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Wealden Times | WT182 | April 2017 | Gardens supplement inside

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PRICELESS<br />

february april<br />

<strong>2017</strong><br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />

The lifestyle magazine for the Weald<br />

wedding gardenS Supplement <strong>inside</strong><br />

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes


Designers and makers of handmade kitchens<br />

The difference is in the detail


Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms<br />

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart<br />

Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES<br />

Tel: 01732 762682<br />

81 Calverley Road<br />

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY<br />

Tel: 01892 520730<br />

www.rencraft.co.uk


Chippy Oak Framed Garage Kits now<br />

available from just £2,395<br />

www.roundwood.com


OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | | QUALITY DECKING && CLADDING<br />

OAK && WALNUT FLOORING | | HOME && GARDEN FEATURES<br />

Tel: 01435 867 072<br />

Round Wood | | Newick Lane Lane | | Mayfield | East | East Sussex | | TN20 6RG 6RG


01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk Biddenden Showroom


MINTERIORS<br />

JFine hand crafted kitchens and bespoke furniture


GERMAN ENGINEERED KITCHENS<br />

MODEL SHOWN<br />

WHITE WHITE AND AND GREY GREY LACQUERED LAMINATE DOORS, WHITE WHITE QUARTZ & MARBLE & WORKTOP, SIEMENS APPLIANCES – £18,793* – KRIEDER SHOWROOM – 3 – Chapel 3 Chapel Place, Place, Tunbridge Wells, Wells, Kent Kent TN1 TN1 1YQ 1YQ – 01892 – 01892 619721 – info@krieder.com – – www.krieder.com<br />

– * Price * Price includes includes delivery, delivery, cabinet cabinet furniture, furniture, appliances, worktops worktops and and VAT VAT


5 High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3EB<br />

01580 715144<br />

Email: cranbrook@kingsfords.net www.kingsfords-solicitors.com<br />

We offer an excellent, swift and friendly service.<br />

Conveyancing - Wills & Estates - Commercial Law -<br />

Matrimonial Law - Prenuptial Agreements - Litigation -<br />

Employment Law - Family Law - French Property<br />

Conveyancing Services from £550.00+VAT<br />

Wills from £215.00+VAT / Mirror Wills from £295.00+VAT<br />

Lasting Power Of Attorney (LPA's) from £195.00+VAT<br />

(Initial fixed-fee appointments also available at our Cranbrook offices)<br />

Litigation Solicitor from £200.00+VAT<br />

Matrimonial Solicitor from £150.00+VAT<br />

We will always try and match any quotation<br />

Kingsfords Solicitors Limited registered office address 2 Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD<br />

Regulated by the Solicitors regulation Authority 621466<br />

KingsfordSolicitorsWT172.indd 1 10/05/2016 11:20<br />

QUALITY CLOTHING AND A PERSONAL SERVICE<br />

MEYER-HOSEN , established in 1960 in<br />

Germany, are producers of high quality<br />

formal and casual trousers of European<br />

manufacture.<br />

Using some of the finest fabrics , and<br />

only cottons bearing the Fair Trade<br />

Certification Mark MEYER trousers are<br />

renowned for their Quality, Comfort, Style<br />

and Fit.<br />

This Spring/Summer season’s ranges<br />

comprise ultra lightweight wool blends,<br />

sand washed cotton, pima cottons<br />

and kapok, in a bright colour palette,<br />

with two-tone and over-dyed fabrics,<br />

contrasted by trims and summery linings.<br />

MEYER ensures that its products have<br />

a high-quality of finish, a good fit<br />

throughout all sizes and are comfortable<br />

to wear.<br />

We are pleased to offer a comprehensive<br />

range of MEYER trousers in all three of our<br />

stores, with sizes from 32 to 46 waist in<br />

many ranges, and very much look forward<br />

to having the opportunity of showing<br />

you the new MEYER collection, together<br />

with the other ranges of exciting summer<br />

clothing we have to offer.<br />

• New store opening <strong>April</strong> in Sevenoaks<br />

• Celebrating 40 years trading in Kent<br />

19 St. Margarets St,<br />

Canterbury,<br />

Kent CT1 2TH<br />

Tel: 01227 765294<br />

2 East Cross,<br />

Tenterden,<br />

Kent TN30 6AD<br />

Tel: 01580 765159<br />

6 High St,<br />

Reigate,<br />

Surrey RH2 9AY<br />

Tel: 01737 249224<br />

Follow us<br />

CountyClothes<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

8<br />

CountyClothesWT181.indd 1 21/02/<strong>2017</strong> 14:59


Contents<br />

<strong>April</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />

24<br />

56<br />

GARDEN QUEST<br />

Maggie Alderson goes in search<br />

of ideal locations for egg hunts<br />

132<br />

156<br />

GET READY TO PARTY!<br />

Colourful childrenswear<br />

for girls and boys<br />

165<br />

132<br />

MAIN COURSE<br />

WT speaks to Rosemary Shrager about<br />

the importance of apprenticeships<br />

49<br />

56<br />

80<br />

92<br />

102<br />

127<br />

APRIL NOTEBOOK<br />

Fill your diary with hand<br />

picked events going on<br />

around the Weald<br />

CALL TO ALMS<br />

A milliner’s retreat<br />

GET THE LOOK<br />

Emulate the Cheyneys style<br />

IN HOUSE<br />

Rebecca Cuffe edits her<br />

favourite interior trends<br />

TRUE ORIGINS<br />

Jennifer Stuart-Smith explores a<br />

beautiful <strong>Wealden</strong> farmhouse<br />

FLOOR PLAN<br />

Chic floor coverings<br />

147<br />

151<br />

153<br />

155<br />

156<br />

FRESHEN UP<br />

Josephine Fairley tackles<br />

problematic teenage skin<br />

ACTIVE APRIL<br />

This month’s bitesize<br />

health news<br />

THE BIG MIND &<br />

BODY SPRING CLEAN<br />

How to tidy up your regime<br />

WALKING - WHERE<br />

ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?<br />

Julie Simpson shares her<br />

favourite <strong>Wealden</strong> walks<br />

EASTER FEAST<br />

Rosemary Shrager’s<br />

Easter goodies<br />

Published by JPS Media Ltd, Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent. TN17 3HF.<br />

Tel: 01580 714705 Fax: 01580 715983. Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

copyright JPS Media Ltd <strong>2017</strong>©. The views of the advertisers and contributors are not<br />

necessarily those of JPS Media Ltd.<br />

169<br />

175<br />

181<br />

182<br />

NUMBER CRUNCHERS<br />

Susan Elkin analyses<br />

performance targets<br />

WHAT’S ON?<br />

Find out<br />

COMPETITION<br />

Win a Firepod pizza oven worth £445<br />

FABLES FROM THE FARM<br />

Jane Howard deals with the<br />

repercussions of the bird flu scare<br />

GARDENS<br />

SUPPLEMENT<br />

Take inspiration<br />

from our 34 page<br />

special for a super<br />

stylish outdoors.<br />

After page 166<br />

<strong>Gardens</strong><br />

A <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Supplement<br />

View the new Garden Directory online at wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

9<br />

Sponsored by<br />

06<strong>WT182</strong>Garden Supplement.indd 1 21/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:19


Hawkhurst<br />

A beautiful Grade II Listed family home in a prominent position in the Moor area<br />

of Hawkhurst<br />

5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. Double garage, log store and swimming pool (all in<br />

need of refurbishment). Cranbrook School Catchment Area.<br />

Guide price: £1,400,000<br />

KnightFrank.co.uk/TNW160251<br />

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com<br />

KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells<br />

01892 310700<br />

@KF_TWells<br />

KnightFrank.co.uk


Horsmonden<br />

A Grade II Listed converted oast in a wonderful position<br />

8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms. Architecturally designed. Car port and large timber terrace.<br />

Cranbrook School Catchment Area. In all about 2.18 acres.<br />

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com<br />

KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells<br />

01892 310700<br />

Guide price: £1,900,000<br />

KnightFrank.co.uk/TNW160215<br />

@KF_TWells<br />

KnightFrank.co.uk


Land & Property Experts<br />

East Farleigh, Kent<br />

A compact and versatile commercial and agricultural estate bounded by the B2010<br />

and Forge Lane in an accessible location in the Medway Valley south of Maidstone.<br />

The Commercial Yard and Buildings include:<br />

• A range of offices, workshops and storage units let on Landlord and Tenant<br />

(contracted out) Leases or Licences with a rental income of approx. £145,000<br />

The Grade I Agricultural Land includes:<br />

• 16.33 acres of top fruit including Pears and Bramley Apples and 65.56 acres of<br />

well roaded arable land.<br />

FOR SALE BY FORMAL TENDER AS A WHOLE OR IN TWO LOTS. CLOSING<br />

DATE TO BE CONFIRMED<br />

Guide Prices And Legal Pack On Request<br />

Challock Office<br />

Appledore, Kent<br />

A new 5 bedroom detached house - EPC Band B<br />

Central Village location within walking distance of local amenities<br />

Paddock land to the rear with rural views<br />

Two agricultural barns in need of upgrading<br />

• In all approx. 7.05 acres<br />

Guide Price £850,000<br />

Challock Office<br />

Bells Yew Green, East Sussex<br />

A Grade II Listed Farmhouse - EPC Band C<br />

Located in an quiet rural position<br />

Managed woodland and 3.5 acre lake<br />

Games Room, outbuildings and Biomass boiler<br />

• In all approx. 178 acres<br />

Guide Price £4,600,000<br />

Challock Office<br />

Near Rotherfield, East Sussex<br />

5 Bedroom Farmhouse - EPC Band D<br />

Stable Yard and Sand School<br />

Enclosed pasture fields<br />

Direct bridleway access<br />

• In all approx. 6.5 acres<br />

Guide Price OIEO £850,000<br />

Heathfield Office<br />

Brasted, Kent<br />

Superb farm building complex with converted farmhouse - EPC Band C<br />

Extensive period outbuildings with potential<br />

Planning to extend the house to total of 4,000 ft 2<br />

Popular rural location close to Sevenoaks<br />

• In all approx. 6 acres<br />

Guide Price £2,000,000<br />

Challock Office


‘Our Focus ‘Our Determines Focus Determines Your Reality’ Your Reality’<br />

harpers and hurlingham<br />

egeRton £1,495,000<br />

Striking Georgian family home · Four/five reception<br />

rooms · Stunning kitchen/breakfast/dining room · Five/<br />

six bedrooms (three ensuite) · Annexe: Kitchen/living<br />

room, bedroom with ensuite and balcony · Grounds<br />

approx 1.4 acres · Stable block and outbuilding · EPC: D<br />

Idyllic no-through country lane location<br />

goudhuRst oIeo £1,295,000<br />

Period family home in tranquil location · Triple<br />

aspect drawing room · Kitchen/breakfast room ·<br />

Three bedrooms (one ensuite) · Two attic bedrooms<br />

(interconnecting) · Tennis court · <strong>Gardens</strong> and grounds<br />

approximately 6.7 acres · Scope to extend · EPC: n/a<br />

Cranbrook School Catchment Area<br />

RuRal MaRden £1,250,000<br />

Grade II Listed farmhouse with detached barn · Three<br />

reception rooms · Kitchen/breakfast room · Utility<br />

room · Five bedrooms (one ensuite) · Barn with lapsed<br />

planning · Outbuilding with scope to convert (stpp) ·<br />

Tennis court · <strong>Gardens</strong> of approx 2.3 acres · EPC: n/a<br />

Rural yet convenient location<br />

hawkhuRst £1,100,000<br />

Charming Elizabethan farmhouse · In need of<br />

refurbishment · Four reception rooms · Spacious<br />

kitchen/breakfast room · Six bedrooms (one ensuite) ·<br />

Swimming pool · Garden and grounds approximately<br />

2.9 acres · Far reaching countryside views · EPC: n/a<br />

Cranbrook School Catchment Area<br />

Harpers&Hurlingham<br />

The Cornerhouse, Stone Street, Cranbrook<br />

01580 715400<br />

www.harpersandhurlingham.com<br />

London offiCe: KenSingTon 020 7938 2311<br />

Lettings Team<br />

Sales Team<br />

Charles Janey Chez Jane Cathy Sarah Debbie Jane A Debbie S Caroline Dawn<br />

Dianne


SALES / LETTINGS / MANAGEMENT<br />

VISIT US AT HUNTERS.COM<br />

HERE TO GET you THERE<br />

Pluckley £775,000<br />

Impressive and characterful Grade II listed medieval farmhouse with a<br />

wealth of period features, standing in grounds of 4.4 acres with outbuildings<br />

Four Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Two En Suites • EPC Exempt<br />

Smarden<br />

P.O.A<br />

Impressive grade II listed three bedroom Oast House with attached three<br />

bedroom annexe, set in 1.45 acres of mature gardens<br />

Three Reception Rooms • Flexible Accommodation • Double Garage • EPC Exempt<br />

Tenterden £599,995<br />

Elegant three/four bedroom Edwardian Townhouse built in 1905.<br />

Positioned on the enviable tree lined High Street of Tenterden<br />

No Chain • Cloakroom • Double Garage & Parking • EPC Rating D<br />

Wittersham £575,000<br />

Striking double fronted Victorian attached property with a wealth of<br />

period features in the desirable village of Wittersham<br />

Four Bedrooms • Two Reception Rooms • Rural Views • EPC E<br />

Meet your local Tenterden Team!<br />

Branch Partner, Andrew Barker has been in the estate agency business since 2000.<br />

Andrew has comprehensive local knowledge, having worked in Tenterden and the surrounding villages throughout his career.<br />

Over 150 independently owned branches across the UK.<br />

Myself, Laura & Jake are highly motivated in offering our customers a fi rst class service,<br />

“we’re here to get you there”<br />

TENTERDEN 01580 763 278<br />

ASHFORD 01233 613 613<br />

Over 180 independently owned branches across the UK.<br />

HYTHE 01303 261 557<br />

FOLKESTONE 01303 210 335


The Property Ombudsman<br />

Boughton Monchelsea Excess £1,600,000<br />

A handsome early Victorian former Vicarage in a tranquil setting with<br />

breathtaking views • 5 Receptions • Kitchen/Family Room • 6 Bedrooms •<br />

3 Bath/Shower Rooms • Double Garage • Swimming Pool • Tennis Court •<br />

<strong>Gardens</strong> and Grounds of about 2.3 acres in all • EPC F<br />

Staplecross Guide Price £1,500,000<br />

A splendid Grade II listed country house with guest cottage and excellent leisure<br />

facilities with spectacular views • 4 Receptions • Kitchen • Master Bedroom with<br />

en suite • 5 Further Bedrooms • 3 Further Bathrooms • Guest Cottage • Indoor<br />

Swimming Pool • T. Court • Outbuildings • Circa 3 acres • 45 acres by sep neg<br />

East Farleigh Guide Price £1,250,000<br />

A substantial Grade II listed former Vicarage providing over 5,500 sq ft of<br />

accommodation ideal for dual family occupancy • 4 Receptions • Kitchen/<br />

Breakfast Room • Basement • 5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Attic Rooms •<br />

Various Outbuildings • <strong>Gardens</strong> and Grounds • Over half an acre<br />

Sissinghurst Excess £1,000,000<br />

A very special Grade II listed village house and period barn amid established<br />

gardens offering immediate access to amenities • CSCA • No Onward Chain<br />

• 3 Receptions • Kitchen • 5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Oak Framed Barn •<br />

Swimming Pool • Double Garage • Approaching an acre<br />

Kilndown Guide Price £850,000<br />

A beautifully presented attached period house providing exceptional family<br />

entertaining space in the village • CSCA • 4 Receptions • Kitchen/Breakfast<br />

