Where you live.

[Libra Gran]

I was thinking this morning how blessed I am to live where I do. I walked the dog around Upton Country Park with my dear friend, the sun was glorious and the scenery superb. Apart from having countryside 15 minutes away,we also have several beaches on our doorstep. We have excellent parks close by and a beautiful heath where everything is bursting into life after a long winter. I definitely couldn't live in a big city or urban sprawl without woodland or beaches, I'm so grateful I live where I do. Plus the bonus of 2 excellent shopping centres 20 minutes away.

[Nana]

Not being that up on my geography, I don't know where Upton Country Park is. It does sound beautiful tho' Libra. I very much envy you the beaches. When we go for a beach walk we have to go miles usually to Bridlington & on that coastline.

[Gemini]

It does sound lovely in your area Libra
It's good to appreciate where we live, I'm sure everywhere has it's good points.
I have always considered myself very lucky to live in York. Beautiful city, lots of history, theatres, lots of restaurants, 2 rivers. No sea but it's only 40 miles way! The Yorkshire Dales and Moors not far away. It could be worse

[Libra Gran]

DD is up your way on Monday Gem,she has a conference to attend in York. Over night stay so guess whose on Granny duty. I've been to York, for my 40th Birthday hubby surprised me with a break in Holmfirth,a place I had always wanted to stay after watching Last of the summer wine. Beautiful place,but the canal walk was a bit whiffy.

[Libra Gran]

This a small part of Upton park Nana, the house and grounds were left for the public to enjoy . A William Llewellen bequeathed it to Poole Council, the house itself can be hired for functions at great expense I may add.There are play areas and a tea room, the woodland is the part we walk in, the dog walks were extended a couple of years ago and there's an enclosed area for dogs who are not reliable off lead.

[Nana]

That looks absolutely beautiful, especially the woods in Autumn.

[Plantaholic]

We used to holiday in an HBP apartment in Langton Matravers Libra and loved the area.

[Daisy]

This a small part of Upton park Nana, the house and grounds were left for the public to enjoy . A William Llewellen bequeathed it to Poole Council, the house itself can be hired for functions at great expense I may add.There are play areas and a tea room, the woodland is the part we walk in, the dog walks were extended a couple of years ago and there's an enclosed area for dogs who are not reliable off lead.

LG - I've heard of Upton Park, seen photos etc, but didn't know about the most important thing - an enclosed dog-safe area. This is exactly what we need for Eva at the moment. Her recall's brilliant until she's distracted and then she goes stone deaf, so we can't let her off the lead among the Forest livestock. Sorry hi-jacking your thread!

I live just a few miles along the coast from LG, in the heart of the New Forest, which is a National Park and a country-lover's delight. If the word 'forest' conjures up images of densely packed trees you would be in for a surprise. The NF is a mixture of ancient woodland, heaths, river and valley mires - bogs - and the saltmarshes and mudflats on the coastline. All kinds of livestock roam free over most of the Forest - ponies, cattle, pigs and donkeys, plus deer, badgers etc. Yesterday evening I stood and watched a fallow deer grazing, relaxed and oblivious to me and Eva watching! If you need retail therapy, cityscapes, theatres etc, we have Bournemouth to the west and Southampton to the east, with the beautiful cathedrals cities of Salisbury and Winchester to the north. Any downsides? Well, we do have adders, but they are shy and secretive and you are unlikely to see them unless you go looking!

[Nanto2girls]

Lovely photos Libra. We have some lovely areas not too far from us. 10 minutes in the car, and we are in some lovely countryside. Nearest seaside for us is Whitby,Scarborough and Bridlington. We do love the east coast though.

[MillieB]

We live on the edge of a semi rural village, surrounded by fields and woods (full of bluebells in May). Our small estate comprises of twelve detached houses across the front and a semi circle of houses both sides found the back. They were built 42years ago on the grounds of a country hall which was demolished in the sixties (wouldn't be allowed now!) The owners of the hall had died leaving now family or heirs.Across the road is a country pub which used to be a blacksmiths. The owner of the hall was injured in the Boer war and he gave the building to the soldier who nursed him converting it to a pub.
The family grave is on top of the field behind the houses. The country around us is featured in many books written by a famous author whose books have been made into flms and on tv but they were originally kept under the counter at the library as they were considered too raunchy! He wrote about game keepers and lived in the nearby mining town where I taught.
We lived in the police house opposite where our eldest daughter was born but couldn't afford this house when it was built! We. have lived here for 24 years and love it here as although rural we are five minutes away from a motorway junction and ten minutes away from the tram terminus into the city with a theatre and shops.