You would be barking mad to miss Gardens of Easton Lodge fun day for dogs

The Gardens of Easton Lodge are going to the dogs again this year!

A second fun day for canines is being held at the Uttlesford landmark on Sunday, June 23.

Wendy Paffey, of Wendy's Petcare Service, is helping organise the day and hopes to build on the success of 2018's inaugural day.

The Countess of Warwick owned Easton Lodge and its gardens in Victorian times and commissioned Harold Peto to bring style and splendour to the gardens.

Frances Evelyn Maynard, known as "Daisy", inherited Easton Lodge in 1865 when she was three-years-old and continued to spend a lot of her time there after her marriage to Lord

Brooke and his succession to the Earldom of Warwick which made the historic castle their main home.

She loved her pets and is known to have participated in dog shows in Warwick. In her memoirs, she remembered with fondness having been given a St Bernard by Marie,

the ex-Queen of Naples.

A member of the Grand Council of the Ladies Kennel Association, she was a breeder of collies and Japanese spaniels and owned 13 dogs at the time of her death.

From 12.30 pm on the fun day there will be classes to judge the best puppy, best veteran, prettiest bitch; most handsome dog; waggiest tail; and the dog the judges would most want to

take home with them.

Wendy will be the chief judge and before and after the competition, dogs will be able to explore the gardens on leads with their owners. There will also be a range of stalls, selling canine goodies.

Dunmow Rock Choir will add feel-good music to the event – singing a wide range of catchy rock and pop songs from 1.15 pm alongside a fun children's trail and craft activities.

The gardens near Dunmow are open from 11.30am to 5pm with last entry at 4pm. Entry costs £4.50 for adults and is free for children under 16. Dog class entry is £1. For more details see www.eastonlodge.co.uk/whats-on/open-day/