Picnicking in the Park

In an effort to take a trip out to somewhere that wasn't Burford the boyfriend and I visited Rousham Park yesterday. I'd read about this place some time ago on Jane Brocket's blog and realised (when she talked about getting a cuppa in Woodstock) that it must be quite near here.

The house and gardens are surrounded by some lovely parkland grazed by these very lovely cows.



The calves' attitude was one of curiousity/terror - skittering away when I approached the fence with my camera and then stopping a few yards later for a good stare.



This older girl was far too busy having a good scratch to be at all worried about the weird human with the camera.



I loved the primroses which were scattered everywhere in yellow profusion.



The landscaped gardens were very lovely, if a little bit unkempt but my favourite area was the walled garden which boasted a beautiful display of espaliered apples trees.



I love the acid yellow lichen on this tree.



The most impressive of the apple trees was on the side of the 17th century pigeon house. How neat is that?



Inside it looked rather as I imagine the owlery at Hogwarts, except with pigeons rather than owls.



The floor was about 6" deep in pigeon droppings so we looked in very cautiously to see the birds and the rotating ladder.



The only thing that Rousham is lacking is somewhere to get a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Luckily Blenheim is well supplied with tea rooms so we made up for it when we got home again.