About 20 years ago, we had lunch at the Red Lion Inn at Shamley Green. I remember it very well because we had half a roast duck each. It was an enormous amount of food which we struggled to finish. In fact, I gave up the struggle and didn’t finish. However, I doubt I’ll ever forget it.
Today we had a late lunch, early dinner (or Linner, as we call it) at the Red Lion Inn at Shamley Green and, according to Mirinda, they seated us in the same spot from 20 years ago. I had no recollection of where we sat. In fact, it was so long ago, there’s no blog post for it.
Anyway, the food was excellent though, again, there was an awful lot of it. Still, we needed filling up after our long walk around the garden and farm at Coverwood.
Coverwood Farm was open for the NGS today and provided us with a couple of hours of wander and joy. The owners, thoughtfully provided a printed sheet of information relating to the farm and gardens which was very helpful and informative.
The gardens were originally laid out in 1909, though parts of the farm date back to the 15th century. For instance, there are bits of the old farmhouse which were built in around 1400 and there’s a three bay barn from around 1500.
As well as a working farm, there are four lakes, made by previous owners of the property, which are fed by natural springs, rising from the bog garden.
The farm is home to sheep and a wonderful herd of Poll Herefords, which we chatted about with a young woman who works there. Actually, she reminded me of Pip Archer but I refrained from telling her that.
Incidentally, the ‘Poll’ before Hereford indicates that they are naturally born without horns.
There’s also horses and an animal that looked like it may have been a mule. Though that was my guess and I’m definitely no authority. In fact, I hold my hands up to being completely wrong before being abused.
The people running the place have a great capacity for patience. This came to light when I decided to get a latte from the wagon ahead of resting my legs while Mirinda continued the tour alone. Unfortunately, prior to reaching the wagon, I found myself stuck behind an old man even slower than me, along a single lane track. Not that I was bothered. I’m never in a hurry and happily dawdled behind him.
The thing is, the time I spent behind him made a huge difference to the number of empty chairs and tables available.
Here’s the thing. While I waited behind him, two huge family groups approached the refreshment van. Having said what they wanted to the nominated leaders of their packs, the rest of them went and claimed all the comfortable chairs available, leaving me a rickety old chair which gave scant support.
Mind you, it didn’t really matter because the whole thing took so long that by the time I sat down and took a sip of my coffee, Mirinda retuned from her solo walk to the big lake and we collected Max for the drive to Shamley Green.
The ‘patience’ thing was because, no matter what was happening with orders flying about and increasing numbers of customers, the people inside the refreshment van remained unflustered, and very pleasant.
In all, a lovely Sunday spent out and about.
