UoB Community Day 2012

June 10th once again saw the University of Birmingham throw open its' campus to the people of the community, to showcase the work that is done at the uni, and the people who do it. Hydrogen cars were on show, the farmers market was there, the Lapworth Museum had Timmy the Time-Travelling T Rex and some of the specimens on display. There was a chance to meet Prof Alice Roberts as she painted people in the Great Hall, and she also gave a talk on Mammoths - my sister and I attended this, and I uber fangirled, and got my photo taken with Prof Roberts afterwards. She's so nice!! And I may have her for lectures when I return to uni. Squee!

My sister and I then went for a mooch around the Great Hall and campus, before deciding to go to Winterbourne House & Garden to kill an hour or so. It was a pound entry for Community Day, and oh my days we didn't expect what we saw! We'd both been to the house before so we only had a quick look around in the house. We went out into the gardens, and we honestly thought it'd just be some formal lawns and borders. We kept walking, and we kept discovering new places! Little gaps in the hedges leading you to another section, a few sign posts here and there to tell you a bit more information, little muddy pathways that trailed away into the distance.

The best part (read: the part I liked the most) was the woodland area. Huuuuuggeee trees rising so high, a large pond with a bridge, a raised walkway and then a stream, with stepping stones in it! So, being the child that I am, I went all over the stepping stones, and followed them up the stream, and then back to the path. We carried on walking round the garden and found the Geographic Gardens, the chickens (two of whom I'd already met, at Community Day 2010), and then we entered the greenhouse area and kitchen garden. 

There was just so much to see! And all for £1 entry. The normal price is £4. Having now seen the gardens, I would happily pay £4 to go again! Here are some pics:

There are more photos over on my Flickr. I took a lot. And my sister also took a few! 

Good day was good!

L x