June – The Landscape at Compton Verney

Having popped around to check that all was tidy in the courtyard, I happily stumbled upon preparations by a florist for a wedding – I couldn’t resist this quick photo of these very English looking table arrangements – perfect for a summer wedding at Compton Verney! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014

Sort of keeping on the event theme, here’s an image or two from the grounds weekend event, which included a range of trades people including one of our plant suppliers Rimo Nurseries.

The grounds weekend also featured Bob’s Birds which were very well received with flying demonstrations and a range of birds on display. Many of our more regular birds avoided Compton Verney air space that weekend for sure! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014

Forest School is becoming a regular offering from Compton Verney, and rightfully so considering that it fits so perfectly with the landscape at our disposal. These images give only a hint at some of the tasks, challenges and opportunities that occur during each session, with learning – enjoyable, outdoor based learning at the heart of every session. It’s so successful we can now also take bookings for forest school birthday parties!

June also saw one of my favoured workshops hosted at Compton Verney, that of DSLR Landscape Photography. Local Pro-photographer Sally Crane managed the sessions which gave ample opportunity for participants to explore the grounds, trying out new techniques along the way. Reviewing the results was fascinating with many lessons and tips learned…

Focusing more on grounds work, I’m glad to say that June saw the large part of the Cedar tree renovation completed. Following a grant by the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, we were able to renovate our prized Lebanon Cedar that sits in the front lawn. This images shows mulch being added and levelled following aeration work. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014

Ah, Angling. On this image we’re looking at one of the ‘swims’ our anglers use to access the upper pool. You can tell from the marginal vegetation that should we leave this for too long – it would clog up the lake edges completely, making fishing impossible. We’re therefore tasked with getting in with waders to physically tear out some of the excess weed material. It is certainly a nice cooling task for the June heat! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014

Of course, the lake edge clearing is the same for any garden pond – remove the material, leaving it on the lake edge overnight so that little water creatures have opportunity to crawl back to the water. © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014

This was one of those moments that catches you unawares. It was a rainy day in the coppice, and during a particularly heavy storm I took shelter beneath a tree. There looking back at me, just a few feet away, was a bedraggled Tawny Owl. All looked OK but for the wet feathers, and after research we were reassured that all was as it should be, and should be well if we left things alone. Within twelve hours the bird was long gone, with no sign of problems – thankfully! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014