Category Archives: Photography

Kew Gardens – Autumn visit 3

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At Kew Gardens one of the areas that was quite seasonal to the autum/winter period was the berry walk, with lots of different species of berries dotted about. I’m not sure if any were edible but they looked pretty in various colours and shades.

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I found it interesting how some berries look quite similar in colour and size but the leaves on the branches and bushes look quite different or didn’t have any at all

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I love the purple colour of these berries, which are called Callicarpa japonica and are not edible but can be used to make herbal tea which sounds interesting

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Walking around I also spotted that there were several types of mushrooms growing, mainly under trees where dead leaves and foliage can decompose in the moist air, nourishing and encouraging fungal growth. I was quite fascinated with them as I haven’t seen so many different types of mushrooms growing in nature, but at the same time I did feel quite grossed out so I didn’t get too close and relied on my zoom to get a better look

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I do quite like these ones though, the creases on the stem make it look like they have a wrapping around them

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One of the things I really liked at Kew was that although it is clear to see that plants and trees have been categorised according to types, species and even climate, British nature has found a way to join in, to become part of a particular area no matter where it comes from, such as mushrooms under pine trees or squirrels up Redwoods.

My other posts of Kew Gardens can be found on the links below
Kew Gardens part 1
Kew gardens part 2

Harry Potter-land

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I recently went to The Warner Bros. studios where Harry Potter was filmed, or what I like to call Harry Potter-land. I’ve long been a fan of the Harry Potter books and films, like my sisters and thousands of others, so when the studios were opened to the public I had to go, especially as it’s not far from London.

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As soon as you walk through the doors you’re greeted by photos and props

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There’s sets from all the different places in Harry Potter, such as Hagrid’s hut and Dumbledore’s office but I think my favourite room was the Great Hall

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Along the tour there’s sets and pieces from all 8 films, it’s amazing how many things there are to look at and you realise how much time and dedication has been given to transferring the magic of the books to the big screen. There’s also lots of fun little facts about the props and videos showing the thinking behind and making of the films. The tour takes about 2-3 hours depending on your pace, but as well as things to see and read about there are fun things to do too, like fly on a broomstick and learn how to swish a wand like the pros. As I visited during the Christmas period there were fir trees and decorations dotted around as well as wintery things to take part in, like feeling the different kind of snow they used.

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My photos don’t do justice to how rich the details of the sets and objects are, and there was so much more to see and take part in. There are also a couple of things at the studios that really wowed me that I won’t mention because I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone who wants to visit. If you are a Harry Potter fan I would recommend the trip, and it’s worth booking in advance as it still seems to be very popular with the public. If you’ve also been to the Warner Bros studios I’d love to hear what you thought.