🗓️ Date: Saturday, April 20th
📍 Venue: The Craufurd Arms, Wolverton, Milton Keynes
🕣 Support: 20:30 - 21:00
🎶 PlasticSole Set: 21:30 - 22:30
🎟️ Entry: Free
🔞 Age Restriction: 18+
Join us for a fantastic evening of live music, good vibes, and maybe a surprise or two. Bring your friends, and let's make it a memorable Saturday night together! 🎉
I visited the National Trust Gardens at Stowe, a magnificent landscape garden in Buckinghamshire. I was not disappointed by the beauty and history of this place, which boasts over 40 temples and monuments, stunning vistas and lakes, and a variety of wildlife. I also had the chance to see two moving art installations that pay tribute to the heroes of D-Day and the diversity of British birds.
Stowe Gardens was created in the 18th century by the Temple-Grenville family, who used it as a backdrop for their political and social ambitions. The garden reflects their vision of an ideal world, inspired by classical antiquity, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. Each temple and monument has a symbolic meaning, representing different aspects of human nature, society, and culture.
I spent about three hours walking around the garden, admiring the different styles and themes of each area. Some of the highlights were the Elysian Fields, where I saw the Temple of Ancient Virtue and the Temple of British Worthies; the Grecian Valley, where I enjoyed the view of the Gothic Temple and the Temple of Friendship; and the Eastern Garden, where I crossed the Palladian Bridge and marvelled at the Chinese House.
One of the most impressive features of the garden was the abundance of water, which added to the beauty and tranquillity of the scenery. The lakes, ponds, and waterfalls were very full with water, thanks to the recent rains. I especially liked the Cascade, a waterfall that flows from the Eleven-Acre Lake to the Octagon Lake, creating a dramatic contrast between the calm and the turbulent waters³.
The first art installation that I discovered was "A Winter’s Tail – Seasonal Wildlife Trail" where we, amongst other things, spotted giant bird sculptures. The installation features lots of different species of birds, from swans owls and eagles, each with their own distinctive shape and colour. The sculptures are placed throughout the Chinese garden section of the property, creating a sense of harmony and diversity between nature and art.
The second art installation that caught my eye was by 'Standing with Giants', which will be used in Normandy for the upcoming 80th anniversary commemorative events of D-Day. The installation consists of nearly 200 silhouettes of soldiers and poppies, representing the number of fatalities under British command on 6 June 1944. The silhouettes are arranged in rows across the meadow fields of the garden, creating a striking visual impact and a poignant reminder of the sacrifice and courage of those who fought for our freedom.
I took some photos of the garden and the installations and created a Flickr slideshow to share with you. You can view it below or click here to see it on Flickr. I hope you like them as much as I did taking them!
Stowe Gardens is a place where you can experience the past and the present, the natural and the artificial, the sublime and the tragic. It's a place where you can appreciate the beauty of nature, the power of art, and the value of peace. If you're interested in visiting, you can find out more information here.