Interesting article & wonderful pictures. I sometimes have trouble viewing trees as I am short.

Dear Lucy, thank you for your kind comments. As you can see there are some beautiful plants in this wonderful place. Part 2 should be most interesting as well. Whilst I was in the Park a Great Crested Grebe turned up, a man with his family saw me taking some photos of it and asked me what it was as they are quite rare in the south of England. So I informed him and the children what it was and he started talking to me. He said " I don't know much about wildlife or the plants, but having four children this place is a Godsend as kids are expensive nowadays and this place is so big I can take them all over and it costs nothing." I thought about what he had said on the way home and maybe the Victorians idea about an Educational aspect to the Park wasn't a bad idea at all. For if the children are taught early, they probably will respect the beauty in this magical place later in life.
Regards.
Neil.

Loved it Neil. I can go and view England in the comfort of my own chair. Thank you.

Dear Cherie, I am glad you liked this place. I am afraid not a lot of herbaceous, although there as some which you will see. The Victorians were not into it. It took Gertrude Jekyll to change that!
I used to fish there, but that has been stopped and is now private. Apart from that what a wonderful place to take the children. For there are children's playgrounds, a bowl for concerts and for teenagers more modern music which is free, how good is that if you have expensive teenagers and they can see their favourite band free! Take a picnic and enjoy it as that is free, although I would warn people there are a lot of hills and 200 acres is quite a way to go around this place. This is another Park that has something for everyone; plants, trees, wonderful views and a lot of History, plus it used to have a Motor Racing Track that some of the best drivers in the world raced on. A National Sports Centre, a Caravan club, the list is endless. Dinosaurs a children's railway.
But more than that it is ours and it is FREE!
Regards.
Neil.

Great photo essay! Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me.
Connie

Dear Connie, thank you very much! But there is just me, my camera, a Apple Mac computer, my bus pass to some places and my legs!
So I try my best wherever possible.
Hope you will enjoy Part 2
Regards.
Neil.

You're amazing Neil. Has anyone told you that yet?

Dear Cherie, no not at all! Just get the usual abuse which washes off me like water off a Ducks back.
Regards and Hugs.
Neil.

hugs to you too.

Wonderful article Neil. I thoroughly enjoyed it..Thank you...

Dear Barbara, I did promise you Dinosaurs, but I never said they were real ones! I do hope my pictures were to your fine standards, as you told me to do.
Wait till Part 2 for some other interesting things!
Regards and a BIG HUG, from England.
Neil.

Neil, you never stop to amaze u s with your stories and photo's! Loved this story so much!
When I was in Washington State, my Brother pointed out to me the funny tree, he said was a monkey's tail tree. They look so much like what you have pictured here. The seed pods looked like a long, but very soft pinecone!

Thanks again the the great history lesson!

Dear Linda, I do hope you will join me on Part 2 of my slight walking marathon!
Glad you enjoyed it though, I will just keep trying!
Regards.
Neil.

I wil be there!

Thank you, Neil for taking me to a place I would love to visit one day!
A joyful pleasure , indeed!
Janice

Dear Janice, I am glad you enjoyed it! For somewhere that only the locals know about, one of London's Secret Gardens please see http://cubits.org/Neil/article...
Regards.
Neil.