October 2024 Video Diary

21 October 2024

An autumnal walk at Dunham Massey and close up with a stag

We ventured further afield and took Ruby on a day out to Dunham Massey, a National Trust property near Manchester. Ruby was allowed into the formal gardens, which were very pretty for so late in the year. Between Manchester and the beginnings of rural Cheshire, Dunham Massey includes a 300-acre deer park, a historic house and buildings, and all-season gardens. Paths pass roaming fallow deer and ancient trees in the parkland. Across the moat, the Georgian house offers a backdrop to the formal gardens, making a picturesque spot for picnickers.

20 October 2024

Autumn digging – lack of sunshine and cutting weed control fabric with a culinary blow torch

A Friday afternoon at the allotment to get some more tidying up done. Some of the plot is now in shade, even on sunny days, due to a large conifer hedge at one side of the allotment. I did manage to dig over a couple more beds, which will be best covered with weed control fabric. I cut a few lengths of weed control fabric using a culinary blow torch. Cutting the fabric this way stops the fabric from fraying.

13 October 2024

Searching for autumn colours at Thorpe Perrow arboretum with Ruby

We decided to have a day out at Thorpe Perrow Arboretum. We were hoping that the autumn colours that the arboretum is well known for would be in full display. Thorp Perrow is the most important Arboretum in the North of England. It covers 100 acres and is home to 5 National Plant Collections and 67 Champion Trees (recorded and designated by the Tree Register of the British Isles). The Arboretum is laid out in sections inter-connected via paths, glades, bays and avenues.

 

07 October 2024

A visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. A tour of the abbey and a game of chase with Ruby.

We had a trip to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal with Ruby. We walked through Studley Royal and found somewhere to give Ruby a game of chase. That was followed by a walk in the deer park, but we didn’t see any deer. We then walked back through Studley Royal to the Abbey. We decided to have a look inside the Abbey.