Autism Group excursion to Pensthorpe, and we benefitted from excellent weather for the occasion. This post provides a rough outline of the day and a selection of photographs, while I will look more closely at various aspects of the site in future posts.

THE TRIP

I was one of those booked on the coach, which departed from its usual slot near Gaywood Library. We had asked people to arrive promptly so that we could set off at 9:30 sharp, and as it happened everyone was on the coach in time for us to set off a few minutes earlier than that. We arrived at Pensthorpe not long after 10, and once we had our wristbands in place there were only two fixed points to the day – the trailer rides for those who were booked on one of these, in my case at 11:15AM and lunch, which in my case was to be at about 1PM. Other than that, up until departure at 4:30PM the day was to be what we chose to make of it. We arrived back at Gaywood at about 5:15PM, and I walked home.

MY DAY AS IT HAPPENED

With limited time between our arrival and my slot on the trailer ride I deliberately did not venture too far afield at first, starting with a visit to the Waders Aviary, then a walk round some of the closer parts of the site, including the crane and flamingo enclosure and the Monet inspired bridge. Then it was the trailer ride, in a new trailer pulled by a tractor, with a reduced capacity meaning that we had three rides scheduled rather than two as in previous years. Between the trailer ride and lunch I ventured further, getting as far as Kingfisher Reach, where the path meets the route followed by the trailer, before heading back towards the restaurant for lunch. After lunch, which was excellent, I spent the afternoon engaged in further explorations, as well as revisits to some favourite spots. I was back at the coach in good time.

PHOTOGRAPHS

This gallery is just a small selection of the photographs I have from yesterday, designed to give you a hint of what is to come…

An adult avocet in the Waders Aviary
A pair of black winged stilt – there is not much between these and the avocets in terms of leg length but the latter have bigger bodies, which makes the stilt legs look longer.
The gate to the Millennium Garden
Two sculptures – three giant dandelion clocks and a fairy standing on a feather, all in silvery metal.
The Monet inspired bridge
The trailer returning from its first outing.
An old growth oak, one of only three at Pensthorpe to have survived the great storm of 1987.
An oystercatcher loose in a field.
sheep in the shadow of a tree.
A stretch of the Wensum.
A platform with a gull on it.
Another stretch of the Wensum.
bird sculptures
A shepherd’s hut.
A bee visits its part of the bug hotel.
A tufted duck.
Eurasian Crane
Grey Crowned Crane (two pics)
A goose of some description.
Flamingos
An oystercatcher in the flamingo pond,.
Greylag goslings
An avocet chick (one of two I observed in the Waders Aviary)
A bearded tit, another resident of the Waders Aviary.
Three damselflies of different varieties in one picture (until yesterday I have never even managed to get two in one picture).
Swallows nest in the crane hide.
This pic which appears out of position in this gallery was the first time I had got multiple damselflies in one picture.

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Author: Thomas

I am a founder member and currently secretary of the West Norfolk Autism Group and am autistic myself. I am a very keen photographer and almost every blog post I produce will feature some of my own photographs. I am an avidly keen cricket fan and often post about that sport.

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