Last Saturday, we made our now traditional annual trip to Marbury Park in Cheshire for a picnic and woodland walk. I’m a huge fan of the Cheshire countryside, having grown up nearby and enjoyed many trips into the lush green countryside as a child.
Now, every summer when I come over to visit my parents, we make the trip to Marbury on a dry and hopefully sunny day for a chance to wander through the woods, look at nature and for the Little Postcards to collect many sticks.
Marbury Park is part of the Northwich Woodlands so there are loads of beautiful trees to enjoy, from baby fruit trees planted near the ranger’s office to mature beech, oak and birches. It really is a fantastic place for a wander and even though we visited on a Saturday it wasn’t too busy.
The park path takes you through the woods to the edge of Budworth Mere, a home for much wildlife.
We stood and watched the ducks and coots paddling about and other birds further out diving down into the water for food.
This swan family with two cygnets were lovely to see.
Another tradition of ours is to try to stick coins into this tree stump on our walk. There have been quite a few Gibraltar coppers sunk into this over the years, yet there never seem to be many there….
The woodland walk eventually joins the banks of a canal before opening up into fields and then looping back to the starting point.
This lovely bright butterfly was enjoying the nettles as we past. Despite many warnings, two of the Little Postcards got stung and dock leaves needed to be found to deal with the casualties.
After a picnic lunch in a nice grassy area close to the car park (which we had to ourselves for most of the time) and several games of football, we got back into the car and headed homewards via the picturesque village of Great Budworth, who’s church we saw from afar across the Mere.
You see those stocks in front of the church? Sadly there was only room to put two of the Little Postcards in them and not all three! ๐
Throughout the village was a Scarecrow Trail. We had a go at finding some of them ourselves.
Would you like to see some of the scarecrows? Clearly an awful lot of thought and effort had gone into making them all.
Of course, you can’t have a birthday party without the guest of honour…
This building is so lovely, it even has hearts built into the brickwork!
What a great use for a disused phone box: a book crossing point.
After the excitement of the scarecrow trail, it was time to head to our last destination, Great Budworth Ice Cream Farm…
There was such a great choice of flavours, but I had to go for my all time favourite; chocolate. ๐
It tasted as good as it looks.
And here are the lovely ladies we need to thank for that fantastic ice cream… moo!
If you want to read about our trip to Marbury Park and the ice cream farm last summer, click on this link: Daisy chains, buttercups & damsel flies I promise that I took different photos this year even if a a few look very similar ๐
Nooooo!!! You’ve made me homesick.
There is nothing quite like an English village. Some of the French ones are pretty but I don’t think there’s any comparison really. It’s just the crowds of people (remarkably absent from your photos) that seem to be everywhere in the U.K. now that spoil it for me – and the traffic jams to get anywhere.
I love those scarecrows – surely it’s treason to make a replica of the Queen and sit her, unceremoniously, on a doorstep. I’m surprised there was nobody in the stocks for the crime ๐
Gorgeous greenery everywhere – the reward for the climate I suppose.
Oh I’m sorry!!! I really miss it too when I’m away /home in Gibraltar. There is a reward for all that rain!
I was rather surprised to see a ‘Queen’ scarecrow too. The corgi even had a Buckingham Palace medal around its neck!!
It was very peaceful in the village despite being a dry, sunnyish Saturday afternoon! I do love this part of the world so much ๐
Well, I’m from the South and you can’t throw a brick without hitting another person – not that I go in for that sort of thing. Plus the M25 has to be negotiated to get almost anywhere at all. France – or at least the part I’m in – is much less densely populated and you can time a car journey almost to the minute. Perhaps I should venture further North next time and pay a visit to the in-laws in Yorkshire. Perhaps…..
Hehe, perhaps you should… ๐
Lovely pictures from a part of England I don’t know terribly well. Thanks for taking us along
It’s my pleasure Cathy, it’s such a gorgeous part of the world- I always make sure I get a visit each summer ๐
Lovely post as always. Particularly liked the phone booth and the beautiful country door behind ‘Lizzie’ the scarecrow.
Hope you’re well ๐
Thank you! ๐ All good thanks – hope you’re enjoying your holiday. Send our love to the boys xxx
Lovely walk! We also have a phone box that is used as a ‘library’ near to us. ๐
It’s such a lovely idea! ๐
Sounds like a fantastic day out! I too love Marbury Park, it’s a lovely walk – especially in the sunshine or the snow (it looks lovely dusted with white snow). A new follower so I am looking forward to reading more of your posts! ๐
Hello Cheshire Foodies, welcome to Postcard from Gibraltar! Marbury Park is one of my favourite must-visit places every time I’m ‘home’ visiting family in the North West. I’d love to see it in the snow but I’m rarely back in the depths of winter. I hope you enjoy the rest of the blog ๐