As it's summer and we've been out and about we've eaten cakes in several venues.  The best bay far was when we went to Kathy Fairweather's Open Garden in Belper*.  Not only was the garden excellent but the cakes were fab, in fact so good that I had two pieces!  I may be slightly biased as have known Kathy for many years but I don't think so.

Surprisingly, some of the less good have been at National Trust properties.  At one place the scone was dry and as heavy as a stone, at another the cake was so light, and again it was so dry, that it just fell apart and was difficult to actually get from plate to mouth.  And the National Trust certainly know how to charge!

So here are a few baking tips from Mary Berry, both for me and for the National Trust! http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/mary-berrys-top-10-baking-tips

When I drove over to Belper to see Kathy's garden, on one of the Open Days, I was surprised at the size of their garden as it's the size of a normal garden ... but then goes off at right angles behind lots of houses - so it's enormous!  And it was all immaculate.  
Photos of their garden hardly do it justice.  Kathy seems to have the knack of knowing which plants to put together, and it must be so hard to get everything to look at its best all at once.  Here are a few I took at the Open Day back in June.
  


* http://www.belpernews.co.uk/news/local/green-fingered-kathy-starred-in-popular-gardening-show-1-7069575

PS Had a nice cake and cup of coffee at Renishaw Hall today (20 August).  At it's an RHS Partner Garden admission was free today, just £1 to park the car. http://www.renishaw-hall.co.uk/