Today I was one of the walk leaders at Attingham Park. We only had one walker so we were able to adapt the walk route to show her additional points of interest. It was the hottest day of the year so far so the cool breezes from the river and shade from the woodland were quite welcome.

Later, after visiting mum in the care home we enjoying ‘fine dining’ on the patio before watching the sun set and the moon rise.

Over the past two days I have been busy with my walk leader volunteering role at Attingham Park.

On the first day, along with other volunteers and the manager of the walk program, we recce’d a new walking route that focuses on the river. Then in the afternoon it was my usual Tuesday afternoon shift greeting and scanning visitors cards as they arrived at Attingham Park.

On the second day I was one of the walk leaders on a social walk through the deer park. It was a lovely walk and we were privileged to see the deer in two different places along our walk.

I didn’t have the opportunity to take photos so I share some photos taken when I was walking these paths last year.

It is that time of year again, when I take part in the Civil Service Mega Miles challenge. This year I aim to walk 100 miles in June, hoping that ‘life’ doesn’t get in the way!

On day two of the challenge I had the opportunity for a post shift walk at Attingham Park. Just after I arrived in the visitor reception area for my afternoon shift the heavens opened. The rain shower was and replaced by blue sky and white fluffy clouds.

Towards the end of my shift dark clouds started circling around but they kept the rain to themselves. The sky got even darker as I left on my extended mile walk route. As I started my walk I ended up being an involuntary guide to the walled garden. A couple shouted me from a parallel pathway to ask how to get there. I told them and they set of the direction of the walled garden. A few minutes later they spotted me again to ask for confirmation on the route. I told them I was also going there so they walked with me, chatting as we walked. The reason for their confusion is that the walled garden was farther than they expected, they thought it would be near to the house.

On arrival at the walled garden they thanked me and we parted ways. I picked up speed to outrun the potential rain shower but thankfully the rain held off. As I drove home the roads were wet in places revealing where the dark clouds had shed their water.

Kiftsgate Court Gardens has been on my ‘To Do’ list for far too long. When we visited the nearby Hidcot Garden several years ago, a friend told us that he thought that Kiftsgate was the better garden of the two. We have been meaning to visit ever since but every time we were in the area the garden was closed.

Kiftsgate was on my radar ‘to visit’ during our recent holiday in Winchester but Mr C thought he would rather visit as a day trip from home. Today (27th May) was that day. The journey was a little dull but the weather was perfect. We had lunch in the courtyard where we found a shaded table before entering the garden.

We are Historic Houses members so were able to visit the gardens for free as part of the membership. The lady who checked us in suggested we visit the upper gardens first before descending into the lower garden area and that is what we did

The pathway down to the lower garden is a little narrow and uneven and, from time to time, we had to step aside to let others pass by. At one point Mr C stepped aside to let a family past, he complimented the young girl (being carried by her father) on her Angel wings. A little bit of conversation ensued as the family passed by.

Then I heard the words, ‘I am Megan’ and I was transported back to the previous day when I was a Visitor Reception volunteer at Attingham Park. A young girl walked ahead of her parents right up to a fellow volunteer and said to him, ‘My name is Megan’, and as her parents caught up with her she said,, ‘Have you met my brother?’ A brief conversation ensued before the family left to enjoy their visit to Attingham Park.

Back to Kiftsgate, the words, ‘I am Megan’, caused me to look to see if there was a brother following. There was, so as the family passed me, much to their surprise I asked them if they had visited Attingham the day before. I explained that I was at visitor reception when they arrived and we had a brief conversation before we went on our different ways along the path.

Kiftsgate garden was well worth the wait and we had the perfect weather to enjoy it.

Much later, we dined on the patio enjoying the warm-but-welcome cooler temperature after the heatwave.

I had a morning meeting to discuss the Attingham Park social walks of which I am one of the walk leaders. We discussed previous walks and the walks scheduled going forward.

It was a perfect day for a walk so after the meeting had finished I set off along the mile walk in the direction of the walled garden where I sat for a while soaking up the sunshine. After my dose of vitamin D I resumed walking along the mile walk taking a detour to the suspension bridge and the walks beyond. I chose to walk along the river before taking in the woodland triangle and then the bluebell walk through the deer park back to the mansion.

I was pleased to find that the Lady Berwick tea room was open. I chose the scone of the month, rhubarb and ginger which I enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine. So peaceful and perfect.

Due to other commitments and unfavourable weather it took me a while to get around to a walk after my Tuesday afternoon volunteering shift at Attingham Park. My first walk of the year was a perfect opportunity for a ‘Listening’  walk. This time of year is filled with birdsong which is always a joy to hear. I was also treated to wind rustling through the leaves and the gentle sound of flowing water.

This chapter in the book mentions a study commissioned by the National Trust. Attingham Park, being a National Trust property was the perfect place for this walk. The study revealed that the following sounds bring us the greatest pleasure; birdsong, a running stream, rustling tree leaves, silence, twigs snapping underfoot, animal noises, wind whistling through the trees, rain falling on leaves, conkers hitting the ground and squelching mud.

I agree with all of them apart from squelching mud which has a sensory element to it that I find unpleasant.

The video below shows how beautiful the sounds were.

Click on picture to view video

Today I was one of the walk leaders for the WWII community walk in Attingham Park. It has always rained when I have walked this route for the Attingham Park community walks. Today was no exception.

As we set off on the WWII part of the walk we were treated a spectacular grouping of deer near to the pathway. Despite us intruding on their peace and quiet the deer were quite calm until they were spooked by three more deer running to join them. Some of the deer got to their feet and the stag walked to the centre of his ladies and calmed them down.

There is part of this route where I have always got confused as to which path to take. One of the other walk leaders helped me to know which path to take when the pathway diverges and explained where the other pathway leads to.

I was under no time pressure to get home after the walk so I had lunch in the café. I couldn’t resist the National Trust ’scone of the month’; lemon and white chocolate accompanied by lemon curd and clotted cream.

Saint Francis of Assisi