We have never been to an arboretum quite like this before. There is no big carpark, no impressive welcoming signage, no fancy visitor centre with comfortable restaurant. Instead we parked roadside on a area of gravel, a sail flag as a sign and after a few yards found a clearing in the trees with a shed acting as ticket office and cafe. This was not like any National Trust property we had visited before. Picnic benches were scattered in the clearing – all very rustic really but the area had its own charm. It didn’t matter being outside with our coffees because our visit was much earlier this year as you will tell by which shrubs are in flower. So we enjoyed a very good coffee while listening to birdsong as we waited for my brother Graham to arrive as he lived close by and had enjoyed his several previous visits here.
Looking at the very good map supplied we soon realised Winkworth was going to be an excellent day out. We knew we could rely on Graham to be our local guide. It had a very atmospheric feel to it as we started off following a rough track trying to follow our chosen route. In places the track had been eroded by heavy rain and feet.
We love fastigiate trees and have several in our own garden so we were pleased to spot this specimen in a small clearing. With clear blue skies above we were walking over shadows created by dappled shade and here we could smell the strong aroma of our native Wild Garlic. Most flowers if they smell are best described as scented but not these alliums. They definitely had an odour! These were not flowers deserving of a close up look!
Whenever I walk beneath trees I try to take a photo looking straight up to the converging tree tops. The foliage was so bright when the sun caught it. In this clearing the main flower giving a blue haze is our native Bluebell which is worth a close look and then their unforgettable scent can be fully enjoyed.
In any woodland there are unexpected delights that attract our eyes, a burl on a tree trunk, or a carved tawny owl on another tree trunk or ferns decorating tree roots alongside the track.
An opening on our left afforded us a colouful view of the valley down below, the colours coming from azaleas in a multitude of bright colours. The narrow track took us slowly down to the colours, passing a few acers on the way, with deeply cut leaves creating a lace effect.
The brightest flowers were on this orange deciduous azalea. We like the deciduous varieties far more than the evergreens and grow a few in our own garden.
We walked along the flat of the valley bottom where the path felt much more level. We continued until we spotted a colourful patch of yellows and oranges partway up the valley side.
We slowly made our way up the slope until we realised that all the colour that we had spotted was another patch of deciduous azaleas. Their scent reached us before we had reached them.
We then made our way back to the car, after a wonderful day at this unique arboretum which felt more like a woodland garden. There were no identity labels on any of the shrubs and trees so it didn’t feel like an arboretum. Of course we also enjoyed spending time with my brother who loves trees as much as we do.
greenbenchramblings 