Priory Park, Bedford

Last weekend, Bev and Paul took us bears and Tony to Priory Park in Bedford to see the birds, have a dip in the lake and do what bears do in the woods.  The weather was glorious - warm and sunny, with everything coming out in bloom and spring very definitely in the air!

We saw some adult swans, geese and the tiniest ducklings you can imagine - they were so small that when the paddled really fast they skimmed across the top of the water, not through it!

Anyway, here are some photographs to show that spring is definitely here:

Here is a bee hotel.

Here is a butterfly.
Some hawthorn, and finally...

a very magestic looking swan!

Despite Priory Park being quite busy with dogs and children, there are some very quiet spots where you can watch the wildlife and chill-out.  We found a beautiful little bird / wildlife hide, which we would thoroughly recommend.

Bev's brilliant birthday!

It was Bev's birthday last week - we're not sure how old she is but she must be very old because she wasn't allowed a cake in case she set fire to the house!

Anyway, on to the exciting bits - she got lots of lovely cards and presents, including:

• a new lens for her camera - a 17mm-70mm Sigma lens.  
• 2 excellent FWJ / 515 stock car badges from Paul
• a Nev the Bear keyring
• a Talking Nev the Bear, with 10 phrases including "Can't scare me!", "Yum Yum" and "Here I am!"
• and a delicious meal at the Vecchia Trattoria in Baldock, where Bev chose her main course from the evening's specials - she had scrummy fillet steak in a brandy and Dolcelatte sauce!  It was out of this world!
• Bev also got some money, wine, chocolates, stationery and a card with wild flower seeds!

So, all in all, a perfect birthday.  And Bev topped it off by purchasing a new Giotto tripod for her camera, so all she needs now is some decent weather so that she can get out with her camera gear and take some photographs!

Here is her latest attempt at Priory Park, Bedfordshire - she spotted some cygnets in the afternoon sunshine so got a few shots before the weather turned cold and overcast:

Priory Park, Bedford

On Holiday Monday, we persuaded Bev and Paul to take us to Priory Park in Bedford for a picnic and walk through the park.  The weather was gloriously warm and the park was very pretty, so it was a great day out for everyone!  Priory Park is quite large, with lakes and an island, and although it has a network of paths it also has some very quiet and overgrown spots for the wildlife and plant life - we bears ate lots of wild berries along with our yummy picnic.

We also spotted a very pretty dragonfly, which Bev correctly identified as a male Common Darter.  We bears didn't think there was anything common about Mr Darter - we loved his bright red body and beautiful wings.

After walking round Priory Park, we crossed over the bridge and went along the side of the river in Bedford - this was a glorious walk through tree-lined gardens where we sat and had an ice cream while watching the swans swim up and down the river.

All in all, it was a great day out, and we all had fat little tummies after our picnic, wild berries and ice cream!