High n Dry on the Somerset Levels

Just got back from a long weekend on the Somerset Levels about a mile from Muchelney with its famous Abbey ruins and a couple of miles from the small market town of Langport on the River Parrott. It’s a great area for walking country footpaths and cycling.

Langport is the home, and resting place, of the Bagehot Family. Walter Bagehot was a British journalist, businessman, and essayist, who wrote extensively about government, economics, and literature.  His father, Thomas Watson Bagehot, was managing director and vice-chairman of Stuckey's Banking Company.

We walked the rural footpaths of the levels to the Rusty Axe in nearby Martock/Kingsbury episcope – good pub food and well kept real ale. The walk back accompanied by a wonderful sunset, was a treat. Also Nearby there was a wonderful rambling walk  through Town Tree Nature Gardens. A 22 acre managed wilderness of flora n fauna and wonderful sculptures, many made from discarded horseshoes.

 It was then onto East Lambrook Manor Gardens, an English Heritage Grade I garden, created by the late Margery Fish, celebrated plantswoman and gardening writer. Her natural gift for combining old-fashioned and contemporary plants in an informal manner.

Then back home in time to catch Andy Murray lift the Wimbledon Mens trophy

and Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen lift the mixed doubles

 

Been a Good Year for the Roses

The sign read ‘rambling roses unleashed’ and that's what you get from Moor Wood owners Henry and Susie. This two-acre country garden is home to more than 150 varieties of rambler roses from The National Collection, as well as many other varieties. You just ramble among the roses at Woodmancote nostrils filled with the heady scent of the many blooms.

Malaga Musings

First time trip to Malaga with Sis Jean and friend Judy. Stayed just off the Place de la Merced, birthplace of Picasso, in a wonderful apartment overlooking the castle on the hill owned by the lovely Vincentes -  father and son. Amongst the many advantages were the nearness to restaurants and shops off the square, most of the old town and the beach being within walking distance, ample affordable taxis and wall to wall sunshine.

Judy n Jean with new friend Pablo

Malaga is dominated by Castillo de Gibralfaro and the fortification of Alcazaba. We could see the castle on the hill from the balcony of our apartment. Two thirds of the way up the steep path to the castle is an impressive viewing platform. Not only are the views spectacular but on a clear day you can see the coast of Africa.

The Castle was built in the 14th. Century to house troops and protect the Alcazaba It was named after a lighthouse at its peak (Jabal-Faruk, the light mountain). Although it was used by the Phoenicians and Romans, in 1340 the Nasrid King Yusuf I made the place into a fortress. The main courtyard and houses the Interpretation Centre housing the history of the castle. It is possible to walk the high battlements to the tall tower with its panoramic views.

According to Arab historians the Alcazaba was built between 1057 and 1063 at the instructions of Badis, King of the Berber Taifa of Granada. The building's military components make it one of the most important Muslim works in Spain today.

Málaga's Roman Theatre, in front of the Alcazaba, is one of the remaining symbols of Roman Hispania in the city. The Theatre has been returned to its original use and different types of shows take place inside.

In much the way the Castle dominates the hill the Cathedral dominates the old town. Its full name is  Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Our Lady of Incarnation). The foundations were laid around 1530 and work ended in the 17th century, although it is unfinished and lacks coping on the main façade and the south tower. The missing tower has led to it being popularly known as La Manquita (one-armed).

The green spaces between the castle and the main beach are like miniature botanic gardens in themselves, similarly the Cathedral gardens.

This in contrast to the main beach, not the best on the Costa - murky water, few resources but OK for an hour or two on a recliner under an umbrella.

Day Trip to Gibraltar

The trip to Gibraltar was a smidge long but the luxury air con coach ambled through the Costas down the coast. As we had never been before it proved an interesting trip. It is believed that as Neanderthals developed into Homosapians and moved north through Africa the caves in Gib was believed to be their first European settlement. After negotiating the Spanish and British border controls (Brexiteers get used to this soon no longer the EU Citizens fast track for us!) your on La Roc.

