Out and about

 

With both of us Covid-clear and nice weather forecast, today seemed like a good day to go out and have a bit of a stretch.

Late morning we drove across to Upper Beeding with a view to a wander around Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. It has been many years since the Gorse Fox was last there and the place has changed hands a couple of times in between. Fortunately, the current owners have restored the gardens, improved the pathways, and installed a new sculpture trail. After a coffee and blueberry muffin we headed out into the gardens, snaking our way down to the lakes.

The car park had looked quite full but despite that, the gardens seems empty. We passed the odd family here and there (with the children following a treasure hunt which would culminate in an Easter egg), and there were a few couples but there didn't seem like enough people to warrant the quantity of cars.

We made our way along the paths to the ribbon of lakes, crossing at one of the damns that separate them. Here and there there were further sculptures - some quite bizarre and others very beautiful.

The sun was playing hide and seek. Sometimes the cloud cover completely washed out the blue, others times the sun shone strongly and cast brilliant blue reflections.

We sat for a while and took in the view, marvelling at the tranquility and the mirror-like quality of the still water. It was one of those spots where you could easily linger for an hour or two.

A buggy silently pulled up behind us. It provides transport for people with mobility issues and calls at this spot every 30 minutes. We were in no hurry and could take our time wandering back out of the valley. We watched him drive off.

We discussed our next stop. The Camelia Walk was past its best, so we didn't bother. The Bluebell Bank seemed to be empty - maybe they are doing maintenance. We headed to the Rock Garden.

The Gorse Fox loves a good rock garden. This was a good rock garden, being very well established and having lots of paths leading up through the various features. We wandered back and forth, looking at the garden from different vantage points. It was lovely.

Eventually, we had seen what we wanted. Our "Stream of Consciousness" was enhanced and our should uplifted. It was time to go back to car and home.

(The Gorse Fox was amused by the sign written across the front of a motorhome parked near our car "Adventure before Dementia" - it seemed somehow appropriate).

Wireframe

As we neared the end of the route we came across a little courtyard. The courtyard was filled with strange but very attractive sculptures.

These wireframes of active figures were astonishing.

Terrace

Imagine waking to this view.

This is the view from the front of the terrace of the existing house. It commands a stunning position over the valley quite takes the breath away.

Up North

The northern end of the garden, above the ponds, puts on a show of understated elegance as the different textures and hues blend then part, merge and then disappear into the distance.

Breaker One-Nine, this here's the Rubber Duck

"Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy"...

"Cause we gotta mighty convoy, rockin' quackin' through the night
Yeah we gotta mighty convoy, ain't she a beautiful sight?"

(With apologies to C.W.McCall)

Smouldering

Acers punctuate the views as you wander round the grounds. After the initial flush of spring they seem to sit and smoulder throughout the summer, promising a climax of colour for the autumn.

This must be a wondrous sight, come early October.

The Ponds

At the bottom of the valley lies a series of ponds that acted as reservoirs for the old engine house which drove the bellows for the charcoal furnaces.

Now they act as a haven for wildlife, and a mirror in which the shapes and colours of the surrounding trees and shrubs are duplicated in the reflections.

The Rock Garden

The woodland gardens cover some 240 acres in all and were started in the early 1800s by the Beauclerk family, but the Loder family took control in the latter part of the 1800s and several generations on, are still caring for the estate.


The Rock Garden was the first diversion. Mid-summer is not the best time to see this, though it has real depth and texture. We searched round the various nooks and crannies and at each turn there was a new view.

As we left, GF couldn't help but note that for a Rock Garden there was no Led Zeppelin, no Deep Purple... some Rock Garden!

Leornardslee

The Silver Vixen joined the Gorse Fox for a trip inland to the Leonardslee Gardens.

Created in an east-west valley of the Sussex Weald between Cowfold and Handcross the old St Leonards Forest had been denuded for charcoal, but the land was not suitable for agriculture.

It was, however, a perfect spot for an extensive woodland garden.