What were once functional cottages for farm-workers have become chocolate box dream homes for people who work in nearby towns or commute to London, coming home to the villages to eat and sleep.
Shops and pubs have gradually closed and there is now very little evidence of crops being grown in an area everybody associates with the humble brussel sprout.
Sandy man and BBC Three Counties Radio presenter John Pilgrim meets up with retired gamekeeper and flower grower, 86-year-old Len Edwards, who was born in Blunham and has remained in that corner of Bedfordshire all his life. Peter Willshire provides the transport in the shape of Harley the horse and a four-wheel trap.
On a beautiful spring morning they gently make their way through the Bedfordshire countryside as Len remembers the way things were and reflects that occasions such as May Day could still bring villagers together in the way they always used to. Len even threatens to dance round the May Pole in Ickwell himself!
