Pictures of Grafton Flyford

About Grafton Flyford

Grafton Flyford is tucked away in a fold of beautiful English countryside. It is an old area of winding lanes edged by ancient woodland. Along its lovely lanes the visitor is rewarded with glimpses of picturesque properties, some from Tudor times, which hide behind handsome wrought-iron gates and old yew hedges. So sedate is it that you could easily be forgiven for thinking the area was the sole province of wealthy landowners.

A lane runs towards Huddington Court, a gracious moated country house with a brightly painted metal bridge crossing the surrounding water. Dotted around the estate are a number of black and white cottages, and ancient farm buildings with high sloping roofs. It is quite picturesque and looking around, your mind wanders back to the days when men, not machinery worked the surrounding fields.

Not far down the lane (in the direction of the Evesham to Worcester road) there is a turning towards a handsome church built of glorious red sandstone. Lying against the wall of the church were moss-covered headstones of indeterminable age. Looking at the church, one gains the impression of timelessness, clearly it has stood there for centuries as a noble house of God, unmarked by the passage of modern time.

Grafton Wood is old woodland whose boundaries have remained unaltered for over three hundred years, it is part of what was once the Royal forest of Fakenham in the Middle Ages. It is a wonderful place that supports a rich variety of flora. The wilderness includes Violet Helleborine, Spurge-laurel, Adders-Tongue and Birds-nest Orchid. There is a predominance of ash and oak trees in the forest, with some conifers planted in the 1960's. Parts of the woodland are virtually derelict, these show the remains of maple, birch and hazel coppices. The woods give shelter to several species of tiny wild animals. Colourful Pheasant can often be seen and it is notable for Butterflies.

On a sunny day there is not a lot to beat the English countryside, no other place offers so much beauty partnered by so much interest. Grafton Flyford and surrounding villages make a delightful day out, the area is within easy driving distance of Pershore, Worcester, Evesham and Tewkesbury which themselves are fine historic town's offering wealth of history and beauty.