Last week we went to Bateman's the former home of Rudyard Kipling, now owned by the National Trust. It is in a beautiful area of East Sussex near to Heathfield. It is many years since we have been there - the last time the children went to a book event where we heard stories from Scoular Anderson and got signed copies of his books.


There are formal gardens on either side of the house which include a pear arch, a large border of herbs, rose gardens and a pond. Included in this area are a shop plus a tearoom in a walled garden serving tea and cakes.

Beyond the formal gardens is a wild garden and orchard leading to a water mill which provides flour for them to sell. Near to the mill are bee hives.

The National Trust have acquired another field that they are developing into a wildflower meadow with a pond at one end. They have built a small hide overlooking bird feeders and there are bug boxes to encourage insects. There were a large number of butterflies fluttering about and a constant hum of crickets which was all rather nice. This area will get even more attractive given a bit more time to develop.