LADY Lansdowne has been busy devising a brand new cake recipe ahead of the arrival of BBC One’s Antiques Roadshow today.

The wife of Lord Lansdowne, who has lived at Bowood since 1987, will present her Elderflower drizzle cake at the vintage tea tent to feed the thousands expected to flock to the stately home for the occasion.

She is also preparing many other classic treats having volunteered to do the catering for the tent which, during this the show’s 38th series, will be travelling the length and breadth of the country alongside the show’s antiques and fine arts specialists.

She said: “Bowood’s historical setting and traditions always inspire me but it’s good to look for a new twist and so I thought that, in welcoming the Antiques Roadshow, the classic lemon drizzle cake should be rethought by capitalising on our home grown elderflowers.

“I had already dusted off my mother’s recipe for elderflower cordial and corralled my grandchildren into picking the elderflowers which are found all around the estate.

“I have never made an elderflower version before so I do hope that it will be a hit. If so, I will make sure to write out the recipe for my grandchildren to hand down to theirs to enjoy also on hot summer days to come.

On sale alongside the drizzle cake will be homemade cinnamon and cranberry biscuits and chocolate chip cookies, both made to Lady Lansdowne’s mother’s recipes to enjoy with morning coffee while a proper English cream tea with freshly-made scones will be served up in the afternoon.

Doors open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm today with filming continuing to around 7pm at Bowood House and Gardens.

Entry to the show is free and the programme will be broadcast either later this year or in early 2016.