Pteridology

The pretty flower display has been replaced with a display of ferns. Unusual I thought for a town centre. The green sign explains that 150 years ago Kendal was at the centre of a national craze for collecting ferns,  inspired largely by the caretaker of the local woods,  a George Whitwell. The green sign says he founded the British Fern Society.
This is not entirely true. George Whitwell (1840 - 1924) was, in 1891, a founder member of the British Pteridological Society. You will be forgiven for thinking this is connected with pterodactyls. It sounds similar.  But pteridology  is the study of ferns. Amazing what you learn by moving to Kendal.  There is even a picture of George , far left in the rather splendid old photo on this page.
The still closed, because of the virus, library behind.  High Street marginally busier than last week but not much.