Kathy Brown's Garden

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Kathy Brown’s Manor House Gardens at Stevington, just north of Bedford provides a garden destination with a very personal touch. Designed and cared for by Kathy and her husband Simon, over the last 30 years, this is a modern country 4.5 acre garden. Blossoms and bulbs are a treat in spring with white tree peonies and later beds of intersectional peonies a special delight. The wisteria and laburnum arches in mid May are beautifully underplanted with a sea of alliums, spires of foxgloves and generous groups of poppies. Roses clothe the house walls from May to July with many others covering the pergolas and romping through the trees. By then the wild meadows are rich with pollinators supping the scabious, knapweeds etc. The late flowering clematis begin to take centre stage with dreamy naturalistic gardens combining dainty grasses and colourful echinacea. This is a special time with art gardens based on Monet, Rothko, Matisse, Hepworth and Hokusai. The main borders exude colour with a raft of dahlias. Through August and September the orchard becomes rich with plums, apples and pears. Elsewhere topiary scenes provide special interest and there are major container displays including succulents and mossy kokedamas.
This is a wonderful destination for all afternoon tea lovers. Depending on the timing, Kathy’s cakes are flavoured with rose petals or elderflower or marigolds or lavender all growing in the surrounding flower borders. Tea is normally taken on the lawn, but if weather is windy or wet, then tea is served in her beautiful dining room and conservatory.
A small shop offers Stevington Garden cards, and Kathy’s cake recipe cards, china mugs, and her gardening books including ‘Edible Flower’£7 and ‘Painting with Nature’, a fantastic guide regarding the Manor House Garden £5.
Voted as the Regional Winner in the East among the Nation’s Favourite Top Gardens in a competition involving the National Garden Scheme and The English Garden Magazine.

Spring and Summer Opening Times 10.30am-1pm and 2-4.30pm on the following days:
Every Tuesday April 5th - September 27th
Easter Good Friday April 15th
Saturday April 16th
Bank Holiday Monday April 18th
Bank Holiday Monday May 2nd
National Garden Scheme Charities Sunday May 15th (Bookable on the NGS Website)
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Thursday  June 2nd
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Evening Friday June 3rd 6-9pm
On Saturday June 4th we are opening from 1-4.30pm in support of the Church Rooms with entrance and tea monies going to ‘The Friends of St Mary’s Church, Stevington’. We are hoping to have a vintage tractor display.
Father’s Day Sunday June 19th   
Saturday July 30th
Saturday September 3rd


Conditions of Entry
Only people with pre-booked tickets can visit the garden.
Please show or print out your order confirmation email as proof of ticket reservation.
Please bring proof of your Gardeners World 2:1 pass
Any tickets purchased in advance but not used on the proposed day will be valid for the rest of our spring/summer 2022 season. (except for the NGS day on May 15th and Friend’s Mid-Summer Evening on Friday June 24th)
Please email Kathy (info@kathybrownsgarden.com) to say of the postponement and then in due course the likely date of visit. It just helps with catering. You will have the QR code so we will still be able to book you in.
Please note:
Although we love dogs, we have two free range of our own and at this time have a policy of no visiting dogs, thank you for your understanding.
Additionally, if we have dangerous thunderstorms or very high winds, we will close the garden. Check back on our website before travelling, if in doubt.


A colourful and textured garden crafted with devotion.

Walk with Kathy and Simon Brown as they take you on a tour around their wonderful garden.

Friends of Kathy Brown's Garden Season Tickets

Valid for the season from early April to end of September 2022; this Friends season ticket gives great value for the named holder(s), as savings start on the third visit (during opening times, except NGS May 15th); after this, every visit through to the end of the season is free.
Friends of Kathy's will also be invited to an exclusive, bookable Mid-Summer Evening on June 24th 6-9 pm to enjoy the evening sunlight in the Garden.
