Last weekend's weather teased everyone in the UK and made us all realise that spring is well on its way. With all that's been going on, this winter season has felt like an eternity. However, this weekend the sun was back in front of its favourite blue canvass, eager to warm the ever-expanding bald patch on top of my head. Even the clouds were playing their part, happily practicing some social distancing and allowing the sun plenty of room to do what it does best. So, not wanting to waste this rare opportunity, the Mrs and I decided to go out for the day.

Clumber Park would be our host and I was extra excited because I planned on taking my new drone with us to help capture this beautiful location from up high...

Clumber Park is situated in Worksop, Nottingham, not far from Sherwood forest. Until 1927, the estate was owned by the Pelham-Clintons, Dukes of Newcastle, but was then sold to the London and Fort George Land Company (LFG) to cover mounting debts. In 1946 the National Trust purchased the estate and opened it up to the public. While the Clumber Park estate dates back to, at least, 1086, where it is mentioned in the Doomsday books as "a monastic property in the Middle Ages", there is little left of the original house. Two separate fires and a tax-dodging, post-war demolition have left behind very little of the magnificent building which once stood on these grounds. All that is left from the original house is the Duke's Study, which is now home to the Clumber Cafe. Thankfully, however, other buildings on the estate still stand today. The Church of St Mary, a Grade I listed Gothic Revival chapel built by the 7th Duke of Newcastle, and a four-acre walled kitchen garden with a glasshouse measuring some 450 feet in length have somehow avoided Clumber Park's destructive fate.

It's quite amazing how these two structures have been so well preserved, especially considering how, even in recent years, parts of Clumber Park Estate have continued to be vandalised.
In March 2018 the park's ornamental bridge, built in 1760, sustained significant damages when a stolen car was purposely driven into it.

pic source

After a team of police divers managed to salvage hundreds of pieces of stone that were knocked into the river, the reconstruction of the bridge began. In 2019, a floating pontoon platform to support scaffolding was constructed, and stonemasons started to rebuild the bridge using some of the original fragments. Needless to say, the bridge is now permanently closed to unauthorized vehicles.

Clumber park remains to be a great attraction and after our visit I can see why. The lake's perimeter is 4-miles long and offers some stunning views.

After a leisurely stroll and mid-point-picnic, we found our way to the walled garden.

All manner of plants, trees, and vegetables have been planted around the various gardens and inside the greenhouse itself. I'm looking forward to coming back here in the summer when the garden will be in full bloom as I imagine it looks spectacular. Nonetheless, the garden was still impressive and I found it fascinating how they had trained the branches of the fruit trees.

Strangely, I found myself feeling sorry for the trees, not being allowed to grow wildly as nature intended. I guess I must be turning into a bit of a hippy in my old age.

We continued our walk around the walled garden but due to Covid restrictions, we weren't allowed into the greenhouse, which was a shame.

On our way out of the garden, we noticed a cart that had a collection box sat next to some kind of root vegetables in a box. I have to admit they didn't look too appetising, maybe they were leftover from last season. Still, I get the impression that come summer, when everything is in full swing, there will be all sorts of scrumptious fruit and veg on offer. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see...

It was almost time to leave Clumber Park, but not before we found a secluded spot where I could fly my drone without getting caught. New rules and regs have been introduced here in the UK on where you're allowed to fly certain drones. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm flying safe and not using it to peep into bathroom windows I don't see the harm in ignoring the rules. Moreover, if you think I'm paying £600 to fly around empty fields you can think again, Buster!

Anyway, it would be a crime to beauty itself if I didn't try to capture Clumber Park from such a wonderful perspective. Take a look at the footage I captured and tell me I'm wrong...