A walk in the park.

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, so we decided to go for a walk in the local National Trust woodland called ” Prickly Pear Blossoms Park”. I don’t know how it got it’s name, but the land was given to the National Trust in 1904 for  ” the public use and  enjoyment of the local people”. Well, the local people are certainly still enjoying  this gift of  land, usually for walking their dogs ( it was one of our favourite walks when we had our dog ) and riding their horses, we should all be very grateful to W. Nation Esq. of Rockbeare.

PPBP stone

Beech woods

Part of the woodland consists of massive Beech trees which turn a beautiful golden colour at this time of year.

Bracken

There is so much bracken at the edge of the woodland, I think the National Trust is fighting a losing battle trying to get rid of it. These fronds that have turned a beautiful bleached blond colour show up so well against the dark background and I think look very attractive.

Beech trees

Still quite a lot of leaves left on the trees for us to enjoy. Seems strange not having a dog with us, this is the first time we have been here since Gemma died, it brings back such happy memories.

Beech

The blue posts mark out the bridle path for the horse riders, otherwise everywhere gets so churned up and muddy and all the dogs need a bath!

Trees

Some of the trees are so old, they must have been here long before the land was given to the National Trust 107 yrs ago.

Moss

Due to the mild, damp shade that some of the trees grow in, moss manages to look like a fur coat, wrapping round the tree trunks.

Autumn tints

Lots of autumn tints to give a golden glow to the woodland,  wherever we looked.

Oak

Not all the trees are beech, this large one in silhouette is an English Oak.

Drive

I’m thinking that maybe this was the original driveway to the house on the estate, can you imagine horse drawn carriages thundering up and down here?

Crab apples

All of a sudden we found all these crab apples on the floor,  the whole area was perfumed with the smell of apples .

Apple tree

There are only 2 or 3 tiny apples left on the tree, I hope some of the wildlife is making the most of all this fruit on the ground. We have seen badgers and deer here at different times so hope they are getting a free meal.

Bracken

Lots more bracken here at the lower edge of the woodland, if there weren’t so many trees you would be able to see Dartmoor in the distance.

Autumn tints

We can always rely on the beech trees to give us autumn tints, the whole of the next village has beech trees as their main trees which grow on very sandy soil. There is a hill between us and on our side of the hill we have very heavy clay and our main trees are oak, totally different in just a few miles.

Beech

Almost back to the car now, when the children were small they always preferred a “round trip” rather than “there and back”.

Beech

That’s it, we really enjoyed our walk, can’t believe how mild it still is here with the golden, balmy days of ……November?!  We felt we had to make the most of it while we could. Walking here brought back such happy memories of when we had our dog, Gemma, must come for a walk in our local “park” more often, I’m sure we all have special places that are full of memories for us.

 

 

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16 Responses to A walk in the park.

  1. wellywoman says:

    What a brilliant name for somewhere it looks very lovely too. I think we’re very lucky to have such beautiful woodland in this country. I used to live in a part of Germany that was so flat with not much more than fields of cabbages!!

    • Pauline says:

      We all like the name too, Wellywoman, but would like to know how it originated – surely Prickly Pear is a cactus ! I agree with you, we are so lucky in this country with all our woodland open to the public and it is good that new woodland is being planted – more woods to explore !

  2. debsgarden says:

    What a wonderful walk, and you are lucky to have such a nice area close by! I am glad the wooded area has been preserved and can be enjoyed by the public. I could lose myself for an afternoon in such a place. The venerable moss covered trees, the leafy paths, the golden foliage of fall…oh, joy!

    • Pauline says:

      We are lucky Debs . people sometimes think that when you live in the countryside, that you can walk anywhere, but not always. It depends on the farmers and what they have in their fields, sheep, cows or crops, or are there any public footpaths or not. So it was wonderful to find places like this when we moved here 20 yrs ago, to walk our dog and enjoy in every season -glad you liked it

  3. Carolyn♥ says:

    What a lovely walk you’ve taken us on… beautiful Autumn scenes. My favorite it that old English oak tree… it looks magical.

    • Pauline says:

      So glad you enjoyed coming with me for a walk Carolyn. The old oak tree must be very old, its trunk is huge round the base, so is a very special tree that has seen lots of changes in the world.

  4. a charming walk, reminds me of down there were I once lived,

    I too was curious about the unusual name so did a search and apparently it is named after a book of poems he wrote, he sounds a lovely man, very rich but still remembering those with much less, here’s the link incase you haven’t seen it,
    http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Rockbeare/WilliamHamiltonCodringtonNation.htm
    couldn’t find out why the poems were so named but he seems to like blossom, as a theatrical victorian and with the victorian love of plants from far away places it could just be a name of it’s time,

    thanks for helping me enjoy wasting another half hour searching on the internet ;o)
    Frances x

    • Pauline says:

      Wow Frances, that is fantastic – never thought of looking it up !!! I will now follow the link you have kindly provided, to learn more about our lovely man – many,many thanks!

  5. Pauline I have got a little too much into a habit of C&P anything I am vaguely curious about into a search engine, then before I know it another hour has passed………….
    F ;o)

    • Pauline says:

      Frances, until April 2010 I had never even switched on a computer, my son decided to drag his Mum kicking and screaming into the 21st century and set up this blog for me – now I wouldn’t be without it !!
      So, W. Nation lived at Rockbeare Manor – super house about 3 miles from the woodland- have been there many times carol singing with WI – they always give us sherry ! Have also been there for Craft Fairs when I have been demonstrating carving. Thanks so much for all the info.

  6. Beech woods are just so lovely at any time of year. We walk with our dog in beech woods near us. One of the joys living of living in the countryside. A beautiful series of photos.

    • Pauline says:

      I agree Janet, in the spring they are just as lovely with the new leaves such a fresh translucent green, and if there are bluebells beneath – perfect !

  7. Pauline I want to leave a comment about your lovely foliage post but you have ‘comments off’ do you realise this? anyway your foliage is beautiful I don’t know which I love best they are so lovely, Frances

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Frances, I was wondering why there were no comments. My son was here at the weekend doing all sorts to my blog, I will get in touch with him and try and sort it out, thanks for letting me know.

  8. I had a feeling it was a mistake that’s why I left the comment, I see it’s sorted now, Frances

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