Two high lights were garden where Peter surely lived and to see the desk where she sat and wrote looking at the same window view she did. Helen Beatrix Potter was born on 28 July 1866 into a privileged household in South Kensington and educated by governesses. Her family spent their holiday time in Scotland and the Lake District. It was during these trips that she grew to love nature. observing and painting what she saw. Beatrix is best remembered for her Peter Rabbit tales but she was a highly respected authority in the field of mycology through her study and paintings of fungi.
It wasn’t until her thirties did the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit getting published. In all toll, Potter published 23 children's books. She became secretly engaged to her publisher Norman Warne causing a breach with her parents, who disapproved of his social status. He was a tradesman! Sadly, Warne died before the wedding could take place.
Through the success of her books she was able to buy Hill Top farm in the Lake District. Beatrix became a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to write and illustrate children's books. Protecting and preserving the Lake District was very important to her. and she continued to add to her land holdings throughout her life keeping the developers at bay. She did marry at the age of 47 a local solicitor named William Heelis. Beatrix Potter died on 22 December 1943 leaving almost all of her property to The National Trust.
Beth and I had to chuckle as we were leaving to see a man hard at work in the garden – wondering if he were the new Mr. Macgregor!
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