A Year in Grasmere Village 2016
Another year gone, and a round up of what happened in Grasmere Village in 2016. It was a year many won’t forget in a hurry. We might be a small village but there is always something going on. Especially this year, Prince and Prime Minister, Cyclists and Wrestlers it was all happening this year.
JANUARY
National Trust Allan Bank
After the stress and strain of Storm Desmond it was lovely to discover that a sunny photograph of National Trust Property Allan Bank graced the front of the 2016 Handbook. A great advert for the village.
Broadgate Grasmere
Unfortunately things were very quiet in the village. The main A591 closed between Grasmere and Keswick and the village literally a cul-de-sac. Various initiatives like free parking were offered but it really was deserted as you wandered round.
David Cameron Grasmere
We had a visit from the then Prime Minister David Cameron spotted in the school playground.
FEBRUARY
February in Grasmere
Snow on the tops in February and then on lower ground too.
Snowy Grasmere
Valentine’s Day visit to the Dove Cottage restaurant was a surprise with a cherry “heart” when I cut my cake. Very appropriate and tasty too!.
Valentine’s cake
Meanwhile the environment agency were dredging the River Rothay, taking care to not disturb the crayfish, and these canoeists were quick to take advantage of a new launching area into the river. Storm Desmond was still having it’s effect.
Canoeists River Rothay
After a dismal Winter signs of Spring were appearing with snowdrops and Daffodils at Wordsworth’s Grave.
Daffodils and snowdrops
MARCH
The rubble that was piling up on the Sports Field after all the dredging was a perfect viewpoint for this cheeky Herdwick.
Grasmere Herdwick
Elsewhere in Grasmere and throughout the central Lakes Herdwick sheep of a different kind were appearing as part of the Calvert Trust Go Herdwick fund raising initiative.
Grasmere Go Herdy
Temporary bridges were built on the A591 and a little mini bus started running between Grasmere and Keswick, my goodness it was popular! It ran along the far side of Thirlmere and became quite a tourist attraction in itself.
Keswick bus queue
We had another famous visitor. Prince Charles visited with a trip to the Gingerbread Shop, Wordsworth’s Grave and St Oswald’s Church.
Prince Charles
Prince Charles Grasmere
It certainly made the village busier.
APRIL
Spring in Grasmere
April and things were looking up in the village both visitor and weather wise.
Grasmere Daffodil Garden
MAY
An exciting initiative in May brought coloured lights to the mere. Nocturnal Rainbows as part of Lakes Ignite Art installation.
Lights on Grasmere
As the tourist season started properly it was still a case of getting the message out everywhere that Grasmere was open for business.
Grasmere is Open
Grasmere does look great in May, blossom and bluebells.
Grasmere Blossom
Bannerigg Woods were a sea of blue.
Grasmere Bluebells
And then at last! Dunmail Raise was open and Grasmere was connected with the North again. Hello Keswick we missed you.
Dunmail Raise reopens
Diessen Brass Band (twinned with Windermere) performed at NT Allan Bank and the music echoed through the valley.
Diessen Brass Band
JUNE
Grasmere celebrated The Queen’s 90th Birthday.
Grasmere Celebrates
The village looked lovely with flags flying everywhere.
Singing in the Village Hall
Grasmere Glee celebrated in the Village Hall.
Kendal Mountain Festival kindly brought outdoor cinema to Grasmere and Glenridding to support the flooded villages. The weather was kind and a great time was had by young and old alike.
Outdoor Cinema Grasmere
JULY
July in Grasmere means Rushbearing. A rather wet one this year and the Rushbearing Maidens had a rather soggy walk round the village but kept smiling.
Grasmere Rushbearing
But it wasn’t all rain in July, the sun shone too.
Sunny Grasmere
AUGUST
August Bank Holiday and the 166th Grasmere Sports and Show. After a night of rain morning broke fair and a good turnout of visitors and locals alike enjoyed the Sports and entertainment on the Sports field.
Grasmere Sports Poster
Competitors travelled from all over the world to compete.
Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
Fire eating was a popular spectator event.
Fire eating Grasmere
SEPTEMBER
Cycling came to Grasmere in September when the Tour of Britain sped through the village.
Tour of Britain Grasmere
The village was decorated with painted yellow bikes.
Yellow Bikes Grasmere
OCTOBER
Devilish Sheep
Halloween in Grasmere meant an abundance of Pumpkins throughout the village.
National Trust Shop Grasmere
Unfortunately Halloween weekend itself was a bit of a washout and the pumpkins on the village green looked a bit bedraggled.
Gingerbread Pumpkins
Liked these pumpkins outside the Gingerbread shop.
NOVEMBER
Nights drawing in and streets empty by 5pm as the clocks change. Locals practice a form of reverse hibernation and suddenly you bump into friends in the street who have had heads down all Summer working hard to make our visitors to Grasmere enjoy their stay.
I was very, very lucky to win a holiday to South Africa for most of November so from 24 degrees to -4 degrees, however what a sight as we arrived back.
Grasmere Sheep
What a great welcome home!
DECEMBER
December in Grasmere, what a joy.
Taffy Thomas
You never know who will be about, Taffy Thomas former Storyteller Laureate was having a wander round the village with some student teachers.
Xmas in NT Shop Grasmere
The shops have a huge array of individual gifts you can’t find in the larger towns.
Beetham Bellringers
A wander up the hill to National Trust Allan Bank and the sound of bells were ringing out as the Beetham Bellringers played. Very festive.
Just time to put the Christmas tree complete with Herdy bobbles up and that’s nearly it for another Grasmere year. Grasmere Players Pantomime still to see, always a great family occasion.
Herdy xmas tree
Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas and Health and Happiness for the coming year.