After a wander round town, somewhat reminiscent of Cheltenham, we boarded a mini bus with driver and tour guide par excellent Jesus (heisus) – he said we were to tell people we had been driven round Gib by Jesus :) . It’s a trip well worth taking :)

The sensible people of Gib led a very enthusiastic ‘In’ campaign during the EU Referendum, but they had more than most to lose. Having held off one blockade by Spain with the help of Morocco they are about to face another demand for its return. Amongst their current privileges:

• Subsidised marine fuel forms a mainstay of their economy with Med shipping calling in to refuel;
• Major tax concessions;
• If their offspring pass their A levels they get shipped to GB and their Uni fees paid, providing they finish their course, with no other strings attached;
• Advantageous OAP social care.

Churchill reckoned that the Brits would be on Gib as long as the monkeys were there, they’re still there. Must admit, geographically, Gib should be part of Spain – but then Spain controls the Canary Isles, just off the coast of Africa, and makes similar financial/economic concessions to them. Post colonial hangovers forever causing problems.

The trip around the rock again took in amazing views and as with the stunning St Michael's Caves, pictures can’t do it justice. The acoustics in the main cave are so good the chamber is now used for concerts.

The war caves are more depressing. Around 1k people died constructing the miles of war caves hewn out of the rock by hand held pneumatic drills. In the end Franco refused to bomb and Mussolini failed to turn up so the rock was never attacked.

Also in these tunnels you can see a fissure from millennia ago that split the rock in two:

All too soon it was time for the trip back to Malaga and tiffin :-p

Jo Cox MP 1974 - 2016

Jo Cox MP

A great humanitarian, campaigner and activist.

This was so wrong in every way.

Midsummer Gardens

An almost perfect combination of warm spells, occasional rain and lack of strong wind has brought forth a mass of garden colour - both blooms and blossom.

Longhope Gardens

In a small Gloucestershire village, sited in valley with wonderful views, 4 well planted gardens with different planting styles were open to the public:

Chessgrove Cottage a delightful garden with spectacular views and access to 12 acres of surrounding woodland.

3 Church Road was long garden divided into rooms with large collection of hardy geraniums.

 Springfield House, a large enclosed terraced garden with wide variety of shrubs and trees mingling with sweeping borders and a wildlife pond.

Woodbine Cottage was a tranquil garden with traditional planting. 

Hanley Swan Gardens

Just over the border, in Worcestershire, we found five assorted gardens in Hanley Swan. The village green was bedecked with bunting and covered in stalls celebrating someones 90^th birthday.

Blackmore Grange was by far the largest. A two acre informal garden packed with tradition, plants, shrubs and trees. A swimming pool has been transformed into the stable yard garden, with traditional cottage-style planting. There’s a woodland walk, wild area, orchard, kitchen garden and mixed borders.

Chasewood has lavender and old fashioned roses. A gravel garden with an Iris and Thyme walk, a collection of Bonsai and Coach Built Prams.

Meadow Bank is a modern interpretation of a cottage garden, with a hot border, Dahlias grown and collections of Iris and Auriculas.

The Paddocks is a wildlife garden with ponds, a tadpole nursery, mixed borders, and a collection of cacti and succulents.

19 Winnington Gardens, one of our favourites, is a garden of rooms. Mixed borders for all seasons enclosed with climbing roses, a small oriental garden, trained fruit trees, raised herb bed with a special standard gooseberry bush. Not to mention the venue for tea n cake J

Atcombe Court

Finishing back nearer home, at South Woodchester, we find Atcombe Court a 12-acre grounds around C17 house with later, yet imposing, Regency front with incredible views over the Stroud valley, also comprises lakes, mature trees and paddocks. There are terraced herbaceous borders, lawns, extensive shrubberies, cutting garden mostly annuals and a long peony border. Backing onto Atcombe there are woodland walks through Beechwood.

Cropredy will never be the same

Farewell Swarb