Bearing in mind how energetic we were last Monday, I thought that something a little more sedate might suit today. Hardwick Hall Country Park in Sedgefield, County Durham, is just the place for a gentle stroll. But that’s not the whole story. You are probably familiar with my challenging friend, Jude. Chided to nurture my photographic skills in capturing wildlife, and NOT cheat with inanimate objects, what else could I do?
Clutching the dregs of a box of cornflakes, off I went. The helpmate had to come too, of course, to obligingly scatter the cornflakes as I poised for action. And action there was, aplenty! It seems that swans are extremely efficient hoovers when it comes to cornflakes.
We used to come to this park when my son was small. Many battles were fought in the crumbling old fort- some of them just to get him out of there, and home again. Nobody much seems to clamber in it these days. Just the odd duck. A bit of a waste, really.
A park for all seasons, I’ve brought you here a time or two before. Remember the duck decoy? And there are quirky sculptures, too. But fundamental to it all is the lake. Canada Geese may pretend ownership, but the swans glide imperiously by, cocking a snooty beak.
There are several smaller ponds, beloved of the coots playing hide and seek among straggling roots, and the soft shimmering reeds. The Temple of Minerva hints at mystery through the trees. Just one of the interesting sculptural aspects to this park.
Crossing over the Serpentine Bridge, the path leads to fens and a boardwalk. A new little bird hide has been installed, and our feathered friends are delighted to preen a little while they feast on nuts. We are equally delighted to quietly spectate.
I’m so used to seeing the folly of a Gothic Ruin that it no longer seems strange to me. Designed in the Palladian style, by architect James Paine, the gardens are an unusual example of 18th century landscape design. The cafe, however, is a stylish new build. That doesn’t prevent it from doing a very creditable old fashioned Victoria Sponge and Bakewell Tart. I did a good impersonation of those swans as I hoovered up my sizeable portion. Crumbs don’t make much of a photo, do they?
Hoping for a tiny morsel, a robin loitered nearby, teasingly out of camera range. So, I had to settle for a couple of very cute ducks.
You might have noticed that Jude has been breaking her own rules lately. Who better? Pop over and join in her Garden Challenge. You have until the end of March to post some Wildlife. Meantime let’s put the kettle on. Time to settle in for a good read.
Huge thanks to all my contributors for joining me again this week. I love having your company, whether you’re a walker or not. Please feel free to send me a walk. The details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page or click on the logo above.
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Lots of happy and willing sharers again this week. Let’s get Smidge to start us off :
A weekend in the Clyde Valley : New Lanark and the Elphinstone Hotel
I don’t know why but paddles and Mersey come to mind? Strange brain I have! Sorry, Debs!
Across the Forth without a Ferry
Serene in New Zealand this week, with Ellen and a few cows!
Going for a Walk : Motutapu Walkway
South of the Border, one last time (sob!), with Jackie :
To the beach with Amy, enjoying the beauty, as she always does :
Monday Walk : Rockport Beach, Texas
Being ‘sinister’ with Anabel in Scotland? No, not really!
Irvine and the Scottish Maritime Museum
Liesbet doesn’t make the leap, so don’t worry! Maybe another time?
A Walk in Lover’s Leap State Park, CT
Feeling social this week? Please go along and say ‘hi’ to Joan :
Having a Social Hike with absolutely Blissful Views
Such a pretty sequence of images! Meet BiTi from Pret-a-Vivre online magazine :
Our first walk together in 2016
And, as ever, along comes Drake to brighten the day :
Closely followed by Elisa and Dumbo- not the Disney favourite!
My friend Meg will love this next walk, so thank you, Susan, for making us both happy :
Richard is standing up for Cornish walks and beaches. Jude will be very happy with that :
Best walks with a view : Trevone to St. Merryn
And, in case you missed the link at the start of my post, here’s the lady herself :
Garden Portrait : Knightshayes Court
That’s it for another week. I hope to have a post for you on Easter Monday but I haven’t quite decided where yet. My daughter and husband are arriving on Thursday evening, so I’m busy and excited. I hope the weather allows you to get out and about, but if not there’s always chocolate. Have a wonderful time!
restlessjo 
What a wonderful park! Thanks for taking me around. 🙂
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It’s a good space for kids and bigger ‘kids’ too, Pit 🙂
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Charming post, Jo. The bridge framing photo is beautiful!
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Thanks, sweetheart! Sorry I’m just getting here- it’s been a busy day 🙂 Walking this morning then trying to declutter James’ bedroom so his sister will have somewhere to sleep this weekend. 🙂
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It’s a good kind of busy for you 🙂 Take it easy, Jo, and enjoy your family time.
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I love the swan pictures. It still always fascinates me that all the swans in the UK belong to the Queen. Looks like a very lovely walk.
Here’s another one from my New Zealand days – this time to the Auckland Botanic Gardens http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/new-zealand-auckland-botanic-garden.html
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If she had to feed them all in person, she’d know about it, Ellen! 🙂 Many thanks for your company again, and the walk. I’ll be along very soon.
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I like how you framed your lovely views with arches and other architectural details. It’s always fun to take a peek and see what beauty lies just around a corner. Sooo pretty, all of it. My favorite was the arched bridge with the delicate white flowers along the bottoms. Not Lily of the Valley, but something similar? And thanks for the mention, Jo. Have a beautiful day!
