West Dean Gardens... with snowdrops

I needed to get out today.. been an eventful few days... so somewhere cheery was needed.  Decided that as West Dean Gardens opened for the first time this year a couple of days ago, I would pay a visit.

It was warm and, despite the foreboding of the weather forecast.. which was for light cloud at the best, the sun shone.

Mr Ponders sat on one of the many seats around the gardens..

oh look... here's another seat..

I've never seen the stream so full of water... parts of the gardens were flooded and, I suspect from the very soggy grass in some parts, I suspect the water levels were less than they had been!!

In the walled garden..

and another seat with a view..

In the Spring, this trellis will be covered with the flowers of Wisteria ..

Signs of recent flooding..

Mr Ponders decided that he didn't want to be carried away by the stream.. so sat and watched the gushing water..

Hundreds of sheep.. which were then being rounded up by a jeep and at least two sheep dogs..

The roundup starts..

A Grey Wagtail... lovely to see (record shot only - wrong camera/lens for birding)

ah... this time a green seat..

I walked through the field... and ..

came across the reason for the round up .. the sheep were gradually being released back into the fields..

So by now I was getting hungry.... a tasty bowl of Carrot & Coriander soup before heading off home...