ANGLESEY ABBEY

| gaiainaction

During last week we were privileged to make a visit to Anglesey Abbey and gardens near the village of Lode in the UK. A faint sun and a slight cold wind made the walk around the gardens pleasant enough. There was so much to be seen, I did not know where to turn may attention first. The lovely fresh snowdrops made a carpet underneath the beautiful ancient trees their branches low to the ground.
Here and there I could see some yellow aconites among the snowdrops.  Further along a splash of bright lilac among the borders were the European cyclamen.  The hellebores also gave us a most pleasing show, many different varieties.

The lanes and walk ways weave along the shrubs and trees giving off a wonderful woody scent even in winter, now and then there was a gate which opened up into a landscaped space created according to historical values, all along there are interesting sculptures, some of them covered right now against the cold weather.

The abbey itself, was established in 1236 as an Augustinian priory, and is a beautiful Jacobean building in almost white limestone.  I did not get a chance to go inside the building but took the tour around it with a guide who told us a huge amount of history about the building.  Everywhere I saw beautiful features, the layout of the out-buildings and the surrounding gardens, especially the rose garden, were nice and interesting.  I could imagine how nice the scent of all the roses during the summer months.

We did not walk as far as the mill, but I am sure that I will visit this place again as we are due back in the area during the summer.  The place is in care of the National Trust by the way.

I do hope that you enjoy my photos, it just goes to show that even during the winter months there is so much to see and enjoy in nature, something to be very grateful for.

 

 

 

 

27 thoughts on “ANGLESEY ABBEY”

  4. Lovely photos, Agnes. Thank you for sharing! Is it usual to have so much in bloom at this point in the year? Your mention of the priory tour reminded me of how much I value taking a short guided tour when visiting a new place. Although I generally eschew crowds and scripted travels, it’s wonderful to hear stories of a site told by someone with understanding and passion. For all our flaws, we humans do have wisdom, stories and history to pass on.

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    1. Yes, and it is wonderful to realise that there is much more to humankind, more than strive, war and suffering.
      I was told that also in the UK nature is advanced for this time of the year, the winter has been very mild.
      We were lucky in that there was only a handful of others visiting the Abbey grounds, and so it was a peaceful walk, no tourists around, more plant and tree lovers I think 🙂

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  5. lovely. it is always surprising to find Britain so much farther ahead in season than continental Europe. I tend to forget, how much closer Berlin is to Sibiria than the gulf stream, when it comes to climate….

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    1. It is true. Here on our coast the gulf stream arrived good and strong. Glengarriff, which is a village about an hour further South get to grow sub-tropical plants and trees as it is always some degrees warmer, and seldom freezes, though that seems to be changing too last years. Still the growth survives somehow. There is a bamboo gardens there, and an Italian gardens, this summer to be visited once again I hope. Very lush and beautiful.

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  7. thank you, dear Agnes, that you took me for a wonderful walk to an enchanted place, really beautiful photos and interesting words, exactly my taste. Hope you are fine, kind regards from cold and rainy Hamburg, Mitza

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      5. Our garden is full of snowdrops (5 different kinds) heleborus and winter aconite. My husband has been busy in the garden for several days already. Sending you some sun to Ireland, wishing you a lovely weekend, regards Mitza

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