Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce

Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire has an important fruit growing history - one of the most successful plant breeders in the world was based near Bedford - Thomas Laxton was born in 1830 at Tinwell near Stamford. He had a love of plant breeding and had experimental grounds on the Kimbolton and London Roads and at Girtford in Sandy.

His sons and grandsons followed in his footsteps, and together they produced an amazing number of new varieties of apples - such as Lord Lambourne, Laxton's Epicure, Laxton's Fortune, Laxton's Superb and Barnack Orange; plums - Laxton's Gage, Early Laxton, Laxton's Supreme; pears, gooseberries, raspberries, currants and strawberries - such as Royal Sovereign.

After his death in 1893, his sons carried on his work on 140 acres known as 'Laxton's Land' at Goldington Road (now covered by Bedfordshire College of Higher Education and two schools). They also opened a shop at 63 High Street, Bedford which remained until 1957.

Apple Day Events
Where to get help
Orchards and Community Orchards to visit
Where to buy apples and orchard produce
Recipes
Where to buy fruit trees
Some Bedfordshire Fruit