What a week, I think we have seen all the seasons this past few days what with some heavy overnight frosts, followed by long periods of rain, sunny periods, hailstones and finally sleet and snow showers. I have been fortunate to be out and about with Meg & Gracie reasonably early in the morning when most people are still in bed, or at least just rising from a night’s slumber and can report that we have had some superb sunrises, starting at about 7.00am and lasting for no more than five minutes, they certainly brighten up the cold mornings albeit for just a few minutes. The cold frosty mornings have been somewhat of a relief for me in that the usual muddy footpaths which I follow on the Barff have become quite firm and certainly not so muddy and the dogs stay much cleaner for longer! I have heard many Greater Spotted Woodpeckers during the morning dog walk this week, all preparing for the onset of Spring. On the summit of the Barff amongst the two sycamore trees I have listened to a lone Dunnock singing its head off, it has a beautiful hymn sheet and appeared quite oblivious to my presence as I stood and watched it for several minutes each morning for the past three days.

We have had family and grandchildren stopping with us this half term week which has been lovely so was pleased this morning when they asked to go out to Harrogate and the gardens at Harlow Carr rather than another shopping spree in York. 

After the fifty minute car journey we arrived at the gardens, needless to say I think all other families had the same idea as us, I have never seen the car park as full for a long while. The gardens were looking stunning as ever, the bank of heathers adjacent to the reception area provided a colourful backdrop. The temperature when we arrived was just 3C but with the prevailing westerly wind sempt a couple of degrees cooler, it was a bitterly cold morning although when the sun managed to break out from the ominous looking dark clouds it provided a little warmth for just short periods during our visit. We did our usual streamside walk around the lake, following the stream stopping at the children’s play areas for several minutes before moving on past the bird hide and dropping down to the old bath house and back to the visitors centre and brunch in Bettys. Fortunately whilst enjoying our lunch inside, the weather outside deteriorated quite significantly and we had quite a heavy hail storm quickly followed by a sleet storm, oh how pleased I was to be in the warmth and comfort of the restaurant!