Returning to Familiar Ground

Like many charities The National Trust has not had an easy time during lockdown. All their properties were closed initially and they have started a phased reopening. They have had to address the same social distancing issues, the lack of income and having many of their volunteers shielding. Not all members have been tolerant. Some have cancelled their membership and some have complained about not being able to visit properties.

Our local property is Tyntesfield and we make regular trips there. It was therefore a good choice for my first visit back. You have to prebook and the bookings come out on a Friday morning. You choose a half hour slot in which to arrive and once there can stay all day. The ticket is on your phone and it is a contactless showing as you arrive in your car. I met up with a friend and off we went. The first stop was the toilets. All quiet and all sorted for socially distancing queuing although we were surprised to see a man emerge from the Ladies! (Definitely not a cleaner!).

There is a map available online showing the one way routes. They are also well signposted. We picked the longest route which started through the woods. We had brought a picnic and this bench outside the Summer house seemed an ideal spot to eat it. Not another person in sight.

Then we had a pleasant and very quiet walk.

Eventually we made our way down to the gardens. We were able to peep into the greenhouses but understandably they were out of bounds. There was a good aroma of drying onions.

The garden by the Orangery was looking beautiful especially when you consider that the only gardeners have been the paid ones until the volunteers were allowed to return.

Lots of lovely dahlias and then this plant which I used my Candide plant identifier app to find its name. Monarda also known as Bergamot or Beebalms.

There was plenty of colour in the Kitchen Garden. The lavender was in full bloom.

This mustard plant is explained on this notice board.

The cabbages were huge.

The carrots obviously left from last year had gone to flower. They actually make a good show..

We guessed that this device was to ensure symmetrical trimming of the bush. It made me smile because of a story we were told by one of the gardeners on a previous visit. The late Lord Wraxall who was the last occupant of Tyntesfield liked to do a bit of pruning. He was however not so great on the clearing up. Had his ghost appeared to trim this bush?

We were fascinated by the variety of cones on this tree. A little bit of investigation on google suggests that these are the male and female cones of a Himalayan cedar tree. Beginning to wish I had photographed the whole tree now.

Entry to the rose garden was not permitted for obvious reasons but we could see that it was looking good.

I am sure as time goes on they will find ways of opening more of the estate. We were very happy with out visit and made a point of visiting the newly reopened shop to buy some gifts and plants. The NT all the money they can get to replenish their diminishing funds.