Walk around Talkin Tarn on Friday 15th May 2015

As we were in Brampton, a short walk around Talkin Tarn seemed a good idea in the sunshine. Where we parked meant we were looking straight at what looked like a badger sitting in a tree! On closer inspection we found it was a badger - but only a knitted one! Looking around there seemed to be other trees with other knitted wildlife in them! Time to investigate.

It wasn't just wildlife, there were lots of other "natural" exhibits too.

 

 

Luckily there was an explanation -

 

 

What a lot of knitting and nattering must go on in Kirby Lonsdale! I have to say all the children we saw were really fascinated by them, rushing from tree to tree to find the next one. 

We set off on our walk expecting that to be the last of the knitted exhibits - but no they were spread further afield too.

 

Yellow and purple iris down by the edge of the water, blending in with the real vegetation. Although the sun was shining there was still a cool breeze blowing so only saw a couple of Orange tip butterflies and a couple of Green Veined White. However there were thousands of these - whatever they are!

 

 

As we walked around the Tarn the real wildlife did appear with Swallows and Martins swooping down over the water. There were mallards on the water - but no chicks visible. A swan and a couple of Tufted ducks along with many gulls were also on the water and a little Wagtail rummaged among the debris under the trees.

 

 

Marsh marigolds were flowering around many parts of the tarn along with brilliant, golden yellow gorse, and trees looking so fresh and green.

 

 

 We did notice lots of these new shoots sprouting in amongst the trees and wondered what they were
- finally deciding they must be beech saplings just starting to grow.

 

The Tarn is a lovely walk, on flat ground with plenty of seats to rest or watch the wildlife.

 

As we got back around the Tarn to the Willow Hide knitting began to appear again!

 

 

Almost every tree, stump and bush had some sort of "creature" on it and we found ourselves looking and searching for the next one - just like everyone we met on the path!

It is certainly a talking point and something we have not seen anywhere else.