Westonbirt Arboretum

Having seen Westonbirt on TV in recent weeks as the host of Autumnwatch, I calculated it was the perfect time to see their famous collection of Japanese maples in their spectacular autumn glory, and set off  yesterday morning. As the route took me past Peckingell, I took a small detour to have a look at the polo ponies in rather stronger light than the previous evening. On the skyline, Maud Heath's monument is visible, still watching over the villagers taking their livestock to market.

At Westonbirt I followed a variation of the Silk Wood autumn trail which indeed showed their National Japanese Maple Collection in full splendour, and I took a great deal of shots of their shades of red and gold, which will be added to the set linked to the below. I experienced a couple of showers and these added a few glistening raindrops to some acer leaves. On the return leg of the walk I found some peacefully grazing cattle on the slopes below the main complex. There is another acer glade in the Old Arboretum which will provide a focus for another visit, another day.

After an organic Fair Trade coffee served by a friendly young woman and consumed in the car, I drove off accompanied by a splendid double rainbow and detoured to the market town of Tetbury, for a half-hour rummage before returning home.

L.
Description added 27.10.2011

Blip #548
Consecutive Blip #020
Day #581

Alternatives:
What You Expect Of Westonbirt
Turning Leaves
Patterns
Grazing Beasties
Tetbury

A Day Trip To Westonbirt, 26 October 2011 (Flickr set)

Acer series

Backblip from 23 October

Backblip from 25 October

Backblip from 14 October finally up

1 year ago: Smokey