Emmbrook Surrey

 Just back from a weekend in Emmbrook near Wokingham Surrey giving a day's lecture to the Thames Valley RPS. Yesterday evening, we had a bit of a walk round the area including the impressively decorated Underpass!!

Azaleas at Leith Place, Surrey (National Trust)

The Azaleas were in full bloom at Leith Place on Sunday - a wonderful display but very difficult to capture on a very bright day. Azaleas belong to the Rhododendron family so all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are Azaleas. Most Azaleas are deciduous, while most Rhododendrons are evergreen. Azaleas have tubular or funnel shaped flowers; Rhododendrons  are more bell shaped.

Leith Hill and Leith Place NT

A wonderful walk at Leith Hill in Surrey where the bright sunshine accentuated the fresh greens of the trees and ferns and the view from the Tower towards the South Downs was spectacular. After a 7-mile walk in the morning, I spent the afternoon at the very peaceful Leith Place, Ralph Vaughan Williams' home from the age of two till he was 20.

Great Crested Grebe Display

As these Great Crested Grebes (GCG) were at quite a distance, I am glad that they didn't perform the whole weed dance when I couldn't record it well. Here some images from the display that did occur. I am very puzzled by the 'weed' - looks to be GCG feathers. anyway, she does not appear greatly impressed by these.

Private Signs in Old Shepperton, Surrey

Old Shepperton on the Thames near Sunbury has one of the finest collection of private signs in a small stretch of road that I have seen. I was staying overnight at The Anchor and ventured out before breakfast on a damp grey morning. I went down to the river edge near the Church and spied two Great Crested Grebes starting to display (see next Blog). I decided it would be best to walk along the righthand bank of the river but this proved impossible as every access point is definitely private for at least half a mile so gave up on that one and just enjoyed the village itself!