Gooderstone Water Gardens - no birds Hywel

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WARNING for Hywel , there is a picture of the Kingfisher on the brochure, but no more.

Because my OH had put his back out by cleaning out his fishing shed on Sunday and he didn’t think my suggestion of rest helped, he decided my other suggestion of a walk might!
So we went for a gentle wander around the water gardens which are just springing into life after the winter. Lots of soggy ground as you would expect after the rain, but you can’t have all those lovely waterways, nature bog and wet woodlands without.

Not too far from us so the ride along the Fenland bumpy roads didn’t aggravate his back too much – though he did insist on coming home the main roads rather than my scenic back roads which I sent him through on the way!

Lovely day and the weather was fine. You can’t beat hearing the sound of running water, they have placed logs across the streams so that the water has a gentle cascade over and under the barrier making a bubbling sound. Other sections have a gentle drop with a wall of water, very pretty. Two of the same spot for some reason!

The summer house (Roundhouse on the plan) is a rustic log construction with woven beech/willow hurdle-type lower sides and roofed with the type of brushwood that is sold for a wind-break. Last year when I was there I sat and watched a small Warbler dashing in and out of the inside where it had made a nest between the layers of the brushwood roofing. This is on a mound, which doesn’t really show on the photo’s, but is a calf-muscle stretch for us poor Norfolk people who aren’t used to hills! Nothing to you all from Wales and Scotland of course, just a slight incline.

The main big pond has a miniature island in it which usually is covered with ducks, but not yet this season. The willows are spectacular and the colours of the stems of the shrubs showing well at this time of year, with some in flower.

Other smaller ponds and waterways have just as pretty views. Huge stands of bamboos create background and a different sound in the breeze – though I wouldn’t like to keep them under control!

Further along is the boardwalk to the hide overlooking the lake. This does have Canada Geese, various ducks and this time of year the sound of frogs calling. Two strategically placed long sticks for the Kingfisher to perch, which it does apparently, but not today. We did however see it several times across the lake, sitting, then dashing back and forth. Such bright colouring showing up well against the stems of the trees and not concealed as they are not in full leaf yet. Not close or slow enough for me to take a photo!

There is a notice on some of the shrubs pointing out the ‘Muntjac deer browse line’ where they have stripped all leaves back to the twigs, so my problem with a few rabbits seems minor!

The walk did seem to ease OH’s back, so no complaints there and he even managed to squat and watch the sticklebacks in the shallows – so all good!

• 7 Apr, 2016
• 9 likes

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