Category: National Trust

VISIT TO FOUNTAINS ABBEY – Thursday 26th of August.
Well, after a delay of over five hundred days, members were all assembled on Hucknall Market Place at 8.20 am. ready to leave at 8.30 am. After a check of names and numbers and a greeting to everyone from our driver (Paul) we were ready for our drive up to North Yorkshire.

On arrival everyone was soon checked in and ready to begin exploring and walking the beautiful grounds. At this point some members booked on various organised tours that were available, while others headed for an early hot drink and cake before starting their exploring. The weather was good for walking with the cloud eventually giving way to periods of sunshine by early afternoon.

On our walk round Studley Royal Park we had the opportunity to explore two main areas; The Abbey site – which includes a large monastic ruin from the 12th century, Fountains Hall (a Country House dating back to the Elizabethan era) and Fountains Mill which was still in use at the beginning of the last century.

In contrast to these buildings, in the second area, we saw Studley Royal Water Gardens which featured large scale contemporary artworks designed by British artist, Steve Messam and entitled ‘These Passing Things’. All of this plus the Victorian St Marys Church, the Studley Medieval Deer Park and the cafes, shops and tea rooms made for a busy but very enjoyable day.
Our return journey saw us arrive safely back in Hucknall just after six o’clock after a thoroughly enjoyable day.

NATIONAL TRUST PLANS FOR SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2021

Please note that there will NOT be a National Trust table at the September Members’ meeting as Sue and I are unable to attend.

However, by mid September we will email or write to all NT group members with our plans for two more visits before the end of the year, Covid permitting!!!!
Firstly, we are planning to book a day in October to visit a fairly local venue.. Secondly, we will try to book a visit in late November or early December to Belton House to see the House decorated for Christmas and then stay as darkness falls to enjoy the Light Trail round the grounds.

We will get dates and other details out, as stated above, to all members by mid September.

After sixteen long months, “Freedom Day” gave us the opportunity to re-book our visit to Fountains Abbey, and we will now be going on Thursday, 26th of August. The bus is booked and the Abbey booked too. All that is needed now is for me to complete a comprehensive Risk Assessment.
The coach will leave from Hucknall Market, near to the bus stop at 8.30 am, and we will be returning from Fountains at 4.00 pm. The coach is provided by J.B.Tours.

We are booked in for a self-guided tour of the Abbey at 12.15 pm. The grounds cover an extensive area of land/water, but there is a complimentary minibus operating around the grounds for those who wish to use it.

After this visit I would like to arrange another trip in late September (Covid permitting), and details will follow. I would also like to organise a visit to Belton House in November to see their “Light Trail”.

I would finally like to thank all the members for their patience and understanding over the past year or so. This has made my role so much easier.

If anyone would like to join the group, please contact Barrie Saunders, the group leader, on the form below:-

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When we wrote our last report a month ago we were hoping that the promised “Freedom Day” would follow on June 21st and hoped to email out some good news to the group. However, this was not to be so the promised email would have been pointless!!!!

July again promises to bring “Freedom Day”, however, while writing this note we see the highest number of Covid-19 cases recorded since mid February. As you will be very aware Social Distancing rules remain the greatest hurdle to resuming our visits. If we get positive new guidelines, then we will contact J B Tours and Fountains Abbey immediately to try to arrange a date for the visit. When we reach this stage we will email or phone all of you who are booked on the visit.

We know that we are all frustrated beyond belief but we will get things organised on the first day that we possibly are able. In the longer term, if it is possible we intend to organise a visit to Belton House to see the Light Trail as well as trying to get some other trips in before the year ends.

Thank you all for your patience and keep your fingers crossed that things improve in the near future.

Sue and Barrie Saunders

As you will be aware, the decisions regarding the lifting of social distancing rules and face covering etc have still not been made and, at the time of writing this on May 26th, are due to be announced on June 14th, although this may change again!!

So presently we are still in the same position as last month with National Trust properties not accepting coach bookings and the coach companies forced to limit numbers on board.

If we have some positive news in the next few weeks then we will email or phone all members who were originally on the Fountains Abbey list to give out further information. This group will include everyone who paid for the trip and also the few people who requested their money back.

Hopefully we are getting close to making real progress but in the meantime enjoy the better weather which is forecast for the next week.

Sue and Barrie

Having read the following data in the newspaper today, the last day of April, then the Covid-19 situation seems to be improving rapidly.

‘The numbers falling ill with the Covid have dropped to the lowest level since the pandemic began. The number of over 80’s with infections is now at a record low’.

I could go on with many other statistics but the main point is that hopefully the roadmap will continue to progress and eventually clear us to resume many aspects of our lives. Hopefully National Trust properties will be more fully opened over May and June. All good news.

As I said last month, the vital factor for our group will be rules on social distancing on transport. Those of you who have ventured on to a bus or tram recently will know the problems present there. I hope that by the time of the next Newsletter then this situation will be clearer. I have received an email on behalf of two members who are so keen to resume that they are willing to pay twenty pounds each for the Fountains Abbey visit so that we could socially distance on two buses should this be the only thing stopping us going ahead.

If any other members have views on this please let me know by contacting us via the form below. This will allow us to gauge opinion should we reach this situation.

Barrie and Sue Saunders

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