Kearsney Abbey, Good Friday, 10th April 2020, Dover, UK

Video contents: views of landscapes, lakes, birds (especially waterfowl), squirrels, the cedar tree of Lebanon (and other species, of course!), and the Georgian era cafe:

The video was made in one shot with no re-takes (using "pause" when changing location) on a Google Pixel 2 smartphone during a permitted cycle ride under the UK Coronavirus lockdown rules.

This isn't just laziness: my steam-driven computer just isn't up to the task of video editing!

However, I admit that my enthusiasm to share videos and photos is progressively eroded by the time spent in "post-production".

The technique that I've used here requires no post production whatsoever so I'm pretty pleased about it.

Kearsney Abbey is about two miles from Dover and was never an abbey in the religous sense.

It was built by John Minet Fector as a family home between 1820-1822 using remnants of medieval Dover. The Georgian era former Billiard Room, now the cafe, is all that remains of the original mansion.

The Abbey is now part of Kearsney Parks along with the nearby Russell Gardens.

The two lakes shown in the video are formed by the River Dour that enters the sea at Dover's Wellington Dock in the Marina.

A photo taken on the 5th of April (Swan Invades Social Distancing Space, Kearsney Abbey);

From White Cliffs Country:

Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens are currently undergoing restoration work as part of a £3.1million National Lottery funded project, Kearsney Parks. The works are due to be finished in summer 2020.

The gardens at Kearsney Abbey are laid out as informal parkland around two ornamental lakes through which the River Dour flows.

The old house was demolished many years ago and only the old billiard room remains. This was used as a café for many years and it will form part of the new café extension that is being built.

The site is popular at all times of the year but especially in the summer time when the lawns become a favourite picnic site at weekends. A play area for children is available and the lower lake is used for model boating.

Enjoy walking around the gardens or relax watching the wildlife on the lake.

A Dover District Council web page currently states:

Coronavirus

In line with measures to encourage people to stay at home, the car park in Kearsney Abbey is closed until further notice. This is to protect public safety and discourage large gatherings.

The Kearsney Parks mobile café and temporary toilets have been removed from site. The playground in Kearsney Abbey is closed.

The location the photo was taken from is marked "V" on the map near the top:

Cycle route: Tower Hamlets in Dover to Buckland Bridge, River village, Temple Ewell, Kearsney Abbey, Eastern Docks, New Marina Pier, Priory Station, Robsons Yard in Tower Hamlets.

Original map and biometrics are on this Polar Flow web page.

Abbreviated versions of this post are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Swan Invades Social Distancing Space, Kearsney Abbey, Dover, UK

"Six feet means six feet!"

This photo of two mute swans squabbling on the Boating Lake of Kearsney Abbey (near Temple Ewell and the village of River) was taken on a permitted Coronavirus lockdown bike ride (see map below).

It is one of my favourite images taken during the last few weeks because it came out far better than expected and contains satisfying amounts of my favourite colour, British Racing Green.

Mute Swans [1]

The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurosiberia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa.

It is an introduced species in North America – home to the largest populations outside of its native range – with additional smaller introductions in Australasia and southern Africa.

The name 'mute' derives from it being less vocal than other swan species.

Measuring 125 to 170 cm (49 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange beak bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the beak, which is larger in males.

Kearsney Abbey [2]

A landscape made by people

Kearsney Abbey is laid out in an informal style. Its 10 acres of open parkland and lakes are popular with families.

Although never a monastic estate, the history of Kearsney Abbey can be traced back to the Norman Conquest.

The park as it exists today can be attributed to John Minet Fector, a local banker and merchant, who built a grand mansion on the site between 1820-1822.

Two adjoining ornamental lakes on the course of the River Dour provide a haven for water fowl. Kearsney Abbey also has a fine collection of specimen trees, including Beech, Lime and Yew.

A prominent feature is a Cedar of Lebanon tree which is believed to be one of the oldest specimens in the country.

The location the photo was taken from is marked "P2" on the  map at the top of the red triangle:

Cycle route: Tower Hamlets in Dover to St Radigunds Abbey via Coombe Valley. From ruins of St Radigunds Abbey to Kearsney Abbey via Minnis Lane. Returned to Dover through the village of River.

Original map and biometrics are on this Polar Flow web page.

Abbreviated versions of this post are also on Facebook and Twitter.

[1] Source: Mute Swan

[2] Source: Kearsney Abbey