Visited Waddesdon to see the Snowdrops. Many had been planted. There were some near to the aviary, and others on Baron’s walk. The Snow drops were not that impressive, the Baron’s walk the better ones. It is sometime since we visited, the temporary path from the car park has now been made permanent. A small ticket checking office was being erected on this route. This is replacing the small cabins which have been used in the past.
Waddesdon Manor Christmas Lights
We visited Waddesdon Manor to see the lights. Because of Covid 19, the house was not open and everyone was encouraged to walk up to the manor instead of taking the bus. The encouragement was a financial incentive. Unfortunately, it was a damp evening with a light drizzle. As the daylight dimmed, the lights grew brighter.
There was the Christmas market set up in front of the house. I didn’t visit the area, instead, I walked around the lights before and after dark.
We both were a little underwhelmed by the light effects. There have been better. I particularly liked the Bruce Munroe lights back in 2015. We both thought Waddesdon Manor was allowing far too many people onto the site. There was a large queue of people trying to get in with their timed tickets. Around some of the lights, social distancing seems to have been thrown out of the window. Some limitations on the number of people viewing the lights at one time should have been in place. No wonder Buckinghamshire is heading to Tier 3. (update on 19 December it entered Tier 3).
The walk down to the Stables needs to be planned, I would not recommend taking the path through the playground. It is narrow and there is two-way traffic. Instead walk down the road, dodging the busses. It remains to be seen whether this event becomes a Christmas superspreader.
The main set was a 3 minute light show set to the music of Handel Water Music: Hornpipe. On the loop around the grounds, there were several other areas laid out with light effects. Some elephants standing by the pathway were pretty cool. I am not sure about the lighting of the house, this didn’t seem as spectacular as usual. Normally the trees to the side of the driveway are lit up. This year they were not, possibly because of the Christmas market.
Another lovely day after our Oxford day out. Today we visited Waddesdon Manor. It was heaving with people. We ate lunch in the Stables. There was a wait to be seated, difficultly in finding a table for the six of us.
The flower displays at the Aviary and Parterre were gorgeous. Such vivid colours.
Pictures of local country home “E”‘s gardens, vegetable “patch”, greenhouses and the many flowers grown for the house’s many vases.
