My favourite locations for family photography in Leighton Buzzard
I live in North West London but spend a lot of time in Leighton Buzzard where I grew up and my family still live. I’m lucky enough to have four beautiful nieces and nephews and we are blessed with some fantastic woods, parks and playgrounds to explore - often with my mum and her dogs in tow 🐶. I featured a couple of these in a recent blog post, and have covered a few more in the article below :)
Stockgrove Country Park
We are so lucky to have this wonderful park on our doorstep, which I’ve been visiting since I was a child. We (and the dogs!) know every inch of Stockgrove but never get bored, and I love how it changes over the seasons. It boasts some stunning scenery, with woodland, beautiful views and little nooks and crannies to explore. Whichever path we choose we normally make a stop-off at the lake to say hello to the ducks and swans, and of course the cygnets in late spring / early summer. It’s a lovely spot for family and children photography, with so much colour and interesting backdrops for portraits.
Rushmere
Backing onto Stockgrove, we often take in both parks in the same walk. Rushmere has so much to offer for everyone. The kids love the sandy playground near the car park, and it can be fun to spend a while on the café terrace looking out for wildlife, including the local herons in the spring. Then it’s into the woods, with many surprises in store, including big chairs, giant wooden insects and little tree houses to climb and explore, with no end of opportunities for action photos. Progress can be slow as there are so many things to stop and do along the way, and there is a lovely family atmosphere all throughout the year.
Mead Open Farm
Mead Farm has been a real godsend over the past few years. It is a fantastic day out with so much to do with the children. The outdoor playgrounds are really well equipped for kids of all ages, and the indoor soft play has an impressive array of big slides, climbing frames, tunnels and play areas. The children hardly know where to start - it’s chaos but the good kind! Fortunately there is a decent cafe with snacks to keep the energy levels up and coffee for the grownups :) Then it’s back outside to the trampolines, climbing wall for the older kids, go-karts, petting area and train ride. It is normally hard to leave with the mandatory extra go round the playground before you get to the exit. I honestly can’t recommend this place enough, and it’s a gift for me as a photographer, with the kids in their element and having so much fun.
Linslade Recreation Ground
With the playground by the station, and the stunning flower garden a short walk away by St Barnabas Church, Linslade Recreation Ground is a real treat. The playground is small ‘but perfectly formed’ and ideal for younger kids, with a handy seating area for the grownups to chat and have a coffee while the children race around. For my nephews a visit often involves a diversion to the station platform to watch the trains go by. The flower garden by the church is beautifully maintained, and I was grateful to the Town Clerk and Bloom Volunteers for recently allowing me to hold photo shoots there to raise money for the Linslade Lower School and Mentmore Under-5’s Nursery.
Parson’s Close Recreation Ground
Located a stone’s throw from the town centre, the playground at Parson’s Close has recently been refurbished. They have done an amazing job and it’s now really well equipped for kids of all ages, including a fun sand pit and of course the splash pool for the summer months. It’s a brilliant location for photos all times of the year :)
Linslade Woods
The woods in Linslade are great in their own right, but are best known for their stunning bluebells in the spring. The ground is a beautiful carpet of blue and just so so pretty from late March to early May. It’s a must for family photography 🥰
