Just come back from Hatfield Forest

What can be better than to spend a beautiful Summers Day in Hatfield Forest? After visiting today with Vanda, I can conclude that their are few more delightful ways to spend a Sunday.

The National Trust have owned the land since 1924 and have taken great care to preserve the beauty of the area. Everywhere you go, there are sights of the most marvellous trees, all in rumbustious health. The lake is a pleasure to walk around and it is so peaceful to sit at the edge, after buying drinks at the nearby cafe. I love trees of all kinds, although I am less good at giving you their names.

But they always provide a sense of serenity. When I look at an individual tree, I always think that long after I have gone from this earth, the tree will most likely still be there for many years to come - it is a comforting thought.

It is horrifying to think that this remarkable Forest, that has been used since Medieval times, is under threat from Labour's plans for an extra runway at Stansted. When I think of what can be destroyed for what are dubious reasons, you can only recoil from the innate barbarity of what is being proposed. As the National Trust says: "Hatfield forest, 1,000 years, Stansted Airport 50 years - Show Some Respect". After my afternoon in Hatfield Forest today, I feel even more glad, that a future Conservative Government will stop Labour's second runway at Stansted ever being built.

P.S. The National Trust make a very good case against a second runway HERE.

P.P.S. The pictures are just a small snapshot of this beautiful place.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Collecting for the nation

Vanda and I were very lucky yesterday. In contrast to last weekend's wind and rain, we visited beautiful Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire and accompanying gardens. The weather could not have been better. Glorious sunshine which illuminated the house and grounds. The House was left to the National Trust in the 1960s, by Lord Fairhaven, whose sole purpose was to collect a unique collection of paintings, clocks and other ornaments, in order that people may enjoy them for generations to come.

As a watch collector, I loved that every room in the House had a remarkable ornamental clock of some kind or another, as well as a number of ancient and unique Grandfather clocks in the corridors.

Outside, the gardens were vast, seemingly infinite. Wondrous trees and plants, even a Mill (still making flour), and numerous sculptures. You could be there a whole day and still not see all the acreage of gardens. To say the view was breathtaking is an understatement.

It was a tremendous day, rounded off by dinner in the John Barleycorn Pub in Threshers Bush. The sun was still shining in the evening, so we ate our tasty meal outside. A lovely end to a perfect day.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing,Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Ickworth House

Ever heard of Celebrity 'IT' girl, Lady Victoria Hervey? You know, the one on the TV and often in mags like OK! And Hello!

Well yesterday Vanda and I went to Ickworth House in Suffolk - built by her ancestors from 1780 and now owned by the National Trust. We were there to visit a Medieval Fayre, which was taking place on the grounds nearby.

It was good to see so many Medieval men and women in resplendent costumes and suitable armour. Many were in traditional clerical cloth ware of old. To my astonishment I was told that such Medieval Fayres go on up and down the country every weekend. It is a major hobby for many people, who do all they can to recreate life in the Middle Ages.

After the Fayre, we went into the big House itself. It is a unique piece of architecture - as you will see from the picture. The main part of the building is a huge round rotunda which contains three floors. Inside, hundreds of old books, Edwardian furniture and a magnificent four poster bed - which sadly I was not allowed to rest my weary feet upon!

A long walk round the gardens followed - I was in an electric buggy, loaned by the National Trust. Trees, flowers, hedges in abundance. What was even better was that the sun came out at last. A magical day.