Room • 4 Double Bedrooms (1 en suite) • Family Bathroom & Shower Room<br />

• Cellar • Swimming Pool & Summerhouse • 0.43 acres in all • EPC D<br />

Cranbrook Excess £675,000<br />

An individual family house amid landscaped grounds within walking<br />

distance of the High Street • CSCA • 4 Receptions • Kitchen • 4 Bedrooms<br />

(1 en suite) • Family Bathroom • Double Garage • Summerhouse • About 0.5<br />

acres of Landscaped <strong>Gardens</strong> • EPC E<br />

coming 26 January 2015


Rye, East Sussex - £299,950<br />

A well presented Grade II listed end of terrace house set<br />

on the outskirts of Rye, offering accommodation over<br />

three floors. Kitchen, living room, store room, garden<br />

room, 2 bedrooms. Garden to rear. EPC E<br />

Beckley, East Sussex - £795,000<br />

A well appointed, detached New England style property<br />

with views to the rear. Dining hall, living room, family room,<br />

study, open plan kitchen/breakfast room, utility room,<br />

master bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms, large<br />

garden. EPC D<br />

Guestling, East Sussex - £795,000<br />

A substantial detached family house in beautiful order<br />

with far reaching rural views towards the sea. Sitting<br />

room, dining room, study, large conservatory, kitchen,<br />

master bedroom suite, 4 further bedrooms. Double garage.<br />

Garden. EPC D<br />

Rye, East Sussex - £350,000<br />

A three storey three bedroom town house in need of<br />

modernisation situated in the conservation area of the<br />

Ancient Town and Cinque Port of Rye with views of the<br />

Strand Quay and moorings on the River Brede. Garage<br />

nearby. EPC E<br />

Icklesham, East Sussex - £359,950<br />

A detached 1930s three bedroom house in the centre of the<br />

village. Open plan living room and kitchen, bedrooms 2 & 3.<br />

First floor landing with study area, bedroom 1 with sitting<br />

room and en suite bathroom, Off road parking, Garden to<br />

the side. EPC D<br />

Udimore, East Sussex - OIEO £845,000<br />

A 5/6 bedroom Edwardian house with stunning 360° views<br />

to the English Channel and over farmland. Kitchen/breakfast<br />

room, two receptions, conservatory, utility room. Double<br />

garage/workshop with studio flat above. 1 acre garden. EPC F<br />

RYE OFFICE 01797 227338<br />

MAYFAIR OFFICE 0870 112 7099<br />

phillipsandstubbs.co.uk


MAXIMISE THE VALUE<br />

OF YOUR LAND<br />

Have you got a large<br />

garden or plot of land?<br />

We are experts at working<br />

with owners to maximise<br />

the full value of their land<br />

Industry leading experts<br />

We take care of the planning permission!<br />

The risk-free way to maximise your land<br />

Zero cost to you!<br />

Planning laws are changing<br />

Act now before its too late!<br />

What our clients say…<br />

"The team had a huge amount of<br />

knowledge and every step was handled<br />

in a professional manner. Their excellent<br />

relationship with the local planning<br />

department helped achieve a fantastic<br />

result for us. We would have no<br />

hesitation in recommending them to<br />

anyone who wants to achieve planning".<br />

Amanda and Robert Petch<br />

June 2016<br />

"The cost involved to try and<br />

get planning on our land<br />

were just not feasible for us.<br />

Working with Country House<br />

meant we didn’t have to risk<br />

our money as they took care<br />

of everything"<br />

Mr C Partridge (Loose, Kent)<br />

September 2016<br />

“Guy and team at CHH did a<br />

fantastic job securing planning<br />

permission on our rear garden plot.<br />

Although a fairly problematic<br />

application (which took over 18<br />

months), they kept us informed<br />

throughout the entire process.<br />

I would certainly use them again”<br />

David J (Oxted, Surrey)<br />

January <strong>2017</strong><br />

For a free appraisal call 0843 557 4080<br />

www.maximisemyland.co.uk


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE<br />

The secret to fi nding the perfect property?<br />

The enduring popularity of TV shows such<br />

as ‘Relocation, Relocation’ and ‘Escape to<br />

the Country’ is testament to our nation’s<br />

continued fascination with property and<br />

buying homes. Within forty-fi ve easy<br />

viewing minutes, couples are shown three<br />

properties, often leading to a quick ‘from<br />

the pub’ negotiation and the deal is done.<br />

If only buying a home was that easy.<br />

As most of us know, buying property is<br />

usually time-consuming, frustrating,<br />

confusing and downright stressful. In so<br />

many other areas of life we now turn to<br />

a professional to solve complex problems,<br />

yet many house hunters overlook the<br />

fact that help and advice is available<br />

for them by working with a property<br />

fi nder. Unlike estate agents, property<br />

fi nders solely represent the interests of the<br />

buyer; ensuring that the property being<br />

purchased is exactly what the future<br />

homeowner needs – not just about the<br />

number of rooms, but fi tting their lifestyle,<br />

budget and personal requirements.<br />

Of those aware of the property fi nder’s<br />

services, many assume that they are only<br />

for people who are moving into an area<br />

from away, but this is far from the truth.<br />

Local experts Garrington regularly work<br />

with local clients who are frustrated by the<br />

lack of stock and can’t fi nd anything to buy<br />

and busy clients such as entrepreneurs/<br />

business people who are too consumed<br />

by work to commit signifi cant time<br />

to fi nding and moving into their next<br />

home. Other groups who fi nd the service<br />

valuable are the older generation who<br />

may have been out of the property market<br />

for some years and value the support<br />

and impartial advice given at a time of<br />

great change and emotional turmoil.<br />

The benefi ts of using property fi nders<br />

will always vary from one buyer’s needs<br />

to another, but invariably help with the<br />

following:<br />

Finding hidden gems<br />

Contrary to popular belief, property<br />

portals do not show the whole of the<br />

‘for sale’ market and even where agents<br />

use these sites to advertise ‘discreet sales’,<br />

buyers can be sure there are a number<br />

of highly attractive properties available<br />

‘under the counter’ only to be shown to<br />

a select few of serious applicants.<br />

Property finders give their clients<br />

access to properties that are not being<br />

seen by the general public – either<br />

because estate agents are willing to<br />

share privileged information with a<br />

trusted fellow professional, or because<br />

the property finder has sourced some<br />

elusive ‘off-market’ properties directly<br />

from homeowners. Last year, Garrington<br />

identified several such properties<br />

like this in areas such as Wadhurst,<br />

Hamstreet and the surrounding villages.<br />

Expert negotiation<br />

Despite the ongoing political uncertainty<br />

being experienced, the stock shortage<br />

of homes for sale has meant that asking<br />

prices around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge<br />

Wells have remained surprisingly robust.<br />

Ensuring that buyers pay the right<br />

amount in light of a property’s merits<br />

(and shortcomings), market conditions<br />

and other comparable properties<br />

that have sold in the area means that<br />

price negotiations are based on sound<br />

thinking and facts, rather than just an<br />

asking price less a percentage, typical<br />

of unrepresented buying situations.<br />

Property finders can also help with<br />

sealed bid scenarios, where experience<br />

has shown that success can be achieved<br />

not just by offering the highest amount<br />

of money.<br />

Objective problem solving<br />

Whilst many buyers believe that fi nding<br />

a property is the hardest part of buying<br />

a home, it is often the case that the most<br />

stressful part of the buying process can<br />

take place after an offer has been accepted.<br />

A skilled property finder will co-ordinate<br />

the due diligence process, bring in<br />

experts when specialist advice is needed,<br />

problem solve and give impartial advice<br />

on whether an unexpected issue is<br />

surmountable, or if it would be prudent<br />

to walk away from a deal. Indeed, the<br />

nature of the market is that both sellers<br />

and buyers alike remain price sensitive<br />

at the moment so careful brokering by a<br />

trusted advisor on the side of the buyer<br />

can help navigate around problems and<br />

lead to a successful outcome all round.<br />

Mandy Bissell<br />

Garrington<br />

If you would like to discuss your<br />

property search requirements,<br />

learn about local market conditions<br />

and explore how using a property<br />

finder can make purchasing a<br />

property much easier for you,<br />

Garrington offers a complimentary<br />

initial meeting without obligation.<br />

Please contact Mandy Bissell to<br />

arrange a meeting, e-mail her, or<br />

visit the Garrington website for<br />

more information.<br />

Tel: 01892 882892<br />

Email: info@garrington.co.uk<br />

www.garringtonsoutheast.co.uk


sJd – developing potential<br />

If you think your property<br />

could be developed, why not<br />

give us a call without obligation<br />

and in confidence.<br />

Many of our clients retain our<br />

services and, in the majority of<br />

cases, pay our fees saving property<br />

owners significant costs.<br />

Call us now<br />

for regular updates, visit us at twitter.com/projects<br />

Contact Stephen Donnelly on<br />

07739 514350 or 0845 456 8969<br />

web: sjd-projects.com • email: steve@sjd-projects.com<br />

We are alWays on the lookout for property With developmental potential<br />

SJDprojects<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 08/03/<strong>2017</strong> 17:01<br />

Computer generated image<br />

N O W L A U N C H E D - R E S E R V A T I O N S B E I N G T A K E N<br />

THE OLD ORCHARD, CHARTWAY STREET, SUTTON VALENCE ME17 3JA<br />

A development of five 3, 4 & 5 bedroom new homes, ready for occupation summer <strong>2017</strong><br />

Call our selling agent now for more information and to book your personal appointment<br />

Guide prices from £465,000 | T: 01622 673086 | E: enquiries@sibleypares.co.uk<br />

Follow us for updates: @MillwoodDHomes millwooddhomes MillwoodDesignerHomes<br />

www.millwooddesignerhomes.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

20<br />

SibleyPares<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 17/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:17


Residential Sales<br />

www.hobbsparker.co.uk<br />

COMING SOON<br />

£1,175,000<br />

A well appointed Edwardian family house of wonderful<br />

proportions set in imaginatively designed formal style<br />

gardens. Ashford Int Station – 5 miles. EPC Rating E<br />

Tenterden<br />

£925,000<br />

Grade II listed 18th century house with two separate<br />

cottages which offer the possibility of intergenerational<br />

living or useful income generation. EPC Rating NA<br />

Stalisfield Green<br />

£895,000<br />

Views across open countryside - a fabulous<br />

converted barn with purpose built workshop/studio<br />

suitable for a number of uses. EPC Rating D<br />

Appledore<br />

£695,000<br />

4 bedroom detached country cottage on the rural<br />

edge of the village, extensive outbuildings, beautiful<br />

gardens, pool. In all about ½ acre. EPC Rating E<br />

Nr Aldington<br />

£895,000<br />

Fabulous barn tucked away at the end of a farm track,<br />

2 acres of garden and paddock, 4 bay wagon lodge garage<br />

with accommodation over. EPC Rating D<br />

Benenden<br />

£895,000<br />

Grade II listed period farmhouse, 3 bay garage and other<br />

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Hobbs Parker Estate Agents<br />

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Weald Property half - 1 property.qxp_half page 11/07/2014 15:42 Page 1<br />

Residential Sales • Management and Lettings<br />

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Rolvenden, Kent TN17 4PF<br />

CatherineBerkeleyWT178.indd 1 08/11/2016 12:53


HOUSE OF THE MONTH<br />

1.<br />

1.<br />

Garden Quest<br />

Maggie Alderson hunts down the best hiding places for Easter eggs<br />

Like many great British annual traditions, we imported the Easter Bunny from<br />

America. That great nation of marketing geniuses has long done a fine trade in<br />

converting slightly creepy figures of ancient European folklore into adorable<br />

cuddly characters perfect for flogging product while cheering everyone up. Win win.<br />

It was in this spirt that Santa Claus as we know and love him – jolly,<br />

tubby, red of cheek – was invented by Coca-Cola in the 1930s. Earlier<br />

Christmas present deliverers Saint Nicholas, the Nordic god Wotan<br />

and Britain’s original Father Christmas, weren’t nearly so affable.<br />

The Easter Bunny in its original European incarnation of an egg-hiding<br />

mammal fertility symbol was actually a hare, an animal perfect for conveying<br />

the idea of spring’s fecundity, because lady hares can actually get pregnant<br />

again while they are still carrying a litter. It’s an impressive feat of breeding (if<br />

a nightmarish prospect…), but bunnies won, because they’re cuter and have<br />

fluffy tails and we’ve all cuddled one. There’s a reason Beatrix Potter wrote Peter<br />

Rabbit rather than Harold Hare. The Easter Hare is also a less attractive prospect<br />

to the modern child, because on his arrival in America with 18th century<br />

German immigrants to Pennsylvania, he hid real eggs, albeit painted ones.<br />

As the fluffy egg-concealing white rabbit took on across the United States<br />

the eggs became chocolate, which required attractive baskets to be collected in<br />

and the Easter Egg Hunt as we now know it had arrived. And what a lovely<br />

thing it is, to watch over-excited children – some of them nearly of university<br />

age, in my experience – running around a garden searching for tiny foilcoloured<br />

treats, with a larger chocolate rabbit or chicken the ultimate prize.<br />

Also fun for parents, is the concealing of the eggs, while a grandparent<br />

distracts the small ones <strong>inside</strong> – nearly as thrilling as tiptoeing in with<br />

a Christmas stocking. The key thing is to have the right garden to<br />

do it in, with lots of different areas for hiding and hunting.<br />

1. Badsell Park<br />

Where? Badsell Park sits aside a small<br />

hamlet, surrounded by woodland and<br />

pastures, one mile from the picturesque<br />

village of Matfield and just five from<br />

Tunbridge Wells. Paddock Wood<br />

station, with its 45 minute link to<br />

London Bridge, is three miles away.<br />

What? Cutting to the chase: it’s hard<br />

to imagine a better location for an Easter<br />

egg hunt…there’s a beautiful maze in the<br />

garden. The very attractive Grade II listed<br />

farmhouse has been beautifully updated for<br />

modern living with an open plan kitchen/<br />

breakfast room, complete with Aga and a<br />

large open fireplace, opening to the garden<br />

from two places and to the conservatory.<br />

There’s a 30ft drawing room and a cosy<br />

sitting room. Upstairs there’s a principal<br />

suite with an adjoined shower room, three<br />

further bedrooms and a bathroom, with<br />

two more bedrooms on the second floor.<br />

How much? With a guide price of<br />

£2,675,000, Badsell Park is on the market<br />

with Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells. Call<br />

01892 772942, or browse knightfrank.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

24


2.<br />

3.<br />

4.<br />

2.<br />

3.<br />

4.<br />

2. Birchetts<br />

Where? Birchetts is situated on a<br />

quiet country lane on the outskirts of<br />

the popular village of Ticehurst, 11<br />

miles from Tunbridge Wells. Stonegate<br />

and Wadhurst stations have regular<br />

services to Charing Cross and the A21/<br />

M25 road and motorway network are<br />

easily accessible. There are interrupted<br />

views to Bewl Water from the garden.<br />

What? A very attractive barn<br />

conversion, the three bedrooms, en suite<br />

shower room and family bathroom are<br />

on the ground floor, which allows the<br />

first floor sitting room to enjoy the full<br />

beamed height of the building. The<br />

kitchen and dining room are adjacent.<br />

There is a study/fourth bedroom on<br />

the second floor. The gardens cover an<br />

acre, with lots of interesting areas for<br />

Easter egg concealing, plus a natural<br />

duck pond with a stream and summer<br />

house which overlooks two ornamental<br />

ponds. (So you would have to keep a<br />

firm eye on small egg hunters…)<br />

How much? Offers in excess of<br />

£745,000. Contact Freeman Foreman,<br />

Tunbridge Wells 01892 640318<br />

or look at freemanforeman.co.uk<br />

3. The Dairy House<br />

Where? The Dairy House sits in<br />

the quiet pretty village of Loose, with<br />

the Loose Stream running through<br />

it, on the rural fringes of Maidstone,<br />

with its rail links. There is a junction<br />

to the M20 15 minutes away.<br />

What? The original building dates to<br />

the 16th century, with the beams to show<br />

for it, with 20th century extensions. The<br />

ground floor has three reception rooms,<br />

plus a workshop and the kitchen. The<br />

bathroom is also on this floor. Upstairs<br />

are three bedrooms, with a walk-in<br />

closet and a further room in the attic.<br />

The house has brilliant potential for<br />

more contemporary room arrangement<br />

without losing any of its charm. Outside<br />

the garden is a delightful mix of superbly<br />

stocked mature borders, lawns, plus<br />

a vegetable patch and mature trees.<br />

How much? The Dairy House is<br />

on the market for £599,000 with Fine<br />

and Country, West Malling. Call 01732<br />

222272 or head to fineandcountry.com<br />

4. Catsfield Place<br />

Where? Catsfield Place is situated at<br />

the end of a long drive, in the unspoiled<br />

countryside to the west of Battle, with<br />

views over the South Downs AONB.<br />

Catsfield village is nearby, with Battle<br />

the nearest town, just two miles away,<br />

with twice hourly trains to London.<br />

What? It would be easier to answer,<br />

what hasn’t it got? Study, sitting room,<br />

two drawing rooms, family room,<br />

computer room, garden room…<br />

Swimming pool, yoga studio, full pubstyle<br />

bar, disco. This house has it all<br />

– encased in a glorious 17th century<br />

manor, where one of Marie Antoinette’s<br />

ladies-in-waiting was sent to hide her<br />

jewels. There are eight bedrooms and at<br />

least four bathrooms. And that’s just the<br />

main house. There are nearly three acres<br />

of grounds, comprising beautiful formal<br />

gardens, with a walled garden full of rose<br />

borders and shrubs, landscaped lawns,<br />

fields and an area of woodland. Plus<br />

various sun terraces and patios. You could<br />

hold several Easter egg hunts at once.<br />

How much? For this extraordinary<br />

house, offers are invited in the area of<br />

£1,825,000. Contact Fine and Country,<br />

Cranbrook on 01580 715000 and<br />

have a look on fineandcountry.com<br />

25 wealdentimes.co.uk


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OPEN DAY 20th May, 11am-4pm<br />

Guest chef • Wine tasting from Majestic Wine • Cake treats from Hollie’s Little Cakery<br />

Competitively priced kitchens from as little as £5,000<br />

See our website: www.kutchenhaus.co.uk<br />

Call in for a free quotation<br />

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Women’s health – New technology<br />

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If you are over 40 with no<br />

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We are currently the only private hospital<br />

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Patients seen in our One Stop Breast Clinic<br />

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The benefits speak for themselves:<br />

• Improves breast cancer detection by<br />

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• Smaller cancers can be identified more easily<br />

• Particularly benefits those with dense breasts,<br />

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* Patients can self-refer for 3D mammograms if they are<br />

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Fordcombe Road, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0RD


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Official fuel consumption figures for the All New Maserati Levante Diesel in mpg (l/100km): Urban 34.4 (8.2), Extra<br />

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standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown is a Maserati<br />

Levante Diesel MY17 at £66,640 On The Road including optional Luxury Pack at £5,950, 21 inch Anteo alloy wheels<br />

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BurrswoodBootcamp<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 10/03/<strong>2017</strong> 16:26<br />

Luxurious Italian Furniture<br />

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We specialise in Italian furniture, stylishly designed and made in Italy. Take a look at our bedroom<br />

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Why not visit our shop in Orpington to see the complete range of Italian furniture that we have available?<br />

115 High Street, Orpington, Kent BR6 0LG Tel: 01689 891600<br />

www.granddesignfurniture.net romaninteriors@hotmail.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

32<br />

GrandDesignFurniture<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 11:56


Design & Planning<br />

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Burrswood<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 03/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:31<br />

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wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

34<br />

MaysTerracotta<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 17:21


WWW.HANDMADERUGS.CO.UK<br />

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE<br />

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As the ridge heights are below<br />

4m on all designs, permitted<br />

developments rights are granted<br />

for the majority of projects. The<br />

smaller frames in the range are also<br />

exempt from Building Regulations<br />

(having an internal footprint<br />

of under 30/m 2 ), providing<br />

certain site criteria are met.<br />

For more information on Chippy<br />

kits, you can call Round Wood of<br />

Mayfield on 01435 860 260, or visit<br />

their dedicated garage kit website:<br />

www.oakframedgarages.co.uk.<br />

Round Wood supply nationwide<br />

from their base just outside<br />

of Mayfield. In addition to<br />

oak framed buildings they<br />

offer hardwood decking, oak<br />

and walnut flooring, joinery<br />

products and garden features.<br />

1 Bays from £2,155, 2 Bays from £3,295<br />

3 Bays from £5,285, 4 Bays from £7,085


THE BIG CAT SANCTUARY<br />

OPEN DAYS<br />

20 TH - 23 RD JULY <strong>2017</strong><br />

A fun day out for all the family. Come and visit our<br />

cats including tigers, lions, leopards and cheetahs.<br />

Enjoy face painting, BBQ, falconry display,<br />

bouncy castle, arts & crafts and stalls.<br />

11:00am - 5:00pm (Last entry 4:00pm)<br />

Weekdays £15.00 | Weekends £17.50<br />

Advanced booking only - book your<br />

place today by visiting our website<br />

www.whf.org.uk<br />

The Big Cat Sanctuary, Headcorn Road,<br />

Smarden, Kent TN27 8PJ | 01233 771915<br />

Charity Reg No. 1104420


When you delve into Knole's past, it<br />

helps us secure its future.<br />

Knole's historic showrooms and state-of-the-art<br />

conservation studio are now open.<br />

Experience the world-class collection of furniture and artwork,<br />

enriched by upgraded lighting and enhanced displays.<br />

Many of these objects have been treated and cleaned in the<br />

new conservation studio, which is now open to visitors to<br />

explore.<br />

Call 01732 462100 for details<br />

nationaltrust.org.uk/knole<br />

#nationaltrust<br />

When you visit, donate, volunteer or join the National Trust, your support helps us<br />

to look after special places like Knole for ever, for everyone.<br />

© National Trust <strong>2017</strong>. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Images\James Dobson.


SPRING LINEN<br />

COLLECTIONS<br />

Give your bedroom an instant boost this spring by simply updating your bed linen. At Fenwick we have<br />

an extensive range of collections, from cool contemporary designs, geometric shapes in subtle tones to<br />

uplifting displays of bright florals that will transform your room from winter to spring in an instant.<br />

Layer up your bed linen with beautiful contrasting cushions and throws that will tempt you at the end<br />

of a busy day and where you can unwind on a relaxing weekend and enjoy!<br />

Let us inspire you with our Linens Spring Edit<br />

HARLEQUIN MOMENTUM DEMOISELLE<br />

Adapted from a wallpaper design in Palmetto, Demoiselle’s dramatic large-scale dragonflies sweep<br />

across a central panel on this graphite-coloured duvet cover, which is printed on 200 thread-count,<br />

100% cotton sateen, with a plain reverse. One bold dragonfly adorns the centre of one of the<br />

Oxford pillowcase designs and the other design is a plain option with cover stitch detail in gold.<br />

Layer the bed with luxuriousness with the 100% cotton velvet quilted throw (170 x 220cm) with<br />

linen binding, and the cushion featuring printed and embroidered dragonflies on 100% silk, with<br />

the reverse and piping in cotton velvet.<br />

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £105 | KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £120<br />

