Flatford Mill and Lavenham

On Wednesday we drove South to the Suffolk / Essex border, where the two counties are divided by the River Stour. First stop was Flatford Mill, which really hasn't changed since Constable painted Willy Lott's cottage a couple of centuries ago. We took a walk along the river bank, enjoying close views of a pair of Grey Wagtails while looking out for White-legged Damselflies, which are reputed to exist here: we didn't find any!

Next stop was Lavenham, an incredible little town with cottages and houses dating back to every architectural period from medieval to modern, with plenty of examples of each! We enjoyed lunch in a delightful tearoom, before checking out the antique shops: we found several odds and ends for our Wade collection, including a 'blow up' Thumper for which we've been searching for ages!

Heading back into Suffolk, we visited Ampton to renew acquaintances with the village's flock of Tree Sparrows: what charming little birds these are. Since we were passing the Suffolk Owl Trust at Stonham Barns, we dropped in for a look round. It was interesting to see some amazing raptors at close quarters, but they all looked really miserable, trapped in their tiny enclosures...