Biddulph Grange

I wanted a bit of fresh air but also wanted a change of scene, so I opted to visit Biddulph Grange Garden. It's only about 20 minutes away and has a cafe which always a bonus.

It was created by James Bateman for his collection of plants from around the world. It's gardens within a garden separated by hedges, paths and banks. 

There's also the Geological Gallery (see extra shot). It was his hope to combine theories of geology with the Christian creation story. The walls are covered with fossils and rocks displayed in chronological order, and according to the days of creation. It's currently part way through a restoration process.

I managed to time it perfectly between the rain showers, and spent some time watching a kingfisher dart around the pool in front of the house. Just a magic moment.