SUPER KING DUVET COVER £140 | OXFORD PRINT PILLOWCASE £25<br />

OXFORD PLAIN PILLOWCASE £25 | CUSHION 40x60cm £60<br />

THROW 170x220cm £195<br />

Introducing Momentum’s stunning<br />

Demoiselle towels, that feature three<br />

elegant dragonflies on a plain ground.<br />

Based around a sophisticated colour<br />

palette, these opulent towels will<br />

elevate your bathroom to a new level<br />

of luxury.<br />

GUEST £12 | HAND £16<br />

BATH £32<br />

FENWICK CANTERBURY AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS


Introducing the new collection from murmur, a subtle and sophisticated homeware<br />

brand; perfectly suited to the idea of ‘slow living’. The Murmur ‘Design<br />

and Living’ concept provides an antidote to our hectic lives. Going back to basics<br />

with natural materials this collection has been lovingly brought together to create<br />

a relaxed, subtle, understated mood that echoes the desire for calm in an overly<br />

busy world.<br />

With a simple, less-is-more ethos the collection offers an extensive selection of<br />

cushions, throws, bed and bath linens. New patterns and colours inject a soft<br />

summer vibe with simple print motifs in muted shades.<br />

MURMUR MOSAIC<br />

The Mosaic bed linen features a Japanese<br />

inspired small-scale geometric pattern, in a<br />

pared back palette of grey tones set against<br />

a soft white ground. Printed on softest 300<br />

thread count cotton percale and edged<br />

with just a simple double stitch detail.<br />

SINGLE DUVET COVER £70<br />

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £85<br />

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £95<br />

SUPERKING DUVET COVER £110<br />

OXFORD PILLOWCASE £17<br />

Soft sumptuous cushions and throws<br />

add texture and colour. Accessorise this<br />

collection with:<br />

ETCH CUSHION £45<br />

An embroidered leaf pattern in warm<br />

white thread on dyed grey linen with a<br />

plain reverse. 50x50cm.<br />

MATSU CUSHION £40<br />

Scandi inspired hand drawn stitch effect<br />

in warm white on a grey ground with<br />

a plain reverse. 50x30cm.<br />

DEW THROW £130<br />

A chunky knitted throw in two tone grey<br />

with a distinct diamond repeat pattern on<br />

the front with a plain reverse. 130 x170cm.<br />

FENWICK CANTERBURY AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS


MURMUR HAMA<br />

An all-over small scale geometric print in<br />

deep indigo tones introduces subtle, simple<br />

pattern to the Hama duvet cover and oxford<br />

pillowcase. Self-reversing and finished with<br />

a stylish double stitch detail. Woven in<br />

300 thread count cotton percale for a soft,<br />

comfortable handle.<br />

SINGLE DUVET COVER £70<br />

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £85<br />

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £95<br />

SUPERKING DUVET COVER £110<br />

OXFORD PILLOWCASE £17<br />

Accessories can be layered beautifully in<br />

a mixture of scale to create a comfortable<br />

place to relax within your living space.<br />

Accessorise this collection with:<br />

DAB CUSHION £45<br />

A simple scale grid embroidered design<br />

cushion in indigo and white inspired<br />

by Scandinavian simplicity with a plain<br />

reverse. 50x50cm.<br />

MATSU CUSHION £40<br />

Scandi inspired hand drawn stitch effect<br />

cushion in warm indigo and white with<br />

a plain reverse. 50x30cm.<br />

SAIL THROW £120<br />

Made using 100% pure new wool, the Sail<br />

throw has a contrasting fringe in a gentle<br />

white that continues throughout the throw<br />

in a flecked, floral inspired weave adding<br />

to the homespun yet delicate texture.<br />

150 x183cm.<br />

MURMUR BATH<br />

The complete Murmur bath collection<br />

allows you to transform your bathroom into<br />

a tranquil retreat. Available in Hama, Curve<br />

and Japanese floral designs. from left to right<br />

HAMA HAND 50x100cm £18<br />

CURVE BATH 70x140cm £30<br />

JAPANESE FLORAL BATH 70x140cm £25<br />

MURA WASH BAG £35<br />

MURMUR ROBES<br />

100% linen available in blush, indigo and<br />

linen hues. £85<br />

FENWICK CANTERBURY AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS


SANDERSON WISTERIA FALLS<br />

This bed linen has a fabulous, trailing wisteria<br />

blossom design, featuring beautiful butterflies<br />

and birds darting between the branches.<br />

Originally hand-painted in watercolour, this<br />

free flowing pattern has now been digitally<br />

printed onto 200 thread count, 100% cotton<br />

percale. The floral face of the duvet cover<br />

and Oxford pillowcase are complemented<br />

by a plain parchment coloured reverse.<br />

A coordinating mohair style throw in lilac<br />

tones and a digitally printed floral cushion<br />

with cord piping and contrasting lilac reverse<br />

complete the Wisteria Falls bed linen range.<br />

SINGLE DUVET COVER £90<br />

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £105<br />

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £120<br />

OXFORD PILLOWCASE £22<br />

CUSHION 50x30cm £50<br />

THROW 140x185cm £120<br />

SANDERSON LAURIE<br />

The Laurie duvet cover features a soft edged,<br />

medium scale damask design that’s perfect<br />

for a modern classic décor. The duvet cover<br />

and oxford pillowcase are woven in a fine<br />

55% linen /45% cotton blend, edged with<br />

cord piping and reverse to a plain cotton<br />

percale in a soft lilac tone. Completing the<br />

Laurie bed linen range is a linen blend<br />

cushion, which features an embroidered<br />

diamond pattern on the face and a<br />

coordinating lilac reverse. Add warming<br />

layers to the bed with the Manderley<br />

mattelassé throw in the Amethyst colourway.<br />

SINGLE DUVET COVER £95<br />

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £120<br />

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £140<br />

OXFORD PILLOWCASE £30<br />

CUSHION 50x30cm £50<br />

MANDERLEY THROW 240x260cm £195<br />

St George’s Street Canterbury Kent CT1 2TB | 01227 766866<br />

Royal Victoria Place Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2SR | 01892 516716<br />

www.fenwick.co.uk


Furniture for Dining, Living, Bedroom & Home Office<br />

RIMINI<br />

MARINO<br />

ROMANA<br />

ercol.com<br />

The Furniture Event<br />

20% off furniture orders PLUS 10% off * interior design<br />

SATURDAY 25TH MARCH UNTIL SATURDAY 22ND APRIL<br />

HOOPERS | MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD | TUNBRIDGE WELLS | TN1 1QT | 01892 530222<br />

*Exclusions may apply, Please ask in store for details.


Egg-stravaganza...<br />

If you like a good Easter egg hunt then the National Trust<br />

and Cadbury really are the dream team. This year they will be<br />

encouraging Kent and East Sussex to explore a myriad of the<br />

most muddy and magical elements of the British countryside.<br />

There is something for everyone with ten hunts running from<br />

Friday 14 to Monday 17 <strong>April</strong>, at locations such as Sissinghurst<br />

Castle Garden and Ightham Mote. Each trail costs £3 or less and<br />

more details can be found by hopping over to easter.cadbury.co.uk<br />

<strong>April</strong><br />

notebook<br />

Exhibitions & events<br />

near you this month...<br />

Metamorphosis...<br />

Charlton Park in Canterbury is offering both free<br />

and bespoke workshops to accompany Theatrical<br />

Niche Ltd’s performance of Metamorphosis by Steven<br />

Berkoff, given that it is multidisciplinary and on<br />

the German syllabus. There will be a free post-show<br />

Q&A and free puppetry workshops can be claimed<br />

by group bookings of 8+. Metamorphosis comes to<br />

Charlton Park on Friday 28 <strong>April</strong> at 7.30pm, with<br />

the Puppetry workshop at 5.30pm – please reserve<br />

places in advance. Tickets cost £12, £10 (concs), £8<br />

(groups of 6+) 01227 831355 charlton-park.org<br />

A Fair to Remember...<br />

Find fashionable vintage, French brocante and<br />

decorative antiques for the home and garden on<br />

Saturday 15 to Monday 17 <strong>April</strong> at Penshurst<br />

Village Hall. Relax with delicious teas from<br />

Rose and Olive and help to raise money for the<br />

community. Meet the Fixing Dad team from the<br />

BBC to hear the story of one family’s fight against<br />

type two diabetes and the new Prudential Ride<br />

London challenge. More at fixingdad.com<br />

Play On...<br />

‘The Local Amateur Musical Players’ (LAMPS)<br />

come back in full force. After the closure of their<br />

home for almost 60 years in Southborough, they<br />

now return to their birthplace of Tonbridge. To<br />

celebrate both the organisation and its president’s<br />

90th birthdays they invite you to witness the<br />

much loved comic operetta The Mikado, which<br />

is a tantalising cocktail of ‘exquisite Japanese<br />

traditions’, ‘cheeky Britishness’ and ‘antiestablishment<br />

silliness’. For booking and info call<br />

01732 304241 or visit lamps.org.uk<br />

It’s all about Yew...<br />

On Saturday 22 <strong>April</strong>, Viv Hunt, head gardener<br />

at Godinton House and <strong>Gardens</strong>, will host an<br />

intimate and inspirational workshop on topiary,<br />

covering everything from tool and plant selection<br />

to longterm maintenance. For just £30 you will<br />

be treated to coffee upon arrival, a tour of the<br />

garden’s stunning 12 acres, and a practice session<br />

shaping your own potted yew to take home.<br />

Booking is essential so call 01233 643854 or visit<br />

godintonhouse.co.uk for more information.<br />

Darryl Curcher Photography<br />

Literary Festival...<br />

From Sunday 30 <strong>April</strong> to Tuesday 2 May,<br />

Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival will play host<br />

to celebrated authors, poets, actors, and theatrical<br />

groups, including Radio 4’s Rev. Richard Coles and<br />

Beirut hostage survivor, Terry Waite. Sunday will<br />

be aimed at adults, Monday at families and there<br />

will be a dedicated Schools Programme on Tuesday.<br />

A creative writing competition will also run in the<br />

lead-up to the event which gives children the chance<br />

to win a signed book. Visit chiddingstonecastle.org.uk<br />

or call 01892 870347 for more details.<br />

Old School...<br />

Head over to the Old School Hall in Maidstone on<br />

Monday 17 <strong>April</strong> to browse and buy at a fabulous<br />

antique and vintage market featuring 24 indoor<br />

and outdoor traders selling antique, vintage, retro,<br />

preloved, jewellery, collectible, upcycled and just<br />

plain weird stuff. Refreshments will be available<br />

and parking is nearby. Entry is just £2 per adult,<br />

or £1 after noon. Call 07703 525138 or email<br />

oldschoolevents1@hotmail.com to find out more.<br />

49 wealdentimes.co.uk


Explore behind the scenes<br />

open Morning<br />

Thursday 4th May<br />

Dulwich Preparatory School<br />

Cranbrook<br />

Meet our Headmaster, chat to parents and pupils, take a tour.<br />

registrar@dcpskent.org • 01580 712179 • dcpskent.org


Editor’s<br />

Letter<br />

Isn’t it fantastic to have some glorious sunshine? Even<br />

just the slightest peek of blue sky is enough to lift the<br />

winter blues in anticipation of unleashing the summer<br />

wardrobe. Let’s hope it sticks around for a while!<br />

This issue is home to our annual <strong>Gardens</strong> Supplement<br />

– possibly my favourite of the year. Alongside our regular<br />

contributors, we’ve interviewed TV favourites Danny Clarke<br />

and Mark Lane ahead of their appearances in the brand<br />

new Garden Hub at <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair<br />

this June. We can’t wait to see them in action – you can<br />

get a preview of all that’s on offer at the Fair from page<br />

85, or look online at wealdentimes.co.uk/events where you’ll<br />

find a full exhibitor list. We hope to see you there.<br />

We’ve photographed two beautifully contrasting interiors this<br />

month – a quirky revamped almshouse and a quintessentially<br />

traditional <strong>Wealden</strong> farmhouse. See how the owners have<br />

preserved the integrity of the buildings on pages 56 and 102.<br />

In the spirit of Easter, we visit Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery<br />

School in Tunbridge Wells to photograph a three-course<br />

celebratory lunch that she created in collaboration with her<br />

apprentices. Try out her special recipes at home from page 156.<br />

Enjoy your <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>!<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Team<br />

Editor ............................................................................................ Lucy Fleming<br />

Editorial Assistant ........................................................................Rebecca Cuffe<br />

Design .........................................................................................Powerful Pierre<br />

Design Team ..............................................................................Anthony Boxall<br />

Rob Cursons<br />

Phoebe Gilbert<br />

Tanya Goldsmith<br />

Managing Director ........................................................................ Julie Simpson<br />

Commercial Director ............................................................... Colin Wilkinson<br />

Sales Team ................................................................................ Hayley Biddulph<br />

Sarah Norwood<br />

Nick Robinson<br />

Distribution .................................................................................Emma Murphy<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Events Team<br />

Sales Director ..................................................................................... Joy Adams<br />

Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson<br />

51 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

RespireLiving<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 15/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:16


My sciatica<br />

was so bad I<br />

thought I’d be<br />

housebound<br />

forever…<br />

IDD Therapy has<br />

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE<br />

Non-invasive<br />

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Three years ago, Julie Phillips cycled 500 miles<br />

across the Rift Valley in Kenya. At that time, her<br />

back pain and sciatica was just about manageable.<br />

But as the months rolled on, the pain worsened<br />

and she found it more and more difficult to stay<br />

mobile and carry on with her usual activities.<br />

Julie explains: “The pain was like a burning belt<br />

around my lower back which spread into my left<br />

thigh - I could only stand or walk for a couple of<br />

minutes without taking a rest. At 64 I thought I was<br />

going to spend my retirement as a disabled person.”<br />

Having tried various manual treatments without<br />

success, Julie ended up in limbo, feeling low.<br />

“I had physiotherapy sessions but they didn’t help.<br />

I even had hip injections but they only lasted a<br />

couple of weeks – and they were incredibly painful.<br />

I was given stronger painkillers but these<br />

made me giddy. I felt very despondent<br />

and didn’t know which way to turn.”<br />

Julie finally took matters into her own hands<br />

and found IDD Therapy, a targeted spinal disc<br />

treatment which was being offered at <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

Osteopaths & Spine Centre in Goudhurst.<br />

“I made enquiries and found that IDD Therapy<br />

is particularly successful for long-term back<br />

pain and sciatica (pain radiating from the<br />

lower back, usually down one leg).<br />

At my initial assessment, the Clinical Director,<br />

James Pickering was confident that there was<br />

a good chance IDD Therapy could help me.<br />

Because my condition was severe, I knew I<br />

would need a series of treatments but actually,<br />

I felt a huge relief after the first two.<br />

With every session, the pain eased and I<br />

could walk a few steps more. By session<br />

number six I was feeling almost no pain.<br />

“I went for a four mile dog<br />

walk with my grandchildren…<br />

when we got home, the kids<br />

and the dogs were pooped!”<br />

I finished my IDD Therapy programme last<br />

summer and I’m feeling like a new person! I’ve<br />

got no pain and I’m completely active again.<br />

The other day I went for a four mile dog walk<br />

with my grandchildren… when we got home<br />

the kids and the dogs were pooped!<br />

I’m so relieved to have found IDD Therapy;<br />

I’ve truly been given a new lease of life.”<br />

James Pickering is delighted with Julie’s progess:<br />

“It’s wonderful to see patients like Julie doing so<br />

well with IDD Therapy after almost giving up hope<br />

of getting out of pain and back to ‘normal’.<br />

The treatment programme is an invaluable<br />

part of our services now and our first choice<br />

for long-term back, neck and sciatic pain.”<br />

To find out about IDD Therapy and other treatments<br />

offered at <strong>Wealden</strong> Osteopaths & Spine Centre call:<br />

01580 212833 or visit www.wealdenosteopaths.co.uk


FREE WORKTOP OFFER<br />

EXTENDED FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY!*<br />

* Terms apply, please see in store for more details


Visit takethefamily.com before you take your family anywhere<br />

Visit www.takethefamily.com to find your perfect family holiday today,<br />

or book with our tailor-made travel consultant on 020 3633 0653 and<br />

get complimentary airport lounge access with bookings over £5,000.<br />

Quote TTF <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />

The ‘perfect’ family holiday varies by family. Cranbrook-based Take the Family’s passion<br />

is inspiring parents to think beyond the sun lounger – there are so many exciting options<br />

around the world that you and the kids will love and talk about long after your return.<br />

Take the Family Travel Consultant Pauline’s Hot<br />

Tips for Adventurous Families in <strong>2017</strong>…<br />

Caique-cruising around the beautiful island of Evia<br />

in Greece, or learning to sail or windsurf in the Med.<br />

Riding mules and camels through Moroccan<br />

landscapes, plus walking and cycling.<br />

Sea-kayaking then canoeing and walking<br />

from the coast to the foothills of the<br />

Taurus mountains of Turkey.<br />

River-rafting, bear-watching and learning<br />

wilderness skills in Finland.<br />

Learning to surf, orienteering by kayak, cycling and<br />

abseiling in the unspoilt Alentejo region of Portugal.<br />

Experiencing Vietnam on foot, in<br />

the saddle and with a paddle.<br />

Taking a 4X4 excursion and camping in<br />

the desert, floating in the Dead Sea and<br />

exploring magical Petra in Jordan.<br />

Wildlife-spotting, kayaking and visiting lesserknown<br />

areas of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.<br />

Getting to know Thailand through a<br />

trip in a long-tailed boat, a Thai boxing<br />

session, a stay in a raft house, kayaking,<br />

ziplining through the jungle, and joining in<br />

lessons and games at a village school.<br />

For further information visit www.takethefamily.com<br />

or call Pauline on 020 3633 0653


where to find your copy…<br />

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> or to have your free copy delivered for<br />

12 months for just £22 postage<br />

Distribution of <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />

published in Cranbrook for the Weald<br />

Eras<br />

Antiques<br />

of stylE<br />

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You can get your copy at most railway stations, newsagents<br />

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Shop<br />

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Newsagents<br />

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Pluckley<br />

• Pluckley<br />

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ErasOfStyle<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 07/03/<strong>2017</strong> 12:49


Call to Alms<br />

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wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

56


Originally built to house the poor in the<br />

nineteenth century, Cheyneys Almshouse is<br />

now home to Fortnum & Mason in-house<br />

milliner Adrian Howard and his partner<br />

Sven. After stumbling across it in The<br />

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57 wealdentimes.co.uk


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58<br />

BackfromBlackWT181.indd 1 14/02/<strong>2017</strong> 11:27


Previous pages: The main feature of the spacious new kitchen is a huge classic kitchen dresser, which Adrian’s parents bought at an<br />

auction in Rye Above: Under the kitchen’s central work table there’s a Fortnum & Mason crate, full of more china treasures which are<br />

in everyday use. Adrian made the tea cosy out of old ties<br />

The first impression of Cheyneys Almshouse is<br />

of a neat Dutch-gabled cottage of great charm<br />

and character, but as you reach the front door<br />

it becomes clear that this might not be the modest little<br />

country home it appears to be from the outside.<br />

Stopping to admire the two elegant stone dogs<br />

on either side of the front step, you notice that the<br />

multiple pairs of boots and shoes scattered around it,<br />

as if just discarded after a walk, are all planted with<br />

the tiny hardy succulents known as houseleeks.<br />

Once owners Adrian Howard and his partner Sven<br />

welcome you in – and a very warm welcome it is – your<br />

eyes and brain go into overdrive, trying to take everything<br />

in. Interesting objects and visual puns abound.<br />

The vestibule is pretty much filled by a huge chair like a<br />

carved wooden throne. There’s an equally outsized Venetian<br />

glass mirror in a very small sitting room to the left. Above is a<br />

lampshade made from a straw boater. Stepping through into<br />

the kitchen extension, you are met by a male shop window<br />

dummy dressed in a guard’s uniform and a crash helmet, next<br />

to a station map from a Jubilee Line underground station.<br />

Hanging from the tiny mounted horns of African<br />

game animals are rows of exquisite hats. In the<br />

kitchen itself, there’s a lady mannequin wearing a<br />

chic red cloche hat, her torso covered in postage<br />

stamps… (I later find out her name is Gladys.)<br />

Like the Tardis crossed with Gringotts, Cheyneys<br />

Almshouse is much bigger than it looks and a secret<br />

repository for a treasure trove of fascinating stuff, all of<br />

which has been sourced, scavenged and sought out by<br />

Adrian and Sven, who are Olympic standard bargain<br />

hunters, scouting the legendary boot fairs of nearby <br />

59 wealdentimes.co.uk


Icklesham village and the many antique emporiums of<br />

Hastings Old Town, among more obscure sources.<br />

They clearly have the ‘eye’, that particular talent<br />

of spotting diamonds in the rough – and the house<br />

itself was just such a find. “It was in the ‘Wreck of<br />

the Week’ feature in The Guardian,” says Adrian,<br />

laughing, showing me the original press cutting, which<br />

they have proudly framed in the downstairs loo.<br />

The fact that the boarded-up property was so derelict and<br />

rat infested the estate agent refused to step through the door<br />

and they had to make their first inspection by torchlight<br />

did nothing to put them off. “It was love at first sight,” says<br />

Adrian. “It took us ten years to do it up on a very strict<br />

budget, but it was so much fun. It was an adventure.”<br />

The main structural work was to add a new two-storey<br />

extension at the back to create the large kitchen/breakfast<br />

room and two extra bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs.<br />

“The original 1842 building, put up by an alms trust<br />

which was created in 1611 to provide housing for the poor,<br />

was built as two tiny houses with a shared staircase,” says<br />

Adrian. “When we took it on, it was still set up as two<br />

dwellings, with a flat-roofed 70s single storey extension<br />

at the back containing two miniature kitchens and<br />

<br />

Left: Gladys the mannequin stands in one corner of the kitchen<br />

wearing a chic red cloche hat, made by Adrian Below: Major<br />

Lynch – a male shop window dummy dressed in a guard’s uniform<br />

and a crash helmet – stands next to a station map from a Jubilee<br />

Line underground station. The Jubilee line station sign was bought<br />

as a tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

60


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a bathroom. Luckily, the front is listed but the ugly<br />

extension wasn’t so it was fine to knock that down and<br />

start again. Although the outside loo is listed…”<br />

The main feature of the lovely spacious new<br />

kitchen, with French doors out onto the garden, is a<br />

huge classic kitchen dresser, which Adrian’s parents<br />

bought at an auction in Rye. “It was so big we had to<br />

have it cut down to fit in the space,” says Sven.<br />

And it needs to be that size to showcase just a tiny<br />

fraction of their collection of china. The day we visited<br />

Sven had it dressed ready for Easter with figurines of Peter<br />

Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and various sheep, decorative<br />

eggs in egg cups and a whole set of china resplendent<br />

<br />

“When we lived in Germany,” Adrian<br />

explains, “I had a shop called ‘Brit Bits’<br />

selling bric-a-brac I would bring over from<br />

England. I used to get bored sitting in<br />

there, so I got a sewing machine and started<br />

making cushions. That led on to door<br />

sausages and aprons and then I made some<br />

tea cosies out of bits and pieces I had lying<br />

around. People would always put them on<br />

their heads, so I started making hats...”


