Monday 23 May 2011

The Forest School at Saltram



Saltram is proud to be hosting the Forest School throughout the summer. Forest School is a Danish concept of learning in the outdoors which is quickly growing in popularity around the country. It focuses on building confidence, self-esteem, independence, motivation and environmental awareness through organised games and activities.



Led by our local Forest School leaders, Jen Reeley and Debbie Lowe who have many years experience working with children of all ages, students are given a safe and productive environment in which to learn and interact. Many of the activities can be linked to the national and early years curriculum, providing a fun way of learning and achieving goals.





Forest school leaders are Jen Reeley who can be contacted on 07715969506 or at jen.reeley@talktalk.net and Debbie Lowe, who can be contacted on 07877998110 or at ecscdebbie@hotmail.com.
Both Jen and Debbie are available for private parties and events which are run under the buisiness names Forest School Plymouth and Wild About Woods. For further information email forestschoolplymouth@hotmail.com or visit www.wildaboutwoods.co.uk.
The Forest School at Saltram can be booked through the above contact details. All Forest School leaders are CRB checked and First Aid Trained.

Thursday 19 May 2011

An astounding Saltram discovery!


We have recently had a beautiful inlaid writing desk returned to us from a long stay at Trerice. When cleaning it the other day we discovered a message, probably part of a letter, pasted to the bottom of a drawer. It appeared to be written in French so we sent it off to our Curator to have a closer look!

We have just had the translation returned and sadly it doesn't make a huge amount of sense as much of the letter is missing but what we do have is...

the State, often at the peril
even incarcerated when his
considerable sums
that he comes out free of charge
Lombards of which he justifies. Paris, March 1824


Quite interesting stuff! We have ascertained from this that the writer of the letter was probably in prison and is trying to correct an injustice and be released from his imprisonment.

A lovely bit of history, hidden away for over a hundred years right under our noses!

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Amazing Flower Displays at Saltram!

A Marsh Orchid

A population of Southern Marsh Orchids is currently flowering in the gardens here at Saltram. Their number have been slowly increasing over the past few years with the help of our gardening team and the work they are doing to help the orchids reproduce. They can be found growing between the Orangery and the nearby Orange Grove.

Other things looking good at the moment in the garden include the 'Chilean Fire Bush', or Embothrium coccineum which is growing in the Orange Grove, along the Lime Avenue there are hundreds of white flowers along with wild garlic and 'Queen Anne's Lace' and the first of the bearded iris' are starting to appear. These can be found near the Chapel Gallery and near the Castle Folly at the top of the garden.

The Orangery has also been emptied for the summer with the help of our garden volunteers. So there's lots to see this Spring in the gardens at Saltram!

Tim, our garden volunteer removing an orange tree from the Orangery