Tag: hiking

A Canal Walk on a Cold Bright March Day

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date May 8, 2026

After a day of gardening the day before, we decided on the 11th March that we needed a walk preferably somewhere flat as my hip was going through a bad time. Jude had an early appointment so we left straight after making our way towards Queens Head along the A5 towards Oswestry.

The beginning of the walk took us back under the road we had just driven on. On leaving the carpark we followed the road in front of the Queens Head Inn and soon stopped to look at a very floriferous Blackthorn Bush. Immediately afterwards the path dropped steeply and took us alongside the canal where we started our walk along the toll path.

Long shadows crossed the path in front of us as the sun was still low in the sky. The hedgerows showed little sign of spring and the hedges and trees alongside them remained bare affording us views through to the farmland behind.

It was only a short distance along the pathway when we spotted the first lock, a narrow but deep construction.

The low light gave the reedmace seed heads silver rims.

In the base of the hedgerow we spotted signs of last years mares tails with a few new recently revealed fresh shoots. They are such prehistoric looking plants.

Nearby we could see through the hedges to a different type of farmland where sheep busily grazed taking no interest in us passing by.

Soon after the sheeps’ field we turned back along the tow path which gave us a completely new look at the canal and its surroundings. We discovered a wonderful looking nature reserve alongside the canal which is entered from one of the locks. It has an impressively large lake with seats around as well as areas of reed beds and small patches of woodlands. We decided it would be worth a visit in the future.

One of the special features of canals is the reflections of trees on the opposite bank which fell on the water towards us. All canal walks have evidence of the past and the importance of the canal systems.

We will probably return to follow this walk again in the summer when we can visit the nature reserve for a good look around.

Tags hiking, nature, photography, travel, walking

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Bodnant Gardens: Part Two: Beyond the Winter Gardens

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date May 2, 2026

Once again looking back to earlier this year, I continue on our journey around the wonderful Bodnant Gardens.

Leaving the Winter Gardens we then had to decide where to go next, which pathway to take and what route we could follow for the afternoon wanderings. We decided to make our way across the sloping area dotted with specimen trees, all worthy of a look. Once we started however we were thwarted by black rope barriers which closed off several of the pathways. We supposed this was to help worn pathways recover from too many feet passing over them when wet.

The grass was interspersed with lots of groups of different daffodils joined by the occasional celandines.

We next took a gravel pathway down a slope towards the stream at the bottom of the Dingle, where we stopped to look at red rhododendrons which had had lower stems pruned away to lift their heads and reveal their lower structure, their soul.

Our track took us along the valley side following the direction of the stream stopping to take shots of plants that took my fancy. It is still sad here to see the signs of the devastation to trees caused by those named storms we have come to know over the last few years.

We were fascinated by this rhodo shrub with its foliage arranged like a crowd of two toned green shuttlecocks. The green bracket fungi were too far down a steep slope for us to get a close up look at so I let the camera zoom in the best it could do.

Our stream led us to a small lake where we crossed the water to follow a track on the opposite side of the stream. Around the lake side was a curve of beautiful biscuit coloured hackenochloa.

The light was low and spotlighted this bright pink magnolia in bud, giving it a silver rim of light.

Magnolias featured along the path that we took back towards the house and the Pavilion cafe where coffee awaited.

Those cups of coffee, latte for me and capuccino for Jude finished off our visit well, but no doubt it won’t be long until we return.

Tags flowers, gardening, hiking, nature, sprong-bulbs, travel, winter gardens

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A Return Visit to RHS Wisley Part Two

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date February 9, 2026

We revisit our visit to RHS Wisley as we look down from the viewing mound affording us long views down the developing the newly redesigned Oudolf Landscape and on to The Glasshouse, a magnificent piece of architecture. We followed the meandering path down through the Oudolf Landscape which was still being planted so the plants we could see were youngsters.

This is going to be such a magnificent area before too long – something to look forward to. Next we explored The Glasshouse with its exciting planting of tropical plants, orchids and succulents.

But I will start off with a display of pelargoniums with several that looked so different to those we grow in our greenhouse at home.

Succulents were the next collections of plants we spent time perusing as we grow our own large collection at home.

We were relieved to get back outside to some normal UK temperatures as we made our way towards the Alpine House, Herons Bonsai Walk and Rockery. We passed some plants that made me stop to photograph them on the way.

This impressive group of benches lets us know that we have found The Alpine Houses.

And there was more to enjoy outside too and a surprise just around the corner from the alpines.

And so the surprise awaited us a few steps away, some cloud pruned conifers and Herons Bonsai Walk.

We then had to tackle the steep slopes of The Rockery, meandering paths took us more gently and safely through the big boulders and small plants. Amongst the alpine plants were beautifully coloured acers and shaped conifers.

When we reached the bottom of the slope of The Rockery we crossed the little stream into Oakwood where we wandered along pathways through the trees and shrubs into a grassed area and back to the Welcome Building.

Another brilliant day at RHS Wisley was over. We always love being in this garden and will no doubt be back again.

Tags gardening, hiking, nature, photography, Piet Oudolf, RHS, travel, Wisley

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Our Week on the North York Moors – Visiting Villages – Danby

Post author By greenbenchramblings
Post date January 23, 2025

As we crossed the moors driving towards Danby we could see and smell where the heather was being burnt to encourage new green shoots for grouse to eat. I really disapprove of this practice because it must destroy habitat for lots of creatures and the grouse are encouraged so that they can be shot.

After coffee and cakes (fancy brownies) we followed a footpath out towards Danby Castle. We crossed over a river after only walking for five minutes or so and nearby we found a sculpture depicting the river bailiff.

After crossing the river over the wooden bridge we followed the footpath onwards until we met a narrow country lane. On the footpath we found plenty of wildflowers, although mostly now turned to seedheads, and rich hedgerows.

One feature of the North York Moors is the big skies and on the day we walked this path they were blue with small white clouds adding extra beauty to the landscape.

The moors also boast some beautiful single span stone-built bridges with flood river depth signs nearby. This bridge no longer carried traffic which instead had to cross by ford.

The two padlocks locked together to the metal fencing are a traditional symbol of love. They are known as ‘love locks’ and often locked to fences or bridges so this one must be double strength as it is on a fence on a bridge.

We turned back at the bridge and retraced our steps back to the centre. We decided to look for seed-heads and berries and perhaps an odd late flower or two.

We had a surprise, well two actually as we returned to the information centre as we spotted a large dragon created in metal and wood and behind that a circle of leaning posts to encourage visitors to lean back on a post and look upwards.