Above left: The walls of the downstairs loo are covered<br />

with framed photographs, prints, cards and letters with<br />

personal meaning Above right and below: The original<br />

1842 building was built as two tiny houses with a shared<br />

staircase. On the landing two small runs of stairs face each<br />

other – one original and the other copied for the extension<br />

with running bunnies, alongside at least four other china<br />

services – and that’s just the tip of the porcelain iceberg.<br />

Adrian opens one of the cupboards and takes out a plate<br />

which he holds up to the light of the French window, revealing<br />

the head of a geisha painted on the underside. “It’s Japanese,”<br />

he says, “I got the whole set at Elm Tree boot fair…”<br />

Under the kitchen’s central work table there’s a<br />

glorious Fortnum & Mason crate, full of more china<br />

treasures which are in everyday use – and the provenance<br />

of both the crate and the table are keys to the very<br />

interesting life Adrian and Sven have shared.<br />

Sven is German and they spent six years living there,<br />

in the city of Halle, twenty miles from Leipzig, while he<br />

was finishing his studies. The kitchen table came from<br />

there. “We found it on the street,” says Sven, laughing.<br />

“In Germany we have this thing called Sperrmüll [NB<br />

capped first letter is correct for nouns in Deutsch,<br />

jawoll, bitte] where large waste objects can be left out<br />

on the street one day a month and we found this.”<br />

“It’s fantastic,” adds Adrian. “You can get a<br />

<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

64


WE BELIEVE<br />

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66<br />

BellHouse<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 21/03/<strong>2017</strong> B-At-Home-<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 14:12<br />

1 21/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:46


This page: Adrian made the bedspread and cushions in the<br />

master bedroom out of an old curtain of his mother’s<br />

calendar from the council to tell you when it will be<br />

in each neighbourhood and I would tour them…”<br />

Sven shows me that the wooden table has a large<br />

drawer with two large enamel basins set in it. “Once<br />

this would have been the kitchen sink,” he says. “Now<br />

it’s perfect for preparing food. When your friends<br />

arrive and you don’t want them to see the mess, you<br />

just scrape it in to the bowls and close the drawers.”<br />

Adding to the interest in this one piece of furniture – and<br />

we still have the whole house to see at this stage – Adrian<br />

then explains the provenance of the slab of slate on top of<br />

it.“My father found it in a wood near our house where I<br />

grew up in Sidcup and it was just too good to leave there,<br />

so every time we went for a walk he would drag it a few<br />

more metres until finally he could collect it in the car. He<br />

kept it for years and now it’s just perfect on top of this.”<br />

And remember the Fortnum & Mason crate sitting<br />

underneath the table? That’s a hint to Adrian’s current<br />

life – he’s the in-house milliner in that most fabulous<br />

of London retail institutions, the first they’ve had<br />

working on the floor of the store since 1958.<br />

Then taking it on again – a key to how he came<br />

to have such an extraordinary job is sitting on top of<br />

the slate worktop: a tea cosy made out of old ties.<br />

“When we lived in Germany,” he explains, “I had a shop<br />

called ‘Brit Bits’ selling bric-a-brac I would bring over from<br />

England. I used to get bored sitting in there, so I got a sewing<br />

machine and started making cushions. That led on to door<br />

sausages and aprons and then I made some tea cosies out <br />

67 wealdentimes.co.uk


This page: One of the spare rooms is home to another<br />

mannequin, called Charlie (above). It’s their family tradition for<br />

everyone to dress up for Christmas dinner. A pale blue 1930s<br />

bell boy’s suit, with the traditional chin strap hat, which Adrian<br />

wore a couple of years ago, hangs on the end of the bed.<br />

of bits and pieces I had lying around. People would always<br />

put them on their heads, so I started making hats…<br />

“When I began to see people walking round the town<br />

in them I thought maybe it was something I should follow<br />

up… Really, it was a hobby which spiralled out of control.”<br />

When Sven finished at university – he’s now the head of a<br />

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and Adrian enrolled to train as a milliner. When he’d finished<br />

the course he went to see Philip Somerville, the Queen’s<br />

milliner, to ask if he could do work experience with him.<br />

“He gave me three weeks and I stayed five years,” says<br />

Adrian. “It was wonderful. One of my jobs was dropping<br />

the hats off to Buckingham Palace for the Queen.”<br />

“Philip was a very good friend and mentor. Until he<br />

died two and a half years ago, I would have tea with<br />

him once a week and he kept giving me guidance.”<br />

Indeed Mr Somerville’s presence pops up around<br />

the house in the form of a lovely Parker Knoll chair <br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

68


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Lenleys<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 02/03/<strong>2017</strong> JosephMcCarthy<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 15:43<br />

1 09/03/<strong>2017</strong> 15:20


This page: The bathroom features an amazing bright blue 1920s<br />

washbasin – not actually plumbed in, but too beautiful to leave<br />

in the second-hand yard in Hastings Old Town. Its vibrant<br />

colour is matched by a pair of pale blue grosgrain mule slippers<br />

Adrian couldn’t resist from Fortnum & Mason<br />

in the kitchen and a beautiful purple shamrock plant<br />

with its borscht-red leaves cascading down a jardinière<br />

upstairs, which were both presents from him.<br />

But perhaps the Royal milliner’s greatest gift to Adrian<br />

was his professional finesse which is gloriously apparent on a<br />

table in the area between the kitchen and the sitting rooms.<br />

Presided over by the male mannequin spotted on the<br />

way in (whom I’m told is called Major Lynch, after the<br />

father of a friend whose uniform he wears) is an array<br />

of Adrian’s amazing hats and the tools of his trade – hat<br />

blocks, feathers, rolls of special textiles. These are works in<br />

progress which he brings down from London to work on.<br />

“I thought about arranging it ready for the photographer,”<br />

says Adrian, “then decided to just leave them…”<br />

He was right, that tablescape couldn’t have looked more <br />

71 wealdentimes.co.uk


Above: The two guest rooms, in the original south side of the house, are packed with more found treasures. In the pink bedroom, hat<br />

pins, hat boxes, Victorian laced boots, tiaras and bow ties share space on top of a chest of drawers<br />

enticing if a stylist had laboured over the arrangement for<br />

hours. I try on a Jackie O style pillbox and immediately feel<br />

I could mingle convincingly at a royal wedding. “That style<br />

is very good for ladies who travel,” says Adrian, adjusting<br />

it to fit perfectly on my head, “because they can put it in<br />

a cake tin in their luggage and it won’t get squashed…”<br />

Tearing ourselves away from that bounty, we head<br />

upstairs, my head swivelling to look at all the interesting<br />

things – not least their many collections, of egg cups,<br />

cruet sets, German bottle stoppers and the biggest,<br />

Adrian’s ongoing collection of silver nail buffers.<br />

With the second storey of the extension there are<br />

now four bedrooms, each with its own special character.<br />

Adrian and Sven’s room has a genteel Edwardian<br />

<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

72


COSI<br />

Log Burning & Multi-Fuel Stoves Range Cookers<br />

Full Installation Service<br />

Chimney Sweeping<br />

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• Woodburning & Multifuel Stoves • Range Cookers<br />

• Stove Fitting • Chimney Sweeping<br />

• Stove Maintenance • Accessories<br />

Call 01227 787 587 www.cosi.co.uk<br />

58-60 Wincheap, Canterbury CT1 3RS sales@cosi.co.uk<br />

Cosi<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> HamletBuildingsWT169.indd 16:09<br />

1 29/01/2016 14:20<br />

traditional handmade furniture<br />

Kitchens<br />

Bedrooms<br />

Studies<br />

Showroom: 78 London Road, Southborough<br />

Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 0PP<br />

Tel: 01892 533273<br />

Web: Woodworkkitchens.co.uk<br />

Woodwork 1-2.indd 2 08/02/<strong>2017</strong> 09:45<br />

73 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

WoodworkWT181.indd 1 08/02/<strong>2017</strong> 10:04


COLLINS BESPOKE<br />

BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS<br />

www.collinsbespoke.com<br />

info@collinsbespoke.com<br />

Unit 40 Old Surrenden Manor,<br />

Bethersden, TN26 3DL<br />

01233 822595


Above: Maximillian the mannequin watches over the pink room in his German army helmet. The wall outside the green bedroom<br />

features a sign from the Victoria Line, bought at a boot fair in tribute to Queen Victoria, who was monarch when the house was built<br />

feel with a suite of furniture from that period and a<br />

quilted bedspread Adrian – one of life’s natural makers<br />

– created from some old curtains of his mother’s.<br />

One of the spare rooms – home to another mannequin,<br />

called Charlie, the first Adrian acquired – is used to store<br />

their large collection of fancy dress outfits. It’s their family<br />

tradition for everyone to dress up for Christmas dinner<br />

and they spend the whole year thinking about it.<br />

A pale blue 1930s bell boy’s suit, with the traditional<br />

chin strap hat, which Adrian wore a couple of years ago,<br />

hangs on the end of the bed. It looks like something<br />

from the Grand Budapest Hotel, but he found it in a<br />

vintage clothing shop in Norman Road, St Leonards.<br />

The bathroom opposite is packed with more finds,<br />

including an amazing bright blue 1920s washbasin<br />

– not actually plumbed in, they had a working basin<br />

already, but too beautiful to leave in the secondhand<br />

yard in Hastings Old Town. Its vibrant colour is<br />

matched by a pair of pale blue grosgrain mule slippers<br />

Adrian couldn’t resist from Fortnum & Mason.<br />

On the landing outside two small runs of stairs face<br />

each other. The one to the south was the original and they<br />

copied it for the extension. Adrian made the stair runners<br />

himself, using scraps of old carpet. “It all cost about £80.”<br />

The other two guest rooms, in the original south side<br />

of the house, are packed with more found treasures too<br />

numerous to mention. In the pink bedroom, hat pins,<br />

hat boxes, Victorian laced boots, tiaras, bow ties, Klaus<br />

the bear, and in the green bedroom, a Fortnum & Mason<br />

biscuit tin showing a cross section of the store, which<br />

includes Adrian at his millinery table on the second floor<br />

(where his professional name is Adrian Phillip Howard).<br />

The floor plan – and equally fascinating contents – is<br />

repeated in the two original reception rooms below. The<br />

sitting room on the right is a pale primrose yellow, the snug<br />

on the left is a slightly deeper pink than the room upstairs.<br />

The wall colours throughout the house are beautifully<br />

subtle in this way, but unlike the litany of Farrow &<br />

<br />

75 wealdentimes.co.uk


The wall colours<br />

throughout the house are<br />

beautifully subtle, but<br />

unlike the litany of Farrow<br />

& Ball paint names most of<br />

us spout, Adrian and Sven<br />

can’t remember what any of<br />

them are. “Our decorator<br />

came with some paint<br />

charts and we chose them<br />

all in twenty minutes,”<br />

says Adrian. “I think they<br />

were mostly Dulux. Then<br />

I added a bit of extra<br />

white here and there…”<br />

Left: Adrian and Sven bought the light<br />

fitting in the sitting room from an<br />

antiques shop in Bruges. Below left:<br />

Adrian embellished the vintage wig<br />

stand with hundreds of crystals, sequins<br />

and buttons. He had the trumpet as<br />

a boy Below: A vintage school map<br />

of Germany hangs over a sofa that<br />

used to belong to Adrian’s parents <br />

76


The Oak Glasshouse Company<br />

We design & build oak sunrooms, oak kitchen<br />

extensions, oak orangeries and garden offices.<br />

Please phone or email to request a brochure,<br />

07522 544158, email info@theoakglasshouse.co.uk<br />

www.theoakglasshouse.co.uk


At Love Blinds we offer a wide<br />

range of beautifully made<br />

plantation shutters, blinds and<br />

window coverings.<br />

We specialize in the shutter business,<br />

combining years of experience with the best<br />

quality products available on the market to<br />

provide an unbeatable price and service.<br />

Fully guaranteed<br />

Free fitting & measuring<br />

Natural Stone Specialists<br />

LoveBlinds<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 11:46<br />

Now offering 0% finance<br />

- subject to status and terms<br />

Unit 1 Croft Works<br />

Diplocks Industrial Estate<br />

Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3JF<br />

Email: sales@sussexstone-ceramic.co.uk<br />

www.sussexstone-ceramic.co.uk<br />

Open Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm Sat 9am-3pm<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

Bespoke worktops in<br />

Granite, quartz and marble<br />

Architectural and monumental masonry<br />

Large selection of natural tiles and mosaics<br />

Waterjet cutting service on various materials<br />

Glass tops and splash backs<br />

WE NOW HAVE A NEW STATE OF THE ART FACTORY AT FRAMFIELD<br />

78<br />

SussexStoneWT180.indd 1 18/01/<strong>2017</strong> 11:41


This page: The snug. Adrian made the straw<br />

boater into a lampshade. He found the Venetian<br />

glass mirror on the street in London<br />

Ball paint names most of us spout, Adrian and Sven can’t<br />

remember what any of them are. “Our decorator came<br />

with some paint charts and we chose them all in twenty<br />

minutes,” says Adrian. “I think they were mostly Dulux.<br />

Then I added a bit of extra white here and there…”<br />

This is what you can do when you are naturally blessed<br />

with an aesthete’s eye, which, in Adrian and Sven’s case, are<br />

starting to roam… With this project lovingly complete,<br />

their fancy has turned to a new wreck and there can be no<br />

doubt that even if it’s infested with vermin and hot and<br />

cold running damp, it will end up a treasure of wonders.<br />

Address Book:<br />

Adrian Phillip Howard, Fortnum & Mason, London<br />

ap.howard@yahoo.co.uk / fortnumandmason.com<br />

20th Century Funking Junk, Courthouse Street, Hastings Old Town<br />

Elm Tree and Robin Hood Boot Fairs, Icklesham<br />

(Sunday mornings from Easter onwards, weather depen ding)<br />

Harborough Nurseries Guestling, Hastings TN35 4LU<br />

01424 814220<br />

Kaisen Antiques Rochester 01634 814132 kaizenantiques.co.uk<br />

Robert’s Rummage, High Street, Hastings Old Town<br />

The yard, Courthouse Street, Hastings Old Town<br />

79 wealdentimes.co.uk


Get the look<br />

A silk Khotan rug, Chinese<br />

Turkestan, circa 1920, 243 x<br />

160cm, £1950, Joshua Lumley<br />

joshualumley.com<br />

Mogg Hubertus<br />

‘antler’ coat hooks,<br />

£110, Go Modern<br />

gomodern.co.uk<br />

Lene Bjerre Lucca<br />

Chandelier, £845,<br />

Sweet Pea and Willow<br />

sweetpeaandwillow.com<br />

Swaggamuffin<br />

chair, £945, Loaf<br />

loaf.com<br />

Edwin Jagger 3 piece<br />

shaving set ivory colour,<br />

£77, Annabel James<br />

annabeljames.co.uk<br />

Bell jar table lamp,<br />

£20, Kikkerlandeu<br />

kikkerlandeu.com<br />

Personalised Map, £50,<br />

Maps International<br />

mapsinternational.co.uk<br />

Courteenhall mirror,<br />

£195, The Chandelier<br />

& Mirror Company Ltd<br />

chandeliersandmirrors.co.uk<br />

Rackety sideboard,<br />

£495, Loaf, loaf.com<br />

Jordana Blue And<br />

White Ceramic<br />

Lamp, £202,<br />

Artisanti<br />

artisanti.com<br />

Lab Bottle Candle,<br />

£22.50, Alchemy<br />

and Thistle<br />

alchemyandthistle.<br />

etsy.com<br />

Venetian Orchid<br />

Mirror, £225, French<br />

Bedroom Company<br />

frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk<br />

80


THE RITUAL, REINVENTED.<br />

For lifestyles that demand perfection, Kaelo introduces sophistication to celebration.<br />

Meticulously crafted in the Cotswolds, each Kaelo experience is seamless,<br />

serving your finest wines perfectly chilled with elegance, not ice.<br />

Iceless moments, priceless memories.


WE BELIEVE<br />

That change is as good as a rest<br />

Believe it or not, our Henley oak kitchen used to be seen as our most<br />

traditional, our most classic, and our most refined collection.<br />

But we knew it had hidden depths. So we took it apart and looked at<br />

all of the pieces from the <strong>inside</strong>-out and from the outside-in. Then we<br />

added new ones. To those of you who knew it before, it might look<br />

familiar, but it’s an entirely new era of design.<br />

It’s Henley, redefined. Now available in both oak and painted.<br />

neptune.com<br />

Neptune Tonbridge, 1-2 Tannery Road, TN9 1RF<br />

01732 351866, info@neptunetonbridge.com


Burnhill Kitchens<br />

Proud Winners of the<br />

Gold Award for Best<br />

Kitchen Design<br />

2015 & 2016<br />

Open 7 days a Week<br />

01732 373515<br />

www.burnhillkitchens.co.uk


Pre-book<br />

discounted<br />

tickets online<br />

now!<br />

Using this code<br />

WT1<br />

Featuring the Healthy Living Festival & Garden Hub<br />

HOLE PARK, Rolvenden, TN17 4JB<br />

8th, 9th & 10th June <strong>2017</strong><br />

See online for ticket details & special offers<br />

BOOK ONLINE: wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

TICKET HOTLINE: 01580 713915<br />

TICKETS: On the gate: £9.50<br />

Sponsored by<br />

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM<br />

Garden Hub & Healthy Living Festival Sponsored by<br />

CANTERBURY & TONBRIDGE<br />

TONBRIDGE


<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June <strong>2017</strong><br />

Danny Clarke<br />

Garden Designer<br />

Mark Lane<br />

Garden Designer<br />

Whitney<br />

Hedges<br />

Head Gardener,<br />

Fairlight Hall<br />

Quentin<br />

Stark<br />

Head Gardener,<br />

Hole Park<br />

Gardening<br />

Visit the Garden Hub sponsored by Neptune<br />

Canterbury & Tonbridge for three days of talks<br />

and workshops. Whether you have a courtyard<br />

or couple of acres, our experts will have plenty<br />

of gardening tips to inform and inspire.<br />

Hole Park<br />

This is one of the best known gardens in Kent, a worthy winner of<br />

Visit Kent’s Garden of the Year award in 2016. Four generations<br />

of the Barham family have created a wonderful 16 acre garden in a<br />

magical parkland setting that must be everyone’s dream. Extensive<br />

yew hedges and herbaceous borders should be at their best for our<br />

opening, with meadow and woodland gardens to explore as well.<br />

The colourful gardens enjoy far reaching views over the hills,<br />

woods and fields of the picturesque Kentish Weald. They are<br />

a skilful mix of formal design and more naturalised planting,<br />

giving colour throughout the seasons. The Weald in the<br />

Garden of England offers a wide variety of gardens, large and<br />

small, to interest and captivate gardeners and non-gardeners<br />

alike. Hole Park <strong>Gardens</strong> hold their own against the more<br />

well-known gardens of Sissinghurst and Great Dixter.<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

86


Tickets on sale now<br />

Ticket Hotline: 01580 713915<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

Liz Lark<br />

Yoga,<br />

Supremo<br />

Anissa<br />

Germain<br />

Pilates director,<br />

Bora<br />

Healthy<br />

living<br />

Madeleine Shaw<br />

will be in the Healthy<br />

Living Theatre on<br />

Thursday 8th June<br />

Meet the expert<br />

Madeleine Shaw<br />

Madeleine Shaw is a nutritional health<br />

coach, qualified yoga instructor,<br />

bestselling cookery writer & creator<br />

of the Glow Guides App.<br />

Diet and exercise lie at the heart of a healthy life.<br />

We’ve brought together a team of experts from the<br />

worlds of nutrition, exercise and health who will be<br />

speaking in the Healthy Living Theatre sponsored by<br />

Benenden Hospital over the three days of the fair.<br />

What inspired you to do this book?<br />

I think the easiest way to get<br />

healthy, nutritious and fresh food<br />

is from locally grown produce.<br />

Seasonal food is amazing - it tastes better<br />

and is healthier on your bank balance!<br />

What are your top 5 store cupboard/<br />

fridge essentials for a healthy diet?<br />

Leafy Greens - kale, spinach, rocket etc.<br />

Free-range Eggs<br />

Avocado Oil<br />

Berries<br />

Lentils<br />

Davina<br />

McCall<br />

TV personality &<br />

Healthy Living<br />

guru<br />

Sarah<br />

Jane Holt<br />

Nutritionist &<br />

personal trainer<br />

When and why did you start practising<br />

yoga? I moved to Australia when I was<br />

18 and a friend took me to a class. I<br />

fell in love with it immediately. The<br />

movement, the meditation and the way<br />

it makes you feel, it’s a way of life.<br />

Madeleine Shaw’s A YEAR<br />

OF BEAUTIFUL EATING is<br />

published by Orion Books in<br />

hardback & eBook on 20 <strong>April</strong><br />

<strong>2017</strong>, priced £20/£10.99<br />

87 wealdentimes.co.uk


<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June <strong>2017</strong><br />

