Victoria Gardens, Truro

I had an hour to spend this morning while my car had new tyres fitted.

Just opposite the workshop is the entrance to Victoria Gardens. The gardens lie on the edge of the city of Truro and today all was very quiet, just me, a gardener and a couple of dog walkers. And birdsong.

There are so many lovely mature trees. Doesn't this one look charming with its surround of miniature daffodils? Seats are everywhere, and for a while I sat and gazed, and listened to birds, and said Good morning to a walker or two.

On a Summer Sunday there are often Band concerts in the Bandstand here. You would be right to think that it has a Victorian air. The Park was created in 1878 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

High over the gardens Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Viaduct looms. Actually, although the original was built in 1859, what you see is a later replacement. The old buttresses still stand but are no longer in use. The trains from London to Penzance cross the viaduct. Coming home from College I used to wait for this view just before the station. Then I knew I was home.

The sound of rushing water permeated the morning, and I enjoyed gazing at the River Kenwyn racing through one edge of the park. The waterfall is quite fierce here.

Another view of the river. Soon the trees overhanging it will regain their leaves. The river runs right under the city and has in its time proved a real problem with flooding.