Apsley End, Bedfordshire

Flower Delivery to Bedfordshire by Clare Florist

Bedfordshire is a fair county in the East of England that is home to over 600,000 “Bedfordshire Bulldogs” or “Clangers”, as what the locals are traditionally and fondly called. Among the counties in England, it is the 14th densely populated, with nearly half of the population living in Bedford and Luton.

It is also one of those places that are steeped in history, like most of the regions comprising the UK. It also boasts of numerous attractions that make it a place for all types of travel, be it adventure or family outing. One of its prominent features is wonderful countryside, filled with various flowers in Bedfordshire, found just about everywhere. A 2002 campaign by Plantlife assigned each county in the UK its own flower, in the case of Bedfordshire the Ophyrs Apifera or 'Bee Orchid' was the designated flower.

If Bedfordshire is a story, it would be categorised as a fairy tale, what with kings, queens and a host of royalties playing an important role throughout its history. Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England from 1509-1533, for one, was incarcerated in the small town and civil parish Ampthill. Then, there’s Queen Eleanor, first queen consort of Edward I of England, who was laid to rest in Dunstable, a market town and civil parish in the county. During World War II, most of the exiled crowned heads sought refuge in this area. Generally, royalties in the past used Bedfordshire as a hunting ground and a place to hold court.

It was also in this county, particularly at Luton Hoo — a historic house in England, where Winston Churchill delivered an inspiring speech.

Bedanfordscir is the name of Bedfordshire that was first recorded in 1011, which translates to shire of Bedford. The name Bedford, on the other hand, means river crossing or “Beda’s ford”.

As previously mentioned, Bedfordshire has a lot to offer tourists and locals alike. There’s practically something for everyone, whether it’s a place to stay in, things to do and places to explore.

There are several towns and villages all over the county, with either cottages or stately homes set amidst a blanket of gorgeous Bedfordshire flowers. Woburn and Harrold are two of the villages that were named among the 120 best villages to live in Britain by the 2013 Sunday Times.

Bedford Castle - A large medieval castle built by Henry 1 sometime after 1100. It’s overlooking the River Great Ouse, the largest and longest of several rivers that go by the same name. It was originally built in a motte and bailey design, with a floor area that is much smaller than it is now.

Bedford Park - This is a large urban park in the town of Bedford that is owned and maintained by the Bedford Borough Council. It features mature trees, shrubs, and several Bedfordshire flowers such as wood anemones, crocuses and daffodils. As for structures and facilities, it has a bandstand, sporting facilities and swimming pool, among others.

Shuttleworth Collection - If you’re looking for old and well-preserved aircraft, this is where you should be heading. This museum is home to a variety of aeronautical and automotive machines that are restored and maintained by some 3000 volunteers, all of which are members of the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society.

These are just a few examples of the attractions that visitors can check out when travelling to Bedfordshire. There are also zoos, amusement parks, castles, country parks and other local sights. Suffice to say that sightseeing in this county would be most satisfying.

Bedfordshire also hosts entertaining cultural events; two of the biggest is Carnival and Mela that are held in Luton. If anyone would wish to send flowers to Bedfordshire, doing so during these festivals would be perfect timing. Other events to watch out for are the Canal Festival in Linslade and Riverside Festival in Bedford.

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