Here in our home town we have giants of the forest. These are not native to our country, as are a lot of plants, and were introduced to many large manor grounds around the beginning of the 20th century.

It's official! Today was the hotest spring day in the UK since records began. Beaches were packed but it is probably wise to find some shade 😎. We often have temperatures above 30°C in midsummer but not

Temperatures were around 30°C today and so we set out during the cooler morning air, although it still felt too hot! 🤣 The boardwalk at Ifield Mill Pond was our destination for a walk. We walked along

Our UK weather is hot now. It would be a shame not to enjoy it so we spent a little time in a nature centre with one of our grandchildren. On the short walk from rhe car park I spotted a tree with what

I must admit that I have had two consecutive lazy days! 😆 That will change tomorrow as we are out to be enjoying the heat wave that the UK is having right now. 30°C is forecast over this weekend. In the

The meadows are looking fantastic already! This picture shows a patch of wild buttercups in a local park. Unfortunately, the photo does not do the scene justice at all. The flowers look much brighter and

Summer must be around the corner because the roses have started to bloom. There are some nice examples in my pictures taken in Worth Park Gardens here in my home town. There are hundreds of new buds just

This is a strange sight! This tree has grown over the top step of this stone stairway in a local park. I can't help wondering how this happened. Perhaps more to the point, why was it not removed as soon

I enjoyed another walk with my wife around Ifield Mill Pond. We were looking for the swans but couldn't see them today. This is understandable considering all the nooks and hideaways that there are here.

I went along to a theme park today. I have been many times over the years, both as a child and later with my own children. Chessington World of Adventures was just a zoo when I was a child, with a playground

It can be interesting to find out about the history of your location. Like this plaque on one of our town council buildings. It states that the grounds and gardens on this site were designed and laid way

We are in the direct line of some seriously heavy showers coming from a strong northerly air stream. Just before leaving to go out the sky turned dark and there was one single thunder clap! This was followed

Chores kept me busy today. So activities mostly done by shopping andvwalkibg around the stores. This always seems monotonous to me but it is an essential thing for all of us of course. But on the other

It is not quite summer yet and it still feels like winter on some days recently. But the wild flowers tell a different story, looking really lush and full of colour. The daisies are now in full bloom on

The resident swans at the Ifield Mill Pond have produced and hatched six beautiful cygnets. We had a great view of them from the suspended walkway. They were a joy to stand there and watch for a while

We are told that the swans have hatched their cygnets and they have left the nest in the Ifield Mill Pond area. After walking around for a while, we didn't see them. It has been a very cold day today so

I have been itching to get out on my mountain bike for a few weeks to ride some of the tracks I first visited in spring last year. One particular bridalway where I had to turn back because I couldn't follow

So, I was back in Guildford again today. My @actifit step count is high because in fact I walked the two miles into town and back from the Royal Surrey Hospital. I was a nice dry day with a little sunshine

Nature is really in top gear now and nearly all the trees have a full canopy. The grasses are coming into flower and therefore pollen season. I do feel the pollen but it's not overpowering, just an occasional

So, another visit to Ifield Mill Pond today to check on the swans' progress with their clutch . No change here, I'm afraid. We will have to wait a bit longer. But there are many more families of canada