UK Trip Day 7 Saffron Walden & Cambridge

To Market to Market...

Saffron Walden has a long history. It started as a medieval market town in 1141, and gained its royal charter in 1300. Markets still happen in the town square on Saturday mornings and they showcase the vast array of locally grown fresh produce available. The soil around these parts is particularly good for market gardens.

Susan and Barb went into town to the markets to stock up on fruit and veggies. It was sprinkling with rain when they arrived, so that seemed like a good enough excuse to dive into a very cute little tearoom near where they'd parked. Barb indulged in her first cream tea of the trip and it was certainly worth waiting for. The blueberry scones were divine!

Market stalls in the square

The short burst of rain had mostly cleared by the time tea was consumed and they went to pour over produce and make their selections. Such a lot to choose from too!
There was a rather good display of potted plants for sale. Susan wanted to get some potted colour to replace some of her existing plants that didn't survive the winter. Barb bought a cloth hat that will be perfect for travelling (folds up to nothing) and then they got several bags of delicious fruit.

Susan selects some potted plants

Hat stand

Fruit and vegetable stand

game meat for sale

John meanwhile, was at home fixing some things for Susan. She does enjoy having a useful brother who will mend things and whip her computer back into shape for her when he visits.
Barb spent some time in the early afternoon sweeping up leaves and blossom from the back courtyard. All was going well and she was merrily pulling up weeds until she was stopped in her tracks by her first encounter with stinging nettles. She jumped and yelped as if stung by a bee!

Later in the afternoon Susan and Barb headed into Cambridge to a very big and impressive Garden Centre. NOT like Bunnings....but with all the garden equipment, tools, plants that you might expect and a large variety of gifts, homewares, books and even clothes.
At the centre of the building there was a huge glassed conservatory, where cafeteria style meals were available. More tea and cake! Woo hoo!

the garden centre shop

Definitely not Bunnings

They purchased several more plants and bags of landscaping pebbles. That will be our project for tomorrow while Geoffrey goes off to Duxford for the Airshow. If we're lucky we might get to see the planes flying over Susan's garden for free.

so many plants to choose from

Succulents for sale