Haddo Country Park Blog….

Friday, 5 April 2013

http://hhandcp.blogspot.co.uk/

Did you find any?

Did you find any? Eggs, and more specifically the beautifully painted wooden eggs provided by the Rotary Club of Oldmeldrum, who, on Sunday 31st March, supported by their colleagues from Ellon held their annual Easter Egg Hunt here at Haddo.

I arrived at Haddo around 9.00 a.m. by which time the car park was already starting to fill up with visitors.  As the Rotarian’s directed cars into the overflow parking area visitors congregated around the welcome marquee where Sheena and Nicola provided information on the activities and gave directions to the Pheasantry where the egg competitions, face painting,  and refreshment tent was situated.

11.02 a.m. and the overflow car park was filling up !
 Nanna Mo came all the way
from Plymouth to help granddaughter Brogan find her
Easter Egg.  (was lovely to chat with them)

Over 1500 highly painted wooden eggs were hidden around the park at various intervals during the day, I enjoyed laying a few myself, and got a real buzz out of watching youngsters find a carefully placed egg within their path.

Face painting, egg hunting and rolling, (or rather egg throwing) on the hill at the top of the Scots Mile, were activities that kept people of all ages busy during the day .
We should not forget the most enjoyed activity that our visitors partake in, the feeding of the ducks, geese and swans on the lake. I can report they had eaten so much by mid morning that much of the bread was left for the fish.
Ducks were well fed !!

The Rotary club estimated that approximately 4000 people arrived at Haddo in over 1200 cars during the day.  The event is free but  donations were accepted and I understand that the Rotary raised over £1500 towards the good causes they support both locally and internationally.

Egg rolling on the hill – all ages have a go

I was also delighted to hear from Christina, that the NTS event had also been very successful with over 800 copies of their treasure trail being sold on the day.  We both concluded that the two events compliment each other and gave ourselves a pat on the back that “partnership” is working between us at Haddo.

Rolling or throwing eggs – all ages take part
and everyone is a winner, including the wildlife who
enjoy the left debris
It would not be fair to finish this ramble without acknowledging and thanking the people who work behind the scenes to make the annual Rotary Egg Hunt a success.  On Monday I saw Jim / Audrey and Melony busy tidying up after the visitors who had so enjoyed themselves within the Country Park, and I am sure that the same is true for Lindsay and Una within the NTS grounds.  I wonder if they found any of the wooden eggs undiscovered the day before.  I do know that the wildlife enjoyed the hard boiled egg debris left on the hill after the egg rolling, when I walked on Monday evening the birds were still munching.
Update on the regeneration project;

I met and spoke to some lovely people during the Easter Egg Hunt and was delighted to be able to share with them all the activities associated with the regeneration project, the new play area for younger visitors, the upgrade to the toilets and of course the new visitor centre.

75% complete, the new walk at
Craigie Wood.

CHAP construction have been onsite for some weeks, as those who read this blog regularly know, there is much evidence (as I mentioned last time, in my “Mud” post) of their activities.  A lot of what we are seeing is preparatory work including tree surgery, tree felling and the progression of works to the Pheasantry.  The demolition of the old garages has been carried out, which is necessary to clearing the site for the adventure play area.

In addition, the clearance of the Craigie wood car park and the construction of the two new paths is also well under way and I understand that the paths are around 75% complete and that the car park itself will soon be laid.
There has been some activity in the park this week but the majority of the workman are doing what a lot of us are, and having time off for Easter holidays.  We look forward to them returning on Monday.
Coming up
Wednesday 10th, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th April.  Caledonian Opera and Haddo House Choral and Operatic Society are presenting Puccini.  Gianni Schicchi and Il Tabarr.  Two one act operats by Puccini, one comic and the other tragic.  Tickets are £20 / £9 (under 25) available from http://www.hhcos.org.uk or by calling 01651 851111.
Saturday 11th May, Ythan Fiddlers – Haddo House Hall, 7.30 p.m. Tickets are available from JK Shoe Shop. For information call 01651 851721
Saturday 18th May.  Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper – At Last the true story.  This performance will take place in the Library and tickets will be available on the NTS Website at £12.00 or £8.00 concession.

Sunday 19th May.  2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.  “Love life – Love Nature” – Wildlife in Spring.  You are invited to take part in a guided walk around the Country Park where John Malster will help you to discover some of the plants and animals that make their appearance at this time of year.  It is a FREE event and you can just turn up but I would appreciate it if you could let me know you are coming, will help us to plan.

One of the animals you are bound to come across
during the Love Life – Love Nature walk

Sunday 26th May – A day in the country with D.A.W.G.S – Family fun day.  For information please visit website http://www.dawgs.co.uk contact ianlynnpat@aol.com or call 01224 208989.  This is a FREE event and a must for any dog lover.  K9VSO and I will be there!

And Finally

I just happen to overhear a conversation on Tuesday in which someone said

“I hear the Ospreys are back”

Now, as you know I walk this park on a daily basis with K9VSO and we certainly hadn’t seen them.  Not that I didn’t believe my ears, they are due after all, what I was miffed about was that I wasn’t the one spouting the information.  Imagine then, how I felt today when a visitor asked me

“Was that the Osprey we saw?”

Lesley (who spotted the bird) and Ian Michie were kind enough to send me copies of the pictures they took.  I am sure you will enjoy looking at them as much as me.

Till next time, enjoy Haddo take care and don’t
forget to say hello if you see us.

Contact me

Telephone 0791 606 4567

Tin Tent : 01651 851815
Email Haddovso@btconnect.com
Twitter @haddovso

Easter Events at Haddo House

Easter at Haddo House

http://nfs.stvfiles.com/imagebase/113/623x349/113233-park-home-to-the-a-listed-haddo-house.jpgOver the Easter holidays Haddo House is playing host to an array of fun, family friendly events.

Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, 30th March – 1st April, 11am – 4pm

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, 30th March – 1st April, 12pm – 1.30pm

Puppet show: Oscar and the Deep Sea Pearl, 3rd April, 11am – 12pm

Children’s Tours, 5th and 12th April, 2pm – 3pm

Behind the Scenes Tour, 6th April, 1pm – 2.15pm

For further Information on any of these events and to book tickets please call 0844 493 2179, email haddo@nts.org.uk or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HaddoHouse

Deaths – Nancy COOPER

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COOPER (Tarves) Peacefully at ARI, on Thursday, March 7, 2013, Annie Cooper (Nancy), beloved wife of Norman, much loved mum of David and Jane and mother-in-law to Nicol, cherished grandma to Sarah-Jane and Kelly. Funeral service in Tarves Parish Church, on Thursday, March 14, at 12 noon, thereafter to Tarves Cemetery. All friends respectfully invited, a splash of colour would be appreciated. Family flowers only please. Donations for Alzheimers Research will be accepted at the church door.