Swan Lake

Last Saturday evening found us at Swan Lake for a short walk. The sun was shining, the water blue and sparkling and around the pond edges ox-eye daisies and irises were in flower.

The best part though was noticing that the 'bird flu' signs had been taken down, and that there were ducklings paddling around. Hopefully soon their numbers will back up to previous levels.

 

Elvaston Castle

I was looking for somewhere nearby to go for not-too-long a walk last week, and decided to visit Elvaston Castle. It's a country park on the eastern edge of Derby, with a lake-side walk and walled garden, though the old hall isn't open to visitors.

  

It's a while since I've been, and during that time the city council have been trying to decide what exactly to do with a country estate which has become a bit of a financial liability. Perhaps as a result, a lot of it has become run down - the walls of the walled garden are in desperate need of repair, there are weeds among the flowers, paths seem worse for wear. 

It's still quite good for a local walk though. The roses still flower and perfume the air in the sensory garden. 

   

By the lake we saw cygnets who didn't seem at all perturbed by us walking close by.

The old fake ruins still give glimpses across the water.

During the pandemic lockdowns the park was rumoured to be crowded as people looked for places to go, but now it's back to its normal quieter self (though if you're looking for peacefulness I'd still advise avoiding sunny weekends and school holidays). 

 

Summer festivals - 2022

 The last couple of days have turned warm and sunny, a(nother) heatwave is forecast for the coming week, summer is here. And that means festival time! I suppose it really kicked off at Hay with the Book Festival and How The Light Gets In taking place at the end of May/first week of June, but now I'm seeing setlists and ticket warnings popping up everywhere over social media - and I'm beginning to think I've dithered too long trying to decide where to go. Should it be somewhere familiar, or break out and go for somewhere new? Just one event, or as many as I have the energy for?

You'll notice that there's a similarity to the festivals I've chosen to talk about. Not Glastonbury or Download. There are obviously plenty of music festivals around to choose from but I'm looking for something a little different.- something that's like a microcosm of how I feel life should be. There should be talks and discussions to stretch the mind and inspire me, music or drama to entertain (comedy if you must, although it's not really my thing), good food, and something to perhaps help me step out of my comfort zone - the mere thought of camping was challenging enough at first, but I survived; now I'm thinking of wild swimming or fire walking.

First chronologically comes a new festival - Kite, at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire which I've discovered too late as it's on this weekend. One to note for next year, it promises a mix of music and ideas, so seems like my kind of event.

 

At the beginning of July, it's time for Timber Festival to return to Feanedock in the National Forest. promising three days of  'music, forests. art, ideas', a chance to unplug and recharge among the tree. This is a special place of regenerated woodland on old industrial sites, and the area just goes to show what can be achieved when nature's allowed to flourish. I've attended on two occasions (before the pandemic) and enjoyed it immensely; so much that when 2020's event was cancelled, I watched on line and took part at a distance.  

The smaller Eerie stage, hidden among the trees

At its heart, Timber holds the belief that we should all slow down and pay attention to the natural world around us - for our own good, and for that of the planet - and the acts and activities reflect this. 

There are two music stages, with The Orielles, Holy Moly and the Crackers, and Penguin Cafe headlining,  and one given over more to discussions. 

 Oral historians, organic food growers, environmentalists and poets will be talking about the importance for them of working with rather than against nature. There's a special feature on slow food, 'clean, and fair for both people and planet' which is something which interests me greatly, from my standpoint of back-garden vegetable grower. throughout the three days there'll be wellbeing walks, a light trail inspired by nature, yoga and tai chi sessions, opportunities to try your hand at woodwork, forest bathing or circus skills - whatever takes your fancy.

 

Having been I can say it's definitely a family-friendly festival with activities and entertainment aimed for both young and old (although I have joined in some of the 'young' activities too) Oh, and, yes, there's firewalking. It's said to be empowering, but to me just seems terrifying. I'd probably miss that.  

The following weekend, 8- 10 July, it's the turn of ALSO festival, held in 50 acres of lakeside parkland at Compton Verney in Warwick. 'Where ideas run wild' is its motto, so you can see why it appeals to me. 

To get your mind unfurling psychologists and authors discuss what makes you 'you', unveil gendered emotions, the hidden culture of bi-sexuality or the universe around you. Sort of like TED talks in a field, that might leave you with your opinions changed or at least challenged.

It's not all sitting around listening though. There are plenty of practical things to occupy you for much longer than three days - cookery and craft workshops, a foraging walk, double dutch skipping or dance as new exercise routines, and guided wild swims.  

 

 And, of course, there's music - it wouldn't be a festival without it - and with everything from DJ sets to a Gospel Choir via rock n roll and folk there's surely something for everyone.

