Menzies Flitwick Manor

Kathy Brown's Garden, Stevington

by mazzap

A delightful Manor House garden which is designed and tended to by the owner, Kathy Brown. To be found hidden along a quiet lane in a small Bedfordshire village called Stevington.

Kathy Brown spends many hours planning and tending the large and beautiful garden that surrounds her home. She is obviously a true expert in this field as she has had several gardening books published. There are a few plant stalls where you can purchase a large variety of both familiar and lesser known plants.

Several times a year, for a reasonable charge, the garden is open to the public and having had the pleasure of enjoying 2 different themed afternoons, I can thoroughly recommend a visit. Each occasion is based on the fauna that is at it's best at the time, such as the 'roses', the 'bulbs' and the 'clematis' showings. If you are as fortunate as I was, you may get to meet Kathy Brown as she mingles amongst her admiring guests.

Ample adjacent parking and refreshments are always available (Pimm's served inside a marquis on the lawn went down well last summer ;-) Another time the most delicious home baked cakes and tea were also lovely!

Take a look at the website for more detail and lovely pictures of views in and around the garden.

Quite a nice town

by chrishc

"John Bunyan"

Bedford, Most famous as the home of John Bunyan and little else.

Has a nice riverside and some good pubs/clubs. At least three multi storey car parks and sells great bread, courtesy of the Italian bakers situated in the town.

Bedford has a large Italian population due to the proximity of the brickworks, many Italians were attracted to the town after the second world war to work in the brick factories as the mediterranean's could cope better with the heat of the brick kiln's than the local workforce.