Just 3 of us free today. At a Breeze garden social ride last week, seeing some Iris Siberica about to flower, Gill and I simultaneous said "West Green Gardens!". Since I'm away much of the next 2 weeks, I suggested that we ride there today. Martina had never been. It's free for NTrust or RHS membership, so between us we were covered for the entry fees.
Route link screenshot at end.
I planned the route to meet Gill at Mill Lane, Lower Earley where we took off on some tracks to join to Cutbush Lane. "not been here before", said Gill.
Over the M4, past the film studies and left into the excellent track leading to Halls Farm (University). "not been here before" Said Gill. WOT!" I couldn't believe that, but that's because she has too many holidays, and misses lots of Breeze rides or Friday rides.😉😂
(I was given a new front bag for my bike by a friend, and I was able to fit my Fuji camera in it, so took that today.)
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| Crossing the Loddon for the second time already today! On the track to Hall Farm. (I photographed this a few days ago too, but the light is different every time.) |
Soon to Swallowfield Road, which we took all the way to the end (ie not over Farley Hill), then from Church Road into Nutbeam Lane. "not been here for a long time", said Gill. Me neither, or at least not from this direction. We were heading to cross the ford, which involved peddling through a field, but the ground is all very dry at. But first a brief stop at the little cemetery along Nutbeam Lane.
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| Views from the back of the cemetery. |
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| Loved the tree foliage. Some kind of Oak leaf. |
We turned into Ford Lane, to cross Long River. This road used to be a right mess, but it's been tarmacked. It's fantastic! Then as we approach the ford, a gate to get through.
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| Thatchers Ford, on Ford Lane |
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| A bridge over Long River. |
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| Other side of Thatchers Ford. |
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| Ford Lane continues. This line of bluebells still looking nice interspersed with emerging Bracken shoots. |
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| Ford Lane, heading to Bramshill Road, where we dogleg over to Plough Lane, to Hazeley Heath. |
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| Light and shadows next to the Mutton Pub. |
Not far now to the gardens. It was 11.05, and the gardens open at 11. But rather than go directly there a little climb first on Hazeley Bottom, to then enjoy our reward, as we whizz down Arrow Lane, where we join West Green Road.
As we were getting close to a left turn junction, I spotted a track, which I must have passed many times, but since were heading to the gardens today, I made a split second decision to use the track which I assumed was the one that emerged opposite the garden entrance.
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| The track connecting West Green Road to the gardens. It was beautiful with the fresh foliage, and perfectly dry. There are some impressive Oaks here, which I have photographed along West Green Road, but never ridden through this section. |
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| Martina kindly bought my drink and fruit cake (shared with Gill) as a thank you for using my NT trust to get in for free! (not free then!) 😂 Thanks. |
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| We sat in the courtyard garden with the boys. Dave droning on about something as usual. 😂 |
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| taken by John. Dave not paying attention, so was cropped out. 😆 |
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| "yeah, yeah, yeah." |
We left the boys as we wandered around the grounds.
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| You used to have to duck to get under this old Wisteria leading to the pottage garden, but it was hard pruned a couple of years ago. Nice to see it back. |
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| A pot of Tulips just about hanging on. |
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| Loads of Paeony buds. Another week and there will be flowers. |
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| A glimpse of the house. |
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| The scent in the garden was beautiful. |
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| Iris Siberica in flower in this border, but it gets full sun, unlike the stream area we were heading for. |
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| Martina next to the Tree Paeony Lutea. ( have one in my own garden) |
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| Taken by one of the gardeners. (the scent from these pink Dwarf lilacs also very powerful) |
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| Even the lettuce looked interesting. |
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| Through a hole in the wall, to the first views of the lakeside. |
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| Wild Garlic with a few Lilly of the valley alongside. |
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| Beautiful Iris Siberica at the sunny end of the "river" which was dry! |
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| Plenty more buds still to flower. I also love the repetition planting of the silver Ornamental Pears alongside the river bank. |
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| Another Wisteria growing over one of the timber arches with further Iris behind |
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| Viburnum Opulus, the Snowball shrub. |
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| This newer part of the garden has struggled to establish, but finally looking good today. The tulips just about hanging on, but not for much longer. |
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| A little rest in the shade, and why not. (It was 27 degrees by the time we finished today!) |
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| Always impressive. Fresh emerging ferns. |
Time to leave. We returned past Dipley Mill, then over to Bottle Lane branching off on Vicarage Road to Hound Green. A road closed sign on Vicarage Road, but we managed to get off our bikes and squeeze past some fresh tarmac.
Passing Hortus Locus, a right turn into Laundry Lane (uphill this way). At the top, we always go left to return towards Riseley, but not today. Gill said she couldn't work our how we were going to get back to Bramshill from Laundry Lane. This is how... we turn right! Genius!!
With just 3 of us today, we had no traffic issues as we dropped down at the Y junction to Bramshill Road, for about half a mile, then left into Ford Lane (where we emerged from earlier).
But before Thatcher's ford, we turned right into Wellhouse Lane, to join a track through the forest to cross Long River now at Eversley Ford.
A final change to our normal route today, was to continue to Commonfield Road to Barkham Road, and into Bearwood Road. (which is currently closed to traffic). Gill continued home from here as Martina and I cut through on Highland Avenue, through the tracks of Foxhill to Dorset Way. (having not done that for many years, I've now done it 3 times in the last 2 weeks!!) This dry weather has it advantages, but we need rain.
Thanks to Gill and Martina for your good company today. It was fun. Im not here for the next 2 Fridays, but hope others can meet up. See you soon.
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