Oslo Calling

Over the previous couple of days, I had been away on a residential weekend.
On Sunday evening the KHT wrote on the calendar "Oslo", as that was her idea for our trip out the next day.

With Google as our aid, we identified some Scandinavian sounding addresses in Coventry,  set the satnav and departed to the suburbs of that particular city, with the intention of visiting the cathedral afterward.

As we drove along looking at the buttercups and glorious greenery we found ourselves longing for woodland and water, rather than a city centre. A sudden change of plan ensued and we decided to go and visit a National Trust property instead. Berrington Hall was our choice - on account of the lake. We pulled into a car park, checked our alternative destination was open, found the postcode, renounced our desire for exotic delights of eastern mystery, and went west.

The weather was glorious with wall to wall sunshine - just a small  stray cloud lurked over Clee Hill. The countryside was incredibly beautiful, with oilseed rape in full bloom in some fields and still opening in others. Glorious ornamental sycamores displayed their pale green finery, contrasting with the darker greens of other trees.

We ate lunch in the courtyard. Despite the blue skies it was only about 18 degrees centigrade. Whilst grateful for the parasols, we marveled at the contrast between the arm warmed by the sun, and the rest of us, which was literally chilling in the shade.

The KHT and I purchased sun hats before we headed off exploring the estate - hers was a dainty yellow 'bucket' shape, mine more suitable for a mad old lady...

Two of Spades

As we walked along the drive we came across this strange sight.
In case you are wondering it wasn't an art installation. They were replenishing the gravel on the driveway.

Avoiding the haha

A gate provides access out into the estate.
You may be wondering why we didn't just walk around the end instead of bothering with the gate. However, there is a ditch, called a haha, separating the gardens from the estate, to allow uninterrupted views, whilst preventing livestock from devouring the specimen plants in the gardens and leaving behind the evidence of their presence. If you look carefully you can just see the ditch in the foreground.

Silly sheep

At a gate adjacent to the wood we encountered a lamb who had either escaped through the gate when it was opened other visitors, or more likely had managed to get underneath the gate and did not have the brains to return by the same route.  We opened the gate and tried to encourage him to return. However, the silly lamb just gamboled off in the wrong direction.  We closed the gate before more escaped. A chorus of bleating ensued, as the flock and the lamb proclaimed their sorrow at their continued separation. We figured they would be more likely to work out a sheepish solution if we left them to it, and continued on our way.





We passed through the small wood















and through a field of cows and sheep.
The sheep observed our movements sternly,
as if to blame us for the plight of the silly separated sheep. Meanwhile, the cattle ambled off to the farthest reaches of  the field, as if offended by our intrusion.










We explored the boardwalk,
and noticed that one tree was yet to open a single leaf.

Lazy tree!













The KHT was not impressed by the swans, who were displaying their rear ends for all to see. We did point out that they were fully clothed in feathers, but she wasn't having any of it.
At this distance, Berrington Hall, which is one of the National Trust's uglier properties, looks almost respectable...

Before we returned to the gardens, we did check up on the foolish lamb. As he was no longer outside the gate, we assumed that he had found his way back to the other ninety nine...







 In the walled garden, they have installed a strange pink pineaple. It looms over the wisteria, inviting you to go and inspect it, and wonder why it is there.










 A picture frame has been provided, to help you compose the perfect pink picture.
The KHT helpfully practiced mime, to add interest to my photo.











We headed back across the countryside, delighting in the beauty of a sunny spring day.
Oslo may have been calling, but we were not listening - not today at any rate!