Monday 31st May

The last day in the month of May and the hawthorn bushes are still cloaked in blossom. This bank holiday weekend Mote Park was hosting the Maidstone Town and Country Fayre, and I couldn't wait to visit!!

Hawthorn Blossom

"Mote" is Anglo Saxon for "a meeting place", hinting that the park may have been used for something like this in the past. In fact, regular markets used to be held in the Mote Park during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Mote Park was also the original site for the Kent County Show until it was moved up onto Detling Hill. Nevertheless, it was wonderful to see heavy horses, sheep, and working dogs among other country interests and skills back in Mote Park. Overall it appeared that the event was a successful one with lots of people attending, and the Sheep Shearing and Suffolk Punch Display Team were really well done attracting large crowds.

Suffolk Punches pulling the plough

Whilst watching the Heavy Horses out in the main arena it was great to see an adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull fly over west towards the top playing field. Other birds noted were 2 singing Reed Buntings, 5 Chiff Chaffs, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Reed Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, a family of Coots and 2 famillies of Mallards were seen, and 2 Swallows and a Swift were seen catching insects over the Lake. It was also interesting to note lots of tadploes swimming in the marshy area of the eastern section of the Lake, presumably young Toad.