Wyse London<br />

WYSE Maddy<br />

Large Star, £170<br />

wyselondon.com<br />

yuniont<br />

Modern Kaftan<br />

Neck T-shirt, £45<br />

yuniont.com<br />

Burrow and<br />

Hide<br />

Sterling Silver Horse<br />

Shoe Necklace, £40<br />

burrowandhide.com<br />

Bella Jane<br />

Jewellery<br />

Gold stack<br />

£120<br />

bellajanejewellery.<br />

co.uk<br />

Fashion<br />

My Twirl<br />

Zoe, £53<br />

mytwirl.co.uk<br />

&<br />

Accessories<br />

At <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> we have a passion for fashion and can’t wait<br />

Amulette<br />

to browse amongst the handpicked exhibitors selling clothes Labyrinth rings,<br />

and jewellery at this summer’s fair. We’re looking forward to from £95, Labyrinth<br />

visiting regular stands as well as meeting up with first time ring charms, from<br />

exhibitors. Here are some of the products which will be<br />

£22.50<br />

available at Hole Park in June.<br />

amulette.co.uk<br />

Bush Bells<br />

Kikoy towel, £32<br />

bushbells.com<br />

Ridley London<br />

Margot Liberty silk<br />

maxi dress, £369<br />

ridleylondon.com<br />

Possum Merino<br />

Two tone poncho,<br />

£110<br />

possummerino.co.uk


TICKETS ON SALE NOW<br />

Ticket Hotline: 01580 713915<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

Isabelle Fox<br />

Jean mini dress,<br />

£325<br />

isabellefox.com<br />

Tea and<br />

Tequila<br />

Holbox Flamingo<br />

clutch, £95<br />

teaandtequilatrading.<br />

com<br />

Meet the maker<br />

Amulette<br />

Awarded Best Collection <strong>2017</strong> at the Company<br />

of Master Jewellers Awards, Amulette is<br />

British jewellery designed and created by Lisa<br />

Harris from precious metals set with unique,<br />

handpicked gemstones and diamonds.<br />

What do your customers tell you they like about your<br />

products? The pieces are personal and unique, and<br />

my customers love the fact that they can create their<br />

own piece. The Labyrinth rings are individual to you,<br />

simply select your charms and slide them onto your<br />

base ring, change and rearrange whenever it suits you!<br />

Romney<br />

Marsh Wools<br />

Lambs wool Scarf,<br />

£45<br />

romneymarshwools.<br />

co.uk<br />

Have you always been creative? I carry a<br />

sketchbook and a camera everywhere. I am a<br />

country girl and constantly inspired by nature<br />

- hence the themes of insects, flowers and bees<br />

which run through all my collections.<br />

Please tell us about the journey from design process<br />

to market place Everything begins with a sketch and<br />

notes, then once I have a final sketch I sculpt the pieces<br />

into wax. Once I’ve chosen the precious metals and<br />

gemstones, a new fabulous piece of Amulette is born!<br />

Millie Manu<br />

Lola-Rose playsuit,<br />

£59<br />

milliemanu.com<br />

What are your proudest moments so far? My very<br />

first Labyrinth ring was an amazing moment! Amulette<br />

won the Great British Design Competition sponsored<br />

by the UKTI in 2016 and now we are finalists in<br />

this year’s UK Jewellery Awards - fingers crossed!<br />

What can we look forward to from Amulette<br />

at the <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair? I<br />

have designed a new collection including some<br />

new charms for the Labyrinth rings, so it’s an<br />

opportunity for a first look at those. I’m looking<br />

forward to seeing customers, both new and old.<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk


<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June <strong>2017</strong><br />

the Great<br />

Garden crafts<br />

V29 Swag Vase £138.<br />

base £35, sub base £46<br />

garden-crafts.co.uk<br />

Outdoors<br />

Where better to find glorious plants and outdoor accessories<br />

than in the ‘garden of England’ amongst the formal borders<br />

of the Hole Park Estate? Everything the keen garden could<br />

possible wish for will be on display, from shrubs and<br />

herbaceous plants to garden furniture and statuary...<br />

Elham Valley<br />

Shepherd’s Huts<br />

Shepherd’s Hut<br />

£14,500<br />

elhamvalleyshepherdhuts.<br />

com<br />

Roundwood<br />

Corten Steel Fire Pit<br />

from £65<br />

roundwood.com<br />

Neptune<br />

Aloe Succulent, £8<br />

neptune.com<br />

Cat and Mouse<br />

Landscapes<br />

Baltimore Summerhouse,<br />

from £5500<br />

catandmouselandscapes.com<br />

Oarsum<br />

Deck chair, £95<br />

oarsum.co.uk<br />

Beech Bridge<br />

Plants<br />

Verbascum ‘Apricot<br />

Pixie’, £6.50<br />

beechbridgeplants.<br />

co.uk<br />

Grandadad Rob<br />

Designs<br />

Epsom eight nest, £1,031<br />

granddadrobdesigns.co.uk


TICKETS ON SALE NOW<br />

Ticket Hotline: 01580 713915<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

Beech Bridge<br />

Plants<br />

Iris ‘jane phillips’ £7<br />

beechbridgeplants.co.uk<br />

Firepod<br />

The Firepod, £445<br />

thefirepod.com<br />

Meet the maker<br />

Mark Casswell<br />

The Barefoot Welder specialises in high quality<br />

bespoke metal work. He accepts commissions and<br />

works under the watchful eyes of his security team<br />

Frank & Ernie (two miniature Daschunds!)<br />

TeePea<br />

Teepeas, £140<br />

facebook.com/<br />

myteepea<br />

Roundwood<br />

Clayfibre Chelsea<br />

Trough Planter,<br />

from £21<br />

roundwood.com<br />

What do your customers tell you<br />

they like about your work?<br />

That everything is hand made by me in my workshop<br />

in Marden and not in a factory. I remain small enough<br />

to give the personal touches, ensuring my pieces<br />

match my client’s personality and vision, but big<br />

enough to push myself and overcome challenges.<br />

Please tell us about the journey from<br />

design process to market place?<br />

People ask where my inspiration comes from and,<br />

honestly, it just pops in to my head! Being dyslexic I’m<br />

lucky I can visualise a new piece easily, then I make<br />

sure it’s eye-catching, high quality and will last for years<br />

to come. I began making chimeneas using miniature<br />

cardboard versions of my unique shape: then it was just<br />

a case of working out how to make them happen.<br />

With commissions, I’ll meet a client, sketch some designs<br />

and, once they’re agreed, I’m in the workshop with my<br />

welder in hand doing my thing, playing with metal.<br />

What is your proudest moment so far?<br />

My first client commission had an industrial feel, with<br />

towering RSJ columns, treads back-filled with polished<br />

concrete to match the flooring and finished with beeswax<br />

to give a satin finish. It was a huge challenge,<br />

partly due to its enormous scale, but it helped me to<br />

realise I can do anything when I put my mind to it.<br />

What can we look forward to from The<br />

Barefoot Welder at the Midsummer Fair?<br />

Other than my bare feet?! I have some new, exciting<br />

products tucked up my sleeve and if the visitors are lucky<br />

the security team may even make an appearance!<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk


Interiors<br />

In House<br />

Between textures, colours and prints, there is a lot to consider when embarking on a room project, but a wellresearched<br />

approach can have the power to transform a room with intrigue, personality and drama. Over the<br />

next few pages, we’ve taken five themes to liven up your rooms with tactile fabrics and desirable accessories...<br />

1.<br />

2.<br />

10.<br />

3.<br />

9.<br />

Fine<br />

Lines<br />

4.<br />

8.<br />

5.<br />

7.<br />

6.<br />

1. Valbonella Alchemilla fabric, £103/m, Designer’s Guild, designersguild.com 2. Tessella BP 3605 wallpaper, £86/roll, Farrow & Ball, farrow-ball.com<br />

3. Genevieve Bennett Spot Lattice fabric in Indigo, £35/m John Lewis, johnlewis.com 4. Colours Scandi Triangles Wallpaper in Soft Lemon, £12/roll, B&Q,<br />

diy.com 5. Shouchikubai 4501 wallpaper, £112/roll, Farrow & Ball, farrow-ball.com 6. Chevron fabric in Mineral, £15/m RRP, Studio G, studiog.uk.com<br />

7. Diamond Dot fabric in Wedgwood Blue, £65/m, Lewis & Wood, lewisandwood.co.uk, 8. Luxor (105/1005) wallpaper, £80/10m, Cole and Son<br />

cole-and-son.com 9. Lattice wallpaper, Clarke & Clarke, clarke-clarke.co.uk 10. Puzzle (105/ 2008) wallpaper, £110/10m, Cole & Son, cole-and-son.com<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

92


Eclectic Living<br />

Interiors<br />

Hong Kong<br />

Hexagon Rug in<br />

Blue Grey, £49.99,<br />

The Rug Seller<br />

therugseller.co.uk.<br />

Geometric Wall painted in French Grey Scandinavian blue,<br />

and antique rose, all £39.50 for 2.5L. Chair in Scandinavian<br />

Blue Versante Eggshell, £50.95 for 2.5L, all Autentico,<br />

Ashford 01233 878303 autentico-chalk-paint.co.uk<br />

Geometric<br />

Living...<br />

CK095 Chalk White Round<br />

Crackle knob, £3.50, These<br />

Please 01435 817153<br />

theseplease.co.uk<br />

Artisan Footstool in Grade A<br />

Fabric, £395, Lenleys, Canterbury<br />

01227 766655 lenleys.co.uk<br />

Retro Skandi Chair with<br />

Natural Wood Leg, £99.99,<br />

Sue Ryder, sueryder.org/shops<br />

Tweedmill Jigsaw<br />

yellow throw, £59.95,<br />

Black By Design<br />

black-by-design.co.uk<br />

City Lights Linear<br />

Chandelier,<br />

£834, Elstead<br />

Lighting, Alton<br />

01420 590510<br />

elsteadlighting.com<br />

Set of 3 Hexagon<br />

Tealight Holders, £5,<br />

B&Q, diy.com<br />

<br />

Geo Metallic Cushion, £39,<br />

Lenleys, Canterbury 01227<br />

766655 lenleys.co.uk<br />

Lena Coffee<br />

Table, £149,<br />

Marks & Spencer<br />

marksandspencer.com<br />

93 wealdentimes.co.uk


Botanical<br />

Bedroom...<br />

Wallpapers and fabrics from top to<br />

bottom: 1. Sanderson Magnolia &<br />

Blossom Wallpaper, £215 per panel,<br />

Lenleys, Canterbury 01227 766655<br />

lenleys.co.uk 2. Renovated main<br />

bedroom in a rural Georgian residence,<br />

featuring Fleming by Larsen Velvet<br />

Curtains and Adam’s Eden by Lewis &<br />

Wood Wallpaper and Blinds. Project<br />

by Skinners of Tunbridge Wells 01892<br />

532003 skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk<br />

3. Sanderson Wisteria Falls Wallpaper<br />

£215/panel, Lenleys, as before<br />

4. Saverne Viola Fabric, £79/m<br />

Designers Guild, designersguild.com<br />

Interiors 1.<br />

2.<br />

Delphinium Cushion,<br />

£14.99, Dobbies<br />

dobbies.com<br />

Diversity Accent<br />

Chair, £399,<br />

Furniture Village<br />

furniturevillage.co.uk<br />

Floral Bedset,<br />

£40, Next<br />

next.co.uk<br />

Wisteria Floral<br />

Embroidered Duck<br />

Egg Cushion,<br />

£50, Laura Ashley<br />

lauraashley.com<br />

3.<br />

Rose Garden<br />

Easter wreath, £45,<br />

The Contemporary<br />

Home tch.net<br />

4.<br />

Teal Leaves Table<br />

Lamp base, £165,<br />

and shade, £60, both<br />

Elstead Lighting,<br />

Alton 01420 590510<br />

elsteadlighting.com<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

Sunflower mirror, £59,<br />

Marks & Spencer<br />

marksandspencer.com<br />

94


<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Ads 1-4 (August 2016)_D&S 1/4 page 12/08/2016 10:58 Page<br />

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LauraMasseyDesignWT181.indd 1 03/02/<strong>2017</strong> DeaconSandyWT175.indd 14:39<br />

3 02/09/2016 16:21<br />

Photo courtesy of www.goodnestone.com<br />

Rectory Interiors<br />

FABRIC & WALLPAPER SHOWROOM<br />

www.rectoryinteriors.co.uk<br />

The Old Forge 24 Wish Street Tuesday - Friday 9.30 - 16.00<br />

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Specialise in Swedish & French interiors,<br />

original antique beds & furniture,<br />

Bespoke Zinc Top Tables.<br />

Forstal Farm Goudhurst Road Lamberhurst Kent<br />

Tel: 01892890769 www.tashainteriors.co.uk<br />

95 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

RectoryInteriors<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 13/03/<strong>2017</strong> TashaInteriors<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 16:23<br />

1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:22


EnsorInteriorDesign<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 13/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:23<br />

VISIT OUR NEW STORE IN SEVENOAKS -<br />

5000 SQ FT OF BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE AND GIFTS OVER 3 FLOORS!<br />

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wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

96<br />

FarninghamPineOakWT176.indd 1 21/09/2016 09:41


Daisy Side<br />

Plate, £6, M&S<br />

marksandspencer.com<br />

Interiors<br />

Roberts DAB<br />

Revival Gloss<br />

Radio, £199, Very,<br />

very.co.uk<br />

This is the Life wood print,<br />

£28 Next, next.co.uk<br />

Franklin Green<br />

Pendant, £114<br />

Elstead Lighting,<br />

Alton 01420 590510<br />

elsteadlighting.com<br />

Aqua/Raspberry and Summer<br />

Colourway including Batik, Kediri<br />

Nusa, Amba, and Maduraall £15/m,<br />

Studio G, studiog.uk.com<br />

Vibrant<br />

Kitchen...<br />

Farm Forest, £180 (above)<br />

and Black Dandelion,<br />

£200 (below) Stools,<br />

Izzi Rainey izzirainey.com<br />

Aranami BP 4604<br />

wallpaper, £97,<br />

Farrow & Ball<br />

farrow-ball.com<br />

Derby Adjustable<br />

Stool, £235,<br />

Clarkes, Maidstone<br />

01622 753073<br />

clarkesfurnishers.co.uk<br />

Shutters, £230-<br />

£400, The Interior<br />

Shutter Company<br />

01580 754064<br />

interiorshutter.co.uk<br />

Orchidea<br />

Schiaparelli cotton<br />

satin, £62/m,<br />

Designers Guild<br />

designersguild.com<br />

CK279 Orange Zest Polka<br />

Dot knob, £3.50, These Please<br />

01435 817153 theseplease.co.uk<br />

Ananas Tropical cotton,<br />

£14.99/m Prestigious<br />

Textiles prestigious.co.uk<br />

At home with Ashley<br />

Thomas White ‘Sunshine<br />

On A Cloudy Day’ slogan<br />

print tray, £10, Debenhams<br />

debenhams.com<br />

<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk


Interiors<br />

Colours Zara<br />

Silver Stripe Glitter<br />

Wallpaper, £18,<br />

B&Q, diy.com<br />

Laterza Ivory<br />

Wallpaper, £59/roll,<br />

Designers Guild<br />

designersguild.com<br />

Cosmos Wallpaper from the<br />

Zaniah Collection by Today<br />

Interiors, £274/roll, Lime Lace<br />

limelace.co.uk<br />

Isabella 3 light Solid<br />

Brass Bathroom Light<br />

£399, Elstead Lighting,<br />

Alton 01420 590510<br />

elsteadlighting.com<br />

Metallic<br />

Bathroom...<br />

Junipa Leaf Antique<br />

Emboss Small Vase,<br />

£70, House of Fraser<br />

houseoffraser.co.uk<br />

Whimsical Woods and Stars<br />

Wallpaper, £78, Cole & Son<br />

cole-and-son.com<br />

Pewter Soap dispenser, £73,<br />

Tenterden House Interiors,<br />

Tenterden 01580 764481<br />

tenterdenhouseinteriors.co.uk<br />

Maze Mirror<br />

£275, Lenleys,<br />

Canterbury<br />

01227 766655<br />

lenleys.co.uk<br />

The Nickel Bateau, £4,500<br />

plus VAT, Catchpole & Rye,<br />

Tunbridge Wells 01892 526996,<br />

catchpoleandrye.com<br />

Putney bathroom<br />

spot satin nickel,<br />

£40, Garden Trading<br />

gardentrading.co.uk<br />

Leon in teal J905F-01,<br />

£95/m Jane Churchill<br />

janechurchill.com<br />

Copper Bull Skull Wall<br />

Hanging, £225, Alexander &<br />

Pearl, alexanderandpearl.co.uk<br />

Dorado, Oyster J159W-01,<br />

£89/m, and Zander,<br />

Copper J164W-04, £60/m,<br />

Wallpapers both Colefax &<br />

Fowler colefax.com <br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

98


Imagine comfort<br />

The Spring sale is the perfect time to give into the pleasure of<br />

the absolute comfort of a Stressless ® recliner. You deserve the<br />

unique comfort that no other recliner can match; a wide range<br />

of designs and sizes means the perfect chair is waiting for you<br />

to discover. Visit stressless.co.uk and allow us to inspire you.<br />

For extra comfort, every Stressless ® recliner includes:<br />

• The Stressless ® Glide-system that automatically adjusts to your weight.<br />

• Patented Plus-system for perfect support in any position.<br />

• 10 year guarantee for complete peace of mind.<br />

• A choice of 3 sizes for tailored comfort.<br />

An extra gift to you from Stressless ®<br />

Bring this voucher into store to enjoy<br />

an additional £50 off each item purchased<br />

between 14th <strong>April</strong> and 3rd May <strong>2017</strong> *<br />

Foster Road<br />

Ashford<br />

Kent TN24 0SJ<br />

Phone: 01233 502220<br />

www.ashburyfurniture.co.uk<br />

Please follow us on<br />

Facebook and Twitter<br />

*One voucher per order. £50 off applies to each applicable item within the order. Voucher not valid on ottomans, footstools, tables, sectors, sector arms or accessories. Excludes promotional chairs, display<br />

items and clearance. Redeem voucher in-store at participating Stressless ® retailers. Valid between 14th <strong>April</strong> <strong>2017</strong> and 3rd May <strong>2017</strong>.


