from little acorns ....

Last year Eldest, prior to going to university, started volunteering with the National Trust. I would drive him up to Malham Tarn Estate and walk the dog for 8 hours (after which, we would both be shattered) then collect him - he would also be tired, filthy but happy.

He very 'kindly' put my name forward to the rangers when it seemed they needed some help in the walled garden.  He said.... My mum is 'a bit of a gardener' ... thanks son.  Any hoo, to cut a long story short, I have been volunteering in the walled garden since July last year. Apart from the genuine fact it is hard work - I love it.

Last week, as a thank you, the rangers took a minibus-load of volunteers off to Acorn Bank for the day. What a treat!

We were lucky enough to be taken on a tour of the house with plenty of stories of the occupants and owners. It was interesting to hear how a house can morph into what is required of it, from humble beginnings of a Knights Templar pilgrim retreat to a tenancy farm, from being requisitioned during the war for railway managers, to being a home for a wealthy socialite then a home for elderly women. Now, as shell needing lots of tender loving care (and an open wallet) the house is still impressive.

The gardens however more than make up for the house. It has an amazing herb garden with the largest selection of culinary and medical herbs of any of the National Trust properties. Eldest and I lingered here the longest and returned several times during the day.

We wandered through the orchards and vegetable gardens. We took so many photographs!

 Having torn ourselves away the herb garden (again) we went down into the 'Well Garden' 

which houses in it's centre, a circular formal pond full of water lilies.... 

and we discovered something amazing.

It was fascinating watching the dragonfly stretch out it's legs one by one. 

The wings, which had been crinkled and pressed against it's body, slowly flattened out and took shape.

All around the pond were empty nymph cases and in the water - 

small crested newtlets (my name for them) pootling around.

If I mentioned that I took 199 photographs during our jolly out - would you be surprised? There were so many lovely corners and delights as we walked around that it was hard not to become snap happy!

And, I may have even partaken in a little knitting too! Yes it is another shawl like my last one, except this time I am writing down the pattern and doing a bit of a test run. So fingers crossed I can share it soon :)

So - was it a good day? 

It certainly was :)

Thank you National Trust x