Sculpture Trail in the Gardens

There seem to be animals everywhere in the 2012 Sculpture Trail around the ponds and gardens here.   The Trail opened on Saturday 25th August just in time for the bank holiday and the JR team worked really hard to place the almost 80 pieces of art in the best locations, this included one in OUR pond!  Carolyn and her team have also set up the marquee area like a "fete" with bunting and bails of straw. There is lots going on in the tent too - children's activities as well as the chance to win on of two sculptures donated by artist Steve Blaylock.  (Charity Prize Draw).

We have some amazing 'critters' keeping us company for the month, even if they are not very communicative, they are certainly creating quite a stir with the visitors.

Happy as a pig in clover!  There is a cow, dog and a fish too... 

There are other non animal things as well - some fantastic items, dragonflies, glass, lilies etc, plenty to see.  Of course, being in the Jinney Ring gardens there are a lot of other birds too.

Magnificent pheasants - you need to see these close up

Mosaic Duck

The SculptureTrail is on every day until 23rd September when it finishes with a charity event "Animals R Magic".  Free entry and we would love to see you all  -  Just remember we are the only ducks that need feeding though!

TV Stars!

How many Ducks get a chance to be a star on the TV (besides Daffy of course) ?  Well, we hope we will be some of the minority, we were certainly filmed quite a bit yesterday when "Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution" was filmed in our gardens.

There were a number of craft stalls set up with Mosaic, Millinery and Corsage Making in the middle of the lawn - lots of people came along to have a go.  Alongside the bottom pond there were some really talented "makers" being filmed by the crews - they were all part of a competition that is running in the new show.  At the end of the site our potters were running the visually interesting Raku pottery process, with lots of fire and smoke. Besides this the TV crews were in and out of the Jinney Ring craft workshops with Paul Martin discussing their various processes and products -- all very exciting !

Filming table with one of the contestants

Paul Martin filming on the move

It was a lovely day with tonnes of creativity and we had lots of corn too -- rumour has it the new show will be televised in October on BBC 2  -- do look out for us, we may not be able to give autographs, but we are happy to be photographed with all our fans!

Where is that camera......?

A couple of the participants in the show also brought some wonderful pieces of art which will stay here for a while as part of our 2012 Sculpture Trail - we do like seeing the art close up in the gardens.  The sculpture trail opens next Saturday and runs for a month.

All photographs above were taken by Olivia Holloway, many thanks.

Quacking the Blues 2012

There had been lots of human 'finger crossing' going on around the centre last week as we approached Saturday 4th August with the tents going up for the annual blues festival - and it paid off - the weather held out and was not bad (relative the summer we have 'not had'!).

Storm before the calm!  Plenty of cover just in case!

One stormy shower at about 2pm while the first act sang a song called "let it rain" caused everyone to run for cover - after that we banned songs about rain and had no more!

JR staff Ghislaine and Mick (Gate Keepers) sheltered from the rain in the pergola

The music line up was terrific with 6 bands playing from 1pm to 11pm.  To start the show there was a little rearrangement of schedule as larger than life Steve Steinhaus and his band had a last minute booking to play at the Olympic celebrations in Hyde Park - too good an opportunity to miss, we were very glad he came here first --- what a great sound!
 

Steiny's Blues - got the party started fast!

We had some smashing visitors here for the day - many who have been before but also some new too.

Also some furry visitors - they were very well behaved and left us alone so we did not mind at all  There was a gorgeous Labradoodle as well, who even featured in one of the songs - sadly did not get a picture!

Not sure he was pay full attention to the music!

Overall a terrific day - lots of food and drink for everyone and plenty of good humour and cheer.  We ducks got fed regularly by the visitors and we stayed up late partying, can't wait till next year!