The beech tree.

Day 4 of National Gardens Week.

Today it is a natural garden. Middleton Park, Leeds, covers 630 acres, and the 200 acres of woodland is the largest remaining ancient woodland site in West Yorkshire.
The estate existed before the Norman Conquest, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
The Brandling family owned the land and in 1760 built Middleton Lodge, now demolished.
They exploited the underlying coal, and were responsible for building the Middleton Railway to take the coal into the factories in Leeds.
It has been one of Leeds many public parks since 1919.
Probably not well known because it is not in the fashionable North part of Leeds.

Today it was absolutely beautiful with all the bluebells in flower, and the beautiful fresh green leaves.

In warm sunshine 21 Pudsey Ramblers enjoyed a 6 mile walk there today. Most had never been there before and didn’t know the place existed.

My main photo is of a very strange beech tree we came across.
Extras of the bluebells, and our lunch stop at Nicks View. A memorial erected in 2017 to commemorate Nick Rose a driving force and Chair of the Friends of Middleton Park.

Certainly a very enjoyable day.

Today is our dear little great grandson Jude’s first birthday. Unfortunately he was sent home from nursery as they thought he had chickenpox, and so when we called round, after the walk, he was in bed. Certainly will be a Birthday to remember but for all the wrong reasons. However we can celebrate when he is better, and at that age he won’t know any different.