L.M. Montgomery
These photos were taken during a morning walk through the Markshall Estate in Essex. The estate is listed in the Domesday Book in 1086 and has a really interesting history, including being used during WW2 as a base for fighter and bomber squadrons for the RAF and USAF.
The estate is now a charity and covers 200 acres of arboretum and gardens as well as over 2000 acres of ancient woodland and tenanted farmland. The arboretum is divided into zones, including ‘Gondwanaland’ which houses Southern Hemisphere species, such as Wollemi Pine.
This ancient oak tree is around 800 years old and is one of the very few ancient trees that survived felling on the estate after the second world war.
Interestingly, we noticed that immediately following the felling of The Sycamore Gap Tree, the plaque giving the age and significance of this tree, disappeared.
During a future visit, I will ask a member of staff if this is just a coincidence.
Here you can just see the walled garden which opens out to one of the lakes on the estate. At this lake you can feed fish with free food obtained as you enter via the shop and cafe. There are two resident peacocks that roam around this area - Percy and George!
There are beautiful walks throughout the year and if you become a friend of Markshall (for £40 a year), you are able to access the outer 'woodland walks' even when the arboretum is closed. My intention is to photograph the estate during each season for the blog.
I am so glad we discovered the estate this year, it has been well worth becoming a 'friend' of the estate. There are lovely activities for children, it is dog friendly and there is always something new to see and learn about. Yet, there is always space to walk around without bumping into too many people! A great place for a wellbeing walk anytime of year.
“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the Earth seeing successive autumns.”
George Eliot
Margaret Mayhew - English Author
Snowdrops are not native to the UK. It is thought they may have been grown as an ornamental garden plant as early as the 16th century. The snowdrop's native range is mainland Europe.
As one of the first flowers of spring, snowdrops often symbolise new beginnings, hope, rebirth and the ability to overcome challenges.
They are also a symbol of the afterlife. During the Victorian era, graveyards were planted with snowdrops and a superstition emerged that if you brought them into the house you also brought in impeding doom.
The Latin name for the snowdrop is Galanthus, which means 'milk flower'. They are highly scented and on sunny days they give off a honey smell which attracts bees.
The snowdrop hangs its head to protect the pollen as it can only attract winter insects if it is kept dry.
Incredibly, in researching this seemingly humble plant, I discovered that as it contains the alkaloid galantamine, it is used in the management of Alzheimer's disease in over 70 countries, including the UK. There are also other ways it is used such as to treat traumatic injuries to the nervous system.
We went to Markshall Estate specifically to see their snowdrop walk and because everywhere else appears to be impassable due to the constant rainfall.
We happened to go during the estate's weekly park run and were the only people in a packed café ordering cheese scones, pancakes and caramel lattes. I was more self-conscious than I probably should have been but the extensive lycra was somewhat off-putting!
Following our unhealthy breakfast and as we walked amongst the beautifully fragrant 'Sweet Box' (Sarcococca) plant I felt 'present'. Not something I am good at but do need to get much better at.
Percy, the resident peacock, strode right up to us as we left the snowdrop walk and then strode past us looking majestic and obviously enjoying a few minutes of winter sunshine.
We came home with a couple of small Sweet Box and some snowdrops which look lovely in the porch and will hopefully smell nice as we try to get the mud off our shoes throughout the winter!
The magnolia was the main attraction this weekend at Markshall. Deep pink/purple, pastel pink and white shades on display.
Due to the exceptionally wet weather so far this year, the walled garden was still closed but I will add to this spring section when it opens.