Spring in the Park

Escape from the City!
Swan Heaton Park Manchester
daffodils heaton park manchester
Heaton Park Welcome Sign

I’m first from the starting gun when the sun comes out and we hit the nearest park, desperate for ultra-violet rays and proof that flowers are actually growing. I know I said we’d be stopping off at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (see previous post) but there’s the tiniest crease in the fabric of space and time which takes us from the kaleidoscopic colour of Park Güell in Spain to… Heaton Park in north Manchester, England.

Caution Horned Livestock Warning Sign

This is yet another chance for me to wave the Union Jack – this time, while sunbathing. Culture shock, maybe, but I suggest you grab your sunglasses and get a load of this: it’s a Scottish Highland Cow. Or bull, as both male and female have horns. Also the oldest known registered breed of cattle. I wasn’t expecting to come face to face with a horned beast (not on a Wednesday afternoon and certainly not in broad daylight) and was kind of hoping for something more like an ice-cream van.

highland cattle heaton park manchester
Heaton Hall has been here in one form or another since 1684, and the grounds were designed in the style of Capability Brown, England’s finest landscape architect in 1839. It’s the largest park in Europe.
Heaton Hall Column Manchester
Stone columns Heaton Park Manchester
swan lake heaton park manchesterStone pillar Heaton Hall Manchester
The funfair was in town…
Fairground Ride Heaton Park

Fairground ride heaton park manchester
There’s a beautiful boating lake, with an island in the middle, full of ducks and geese and swans.
Goose grooming itself heaton park manchester

I tried to make this one look like an old postcard from the 70s, partly because the brightly coloured train which drives around the park is like something out of The Magic Roundabout.
Heaton Park Train
flowers heaton park manchester
mark leaning on stone pillars heaton park

If you liked this, then my previous post from Park Güell in Barcelona will completely blow your mind…Get some colour!

Categories: Photography, Random, Travel, Vibe Monitor | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

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12 thoughts on “Spring in the Park

  1. the swan in the lake looks beautiful

    • Cheers, Fati! It was a lovely day, beautiful birds. It’s a shame we didn’t see the peacocks, or hear them.

  2. Loved this! Beautiful pics!

  3. Stevo

    your turning into a real good snapper mate. that bird cleaning its arse is top

  4. Thank you for the beautiful escape!

  5. You’re welcome! Manchester isn’t too shabby when the sun shines.

  6. Hi Mark,

    Thanks for commenting on my post, “On the Day We Parted”.
    I’m glad to have discovered your blog. Great photos here.
    The English architecture reminds me of my stay in England.

    Gracias!

  7. Thanks, Chito. Glad to have you aboard!

  8. Lots of fabulous shots! But I’m especially taken with the gorgeous Highland cattle. Looks like Spring is treating you nicely, Mark. So glad!
    Kathryn

    • Kathryn, poor Old Blighty has been plunged back into November weather, just in time for our Easter Bank Holiday Weekend. Typical! Thanks for dropping by, glad you liked the cattle – I think the fringe is very *now*.

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