Spring Colour at Westonbirt Arboretum
It’s been so lovely having some beautiful sunshine at last, and it really does feel like we are properly into Spring now. We decided to take the opportunity to enjoy it at Westonbirt Arboretum. We packed a picnic and decided to let Emily take her balance bike and Freyja bring her scooter. This obviously meant that for 90% of the time, Rich and I ended up carrying these around the arboretum.
The arboretum was full of colour – the lush greens of the grass and the trees already in leaf, the white clouds against the brilliant blue sky and then the odd burst of a contrasting colour from spring flowers and red maple leaves beginning to unfurl. Beneath some of the trees were pale yellow primroses and bold blue bluebells.
There really was no finer place for eating alfresco. We sat together on the bench, being warmed in the spring sunshine with these beautiful views surrounding us.
After lunch, the girls went exploring in the trees. A particular favourite place is an area with logs and walkways that they enjoy balancing on. It’s amazing to think just how their confidence has grown each time we visit here. On a tree trunk “bridge”, Emily started walking across whilst holding our hands, and 5 minutes later she was running back and forth on it, demanding that I stay well away from her as she didn’t want my help.
When she had tired of this, Emily went to join her big sister on the wooden beam walkway. She followed after her and didn’t mind being bossed around a bit by her too.
It’s days like these that I love the most. Days when we are together as a family, enjoying spending time together but made even better by the glorious weather and stunning backdrop of the arboretum. We did little more than go out for a walk and a picnic together, but it felt like so much more. These are those precious moments that are so important to treasure together.
Very special treasured moments indeed. The weather has been beautiful recently hasn’t it. Long may it continue. Congrats on the finals!
And congrats to you too!!
Lovely sunny day here today – and hail! In April!!
Looks like you had a really lovely day. My two love anywhere with things to climb and balance on so they would be very happy here. We also have two girls and our oldest one does like to boss the youngest one around too 🙂 #countrykids
There are lots of things for climbing and balancing at Westonbirt!
It’s great that you got out and enjoyed the fresh air as a family, there is something peaceful about relaxing in an arboretum. It’s great to see the girls on the balance bike and scooter, even if it meant you had to carry them around for the rest of the day. It’s great to see Emily so confident on the balance logs, it’s always a bittersweet moment when they become independent on things like that. Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids
Worse still when it is your youngest and you are experiencing these moments of independence for the last time *sobs*
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We just love Westonbirt and visit every Autumn for the colours #countrykids
Looks like it was a lovely day, and nice to see them getting more confidence. I often don’t take the scooter or bike because I never know whether places let them in, then N’s gutted because all other children have theirs, so good to know Westonbirt allows them. We’ve not been since Treefest a couple of years ago but want to go back at some point.
They let you take in small bikes and scooters. Although with having to carry them for most of the way round, I don’t think we will bother again any time soon. Never done Treefest but I have heard good things about it.
That looks like a beautiful day out. I know what you mean, sometimes it’s the simple things, like spending time together, that mean the most/ What a stunning place, love your photos as well.
I think when you look back at your childhood, it is the family time you have together and not necessarily where it is that you spent it that matters
Family days together having a walk and a picnic in the sunshine are just so special and this looks like a beautiful place for a walk. Love the photo of Emily on the tree trunk bridge.
It’s a beautiful place to visit all through the year
Wow what a lovely day to go out! The place looks so amazing! And those flower photos is <3! I always love blooms photos =) #countrykids
I love the bright blooms of colour in Spring – it’s such a change from the sparseness of Winter
Looks like a lovely day out. I used to live in Swindon years ago and can’t believe I never knew about Westonbirt until moving away – I’d have loved to visit. Love how confident your little one is running about on the trunk bridge, that’s brilliant!
Oh it really is lovely – and would have been really close to you too! What a shame you missed out!
Aaah I can’t BELIEVE I missed out on seeing this beautiful place!! We stayed in the hotel next door for our wedding anniversary and it was the weekend that Hurricane Imogen hit the UK so the arboretum was closed!! I so need to go for a repeat visit!!! 🙂 xx
You must! They have a walkway through the trees which opened recently. I must go and check it out as it looks amazing.