Signs of Spring

It was noticeably warmer when I visited Betley Court Gardens this week, all traces of the snow now vanished. Snowdrops have started to flower, most impressively beside the path down to the potting shed. And although they are not yet in flower, the daffodils are a good 5 inches high, and spring is well and truly on its way. I watched a tiny jenny wren hoping in and out of one of our habitat piles, seeking out tasty grubs from its depths. I also heard a nightingale (I think) singing it’s heart out in the trees above the dingle.

Snowdrops (Galanthus) near the potting shed.

The murder of crows that frequent the chimneys and lime trees around the main house have been taking a keen interest in our scaffolders’ activities. I wonder what they make of our giant steel structure. Does it just resemble a huge potential nesting site? Are they ‘scoping it out’ as a place to socialise? When they are not up high, hopping between scaffold poles, the crows gather on the lawn, combing the moss and grass for insects to eat. It seems everywhere in the garden, birds are readying themselves for the spring, marking territory and advertising for mates.

The pent shape of the scaffoldng frame taking shape.

The crows’ playground, our scaffold tower has reached full height now, and the scaffolders are infilling and gradually balancing roof beams across the void between the walls. It’ll take several more weeks of construction before they cover it with sheeting. Mike the boss likened it to wrapping the house up like a present. All the restoration work will happen behind the wrap. Then someday in the future, the wrap will be removed – the big reveal – and Betley Court will look like its old self. Fingers crossed!

Scaffolding over Royds House

View at the front of the house

The decoration of the visitors’ hub is progressing slowly. Two coats of specialist paint need to be applied, but what Melvyn and Shane have done so far looks good. Our youngest, furloughed from the hospitality industry has been advising Nigel on kitting out the hub for serving teas and coffees. With all the Covid19 restrictions still in place, opening to the public seems a long way off, and yet there seems so much to do!

Hub decorations comeing along nicely

I ventured down to the potting shed to see how it looks after the tree surgeons removed the self-sown oak. And there was quite a dramatic change. For one, it wasn’t quite as hard to force my way down to the potting shed – no machete required. For another, with the tree canopy removed, there was so much light around the shed. I’m not really sure why it’s called the potting shed, it doesn’t look like one. It seems to be part of family lore. Sadly, village elders I might have asked about it, have long since gone. It looks like a garage for small cars, or even lawn mowers, and is windowless, unless you count the door openings on its eastern side.  I’m afraid its true purpose is lost to time.

The little potting shed. Still standing.

Philip Snow

On Tuesday, we said goodbye to former resident Philip Snow, who passed away at the beginning of the year. It’s the first funeral Nigel and I have attended since the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic, and although it was strange sitting socially distanced, and in masks, the service was very moving with a eulogy delivered by his twin brother in Australia, and another read out by the vicar, came from Philip’s great friend Rick, all the way from the USA. We attended with several people from Betley Court in remembering his life. Most surprising of all was realising that the beautiful hymn and aria played during the service were, in fact, sung by Philip. Even although we’d known him for years, we had no idea he had such a beautiful voice. RIP, Philip.