River Nene at Wellingborough

The river is pronounced "Nenn" where it flows through Northamptonshire, and "Neen" in Bedfordshire.

Thanks Bunni and Steve for these lovely photos.

Wrest Park, Silsoe Bedfordshire

Wrest Park was owned by the de Grey family and is now part of English Heritage.  The mansion is a Grade 1 listed property and the gardens/grounds are huge.  Capability Brown landscaped the gardens.  The original house stood where there is now a fountain, but was demolished around 1835 and the new house now stands further up from the Thomas Archer Pavilion and Long Canal.

It's probably nearly a mile in a straight line walk from the mansion to the pavilion.  The grounds are so extensive, next time I visit I shall pre-book one of their motorised buggies so I can get down to the pavilion and also have a look at the Capability Brown monument.

I also did not go into the house itself - saving that for a later trip too.

There is ample parking, toilets, a play area for the kids and a very nice cafe - indoor and outdoor seating.  There is a garden area where horticulture students from nearby Silsoe College show off their skills growing veg, flowers and herbs.

Wrest Park has amazing statues dotted everywhere, wonderful avenue tree walks - you really do need to get yourself an English Heritage Annual Pass and go there several times in order to see it all - 3 trips and your annual pass will have paid for itself.

I hope you like these photos.

Lyvedon New Bield, Oundle, Northamptonshire

Lyvedon New Bield was begun being built by Sir Thomas Tresham but he died in 1605 and it was never finished.  It now belongs to the National Trust.   Lyvedon is not far from Oundle in Northants, it's about 3 miles from the main road (A6116) so it's really peaceful there, you just hear the birds singing.

Sir Tresham was a devout Catholic and, like his other building the folly Rushton Triangular Lodge, it is designed with his faith in mind, having 3 wings, shaped like a Y.   If you are feeling brave, there's a very narrow steep spiral staircase up to the top, which is worth the view.   And mind your head, the doorways are very low!

Although the NT only have a tea/coffee machine on offer, there is a big shady tree in the grounds, so grab your rug and bring a picnic - dogs are welcome on leads as well.

While there, it's worth a gander round the wildflower meadows, the "Snail Spiral Mounds" with a moat has all sorts of of wildlife if you bring binos, or just sit and admire the view for miles around.