Thoughtful Thursday…. Just checking

Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Derbyshire

I am lucky enough to live close to Calke Abbey, its Gardens and Parklands.  I make many visits during the year… mainly to the extensive Parkland, Ancient Woods and Deer Park.  A place to explore and finding something different every visit.

The name can be confusing as it isn’t an Abbey.   The site was the location for a Priory… however that was lost to time and religious upheavals  The House we see today became a Family Mansion House, it was also the centre for a self supporting Farm.  It is now a National Trust Property, but remains largely untouched  and a time capsule….due to the private and sometimes reclusive previous owners.

The main Stable Bock is nearly as dramatic as the House and sets the scene for what you can discover beyond….

Today my visit is not to the House, Stables or Woodland…. but to the two Walled Gardens, one a Pleasure Garden the other a Kitchen Garden.  Both set at a discreet distance from the Hall.

I regularly visit these gardens at different times of the year and love to watch how they develop over the seasons.  Right now it is that period where winter has loosened its hold, but spring hasn’t fully developed. The winter plantings in the Pleasure Garden have maintained watch over the past months, are  now just starting to get their colour and in a few weeks will be finished. Then the gardening team will be planting the summer display.

It is the Vegetable Gardens and Orchard that I find the most interesting to observe over the ever changing year.  The Gardening team are constantly active, preparing the ground, sowing seeds, raising new plants in the glass houses, pruning the fruit bushes and of course tending the crops as they grow.  The Vine House is prepared and the Grape Vine pruned,  ready for the summer, the Scarecrows have been redeployed all sporting new clothes. Some Blossom about but as yet the Apple Orchard is still bare.

With Easter in mind and School Holidays, the  Trust have set up an  mini discovery trail to keep the youngsters busy….

The object is to follow the Bunny Rabbit and follow their instructions… to hop, bound, jump to the next…

But also to keep your eyes open to spot the Easter Eggs along the trail….

All a bit of fun …. for my fun, no doubt I will be back,, just to check-in regularly to make sure those gardeners are keeping up with the seasonal changes. 🙂

It is though the Woodlands that are my real pleasure… and will be back there very soon.

Wherever you are this week… always….

Please Remember ….
Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

17th April
(C) David Oakes 2025