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Snowdrops! 🙂 Thanks for your company, Elisa. Easter plans with family?
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beautiful photos, Jo! 🙂 what a lovely and peaceful park! the swans definitely had their fill 🙂
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They were well fed that day, LolaWi. 🙂 Thanks a lot!
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Yay for you and your cornflakes, Jo! You really nailed Jude’s challenge. 🙂 Great series of photos, and I especially love the three ‘framed’ ones. Superb effort! xx
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Got to make an effort to appease now and again, don’t you, Ad? 🙂 Thank you very much. Nobody does it better than you! Happy Easter to you 🙂 Got a plan?
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Absolutely you do. 🙂 Going to Jewish friends for dinner on Easter Saturday evening. Does that count? 😀
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Well, if you still don’t have a kitchen it sounds like an excellent idea. I’ll be slaving over a hot stove 😦
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Seems a long time since I did that. 🙂
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What a beautiful and peaceful park, Jo. The third large photo, with the stone bridge…absolutely stunning! Great walk, my friend!
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Thanks so much, Jill 🙂 This was my last Monday’s walk with my walking group. I had to keep waiting for them to get out of shot. 🙂 Plenty of room for all!
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Waterfowl aplenty…how inspiring.
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It’s a lovely place on a sunny day, with all those reflections, Sally 🙂
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Lovely – and surely enough wildlife for Jude to be more than satisfied. Thanks, as always, for the mention. No walk from me today as I’m blogging about something else, but we had a lovely sunny stroll yesterday so will get that ready for next week.
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Thanks, Anabel. 🙂 Well, you know what a hard task mistress she can be! I’ll pop over to yours a bit later on.
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Now, now. Play nicely 😉
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Sticks tongue out at teacher!
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Nice one!
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Thank you kindly 🙂 🙂
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Superb pictures and a delightful walk. I love the swans’ snooty beaks!
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You wouldn’t cross them, Viv. They could give you a nasty nip 🙂 🙂 Thanks, darlin’.
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I grew up beside theThames, with swans at the bottom of the garden. I know they’re capable of biting the hand that feeds them!
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Being an (ex) landscape architect / fan I loved the long view of the rotunda. We don’t have landscape design like this anymore!
This week we took a walk on Tyninghame Beach in beautiful sunshine! http://www.lovefromscotland.co.uk/Tyninghame-Beach-East-Lothian
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That’s what Mick does too, so we’re often around parks and gardens. Thanks a lot! Somewhere else I haven’t been. Yippee! 🙂 🙂
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What a beautiful place to walk through. Your photos are lovely, Jo. How do the swans react when the food is all gone? Where Mr ET comes from there is a large lake, home to many black swans. They can be quite aggressive when the food runs out.
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Can’t say I’ve ever seen wardens feeding them, Carol, but I think they must get daily rations. It’s a very well frequented park so there’s seldom a lack of willing feeders, but the bird population is huge there these days. I have to say, if one turns it’s beady eye on me critically I beat it, quick 🙂
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After our experiences, I tend to stay clear of swans.
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This country needs these parks, and beautiful they are.. with you photgraphing them it opens them for us all. great Jo,,
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It’s a lovely spot, Gerry (and there’s always the cafe if it rains 🙂 ) Thanks for your company, hon.
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What a beautiful park Jo. Looks so peaceful. I loved looking at your pictures of the swans.
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They’re beautiful creatures, aren’t they, Colline? I’m a bit wary of those beaks though. 🙂
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I have heard that they can be quite vicious.
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Little Paradise with gracious swans! Charming and peaceful place, I wish I could bring there my video camera and have my chat…Have a beautiful week, Jo! You are absolutely stunning as usually!
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I could easily picture you in this park, talking to the trees, Ann. Thanks- you have a great week too! 🙂
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Thank you, Jo!
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You are definitely a swan – gliding round whereas I would have been the duck behind you waddling! 😉
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I had vague thoughts of using this for the Weekly Photo Challenge, Becky, and tying it in with a swan dance- or do I mean a swan song? 🙂 Never mind- enjoy your week!
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Definitely a swan dance 😊 enjoy your week of Easter preparations
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It looks a great place for a stroll, Jo….and fancy you not taking a ‘Selfie with crumbs’ just to prove that cake was to be had!!
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Got to leave something to the imagination, Sue 🙂 (and I hate selfies 🙂 )
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Quite right Jo, on both counts – I am no fan of selfies, if the truth be told!
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they are looking peaceful! Hey the little fort looks like a fun place for kids. I bet these days they’re playing some castle-defence game on their mobile applications. 🙂
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Yep! That’s the way it goes 🙂 Can’t bring back the past but I can still enjoy the memories.
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Such beautiful photos, Jo and what a lovely (easier!) walk. 😀 Swans and geese galore – do the latter tend to attack in formation? I’ve had very scary experiences with geese…love the bird feeding, snowdrops and photos framed by the stonework. How sad no one sees to play on the fort anymore, it looks ideal. Wishing your a relaxing Monday.
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The geese in this park are so used to visitors, Annika. We pretty much get ignored unless we’re rustling a packet. 🙂 The swans can get a bit feisty though. That fort is just not sophisticated enough for today’s kids. 😦 Thanks, sweetheart. Have a happy week!
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