Birds & Bees @ComptonVerney

Have you caught the whispers about a grounds event that is happening at Compton Verney this weekend? Arranged by our learning team, the event does I’m glad to say put our amazing landscape and garden firmly in the spotlight, with a specific focus on flying wildlife – or birds and bees to bee precise (last bee pun… maybee…you have been warned!)

The event starts at 11am on both Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June, with timed events scheduled across both days including: nest-building in our Forest School area, butterfly walks through our meadow, birds of prey flying demonstrations, and on Saturday only artist Hilary Jack will be on hand to talk about her project called Empty Nest.

I’ve been following the construction of the nest very closely all week – and it’s looking stunning believe me. By tomorrow the nest will be around half way through its build, and already its main structure is in place, giving clues to the tempting view that will be gained from the nest when it is all completed.

The events I’ve mentioned and more will be positioned across the breadth of the site, and the grounds are perfect just now with plants at their peak growth and lush lawns greening the scene all around, so it’s a great excuse to get around and explore. If you’re a bee friendly person then venture over to the west lawn where our volunteer bee keeper Rod Oates will be at our hives talking informally about beekeeping at Compton Verney, and there’s even a sting-less human size bee buzzing by on Sunday at 2pm!

Another area we’ve been creating for the grounds weekend is a make-do bird hide, or lookout to be more precise. Using 90% recycled materials from our storage yard (Yes – distribution pallets!) we’ve made use of a natural window in the tree canopy beside the lake and built a temporary bird viewing area. Even whilst hammering and sawing, the birdsong has been incredible, and the Coots and Great Crested Grebe could be seen swimming by just beyond the reeds. If you’re able to visit please do stroll down and add any bird sightings from around the site to our chalk board!

I’m personally hoping for great things to grow from this grounds weekend, and I’ll be around all weekend to support the team and folks who are taking part. If you’re not able to visit then please do us a huge favour and pass on our event news to anyone with a bee-buzzing; flighty-bird; flutter-by; falcon-flying; owl-sketching; nest-building passion, and do follow our weekend activities on facebook and twitter – we’d love to see your images of the weekend too, so please tweet us an image or three to @comptonverney #CVGrounds

(If you’re inspired or interested in our empty nest installation then look to #emptynestCV to catch up with the build!)

Hope to see you there, and please do revisit this page with any comments you may have. For visiting info, click here.

Gary

Head of Landscape & Gardens