Felbrigg Hall Walled Gardens and East Runton Rock Pooling

We decided to go rock pooling in East Runton one day during the holidays but needed to wait for low tide so we stopped off at Felbrigg Hall on the way. It's somewhere I've been meaning to visit ever since we got our National Trust membership earlier this year. We had about an hour to spare so we went into the walled garden.

We were greeted by some chickens wandering around the gardens and I thought Harry would freak out but he was really calm and quite happy to see them. We all thought the silver laced wyandotte was beautiful.

The gardens were full of colour and Charlie took time to look at every flower and herb growing in the garden. He loved looking at the name tags and smelling the herbs. This summer has really seen his interest in nature and wildlife grow to almost an obsession. It's great!

The children loved the orchard where there were more chickens roaming around, some brilliant sheep sculptures and beehives. Yet again, Harry happily got up close to the chickens.

Harry was really pleased to see a cluster of Heart's Ease flowers as he is growing some at home in honour of his SRB school.

None of us had ever been inside a dovecote before. This one was huge with approximately 2000 holes for doves. The boys didn't like it much though as it was really smelly!!

A lovely Kenyan proverb by the children's natural play area.

Charlie & I really liked these glass plaques and wanted them for our garden but they were way out of price range sadly.

It's rare that Charlie likes the thought of visiting a National Trust property as he thinks they're 'just boring old houses' but he loved the walled garden and can't wait to go back. He even said that it's the best garden he has ever seen.

We could have easily spent longer in the gardens but they were keen to get rock pooling and knowing how quickly the tide can come back in on the Norfolk coast time was of the essence. After a short drive we arrived in East Runton. It's a beach we have only ever visited once since living here but I don't know why. 

Just a short walk down the slope from the car park and you're on the beach. When the tide is out there is a strip of pebbly sand before the rocks and then 'hard' sand down to the sea. I sat on the first part of the beach, within easy reach and sight of the rocks so that the children could go off and explore the rock pools. They had their instructions of which area to stay in (it's patrolled by lifeguards so their flags were a handy guide for the children) and off they went. 

"Grab a jumper as it will be chilly" I asked Harry before we left the house that morning. Only Harry would chose to wear a Christmas jumper on the beach in August! This is his reindeer pose.

Charlie was really in his element digging about and searching for creatures. They saw lots of different things but weren't able to catch much as they all moved so quickly.

After an hour or so I noticed the tide creeping in and asked the children to come onto the first part of the beach. Within minutes most of the rocks were covered with the sea. It really takes your breath away watching the tide move so fast. I think the children were amazed too and I'm so glad they were able to witness it themselves as I spend all summer trying to drum into them about beach safety.  

It was a truly lovely summer's day out and I'm really going to miss days like this when they go back to school.