Molland Antique<br />

Mirrors<br />

Comfort + Joy<br />

HUUTT’s lovely sofas, chairs and<br />

beds are proudly made by British<br />

master craftsmen, using superior<br />

quality fabrics.<br />

Stunning hand-woven contemporary<br />

rugs from India, complete the look.<br />

Showroom in Pluckley, Kent.<br />

By appointment only.<br />

31 Hollybush Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3TJ<br />

Tel: 01732 452909 Mobile: 07774 226042<br />

www.mollandantiquemirrors.co.uk<br />

huutt.com 01233 840847 shopping@huutt.com<br />

MediterraneanStudio<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> HUUTT-<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 12:47<br />

1 10/03/<strong>2017</strong> 09:48<br />

A complete interior design service<br />

Welcome to<br />

NUTLEY ANTIQUES<br />

Eleven vintage merchants offering a<br />

mixture of complementary styles.<br />

Original condition and painted furniture, unique vintage<br />

pieces and handpicked decorative items for home & garden.<br />

Our dealers exhibit all over the country at vintage &<br />

lifestyle fairs including <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Fairs.<br />

Everything for your Home<br />

30/31 High Street<br />

Battle<br />

East Sussex<br />

TN33 0EA<br />

Telephone 01424 774393<br />

www.battleinteriors.co.uk<br />

enquiries@battleinteriors.co.uk<br />

/BattleInteriors<br />

Open Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 11–2<br />

@nutleyantiques<br />

/Nutleyantiques<br />

Call us on 01825 713220 or come and browse<br />

Nutley Antiques, Libra house, Nutley, East Sussex TN22 3NF<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

100<br />

BattleInteriors<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> NutleyWT180.indd 15:32<br />

1 12/01/<strong>2017</strong> 16:13


Authentic Models<br />

Dragon Globe,<br />

£187.50, Houseology<br />

houseology.com<br />

Interiors<br />

Aldsworth Narrow<br />

Shelf Ladder, £165,<br />

Garden Trading,<br />

gardentrading.co.uk<br />

Hanson Leather Paper Tray,<br />

£44, and Pen Pot, £17,<br />

Neptune, Tonbridge 01732<br />

351866 neptune.com<br />

Gold Crochet Cushion,<br />

£30, The French<br />

Bedroom Company<br />

frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk<br />

Newton Sideboard,<br />

£699, Atkin & Thyme<br />

atkinandthyme.co.uk<br />

Delyth Sheepskin<br />

Rug, £79, Neptune,<br />

Tonbridge 01732<br />

351866 neptune.com<br />

A Study in Texture...<br />

Balzac Zinc fabric,<br />

£89/m, Designers Guild<br />

designersguild.com<br />

Large Office Desk<br />

£1,215, Lenleys,<br />

Canterbury 01227<br />

766655 lenleys.co.uk<br />

Laroche Platinum<br />

fabric, £83/m<br />

Designers Guild<br />

designersguild.com<br />

Harris Tweed Braemar<br />

Chair, £1,483, Lenleys,<br />

Canterbury 01227<br />

766655 lenleys.co.uk<br />

UMBRA Madera wall<br />

clock in black/walnut,<br />

£50, Black By Design<br />

black-by-design.co.uk<br />

Caledonia Collection<br />

Hamilton 101/3014<br />

wallpaper, £1,600/10m,<br />

Cole & Son cole-and-son.com<br />

Rigging Table Lamp<br />

£225, Elstead Lighting,<br />

Alton 01420 590510<br />

elsteadlighting.com<br />

101


True Origins<br />

Words: Jennifer Stuart-Smith Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Lucy Fleming<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

102


Immersed within three acres of glorious gardens, Peter and<br />

Jane’s historic family home, a stunning <strong>Wealden</strong> farmhouse, is<br />

tantalisingly full of mystery and intrigue.<br />

103 wealdentimes.co.uk


JACK FRAME<br />

CORNUCOPIA<br />

21 <strong>April</strong> - 2 May<br />

edge<br />

GrahamClarke<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 15/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:22<br />

bespoke picture framing<br />

Full Colour Exhibition Catalogue<br />

Available From The Gallery<br />

McALLISTER THOMAS<br />

117 High Street<br />

Godalming<br />

Surrey GU7 1AQ<br />

T: 01483 860591<br />

www.mcallisterthomasfineart.co.uk<br />

For creative &<br />

professional framing of:<br />

• Artwork<br />

• Photography<br />

• Collections<br />

• Treasured items<br />

Contact Bev<br />

Tel: 01303 268618<br />

Mob: 07833 350815<br />

Email: bev@edge-framing.co.uk<br />

www.edge-framing.co.uk<br />

Facebook:<br />

www.facebook.com/edge.framing<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

104<br />

McAllisterThomasFineArt<strong>WT182</strong>.indd Half Page - Wealdon 1and Surrey.indd 1 16/03/<strong>2017</strong> EdgeBespokePictureFramingWT181.indd 10:23 11:22<br />

1 30/01/<strong>2017</strong> 15:57


Previous pages: The front reception room is on the<br />

eastern end of the house and features a sunken fireplace<br />

This page: The garden is a dreamy combination of<br />

mature lawns, magnificent topiary and intimate spaces<br />

divided by box hedging and moss-covered walls<br />

Anyone who has ever read The Secret Garden by Frances<br />

Hodgson Burnett will understand the magic and<br />

intrigue that can be conjured up by a sprawling, ancient<br />

building surrounded by an equally fantastical garden... For<br />

many of us, visiting such a place, whether it is a National Trust<br />

property, or a special family home, awakens our childhood<br />

curiosity and imagination in a way that few other things do.<br />

The family home of Jane and Peter, a former hall house in the<br />

heart of the High Weald, is just such a place – and one that<br />

is certain to pique the curiosity of adults and children alike.<br />

“This has been the perfect house for us, and our children,”<br />

says Jane, who moved here with her husband in 1984. “Our<br />

children adore the place, and now we have four grandchildren<br />

and two more on the way...”. The house, when they bought it,<br />

was in need of some serious modernisation but this did not deter<br />

the couple who clearly have an affinity for tricky, timber-framed<br />

buildings. “We had moved from another former hall house, near<br />

Headcorn,” says Jane, “so we knew what we were taking on.”<br />

“Lots of people told us that it was known as the coldest<br />

house in Kent,” adds Peter. “But I’m sure there are lots of<br />

houses they say that about! Plus it had small leaks in lots of <br />

105 wealdentimes.co.uk


This page: A pair of dams creates two lovely ponds. “The<br />

sound of water is lovely though it’s not quite so nice when it’s a<br />

rampaging torrent!” explains Jane<br />

places.” So, it was not exactly everyone’s idea of a cosy family<br />

home. However, once the essentials were dealt with (rewiring,<br />

heating installed, secondary glazing fitted and leaks fixed) the<br />

couple were able to start making this historic building into a<br />

family home – a process that has continued until the present<br />

day. Jane and Peter have only recently added a beautiful<br />

kitchen extension, with a huge south-facing window.<br />

“Every generation thinks that what it is putting in<br />

or adding, is an improvement,” says Peter, “though the<br />

following generations sometimes disagree. Either way, our<br />

home has evolved with us as a family.” The stunning<br />

<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

106


CATCHPOLE & RYE<br />

KENT ENGLAND<br />

EXCLUSIVE LUXURY BATHROOMS<br />

LONDON • TUNBRIDGE WELLS • ASHFORD<br />

T. 01892 526 996 www.catchpoleandrye.com


Extend your Living Space this summer with a<br />

Markilux Awning from ABS Blinds Of Tenterden<br />

GET READY FOR SUMMER<br />

• Self Cleaning<br />

Fabrics<br />

• Remote Control<br />

• Heaters<br />

• Motion Sensors<br />

• Call into our<br />

showroom and<br />

have a look<br />

Tel: 01580 765169 www.absblinds.co.uk<br />

8 The Fairings, Tenterden • Mon-Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-3pm<br />

ABSBlinds<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> 16:40<br />

Nick & Diana. Murrayfield, Edinburgh.<br />

Have a newly built apartment, prefer neutral<br />

tones and enjoy cosy nights in with a movie.<br />

£250<br />

off<br />

CORNER SOFAS<br />

Big Softie corner sofa in Sahara Chalk<br />

Let’s design together<br />

The Estate Yard, Eridge, Nr Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9JR<br />

Call us on 01892 572 309 or visit sofasandstuff.com<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

108<br />

SofasAndStuff<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 08/03/<strong>2017</strong> 17:10


This page: The new kitchen extension was built by Hurstway<br />

Construction. The lamps on the sideboard (above) came from<br />

one of the <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Fairs and the trough/planter in the<br />

middle of the windowsill is from Capital to Coast in Cranbrook<br />

new extension, built from reclaimed timbers and featuring<br />

a vaulted ceiling, is a seamless addition. “A lot of this was<br />

because of the grandchildren,” says Peter. “We realised,<br />

once everyone was married, that we didn’t have enough<br />

room for everyone to sit down and have breakfast together<br />

or Christmas lunch.” As well as providing essential space,<br />

it is also the perfect spot from which to view the garden.<br />

The garden, though hard to do justice in words, is a<br />

dreamy combination of mature lawns, magnificent topiary<br />

and intimate spaces divided by box hedging and mosscovered<br />

walls. It is clearly a labour of love, though Jane makes<br />

light of this: “The topiary only really needs cutting once a<br />

year,” she says. There is a pool area, protected by a low wall<br />

and manicured hedge as well as a selection of timber-clad<br />

outbuildings, with Kent peg title roofs. It’s the kind of garden<br />

that just cries out to be explored – and it’s easy to imagine their<br />

grandchildren running along the paths, squirting one another<br />

with hose pipes and jumping into the swimming pool.<br />

“We have done a lot of work on the garden,” says Jane.<br />

“Although we had a few yew and beech hedges when we<br />

arrived, we have planted many more. It’s been great fun<br />

trying to put in some structure.” A love of gardening is<br />

something the couple share with one another, but it is also<br />

something they like to share with others, through their work<br />

with local charity, the Gardening for Disabled Trust.<br />

“We get so much pleasure from gardening ourselves it<br />

makes you realise how awful it must be if you can’t do it <br />

109 wealdentimes.co.uk


When Jane and Peter bought the house in 1984, much of the work that had been carried out<br />

in the 1930s remained, as some of it does today, though not all of the work was to their taste,<br />

however: “He built on an awful kitchen wing, which we have since knocked down,” says<br />

Jane. In its place, they built an extension which is now home to a living-room-cum-snug on the<br />

ground floor with a huge spare bedroom overhead.<br />

<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

110


Davida Smith, Late Light<br />

25th Mar - 23rd <strong>April</strong><br />

¬<br />

R.S.A<br />

_<br />

Rye Society of Artists<br />

107 High Street Rye<br />

Tn31 7JE www.ryeartgallery.co.uk<br />

Rye Art Gallery<br />

Design, Extension, Renovation, Conversion, New Build,<br />

Maintenance from a blocked gutter to a new roof.<br />

All work carried out by our team of experienced craftsmen.<br />

T: 01797 225950 / 01892 891874<br />

www.jonraybuilding.co.uk M: 07778 808 950<br />

RyeArtGallery<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> JonRayWT149.indd 15:50<br />

1 23/06/2014 12:19<br />

ThomasHaywood<br />

Specialist Family Solicitors<br />

Tunbridge Wells - Maidstone - London<br />

Sarah Haywood : 01892 765013<br />

www.thomashaywoodsolicitors.com<br />

111 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

ThomasHaywoodSolicitorsWT175.indd 1 11/08/2016 14:56


KENTISH TO THE CORE...<br />

Bring your wellies<br />

and wander around<br />

our beautiful farm,<br />

savouring the delights<br />

of the unspoilt Kent<br />

countryside.<br />

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Above: The dining room is in fact the oldest in the<br />

house Right: A corner of the downstairs bathroom<br />

anymore,” says Jane. “Through the charity, we try to inspire<br />

people to do what they can with whatever financial support<br />

we can give them.” The Trust, which was formed 48 years<br />

ago, is a voluntary organisation, based in the Weald of Kent,<br />

which gives grants to people all over the United Kingdom to<br />

help them continue to garden, despite disability or advancing<br />

illness. Jane has just sent out invitations for the plant fair they<br />

are hosting at the end of this month [<strong>April</strong>], where about 20<br />

specialist growers are expected to attend and visitors get a rare<br />

glimpse of this very special garden. “It’s a lot of fun – and it<br />

helps that we have masses of space for parking,” says Jane.<br />

But, less about the garden, and back to the magnificent house<br />

which, despite its complex history gives the outward impression<br />

of never having changed. “It’s good to hear that, from the front,<br />

it’s as if it has always looked like this. Planning restrictions and<br />

guidelines on a house like this are very strict, so we’ve had to<br />

work within them,” says Jane. Viewed from the front, their<br />

home is an impressive brick, timber and tile-hung <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

farmhouse, symmetrical, with two storeys plus attic rooms.<br />

The house dates from the 15th century and was a hall house<br />

in origin, though the original house was destroyed by fire and<br />

rebuilt in the 17th century, when it was pivoted on its axis to<br />

face north. The building was then divided in the 19th century to<br />

create two cottages but turned back into a single dwelling in the<br />

1930s. Today it is much larger than the hall house it replaced.<br />

When Jane and Peter bought the house in 1984,<br />

<br />

113 wealdentimes.co.uk


This page: The front reception room’s sunken fireplace was<br />

apparently the only warm place to sit. “My theory is, that the<br />

man who did all the work in the 1930s raised the floor – making<br />

the fireplace appear sunken,” says Jane<br />

much of the work that had been carried out in the 1930s<br />

remained, as some of it does today: “It had been radically<br />

altered; they built a lot of walls and dug out ponds and<br />

did all sorts of things. But overall, they gave it a lot of<br />

love.” It featured in Country Life during the 1930s, which<br />

would suggest that the restoration and work on the garden<br />

was of some note, though not all of the work was to Jane<br />

and Peter’s taste, however: “He built on an awful kitchen<br />

wing, which we have since knocked down,” says Jane.<br />

In its place, they built an extension which is now home<br />

to a living-room-cum-snug on the ground floor with a huge<br />

spare bedroom overhead. As with the kitchen extension,<br />

the living room and upstairs bedroom join seamlessly<br />

with the older structure: “We got nice old bricks from<br />

Symonds Salvage at Bethersden – and the floor over there<br />

is made from the ceiling of a railway station,” says Jane,<br />

pointing to their old dining area, next to the kitchen.<br />

Despite being such an old house, and in some ways a typical<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> timber-framed building, it is surprisingly light<br />

<strong>inside</strong> with large rooms and relatively high ceilings. “It’s quite<br />

surprising, isn’t is?” says Jane. “Friends say it has a slightly<br />

Tuscan feel about it.” I am eager to see more, and Jane has<br />

promised to show us the oldest room in the house – the only<br />

part of the house that survived the fire in the 17th century.<br />

The room – next to the open-plan kitchen, dining <br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

114


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Despite being such an old house, and in some ways a typical <strong>Wealden</strong> timber-framed building,<br />

it is surprisingly light <strong>inside</strong> with large rooms and relatively high ceilings. “It’s quite surprising,<br />

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<br />

117 wealdentimes.co.uk


Previous page: The hall curtains were made from fabric bought<br />

from Bell House Fabrics & Interiors in Cranbrook and sewn by<br />

LilyMatthews This page: The gun above the fireplace is from<br />

Saudi Arabia, it’s a Bedouin Tribal Rifle<br />

room and living room area – acts as a formal dining room<br />

and was painted in a striking pillarbox red by Jane’s father.<br />

It is smaller, darker and with a lower ceiling than the other<br />

rooms and, despite Jane’s assurance that the house does not<br />

have any unusual spirits, the room is strikingly cold. Perhaps<br />

my childish imagination is getting the better of me?<br />

We proceed to the front of the house, where the couple<br />

have created an unusual but effective downstairs washroom.<br />

“This wall here,” says Jane, “would have been part of the<br />

‘solar’ in the original hall house, with sliding screens that<br />

opened into the main hall and cooking / social area.” You<br />

can still see where the sliding doors would have fitted.<br />

Typically, a <strong>Wealden</strong> hall house, or yeoman farmer’s house,<br />

would have had four bays with the two central ones forming<br />

the main hall, open to the roof, with the hearth in the middle.<br />

There would also have been two doors to the outside, at one<br />

end, forming a cross passage. The open hearth would later <br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

118


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120<br />

T2653 JustShutters<strong>WT182</strong>.indd JS <strong>2017</strong> MAR <strong>Wealden</strong> 1 <strong>Times</strong> 90x265.indd 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> TraditionalBespokeFurniture<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 09:41 10:06<br />

1 15/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:43


Left: Jane and Peter found the bannister post outside. “It was<br />

obviously an old gate post, we found it in the garden and linked<br />

it up with the beams.” Below: A large spare bedroom is on the<br />

top of the former kitchen wing<br />

have been moved towards the cross passage and become a<br />

fireplace with chimney. The fact that this house was spun on<br />

its axis in the 17th century, makes it all the more curious.<br />

Jane has her theories about various rooms, including their<br />

current reception room, on the eastern end of the house...<br />

“This sunken fireplace is an interesting thing. My theory<br />

is, that the man who did all the work in the 1930s raised<br />

the floor – making the fireplace appear sunken. It’s believed<br />

that this room had a loom in it. It wouldn’t fit a loom in<br />

it now, but it would if you took the floor down to the<br />

original level.” The farmhouse also, at one time, included a<br />

dairy – reflecting the changing industries over the years.<br />

Upstairs, Jane and Peter’s home now has six bedrooms<br />

and three bathrooms – a far cry from the original hall house<br />

structure: “It’s funny, the children, despite being grown up<br />

all still have rooms they call their own,” says Jane. The attic<br />

contains one enormous bedroom, with wonderful old beams<br />

plus a smaller bedroom with bunk beds for the grandchildren.<br />

“We stack ’em high in there,” jokes Jane. The larger<br />

<br />

121 wealdentimes.co.uk


Above left & left: The contrasting decor of the first floor<br />

bathrooms Above right: A firepace in one of the guest rooms<br />

now houses a studded trunk<br />

bedroom has only recently been vacated by her youngest<br />

daughter: “But I have a feeling there will be people to stay<br />

very soon.” The house almost seems larger upstairs, with<br />

long landings that twist and turn around gnarled beams.<br />

“This is our room,” says Jane, showing us into a large,<br />

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pinkish walls. “We took the black staining off the old beams<br />

and left the plaster bare, rather than painting it as it’s such a<br />

glorious colour.” A striking, almost-black carved cupboard<br />

takes pride of place next to the bed. “I’m very fond of that<br />

piece,” says Jane. “It’s a linen cupboard, which I got from<br />

Cindy over in Rolvenden. It gives me joy every time I think<br />

about it and how it’s ended up in a spot where it’s completely<br />

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From outside the bedroom window comes the sound of<br />

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talk that this was some sort of monastic property at one time<br />

and that the pond had a particular variety of leech in it, that<br />

was used for medical purposes,” says Jane. It seems that the<br />

curious history of this place goes on and on... My, what lucky<br />

children, who get to run amok around this fabulous house<br />

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ThorntonAllanInteriors<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 16/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:13


This page: The master bedroom features stripped dark beams<br />

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125 wealdentimes.co.uk


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126<br />

Chairs&UpholsteryShopWT174.indd 1 20/07/2016 16:04


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Tel: 01732 459 765 | OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK<br />

www.freelands-tiles.co.uk<br />

The International Tile Store Tunbridge Wells<br />

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1 23/05/2016 12:53<br />

The Warehouse, Tunnel Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2BT<br />

T: 01892 514004 | W : www@tilematesgroup.com<br />

n Experienced & professional<br />

n Extensive showroom over two floors<br />

n Easy parking<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

130<br />

Tilemates<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 09/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:13


ceramic, stone & wood<br />

Interiors<br />

Charterhouse<br />

tumbled limestone,<br />

£83.94 per m, The<br />

Tile Emporium, Reigate<br />

01737 223922<br />

thestonetileemporium.<br />

com<br />

Chalet<br />

Porcelwood tiles,<br />

£59.94 per m, The<br />

Tile Emporium, Reigate<br />

01737 223922<br />

thestonetileemporium.<br />

com<br />

Bespoke French<br />

Versailles Galet Parquet<br />

Panel finished with reactive<br />

stain and oil. Prices start from<br />

£180 per m², David Brown<br />

Wood Floors Ltd, Sevenoaks<br />

01959 563063<br />

dbwf.co.uk<br />

Moiety<br />

Monochrome<br />

floor tiles,<br />

£29.95m², Walls &<br />

Floors Ltd.<br />

wallsandfloors.<br />

co.uk<br />

Product, £price<br />

Company<br />

website<br />

Pure<br />

Waterproof Flooring<br />

in Grey Ash, £102<br />

per pack (2.21m²), Pure<br />

Bathroom Collection,<br />

purebathroomcollection.<br />

co.uk<br />

Patchwork<br />

multi-colour<br />

Encaustic tiles, £89.70<br />

per m, The Tile Emporium,<br />

Reigate 01737 223922<br />

thestonetileemporium.<br />

com<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk


Get ready<br />

to Party!<br />

Liven up your little one’s wardrobe with fun, vibrant and playful pieces<br />

Photos: David Merewether<br />

Styling: Helen Barton<br />

Left: ‘Isabelle’ dress, £58 Right: ‘Amelia’<br />

dress, £58, both My Twirl mytwirl.co.uk<br />

See My Twirl at <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair,<br />

8-10 June at Hole Park, Rolvenden wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

133 wealdentimes.co.uk


‘Tabby’ playsuit, £55, Milliemanu 020 8878 7863 milliemanu.com<br />

See Milliemanu at <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair,<br />

8-10 June at Hole Park, Rolvenden wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

134


LOVELL & VIE<br />

lingerie swimwear<br />

Aubade<br />

PrimaDonna<br />

Empreinte<br />

Marie Jo<br />

Wacoal<br />

b.tempt'd<br />

Chantelle<br />

Fantasie<br />

Hanro<br />

Huit8<br />

DKNY<br />

Moontide<br />

Lidea<br />

Hanky Panky<br />

46 Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks TN13 3TL<br />

01732 454445 www.lovellandvie.co.uk<br />

the Italian Wardrobe<br />

2-4 Castle Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XJ<br />

01892 514143 www.theitalianwardrobe.co.uk<br />

LovellAndVie<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 13/03/<strong>2017</strong> ItalianWardrobeWT181.indd 16:53<br />

