Bishop Burton and Burnby Hall 2008

Yorkshire Branch Summer Outing 2008

Bishop Burton College and Burnby Hall Gardens

In defiance of a dire weather forecast, hoping for the best but carrying umbrellas and waterproofs, around 50 members, friends and family members travelled to Bishop Burton College on 5^th July in anticipation of the usual good day out.  Set in the pleasant countryside on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds near Beverley, the college is the UK’s only Centre for Vocational Excellence for Agriculture and has a lead role in vocational training in equine matters.

Those of us joining the first tour to the animal management unit were relieved to be inside as the promised rain arrived on schedule and we were entertainingly informed about the function and operation of the unit and introduced hands-on to some of the inhabitants.  A surprising number of the group handled a snake and stroked and fed a (domesticated) iguana, but there were no takers for the tarantulas (biologists  can be wimps too).  All of us were intrigued by the fat tailed Mongolian Gerbil that played dead when inverted (surely the Mongolian foxes are onto that by now) and managed to avoid the marmoset that was prone to urinate on those she didn’t like.

As the rain set in harder we set off for the gardens in the company of the Head Gardener, who explained their history and function in the College.  The first part of the tour took place through the very interesting and colourful collections in the conservatory, including an impressive collection of cacti donated by a local society, but eventually we had to go outside - and it was still raining.  Despite the rain. the gardens were very impressive both in their extent and variety.  The historical connections in the use of the walled gardens (heated walls to raise early fruit) were explained and the modern world regions, educational and trial collections were stunning even when viewed from beneath an umbrella and standing in a puddle.

By this time most of us decided that we couldn’t possibly be any wetter and travelled on to our second venue at Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington where after lunch the sun came out.  Gently steaming, we made our individual ways through these very colourful gardens, woodlands and rockeries noting on our walk in what ways various local educational institutions had been using them and contributing to their interest.  Undoubtedly though that lake and its margins were the main interest for most with many of the water lilies of the National Collection well in bloom and in a profusion of colours.  For the younger ones the other colourful lake inhabitants were the real draw – carp in all varieties mouthing and bubbling at the surface and begging for food.  They had competition though in the form of ducks, ducklings, coots and moorhens that all added to constant movement amongst the lily pads.

Being in the Danelaw, it was no surprise that Thor brought a noisy and lightning-lit end to the day as the party took to their cars and the far corners of Yorkshire giving thanks to our hosts and organisers but thinking of the warm and dry.  They’re tough in the North!

Mike Smith

July 2008

Waterlilies at Burnby Hall Gardens

Yorkshire Branch Chair sorts out biological problem