Sunday 21 July(3)

Howick Hall is the home of the Grey family and Earl Grey tea. Charles, 2nd Earl Grey was Prime Minister when the Great Reform  Bill of 1832 was passed. The family were never great art connoisseurs or collectors.  However over the generations there has been a tradition of gardening and tree planting. Many specimens were brought back from all over the world, sadly not always carefully documented. The house and gardens are now a trust, working closely with Kew Gardens and Edinburgh Botanical Gardens with resulting detailed records of new acquisitions.

Howick Hall

Earl Grey teapot

Hydrangea garden

Terrace

Agapanthus bed

Bog garden

Herbaceous border outside ballroom

Herbaceous terrace

Sensory Garden, designed especially
for autistic children

WWI

Arboretum

WWI

WWI

Church kneeler reproducing
photograph 

As a complete diversion, I am parked at a farm where there is a herd of pedigree Limousine cattle. Two days ago triplet calves were born for the first time in forty years on this farm, a big event. Fingers crossed they all do well.

Aaaah!

Mum and daughter