1 08/02/<strong>2017</strong> 15:44<br />

Independent Family Business<br />

Treating your feet for over 60 years<br />

Various fittings, styles and fashion<br />

www.guestsshoes.co.uk<br />

5 High Street, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 2QA<br />

Also at 23 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8AE<br />

135 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

GuestsShoes<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 13/03/<strong>2017</strong> 12:15


Joules check shirt, £30.95, Joules<br />

dino rucksack, £24.95, Charity Farm<br />

Countrystore, Cranbrook 01580<br />

713189 charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk;<br />

Geox flick in green, £40, The<br />

Golden Boot, Maidstone 01622<br />

752349 thegoldenboot.co.uk


Abi Gurney Hat Hire<br />

By appointment only…<br />

No 6, The Colonnade, Rye Road,<br />

Hawkhurst, Kent TN18 4ES - 01580 752118<br />

12 High Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JF - 01797 224 369<br />

27 High Street Lewes Sussex BN7 2LU - 01273 480896<br />

Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm www.cordeliajames.com<br />

www.abigurneyhathire.co.uk<br />

01825 713448<br />

abigurneyhathire@gmail.com<br />

CordeliaJamesWT181.indd 1 17/02/<strong>2017</strong> AbiGurney<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 09:39<br />

1 02/03/<strong>2017</strong> 15:35<br />

NEW SPRING SUMMER<br />

COLLECTION NOW IN<br />

Exquisite Top Designer<br />

Clothing, Shoes & Accessories<br />

at up to 80% OFF!<br />

£10 OFF if you mention this advert<br />

22 High Street, Cranbrook<br />

Open from 10am 6 days a week<br />

Telephone 07841 374952<br />

A unique and exclusive, high brand fashion and accessories<br />

shop, selling exquisite clothing with gorgeous fabrics,<br />

distinctive designs and styles that will capture your<br />

imagination and suit your pocket.<br />

Telephone 01825 791792<br />

www.theamazinglavendersisters.com<br />

Unit 5 Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green,<br />

Sheffield Park, Uckfield TN22 3RB<br />

Also visit Kontrast, our beautiful shop in Lion Street, Rye<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

138<br />

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1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 09:56


Georgina dress, £65, Milliemanu 020 8878 7863 milliemanu.com<br />

See Milliemanu at <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair, 8-10 June at Hole Park, Rolvenden wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

139 wealdentimes.co.uk


Are you ready for<br />

the <strong>April</strong> showers?<br />

The Clever Dresser<br />

Boutique stocks<br />

some of the most<br />

sought-after brands<br />

of the moment<br />

Alice + Olivia<br />

Rebecca Taylor<br />

DVF Diane Von<br />

Furstenberg<br />

MCQ McQueen<br />

Milly New York<br />

Duffy<br />

360 cashmere<br />

AG jeans<br />

Mercy Delta<br />

Pyrus<br />

CleverDresser<br />

Tel: 01797 224271<br />

16 Lion Street, Rye, E.Sussex TN31 7LB<br />

e: shop@thegoldenfleece.co.uk<br />

w: www.thegoldenfleece.co.uk<br />

@goldenfleecerye<br />

6 Bank St. Sevenoaks,<br />

Kent TN13 1UW<br />

01732 453 002<br />

www.thecleverdresser.com<br />

THE CLEVER DRESSER<br />

BOUTIQUE<br />

STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET<br />

Shersby<br />

GoldenFleece<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 13/03/<strong>2017</strong> CleverDresserBoutiqueWT180.indd 15:58<br />

1 16/01/<strong>2017</strong> 16:32<br />

FINE JEWELLERS<br />

George Cottage, High Street, Cranbrook<br />

Cranbrook has free car parking<br />

www.shersbyjewellers.co.uk Telephone: 01580 720003<br />

shersbyjewellers@aol.com Find us on Facebook<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

140<br />

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1 08/03/<strong>2017</strong> 17:01


‘Charlotte’ dress, £59,<br />

Milliemanu 020 8878<br />

7863 milliemanu.com;<br />

Clarks ‘Little Weave’ shoes,<br />

£26, The Golden Boot,<br />

Maidstone 01622 752349<br />

thegoldenboot.co.uk<br />

See Milliemanu at <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

<strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair, 8-10<br />

June at Hole Park, Rolvenden<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk/events


Linda Pope<br />

Presenting a<br />

Pretty Spring<br />

Palette<br />

facebook.com/LindaPopeOpticians<br />

Rye Road • Hawkhurst<br />

Telephone. 01580 753744<br />

Swattenden Lane | Cranbrook | TN17 3PS<br />

01580 713189<br />

www.charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk<br />

LindapopeQRT<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 07/03/<strong>2017</strong> CharityFarm<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 09:38<br />

1 08/03/<strong>2017</strong> 13:10<br />

cashmere and silk knitwear<br />

Come and see<br />

Oscar nominated<br />

Bafta winning<br />

Shuna at her shop<br />

in Heathfield<br />

Market<br />

Men’s and women’s<br />

vintage clothing<br />

and accessories<br />

New for S/S <strong>2017</strong>,<br />

at Cashara<br />

Moutaki<br />

Not Shy<br />

Lauren Vidal<br />

Deck<br />

Diana Wilson Arcana<br />

BCharmd<br />

Varca<br />

Holster<br />

Kapten & Son<br />

Tuesday mornings and by appointment<br />

01435 883394 or 07831 258582<br />

shuna<br />

¹ @btinternet.com<br />

1920s–1960s items always wanted. Also Chinese<br />

embroidered clothes, Ossie Clark, Biba.<br />

Come and browse the new collections whilst enjoying a<br />

glass of champagne at our Ladies Shopping Event<br />

Wednesday Come and 19 th browse <strong>April</strong> 5.00–9.00pm<br />

our new<br />

Spring/Summer Collections<br />

Complimentary goody bag with every purchase & NEW Loyalty Card<br />

23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ<br />

23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ<br />

Telephone 01580 761222 Email sales@cashara.co.uk<br />

Telephone 01580 761222 Email sales@cashara.co.uk<br />

Shop online at at www.cashara.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

142<br />

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1 07/03/<strong>2017</strong> 15:35


Left: Joules long sleeve<br />

applique top, £22.95<br />

Right: Joules pug print<br />

tee, £9.95, both Charity<br />

Farm Countrystore,<br />

Cranbrook 01580 713189<br />

charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk;<br />

trousers, models’ own


Above left: Shirt, £55, Milliemanu 020 8878 7863 milliemanu.com; Joules shorts (4 years), £19.95, Charity Farm Countrystore,<br />

Cranbrook 01580 713189 charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk<br />

Right: Joules check shirt, £30.95, Joules shorts (7 years), £22.95, Charity Farm Countrystore, as before; trainers, model’s own<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

144


personalised<br />

jewellery<br />

celebrate your past<br />

Celebrate your past with a personalised blue plaque<br />

featuring your<br />

location and an official<br />

Ordnance Survey map of a location important<br />

to you. Uniquely designed and assembled in our<br />

Kent studios, these personalised pendants and<br />

charms are made in sterling silver or cufflinks<br />

and key rings in a range of other metals. Prices<br />

start at £25. Get in touch for more information.<br />

Use the code b0rn10 for a 10%<br />

discount on your first order<br />

www.bornandbredjewellery.co.uk | 07824 185470<br />

dressing undeniable beauty<br />

www.odyl.co.uk<br />

01580 714907<br />

New to Heathfield!<br />

BornAndBredJewellery<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 08/03/<strong>2017</strong> Odyl<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 17:20 1 15/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:54<br />

N˚37<br />

Opening Friday 7 th <strong>April</strong><br />

We are an independent womenswear boutique in<br />

Heathfield High Street, offering quality clothing and<br />

accessories, with collections chosen for their<br />

comfort, style and versatility from brands including:<br />

Masai ∙ Adini ∙ Sahara ∙ Cutloose ∙ InTown<br />

Capri ∙ Eva TraLaLa ∙ Join Clothes ∙ Brodie ∙<br />

GR Nature ∙ Amazing Woman ∙ Ochre Knitwear<br />

We look forward to welcoming you to browse in our<br />

relaxed friendly atmosphere.<br />

N˚37 High Street Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8HU ∙ 01435 868414<br />

145 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

No37-<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 17/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:21


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RUNNINGHUB.CO.UK<br />

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148 LONDON RD, SOUTHBOROUGH, T’ WELLS, TN4 0PJ<br />

T: 148 01892 LONDON 530559 RD, • SOUTHBOROUGH, E: RUNNINGHUB@UWCLUB.NET<br />

T’ WELLS, TN4 0PJ<br />

T: 01892 530559 • E: RUNNINGHUB@UWCLUB.NET<br />

Our Private Care Service carers can come<br />

to your house; help assist you with an<br />

outing in either your car or theirs. This<br />

help can form part of a tailored package<br />

of care that could help you stay in your<br />

own home for longer, rather than going<br />

into a care home before its really needed.<br />

We can assist those who need help due<br />

to frailty, disability or illness to live as<br />

independently as possible, with comfort<br />

and dignity, in their own home.<br />

www.townandcountryhomecare.co.uk<br />

Domestic<br />

Care<br />

£9.77<br />

per hour<br />

For a free assessment<br />

of your care needs or to<br />

receive your brochure<br />

Call us on 01580 762244<br />

Town & Country Homecare Limited<br />

102a High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HT<br />

RunningHubWT160.indd 1 18/05/2015 TownCountryHomecareWT133.indd 11:42<br />

6 04/02/2013 16:20<br />

www.sencio.org.uk<br />

JOIN NOW,<br />

GET 1 MONTH FREE<br />

BENEFITS OF JOINING<br />

3 Badminton, squash and table tennis court hire<br />

3 7 day advanced online booking for classes<br />

3 All exercise classes are free for All-In-One members<br />

3 Complimentary use of all three of our centres<br />

T&CS APPLY: OFFER VALID 01/02/17 – 31/03/17. A set-up fee of £15 per person applies, first direct debit free of charge.<br />

Only applicable on All-in-One 6 month committed memberships. See www.sencio.org.uk for more details.<br />

EDENBRIDGE LEISURE CENTRE<br />

Stangrove Park, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 5LU<br />

01732 865665 | elc@sencio.org.uk<br />

SEVENOAKS LEISURE CENTRE<br />

Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1LW<br />

01732 470700 | slc@sencio.org.uk<br />

WHITE OAK LEISURE CENTRE<br />

Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, Kent BR8 7BT<br />

01322 662188 | wolc@sencio.org.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

Welden<strong>Times</strong>_HalfPage_W185mm_x_H130mm.indd 1 06/01/<strong>2017</strong> 08:47<br />

146<br />

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Freshen<br />

Up<br />

Beauty<br />

Josephine Fairley tames<br />

unpredictable teenage skin<br />

In the age of the ‘selfie’, I’ve discovered that teenagers<br />

fret more about skin than ever. Notwithstanding<br />

the fact that they can download filters which blur<br />

spots and redness, make skin look radiant and lips<br />

bigger, there seems to be more pressure than ever to<br />

look ‘perfect’. Therefore, skin woes – in particular, spots<br />

– seem to be even more anxiety-inducing in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

No question: spots and breakouts can seriously<br />

zap confidence and self-esteem, though; I have many<br />

a young woman in my ‘circle’ who have been badly<br />

affected, not wanting to meet with friends, rock up<br />

for family get-togethers or take those ‘selfies’ – and<br />

generally feeling very isolated despite this being an<br />

incredibly common problem. Some of the rules for<br />

caring for acne/blackhead-prone complexions remain<br />

the same as they ever did. But there are, happily, some<br />

innovative products and gizmos which are worth trying<br />

on teen and troubled skin. The skincare world has<br />

truly woken up to the challenges young<br />

“The most<br />

important step is<br />

cleansing. End.<br />

Of. Removing<br />

bacteria and the<br />

sebum that clogs<br />

skin is really<br />

important.”<br />

women (and boys) face – and is offering<br />

an increasingly wide range of solutions.<br />

The most important step is cleansing.<br />

End. Of. Removing bacteria and the<br />

sebum that clogs skin is really important.<br />

But this doesn’t mean blitzing skin<br />

with ultra-strong products; it means<br />

taking a softly-softly approach. First<br />

off: no cleansing wipes. (Or only if<br />

the alternative is quite simply going<br />

to bed with make-up on; these are a<br />

for-emergencies-only solution.) My<br />

go-to cleansing recommendation remains Liz Earle<br />

Cleanse & Polish, £15.50 for 100ml starter kit – but<br />

other great choices include Cetaphil Gentle Skin<br />

Cleanser, £8.99 for 236ml, and Derma E Purifying<br />

Gel Cleanser, £15 for 175ml. (The whole Derma E<br />

Purifying range is just brilliant for problem skins – see<br />

my recommendation for a great moisturiser, below);<br />

you can find both these ranges at victoriahealth.<br />

com – and I quote their founder Shabir Daya on<br />

acne, below. For an occasional deeper treatment, try<br />

the Amie Radiant Dawn Exfoliating Wash, £4.95 for<br />

150ml. The bottom line is that learning to cleanse<br />

scrupulously is the best possible foundation for a<br />

lifetime’s regime. One important tip, though: always,<br />

always wash hands thoroughly before cleansing your<br />

face, to avoid transferring dirt and bacteria to the skin.<br />

Try a cleansing gizmo. Technology can prove a boon<br />

to problem skins – in the form of some of the new deep-<br />

cleansing ‘gadgets’ that have hit the market. I’ve<br />

had great reports from teens who’ve used the Foreo<br />

Luna, , £85 (a birthday-pressie price), which has soft<br />

silicone ‘nodules’ and works in roughly the same<br />

way as a sonic toothbrush, with micro-vibrations<br />

loosening dirt – along with sebum and general gunk.<br />

Ditch the toner. I once tried an experiment with<br />

a Very Famous Toner because I’d heard that it could<br />

take off nail varnish. It did. Many toners targeted<br />

at teen skins are just way, way too harsh. If you<br />

want a feeling of freshness after cleansing, switch to<br />

good old-fashioned rosewater – which does the job<br />

beautifully, gently (and smells delicious). Neal’s Yard<br />

Rehydrating Rose Toner, £16 for 200ml, is honestly<br />

as good as it gets (and was formerly known as ‘rose<br />

water’ – so I’m not contradicting myself, here!).<br />

Every skin needs moisturiser. Oil and water are<br />

different – and for healthy cell communication,<br />

moisturiser is a must. (It ensures skin<br />

feels comfortable, too – and makeup,<br />

which I’ll come onto, glides on<br />

smoothly.) Choose one specifically<br />

for oily or combination skins: The<br />

Ordinary Natural Moisturizing<br />

Factors + HA, £4.90 for 30ml,<br />

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream,<br />

£9.99 for 100g, from that greatfor-tricky-skins<br />

range, or Derma<br />

E Very Clear Moisturizing Cream,<br />

£18.95 for 56g. Liz Earle Skin Repair<br />

Light, £20.25 for 50ml pump,<br />

is another perennially great choice. (I’ve<br />

always liked that Liz Earle offers a travel/<br />

trial size of much of their range – a good way<br />

to check out whether your skin gets on with<br />

something; a 15ml tube will set you back £8.)<br />

Don’t trowel on the slap. It’s so, so tempting<br />

to cover up every blemish – but skin needs<br />

to breathe. A lighter coverage, with perhaps<br />

an extra dot of concealer where there are<br />

breakouts, will ultimately do your skin more<br />

favours than applying a full-coverage base. As a<br />

new handbag must-have for problem skins, I’d<br />

thoroughly recommend Bioderma Sébium Global<br />

Intensive Purifying Care, £14 for 30ml, which sets<br />

out to control sebum with a one-shade-suits-all,<br />

lightly tinted cream featuring AHA-esters said to<br />

‘biologically treat’ the causes and consequences<br />

of blemishes. It’s matte without being at all flat-<br />

<br />

147 wealdentimes.co.uk


Beauty<br />

Concept<br />

Hair<br />

salon<br />

50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564<br />

Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk<br />

or through our facebook page<br />

WilliamCharlesWT174.indd 3 05/07/2016 12:49<br />

looking (actually, too-matte accentuates the lumpiness of<br />

breakouts), and it’s a great make-up base if someone doesn’t<br />

feel this is enough coverage. You flip open the lid to reveal a<br />

green-tinted balm which calms the redness of a blemish while<br />

delivering its antibacterial cargo of ingredients. For more coverage<br />

for acne-prone skins, one of the best is Clinique Anti-Blemish<br />

Solutions Liquid Makeup, £25 for 10ml, along with Tarte Water<br />

Foundation, £30 for 30ml (tartecosmetics.com), and (affordably)<br />

Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation, £5.99 for 30ml.<br />

Follow lifestyle advice, too. For wellbeing wisdom, I generally<br />

turn to pharmacist Shabir Daya of the authoritative beauty<br />

and health website victoriahealth.com. As Shabir notes: “The<br />

look of your skin is a direct reflection of your overall health.<br />

Taking simple but essential measures will reap rewards not just<br />

in the look of your skin, but also in your overall confidence.”<br />

He says it is worth noting the following. (Much of which is<br />

probably what any mother would tell her teen – but it may<br />

be more authoritative coming from outside the family!)<br />

Grains and sugars. Elimination, whilst difficult,<br />

even for a few weeks will most likely result in a<br />

major improvement in the look of your skin.<br />

Water. Drink plenty of water. Hydrating your body<br />

will help with the elimination of waste, improve<br />

skin tone and facilitate regeneration of cells.<br />

Sleep. A good night’s sleep will help to reduce stress levels and<br />

lead to a clearer skin. Your body’s healing processes on the<br />

whole take place at night and that includes your skin. (It’s good<br />

advice to try to get a teenager to ban mobile devices from the<br />

bedroom, since these are now known to keep us awake.)<br />

Exercise. Exercise encourages circulation and helps support<br />

the greater excretion of toxins through the pores.<br />

Balance of bacteria. This is especially important if you<br />

have been using antibiotics for skin problems since<br />

these destroy the beneficial bacteria within the gut that<br />

are involved in the breakdown of foods, removal of<br />

toxins within the gut as well as enhancing the digestive<br />

process. There are many probiotic <strong>supplement</strong>s on the<br />

market so ensure that you use a high quality one.<br />

To which I can only add: remember, there’s<br />

more to life than ‘selfies’. Listen to music. Spend<br />

time with friends. Get out in the fresh air. And<br />

the skin challenges which seem so overwhelming<br />

when staring at the screen of an iPhone (or in the<br />

mirror) may not seem so all-important, after all.<br />

Visit Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey’s beautybible.com<br />

for the latest health and beauty news and product reviews.<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

DrChristineWT179.indd 1 09/12/2016 11:22<br />

148


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Health & Beauty<br />

Active <strong>April</strong><br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> talks to personal trainer and nutrit ionist Sarah-Jane Holt...<br />

Do you have a beauty<br />

regime? I cleanse and<br />

moisturise but that’s as<br />

complicated as it gets. I use<br />

natural organic products as<br />

much as possible. Caudalie<br />

foaming face wash is a<br />

god-send as it’s quick and<br />

easy to use in the shower.<br />

Beyond products I drink<br />

two litres of water a day<br />

and focus on including a<br />

wide variety of vegetables<br />

in my diet. Being hydrated<br />

and making sure you are<br />

eating enough vitamins and<br />

minerals really will make<br />

such a difference to the skin.<br />

Beauty does come from<br />

within in more ways than<br />

one and what you put into<br />

your body will reflect itself<br />

in the way you feel and look.<br />

Do you have a particular<br />

product you couldn’t<br />

live without? Mascara, no<br />

matter how I feel a bit of<br />

mascara will always make<br />

me feel a bit better!<br />

What’s your ultimate<br />

pampering treat? A back<br />

That essential Easter icon, the<br />

hen’s egg, is nature’s perfect<br />

convenience food. With<br />

an abundance of essential<br />

vitamins, minerals and a highprotein<br />

content (they contain<br />

all eight essential amino<br />

acids) eggs make a delicious,<br />

affordable and versatile<br />

contribution to a healthy diet.<br />

In the past, cholesterol<br />

levels in eggs were<br />

considered a health risk and<br />

recommendations were made<br />

that they should be limited to<br />

four a week. These findings<br />

massage! Training a lot<br />

throughout the week<br />

can really affect muscle<br />

tension and tightness and<br />

a good deep tissue massage<br />

can certainly make a big<br />

difference, plus it’s super<br />

relaxing so a win all round!<br />

Who’s your style icon? I<br />

don’t really have a style icon<br />

but someone who I really<br />

look up to in more ways<br />

than just their look is Jessica<br />

Ennis. Her ability, power<br />

and talent is incredibly<br />

inspiring, beyond that she is<br />

Go to work on an egg...<br />

have now been over-turned<br />

by new research which shows<br />

that cholesterol in food has a<br />

much smaller effect on blood<br />

levels of total cholesterol, and<br />

harmful LDL cholesterol,<br />

than was previously thought.<br />

With a clean bill of health,<br />

all major organisations<br />

– including the British<br />

Heart Foundation and the<br />

Department for Health –<br />

now recommend eggs as<br />

part of a healthy diet.<br />

Their high protein content<br />

makes eggs a great breakfast<br />

a great ambassador for sport<br />

and fitness and I think a<br />

role model for all women.<br />

Having previously trained<br />

and worked as an actress,<br />

Sarah-Jane now works<br />

as a personal trainer and<br />

nutritionist with Matt<br />

Roberts in London and<br />

with private clients in Kent.<br />

Sarah-Jane will be speaking<br />

in the Healthy Living<br />

Theatre at <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

<strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair<br />

on Healthy Habits<br />

for Busy Mums.<br />

if you’re looking to lose<br />

weight: they’ll make you feel<br />

fuller for longer and there<br />

are only 78 calories in every<br />

egg. A word of advice, boiled,<br />

poached and scrambled are<br />

best, avoid a fatty fry-up -<br />

that would be egg-sessive!<br />

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sun’s damaging rays without<br />

a whole host of chemical<br />

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sun protection lotions. The<br />

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buy, speak to local consultant,<br />

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visit arbonneinternational.co.uk<br />

151 wealdentimes.co.uk


Book your<br />

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may be recommended by your consultant to confirm your diagnosis. For more information and full terms and conditions see benendenhospital.org.uk or call 01580 232 498.


