Chenies Manor House, Chenies, WD3 6ER; open from April 6-Oct 27 2011 every Wed and Thurs 2-5pm (01494 762888; www.cheniesmanorhouse.co.uk) ...

The gardens of Chenies Manor House in Buckinghamshire have won the 2009 Garden of the Year award sponsored by the Historic Houses Association and Christie’s.

Compared with Chenies Manor, most of us are late starters. The famous brick-built house has a medieval origin. It is said to be the first place in Britain which gave away eggs at Easter.