Most of the publicity surrounding the work of the Moggerhanger House Preservation Trust recently has been to do with the restoration of Moggerhanger House. However, the Trust is not just interested in securing the future of the house, but the rest of the estate as well.

In our last report we explained that the back lawn had been ploughed up and re-seeded. This lawn is now looking better, but the very dry (and hot) weather during June and July has meant that the lawn is struggling to become established. Recent rains have helped slightly, but it does look now as if it will be next summer at the earliest before the lawn is looking lawn-like! Much thanks are expressed to neighbourly farmers Russell Emery and Sam Franklin for the support they have given in ploughing and seeding the area.

The other major development in the grounds over the last few months has been the creation of our car park, together with the re-surfacing of the driveway and laying of the kitchen patio. External lighting has also been installed which will make it much easier for visitors to navigate around the estate. This work has all been done thanks to a very generous grant from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Beds and Luton Economic Development Partnership (BLEDP), and we are very grateful for the active support given by both of the these organisations, and also to Marshalls of Sandy who kindly donated the paving stones which have now formed our kitchen patio.

Behind the scenes, much work is being done to prepare a couple of major funding bids that we hope may provide funding to enable major restoration works within the grounds. These are at the early stages, but now that the house is 'open for business', increasing importance will be given to ensure that the surrounding grounds provide an appropriate setting for Moggerhanger House.

If you are interested in knowing more about the work on the grounds, please call us.