 Camp Good Life in September (16th-18th) promises 'bonfires, harvest. mellow mist, apples, lingering wood smoke, foraging, strong booze and giant feasts'. Honestly what could be a better way to round off summer? Held in the shadow of two castles at Hawarden in North Wales, it's obviously about the things in life which make us feel good.

There's a music tent, another for speakers with talks that cover anything and everything - the history of Wales from the 60s, confessions of a whale scavenger, rockclimbing, and the birth of pop'. A marquee adjacent to the bar provides a space for evening DJs. There are craft areas, campfire cooking sessions,  and this year weekend campers are being offered a free meal each day. You can go wild swimming or paddle boarding in the lake, or take your canine friend along for the dog diving competition - because this is a family festival that believes dogs are an integral part of the family.

They claim to have the best festival loos, incredible showers and the best on site farm shop (possibly the only one)

It sounds like a celebration of the best things of life - food, music, family; quality not quantity. With this in mind numbers are limited, and possibly even sold out by now. But, all is not lost, as the Good Life team are also putting together a series of Summer Camps in July. Described as micro-festivals they'll have speakers, workshops and good food. And during August you can stay at the small campsite, join guided wild swims in the lake, a tour of the older castle dating back to the 12th century, or time your camping trip to coincide with an evening of music or an all-day feast (some of these things are just at planning stage, and whie I've seen mention of them in e-mails, I can't find details on the Good Life Society website but I'm sure they'll be there soon)

I realised putting this post together that these festivals are broadly similar. They all have beautiful locations where you could just relax and take in the peace and quiet .You could try a new craft or activity. You could listen to speakers challenge and inspire you, then dance all night. Inspiring. Relaxing. Joyous.A wonderful way to spend a weekend.

photo accreditation; Timber - Andrew Allcock,   Also - Diccon Towns, Good Life - Department Two

30 Days Wild - 2022

 Today's the first of June so it must be the start of the Wildlife Trusts' #30DaysWild.

This annual initiative aims to encourage us all to live our lives a little wilder - maybe have a picnic in the park, a bug hunt in the back garden or a long ramble in the countryside. There's something really that every age group can become involved in. I'm likely to be doing the gentler sort of activity - sowing the wildflowers seeds from my #30DaysWild pack, watching the birds in and around my garden, collecting elderflowers to make fizz, or a walk in search of wild flowers. Having joined in before, I find it's a wonderful encouragement to just stop for five minutes, look around, and notice all the signs of 'wildness' about you. I live on a suburban housing estate but there are birds, wild flowers and 'weeds', bugs and beetles, bats and occasionally foxes (generally heard yapping at night rather than seen). A lot more 'wildness' than you might expect.

My postal #30DaysWild pack contains a calendar for the month to either plan or record activities. I'm not good at planning so will be using it to keep track of what I've done.  

If you haven't heard of this initiative, or have forgotten to sign up for this year, details can be found here. 

Kedleston bluebells

Bluebell season is short, so it's necessary to make the most of it. The day after our trip to Calke, I decided to head out to Kedleston for another bluebell hunt. 

At Kedleston the bluebells are found along one of the paths we regularly take, the Short Walk.

There weren't at first many bluebells to be seen - but carpets of wild garlic, and garlic mustard growing round the trees, and blossom above us on the horse chestnuts.

We stopped, of course, at the viewpoint to admire the countryside, and talk to curious sheep, before heading on and finding bluebells at last.

We were a bit late in the season really, and brambles and nettles had grown taller than the bluebells but they still looked lovely.

There were anemones too, still flowering.

and this delightful small flower - purslane - which I've not really noticed before.  The individual flowers are tiny and easily missed but after spotting odd plants here and there, we were suddenly came across with a huge patch where they'd obviously spread uninterrupted..

This was my last bluebell jaunt of the year. It's getting too close to summer now, and I've still not managed to get back to Lea Bridge and its hillside covered in flowers, but that will have to wait another year now.

 

Calke - bluebells

Having more time left after our wander round Calke's gardens, I decided to head off in search of bluebells. They're not actually difficult to find - the way-marked route through the Serpentine Wood takes you right to them, although it does involve some short but steep up and down sections if walking from the main car park (from Calke Explore you can take a shorter, flatter path)

I've walked this route at all sorts of times of year but only once before at bluebell time, and to be honest I hadn't been very impressed with the display. That time I'd walked anti-clockwise. This time clockwise, and somehow the bluebells seemed much more impressive. 

Possibly they angle their flowers towards the sun but walking towards them from the western end of the path they suddenly appear en masse; a stunning carpet of blue beneath the trees.

Having reached the Serpentine Wood, the path is nice and level for a while before the descent alongside the deer park fence to  the ponds below, and then the uphill stretch back to the car park.

I was trying not too rush the last bit too much, but had my eye on the clock watching for the cafe's closing time. Fortunately we arrived with minutes to spare as a small treat is always a good way to round off an afternoon out.