The Chestnut Centre ; Otter Haven and Owl Sanctuary lies in the wooded estate of Ford Hall, Chapel-en-le-Frith. It is a secluded and beautiful refuge for otters, owls and other wildlife.
Much of this area was the home of the Bagshawe family and they had several houses in the area. Ford Hall, the ancestral home of the Bagshawe family, is situated in a low, wooded valley in the high gritstone hills of the Dark Peak. The Hall has historical significance as well as being an animal sanctuary.
The Rev. William Bagshawe, who came to be known as the Apostle of the Peak, held services in secret at Ford Hall after he had been expelled from his ministry for not conforming to the Book of Common Prayer in the 17th Century. When the last of the Ford Bagshawes died without an heir, the Hall was bought by Roger Heap who converted the estate into a safe haven for wildlife
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The computer crashed before I could continue to another component of the wild-bluebell question ;-D.
Online sources describe English wild bluebells as dwelling most dazzlingly amid red campion (Silene dioica) and around old oak trees.
The in-text image looks like sweet clover- and thistle-like plants lodging among the wild bluebells.
Might there be information there as to the tree species to the slender tree trunks that make all those bluebells so naturally, so photogenically welcome?
Your wild bluebells image above intrigues me.
The bluebell species in the upper north yard here is Mertensia virginica.
Might you know what species Derbyshire manifests?
Thank you for your comment below on Jun 15, 2018, in answer to my previous-day observation and question Jun 14, 2018.
It's sad to imagine your wildscape, just 30 minutes from your home, no longer inhabited by such interesting sentient animals and plants.
In particular, I like looking at your lovely photographs of all those bluebells.
The north upper terrace of the upper lawn here manifests so many blue and white violets, so many bluebells, so much grape hyacinth with the early spring months into summer, every year.
The photographed bluebells above occur most colorfully, most comfortingly around the sentient-animal cemetery stones, wouldn't one agree?
All the animals have been rehomed , mainly to the south of England. It was a sad day when it closed down.
Veronica, Thank you for the lovely tour of the animals and grounds. Where are the rehomed otters now? Is it down to beavers and owls or is there a successor to the otters?
Sadly the Otter Sanctuary was obliged to close earlier this year.
The animals have been rehomed.
Indeed and I think the fact that this one is mainly specific to unusual creatures like otter and owls makes it rather more interesting. The toadstools were decorative and I would think best used by children. I'd probably have difficulties getting up again !
As you know, I love a day out and this was one with a difference.
Having wildlife sanctuaries is important.
I like the toadstools, but are they comfortable? Regardlrss, they are decorative.
It is a lovely half day visit I would think. The scenery is stunning and the air crisp . The animals are beautifully cared for in a very natural environment which is what I like to see.
Sounds like a good day out for children.