The Aardvark Blog

Can We Trust?
10/07/2025

Can we trust the National Trust, the Salt Path controversy, extra element to the Aardvark Summer book sale

Last week Ethel and I were away on a short break meeting up with family at Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. This is a trip we have made many times and we make a point of always stopping at a National Trust property on both legs of the journey. On the way we stopped at Anglesey Abbey only to be confronted by an arbitrary ban on dogs visiting the garden and no opportunity to visit the house as it as closed for days in preparation for an exhibition on a previous owner’s interesting taste in waistcoats and dinner jackets.

In advertisement for this tremendous treat the grounds were full of cardboard cut outs of scissors (not the kinds of scissors that are used by tailors), but big vulgar scissors designed perfectly to clash with the garden’s neoclassical sculpture. This being the modern National Trust there was no idea that people might be interested in Lord Fairhaven’s outstanding library, but rather that the typical NT visitor can be fobbed off with an agglomeration of bobbins and pantaloons. Harrumph.

On the way back we stopped at the incomparable Ickworth, where some years ago I had had a similar National Trust dumpster fire. But on this visit peace had been restored. The excellent and informative exhibition was in the Italian Garden and focused on the foreign inspiration for the Herveys' gardens. We were allowed to see the masterpiece sculpture of Athamos by Flaxman as it was meant to be seen. What an incredible portrayal this is. Every muscle and vein is present, and I found myself fascinated by the way in which Flaxman had modelled every toe differently. Amazing, if all too brief a visit.

This week the press as been full of the controversy over the Raynor Winn walking memoir ‘The Salt Path’. Readers to my blog may remember my previously expressed dislike for the seemingly inexhaustible flood of walking memoirs in which people recovered from the loss of a loved one, or a stubbed toe, by going on a walk. The utterly amazing and unique Roger Deakin started this trend with ‘Wildwood’ a book that everyone should read. And then of course there was Thoreau and Walden. For more of my ranting on this subject see my episode of the Bookshop Podcast. But perhaps the pithiest coment on the story so far has been Richard Osman's "from Walkers to Winns".

Finally Saturday’s sale launch (9am-2pm)  sees us adding some other elements to our annual second hand book sale. There will be a whole table of prints and maps at the amazing price of £1 for small prints and £2 for large prints. Some fantastic bargains. And we will also have a table of overstocks at £1.00, PLUS our usual extra 10% off everything in the shop. With an amazing selection of items on the stalls in our flea market outside. I realise that there is a lot on this weekend, but do pop in to see us on Saturday morning: we will also have Jack Brett's wonderful Red Madog performing live over lunchtime.

Come prepared with hats, sunglasses and water as it's going to be a hot day!

And finally finally, a new exhibition of works on paper by the fantastic Cornish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham opens this week at the Sidney Nolan Trust outside Presteigne. A fantastic cascade of colours and movement, counterpointed with a cool stroll in the orchard looking at the dramatic Earth Photos - not to be missed!