A day out in Hampshire

One place I've been meaning to visit for a long time, is the National Trust property Hinton Ampner. However, the route I need to take has been suffering from very major road works at Hindhind over the last year or so. A tunnel is being created to relieve the traffic congestion and this is due to be completed in summer of 2011! So I've been waiting for a combination of a sunny day and one that is likely to be outside of normal weekday traffic. So - today was the day.

However, I did have to queue in a traffic jam for some time and, although I'd allowed extra time, I arrived half an hour later than I'd planned. Hey ho

Hinton Ampner was the brain child of Ralph Dutton (the 8th and final Lord Sherborne). He was born at Hinton in 1898 and inherited the house and garden in 1936.

The house is very pleasant and on Sundays only the ground floor is open to the public. Its dimensions are such you can imagine living in the house - I wish!

The gardens are a mixture of formal layout with informal planting. Dutton tried to create a feeling of tranquillity and in this (notwithstanding all the visitors today) I feel he's succeeded.

From the house and garden the view is over many large fields - these currently being occupied by several lambs and their mums; a lot of bleating was to be heard.

OK - I'll let you wander as I did:


















Someone was creative with the shears!






Within the grounds, but nothing to do with the National Trust, stands the small, but pretty, All Saints Church.

Next to the orchard stands All Saints parish church, which was originally Saxon. The chancel was rebuilt before 1822, and the nave by Ralph Dutton's grandfather in the 1870s, when the French-style bell-tower was also added. Ralph Dutton and many of his ancestors are buried here.

It has two very colourful in interesting stained glass windows which, for once, I've managed to get a reasonable picture of!






The gardens do not have any water and I was surprised at the lack of birds. A few crows flying about and the occasional blackbird. Equally, I presume, because the garden is mostly planted with trees and shrubs, there weren't many butterflies or bees about. I did feel a bit deprived and realised how much I miss seeing the birds and bees et al and also, I like having water about.

Had a quick nip into Painshill as it was on my way home. The two Great Crested Grebes are about but no further signs of nesting. Damselflies were everywhere and a great sight to see.

A pleasant day in some lovely sun - the first summer-like day of the year :D

Not very inspiring pictures today. One of those days when creativity never woke up.

Last day of hols

The weather forecast didn't bode well and, having a long(ish) journey back tomorrow off we went to a reasonably local National Trust Garden - Knighthayes Court and House. This is one of my favourite gardens and I can never tire of the lovely views, beautiful plants, the lily pond and the beautiful wooded area beyond the house.

Saw Buzzards circling overhead; Mr. Chaffinch joined us for lunch and Mrs. Blackbird was foraging in the Kitchen Garden. Chiff-chaffs were singing and at one time, three could be heard; couldn't see them as they were safely hidden high up in the trees.

A great end to a lovely week in glorious Devon.

What shall I miss most? - the sound of the Swallows as I awake each morning - fantastic! And looking out of the doors over the fields at the cows and horses; birds flying across the lane as I approach and the rabbits scurrying into the fields. Great stuff!

Birdy visitors


Views of the Gardens















One of the many butterflies


and a dragonfly that wouldn't stay still long enough...



And the Plants