I had some shopping to do at Ikea in Milton Keynes yesterday so had a look at interesting places to visit in that area and picked Emberton Country Park close to Olney. I had not been there before but it is typical of a number of country parks in our area. It has an interesting history having been a gravel quarry and not just any one. The resources were used in the construction of the M1 and was disused when the first section of the motorway was complete in 1959. It was one of the first country parks designed from scratch and openned in 1965. There is something to suit most people and I enjoyed my walk around. The headline photo was a typical view as the paths wander around lakes (old gravel pits) and along the river Great Ouse. The grey heron displaced a smaller little egret for this ideal perch. The proximity to the village of Emberton and the close by town of Olney makes it a popular recreation area with facilities including a cafe and camping and caravanning. I enjoyed my stroll around. I’ll finish with the home element with more shots of the Dartmoor ponies at the Lodge at the weekend. Despite the grey weather there is always a little colour to enjoy.