November 2025 Video Diary
03 November 2025
Not much is happening at the allotment. Wildlife at Clumber Park with a proper camera
We took a proper camera to Clumber Park to see if we could get some good video of wildlife on the lake. My Sony RX10 mark 4 bridge camera is getting on in years but it has a much better zoom range than my iPhone 13.
09 November 2025
Final cut of the year until spring & weeding winter onions and garlic
It’s round to the time of year when there’s less to do at the allotment. I’ve cut the grass paths for the last time this year. They will now have to wait until spring before they get their next cut. While I cut the grass, Sue weeded the overwintering onions and garlic. Again, it’s unlikely that they’ll get weeded again through winter. There are some jobs we would like to do during winter, but they will be weather dependent.
15 November 2025
Two firsts on our walk at Nostell Priory
After several days of steady rain, we knew our walk at Nostell Priory was going to be a wet one, so Ruby went out in her lightweight coat—ideal for keeping off the drizzle and, more importantly, the mud. Despite the damp ground, it was surprisingly mild for mid-November, which made the walk feel quite pleasant.
We also decided it was time to start feeding the swans and ducks again. Through the summer months, there are plenty of visitors around to keep them well supplied, so we usually leave them to it. But now that winter is drawing in and the visitor numbers have dropped, it felt like the right moment to give them a little treat. They seemed happy to see us—and even happier to see the food!
All in all, a peaceful, slightly squelchy autumn outing.
16November 2025
The obelisk at Nostell Priory – including a sneaky look inside
For a while now I’ve been meaning to put together a short video about the obelisk at Nostell Priory. It sits at the furthest point of Ruby’s usual walking route, and through the summer months, there’s almost always someone else up there, stopping to explore what remains of the structure.
The two small rooms at the base of the obelisk are sealed with steel-bar doors to keep visitors from entering, and with the windows long gone, the interiors are almost completely dark. Still, curiosity got the better of me. I tried carefully manoeuvring my camera through the bars to see if I could capture a clearer view inside. It wasn’t easy, but it revealed just a little more of the mystery hidden within the old stone walls.
16 November 2025
Ruby says what’s squeaking
Ruby was very impressed by this squeaky wheelbarrow when we visited Kedelston Hall this week.
19 November 2025
Ruby picnics at East Riddlesden Hall
On arriving at East Riddlesden Hall, the first job was sorting out Ruby’s lunch. She travels with her own little cool bag, packed just for her. For some reason, she insists on dining in the car, and while the prep takes us ages, she wolfs the whole thing down in seconds.
Click on the image below to view the video
23 November 2025
Time to check our parsnips – good tops but what about the roots
We got a message on Saturday morning letting us know a delivery of manure had arrived, so we headed down to the allotment that afternoon to shift it and spread a layer over the weed control fabric. It felt good to make a start on the winter prep. So far this autumn we haven’t lifted any parsnips. They put on plenty of leafy growth, but we had no idea what was happening beneath the soil. After a run of frosty nights last week, with temperatures dipping below freezing, we decided it was time to dig up a few and see whether they’d produced any decent roots.
23 November 2025
Ducks in a spin at Nostell Priory
Join us on a bitterly cold winter visit to Nostell Priory, where the quiet lakeside turned into a lively gathering of swans, ducks and gulls. We’d hoped the chilly weather would mean fewer visitors, so we came prepared with food for the wildfowl. The swans found us first, waiting hopefully at the water’s edge, soon followed by hungry ducks and squabbling gulls. A couple of ducks got especially feisty as everyone tried to grab a share! It didn’t take long until every last morsel was gone. Come along for peaceful scenery, winter wildlife and a closer look at the characters around the lake.
