One town’s Jane Austen tribute unites community and history
Though Austen never walked its lanes, one small town turns to the beloved author for creative inspiration in its Britain in Bloom entry
For their 2025 Britain in Bloom display, Brandon in Bloom volunteers in Suffolk, have embraced an unexpected yet beautifully layered theme: the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. At first glance, Austen may not seem linked to Brandon – there’s no record of her visiting, and no direct ties to her novels. But look closer, and the connections begin to bloom.
Why Jane Austen?
Although Brandon has no direct link to Jane Austen, the group still thought that the author was the right fit for them
“We usually gather at one of our favourite local coffee shops after our Bloom sessions and throw around ideas. When we saw it was the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, we all instantly felt it was the right fit – even if Brandon had no direct link. Her stories revolve around love, marriage and social status – very much of the Regency period, which was also a defining time in Brandon’s history.”
A Valentine’s launch seemed the perfect way to set the tone. Not only does Austen’s work reflect the complexities of love, but the Bloom group saw parallels between romance, community spirit and the shared pride they pour into their projects.
A Regency tale with a Brandon twist
Visitors wandering through Brandon this summer will find themselves transported into the remarkable untold story of how this Suffolk town helped win the Battle of Waterloo
During Jane Austen’s lifetime, Brandon played a crucial but little-known role in Britain’s military success. While other towns were already established in gun flint production, Brandon's flint was of such superior quality that by 1800, it became the sole supplier to the Board of Ordnance.
At its peak, in 1813, over a million musket flints a month were being produced in Brandon’s flint yards – every single one destined for British muskets. It’s no exaggeration to say the outcome of the Napoleonic Wars was shaped, in part, by Brandon’s knappers. One local success story, Edward Bliss, profited so greatly he built Brandon Hall and laid the foundation for Thetford Forest by setting out-of-work knappers to plant over a million trees.
“The Battle of Waterloo is said to have been won on the playing fields of Eton,” one volunteer notes, “but we like to think it was also won in the flint yards of Brandon.”
Love letters in Bloom
The Austen quotes were carefully selected by the group to represent timeless romantic devotion
Captain Wentworth, Persuasion
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.”
Edward Ferrars, Sense and Sensibility
“My heart is, and always will be, yours.”
Mr Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
These were carefully selected to represent timeless romantic devotion, themes which resonate with both Austen’s fans and the group’s desire to reflect lasting community bonds.
Regency flowers with a modern purpose
Primulas are beloved for spring colour and referenced in Austen’s correspondence
Wallflowers are popular for their scent and pollution-filtering qualities
- Wallflowers (especially Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve') – popular for their scent and pollution-filtering qualities
- Primulas – beloved for spring colour and referenced in Austen’s correspondence
- Dianthus – another nod to old-fashioned gardens, with newer varieties offering longer blooms
- Tulips – introduced in 1799, possibly known to Austen though not planted in Chawton
While the group opted for modern cultivars for resilience and extended flowering, their roots are firmly set in Regency soil.
Community in full bloom
Brandon in Bloom’s success has clearly struck a chord locally. Since becoming Britain in Bloom 2025 UK finalists, volunteer numbers have surged. Local schools, Scout groups, the town’s garden club, and even the allotments are collaborating more than ever before.
“The whole community is buzzing. People who’ve never gardened before are turning up, asking how they can help. It’s incredibly moving.”
What’s next?
The spring displays have now given way to a summer scheme inspired by Regency gardens, including:
- A heritage vegetable patch
- Fan-trained fruit trees and a formal rose garden
- Rabbit-shaped topiary at Brandon Heritage Centre (a nod to the fur trade)
- And a larger-than-life chainsaw carving of a flint knapper affectionately named Fred
Although Brandon isn’t officially part of the Rail 200 celebrations, horse-drawn carriages – along with this humorous quote from Mrs Bennet – will make an appearance:
“What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have!”
Blooming with pride
Brandon in Bloom’s 2025 theme proves that local history, literary heritage, and horticultural creativity can come together in a stunning tribute – not just to Jane Austen, but to the people of Brandon themselves.
In the flint yards of history and the flowerbeds of today, this is a town that knows how to make its mark.