Health<br />

The Big Mind &<br />

Body Spring Clean<br />

Our bodies are pre-programmed to spring clean themselves if we let them, as Julie Simpson explains...<br />

It’s <strong>April</strong>, and time for a clear out. In the rush to<br />

throw open the windows and defrost the fridge,<br />

don’t forget to put aside some time for a self<br />

spring clean to re-energise your mind and body.<br />

This isn’t as hard as you think, in fact it’s really simple!<br />

Nature designed our bodies with a built-in elimination<br />

system to get rid of toxins and make way for the fuel we<br />

need for perfect health. The message is, look after your<br />

elimination system and it’ll look after you. All you need to<br />

do is to move out of its way and let it get on with its job ...<br />

Here are four easy ways to give yourself a spring clean in <strong>April</strong><br />

EAT HEALTHILY<br />

Give your digestive system a rest so the main digestive<br />

elimination organs - the liver and kidneys - can do their<br />

job. Use whole foods and prepare meals from scratch. Eat<br />

mainly plant foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans)<br />

with small amounts of good quality protein (free-range<br />

meat and poultry, fish and eggs) and cut out processed<br />

foods. Eat your last meal of the day early to allow a<br />

13-hour fast between supper and breakfast. This gives<br />

your body time to process food and your cells to renew.<br />

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP<br />

7-8 hours sleep a night allows the brain to process the day’s<br />

information, detoxing the mind while the body rests and<br />

repairs. For a good night’s sleep, cut out caffeine and alcohol<br />

( a nightcap may help you drop off but you’ll be up again at<br />

3am); create a ‘sleeping space’ (soft lighting, comfy bedding and<br />

ban the telly and mobile phone); establish a sleep routine and<br />

rituals (a warm bath, lavender oil on the pillow) and avoid all<br />

screen time for at least a couple of hours before you turn in.<br />

STAY HYDRATED<br />

Our bodies are between 50-75% water and it’s vital to drink<br />

to stay hydrated. The kidneys filter 120-150 quarts of fluid<br />

daily and need water to do their job. Flush out your system<br />

with plenty of water and cut the bad boys caffeine and<br />

alcohol because, as well as overburdening the liver, they are<br />

also dehydrating. The jury’s out on the exact amount we<br />

should drink each day but feeling thirsty and passing dark,<br />

strong smelling urine are both signs of de-hydration. The<br />

government recommends eight glasses a day, and, for the<br />

purposes of loving your elimination system, make these water.<br />

BREATHE<br />

The lungs are one of the largest organs in the body, and,<br />

with each inhalation they supply the body with the oxygen<br />

it needs while the inhalation carries away the stale air. For<br />

the full benefits, aim for good steady breathing with each<br />

breath starting in the abdomen, then filling the lungs and<br />

rising to the top lobes, just below the collarbone, aiming for<br />

a slightly longer inhalation than inhalation. Seek out green<br />

spaces away from traffic pollution – trees are natural air<br />

filters – or walk along the beach so your lungs can take in<br />

good quality air, and exhale the stale stuff you don’t need.<br />

So, by all means sign up to a boot camp or fully fledged fast if<br />

that suits your purse and personality but don’t underestimate the<br />

power of the body to cleanse itself. All you have to do is allow<br />

it a little space and kindness and get out of its way for a while.


Unit 1 - The Cellars<br />

3-5 High Street<br />

Tenterden<br />

Kent, TN30 6BN<br />

Tel: 01580 765222<br />

www.tenterdenopticians.co.uk<br />

OUR SERVICES<br />

• Sight Tests<br />

• Contact Lens Fittings<br />

• Spectralis 4D Eye Checks<br />

• Dry Eye Specialist Services<br />

• Coloured Overlay Assessment<br />

• Optical Styling<br />

• Private Ophthalmology<br />

• Hearing Care<br />

Right in the middle of Tenterden,<br />

through the doors of a Dickensian<br />

shop-front, lies the world of Tenterden<br />

Opticians. This is an opticians like no<br />

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ABOUT US<br />

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As a boutique optical retailer, we pride<br />

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manufacturers like Lindberg, Cartier,<br />

Dita, Cutler and Gross, Tom Davies,<br />

Victoria Beckham and many more. With<br />

over 1000 frames in stock and ability to<br />

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something here for every one. A lot of<br />

our frames can be customised for size,<br />

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Proud suppliers<br />

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WELCOME<br />

We are proud to announce<br />

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with strong clinical<br />

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and independent practice.


Health<br />

Walking -<br />

Where are all the people?<br />

Julie Simpson steps out in search of the loveliest <strong>Wealden</strong> wanders<br />

A<br />

few years ago, we had a<br />

visitor staying from the Czech<br />

Republic. Her first question<br />

was: Where are all the people? She’d<br />

been amazed to find, driving back from<br />

the airport, that the country lanes were<br />

empty of walkers. How did people<br />

get to work? To school? Simple, we<br />

explained, most of us who live in the<br />

country, now get around by car and<br />

public transport. These days, walking<br />

has been relegated to recreation.<br />

And at what cost? Because, whatever<br />

our age or fitness, walking is one of the<br />

simplest, most enjoyable and versatile<br />

forms of exercise there is, and it’s free.<br />

To quote the NHS website, regular<br />

walking has been shown to reduce the<br />

risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart<br />

disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke<br />

and some cancers. However, to reap<br />

the full health benefits, you need to<br />

walk with moderate intensity, in other<br />

Along the way...<br />

Hythe Bay Fish Restaurant<br />

Near the start of your walk, right on<br />

the beach this has good coffee and<br />

excellent food<br />

words, faster than a stroll. A good guide<br />

is to be able to hold a conversation as<br />

you walk but to feel that your heart<br />

rate is up and that you’re working up<br />

a gentle sweat. A pedometer – or one<br />

of the many free health apps – will<br />

tell you how many steps you’ve<br />

walked and keep a track of distance.<br />

The recommended goal for optimal<br />

health benefits is 10,000 steps or<br />

about five miles a day. This may<br />

sound steep, but start small, say<br />

1,000 steps a day and build up.<br />

In Kent and Sussex we’re lucky to<br />

have fabulous walks with hills, nature<br />

reserves and miles of coastline to<br />

explore. Here’s one of my favourites,<br />

it’s a very easy five miles and perfect for<br />

beginners as it’s on the level throughout.<br />

Better still, you won’t get muddy, it’s<br />

peppered with great watering holes and<br />

eateries and, best of all, you’re always<br />

walking next to the sea.<br />

The Ship Inn, Sandgate<br />

At just over half way, this pub is perfect<br />

for a pint and food’s good too.<br />

Loaf, Sandgate High Street<br />

Take a 2 min detour through the village<br />

to this fun café – good for coffee,<br />

Coastal walk<br />

Hythe to Folkestone Harbour<br />

Beginning at Fisherman’s Beach, Hythe,<br />

at the top of St Leonard’s Road, head east<br />

along West Parade following the promenade<br />

past the golf course and along the Sandgate<br />

Esplanade for 3 miles until you reach<br />

Sandgate village. Continue to follow the<br />

path as it ducks behind the coastguards<br />

cottages and shops, snakes around Radnor<br />

Cliff and the Lower Leas Coastal Park and<br />

eventually brings you to your destination,<br />

Folkestone Harbour.<br />

It’s worth visiting The Old High Street,<br />

now Folkestone’s Creative Quarter, which is<br />

full of interesting shops and cafés. It weaves<br />

up the hill from the harbour into the town<br />

centre from where there’s a regular<br />

bus service back to Hythe from<br />

Folkestone Bus Station.<br />

breakfast or a light lunch<br />

Rocksalt, 4-5 Fishmarket, Folkestone<br />

Reward yourself with a real treat -<br />

lunch or dinner at Mark Sargeant’s<br />

stylish restaurant and bar with<br />

panoramic views over the harbour<br />

155 wealdentimes.co.uk


wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

156


Food<br />

Feast<br />

Easter<br />

Fresh from the kitchen of her Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells<br />

Rosemary Shrager and her apprenticeship team share four exceedingly delicious<br />

Easter recipes that are bound to impress this Bank Holiday weekend...<br />

Photographs: David Merewether<br />

Smoked haddock Scotch egg<br />

Makes 16 eggs Prep time: 3 hours (inc. cooking eggs & potatoes & cooling) Cooking time: 4 minutes<br />

• 16 quail’s eggs or 6<br />

medium eggs<br />

• 2 large baking potatoes<br />

• 500g smoked haddock<br />

(undyed) skinned and<br />

lightly poached in milk<br />

• handful of chives and<br />

parsley, very finely cut<br />

• zest of one lemon<br />

• salt<br />

• pinch cayenne<br />

for the coating<br />

• 50g plain flour<br />

• 3 eggs well beaten<br />

• 250g panko breadcrumbs<br />

• salt<br />

• pinch cayenne<br />

for the curry mayonnaise<br />

• 2 egg yolks<br />

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard<br />

• 300ml sunflower oil<br />

• juice of one lemon<br />

• salt and pepper<br />

• 20g curry powder<br />

• 2g turmeric<br />

• 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce<br />

1. To make the Scotch eggs, first cook<br />

the quail’s eggs in boiling water for<br />

2 minutes (large for 4 minutes) then<br />

put straight into iced water. Allow<br />

to cool before removing the shell.<br />

2. Put the potatoes into an oven at 180˚C<br />

and cook for about an hour until soft.<br />

Leave in longer if needed. Remove and<br />

allow to cool, scoop out the potato from<br />

the skin and put through a ricer or sieve.<br />

3. Chop the smoked haddock finely, put<br />

into a bowl and add the chives and<br />

parsley, cayenne and zest and mix well.<br />

4. Add the potato to the mixture (not<br />

all at once, it’s just to bind the whole<br />

thing together). Season well.<br />

5. Peel the eggs carefully, they will be<br />

delicate being soft. Take a small ball<br />

of the haddock, enough to cover the<br />

egg. Flatten it so it wraps around<br />

the egg. Repeat with the rest of the<br />

eggs, put onto a floured tray and<br />

place in the fridge for an hour.<br />

6. Once the egg has rested, roll in flour<br />

then egg, then panko breadcrumbs<br />

with a pinch of salt and cayenne added.<br />

When finished, put into the fridge again<br />

for another hour to rest, if possible.<br />

7. Heat up the sunflower oil in a deep fat<br />

fryer to 180˚C and cook the eggs for<br />

approx. 4 minutes, turning until golden.<br />

8. To make the mayonnaise, put the egg<br />

yolk and mustard into a bowl and whisk.<br />

Add the oil, drop by drop, until it<br />

becomes thick. You can now start adding<br />

the oil a little faster. When finished, add<br />

the lemon and curry powder, turmeric<br />

and chilli sauce, check for seasoning. <br />

157 wealdentimes.co.uk


Rolvenden.indd 1 23/07/2014 17:31<br />

Cookery Courses ■ Chef’s Table ■ Private Parties<br />

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wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

158<br />

RosemaryShrager<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 09/03/<strong>2017</strong> 11:19


Food<br />

Navarin of Lamb<br />

Serves: 6-8 Prep time: 30 mins Cooking time: 1½ hours<br />

For the lamb<br />

• 1 whole shoulder of<br />

lamb, cut into 4cm<br />

squares<br />

• 1 large onion<br />

• 60g butter<br />

• 4 cloves garlic,<br />

chopped<br />

• 8 medium turnips,<br />

peeled and quartered<br />

• ½ bottle of red wine<br />

• 4 sprigs thyme<br />

• 4 bay leaves<br />

• 2 tbsps tomato purée<br />

• 800ml stock<br />

• 1 tbsp plain flour<br />

• 1 dsp dark brown<br />

sugar<br />

For the garnish<br />

• 24 shallots, peeled but<br />

kept whole, stalk on<br />

• 450g button<br />

mushrooms<br />

• 30g butter<br />

• 1 tbsp caster sugar<br />

• 8 rashers dry-cured<br />

back bacon, sliced into<br />

strips<br />

• 2 tbsps parsley, finely<br />

chopped<br />

• 400ml stock (lamb or<br />

chicken)<br />

• 2 tbsps finely chopped<br />

parsley<br />

• 32 baby potatoes<br />

1. Using a large frying pan, soften the onions in olive oil<br />

and put them into a heavy ovenproof casserole dish.<br />

2. Sear the meat in batches in hot oil and add<br />

them to the onions. Add the butter and let it<br />

melt over the meat and onions, sprinkle on the<br />

flour and the sugar, turning it all together.<br />

3. Now add the garlic to the frying pan, cook it briefly<br />

then deglaze the pan with the red wine. Let it bubble<br />

for a minute and pour it into the casserole, followed<br />

by the stock, the tomato purée and the thyme.<br />

4. Add the turnips to the casserole, bring the whole<br />

thing to simmering point and then put into the oven<br />

for about an hour and a half. Test to see if the meat<br />

is tender and allow it to cool until you need it. It<br />

will happily stay in the fridge for a day or two.<br />

5. To prepare the vegetables, simmer the shallots in stock<br />

for about five minutes, remove with a slotted spoon,<br />

then add the mushrooms and simmer them for 5<br />

minutes. Strain them, reserving the stock. Melt the butter<br />

in a frying pan and stir in the sugar. Put the cooked<br />

mushrooms and shallots into this, turning them to make<br />

them slightly caramelised. Add 2 tablespoons of the<br />

reserved stock, stirring it all together (save the rest of<br />

the stock for soup). Allow it to cool until you are ready<br />

to serve. Fry the bacon in a little oil until it is crisps.<br />

6. Now boil the potatoes until just cooked, add to the meat<br />

with the shallot and mushrooms, fold in gently. <br />

159 wealdentimes.co.uk


Food<br />

Vanilla pannacotta<br />

Serves: 2 Prep time: At least 3 hours (inc.<br />

setting time) Cooking time: 15 minutes<br />

For the pannacotta<br />

• 250ml double<br />

cream<br />

• 1½ leaves of<br />

gelatine<br />

• 2 tbsps caster sugar<br />

• 1 vanilla pod<br />

For the roasted rhubarb<br />

• 2 sticks rhubarb<br />

• zest of 1 orange<br />

• 3 tbsps sugar<br />

• 3 tbsps water<br />

1. Lightly heat the cream with the vanilla pod<br />

and sugar until simmering. Soak the gelatine<br />

leaves in cold water until soft. Remove from<br />

water and squeeze off excess water, remove<br />

cream from the heat and stir in gelatine until<br />

all dissolved. Place into dariole mould and<br />

allow to set in the fridge for at least 3 hours.<br />

2. Cut the rhubarb into batons and place into<br />

a roasting tray, sprinkle the sugar and orange<br />

zest and pour over water, cover with tinfoil and<br />

bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 180˚C.<br />

3. Remove foil and finish cooking in oven for about 5<br />

minutes, until rhubarb is soft but not falling apart.<br />

4. Place the rhubarb onto the plate and use<br />

the remaining syrup to coat the rhubarb<br />

and drizzle on the plate.<br />

<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

160


Tours and Tastings<br />

at Hush Heath Estate<br />

Enjoy a fantastic day at Hush Heath Estate & Winery,<br />

the home of award-winning Balfour Brut Rosé. Now<br />

open 7 days a week, including Bank Holidays, from<br />

11am-5pm for visitors and wine-lovers to experience<br />

FREE Self-Guided tours and tastings. No need to book.<br />

New for <strong>2017</strong> – Free Guided Tours on selected dates<br />

Enjoy a free guided tour by one of our winery experts, 2½<br />

hours including: A full Estate tour and winery tour followed<br />

by a tutored tasting of our award winning wines and ciders.<br />

Sun 30 th <strong>April</strong> 11.30am & Sun 14 th May 11.30am<br />

Please note there are limited places so please call<br />

01622 832794 to book your place<br />

hush heath estate, five oak lane, staplehurst, kent tn12 0ht<br />

01622 832794 www.hushheath.com<br />

HushHeathWinery<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 07/03/<strong>2017</strong> 11:03<br />

VISIT OUR<br />

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miles of the Winery. All day dining available.<br />

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PASSIONATELY PLAYING OUR PART AS CHAMPIONS OF GLORIOUSLY REFRESHING ENGLISH WINES AND CIDERS HUSHHEATH.COM<br />

161 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

GoudhurstInnWT180.indd 1 19/01/<strong>2017</strong> 10:12


WINNER<br />

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Innovation<br />

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Open seven days a week, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. For details and to order online, visit the website.<br />

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Food<br />

Simnel Battenberg cake<br />

Serves: 6 Prep time: 30 mins<br />

Cooking time: 25-30 mins<br />

To make perfect Battenberg squares, Rosemary<br />

recommends using a special Battenberg Tin. She<br />

uses a Silverwood tin, available at Lakeland<br />

lakeland.co.uk/70952/Silverwood-Battenberg-Tin<br />

• 175g unsalted<br />

butter, softened<br />

• 175g golden caster<br />

sugar<br />

• 3 large eggs<br />

• 1tsp vanilla paste<br />

• 175g self-raising<br />

flour<br />

• pink colouring<br />

paste<br />

• 4tbsp raspberry jam<br />

• 350g marzipan<br />

1. Cream the butter and sugar until very pale<br />

and fluffy, then beat in the eggs, vanilla<br />

paste and flour until you have a smooth<br />

batter. Divide the batter exactly in half,<br />

and put into two bowls. In one bowl add<br />

a small amount of pink colouring paste,<br />

folding until completely combined.<br />

2. Divide the mixture between the sections of<br />

the tin – two sections per batter colour.<br />

3. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a<br />

skewer inserted into the centre comes<br />

out clean. Allow to cool and remove<br />

the cake pieces from the tin.<br />

4. Paint the jam over the long sides of the cake<br />

and put one of each side by side, then put the<br />

other two pieces on top, alternating the colour<br />

to achieve that classic chequerboard pattern.<br />

Paint the remaining long sides with the jam.<br />

5. In icing sugar, roll out 290g of the marzipan<br />

and wrap the cake completely. Put the cake<br />

seam-side-down to hide the rough edge.<br />

Trim the edges with a sharp knife dipped in<br />

hot water, weigh 6x10g balls of marzipan to<br />

place on top and then gently blowtorch. <br />

163 wealdentimes.co.uk


The George Inn<br />

High Street, Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5AW<br />

01580 880315 www.thegeorgerobertsbridge.co.uk<br />

Treat yourself to<br />

a Spa Experience<br />

Time relaxing in the bubbling hot<br />

water of the saline hydrotherapy<br />

and swimming pools, enjoying<br />

the steam rooms and saunas.<br />

Being pampered with luxurious<br />

spa treatments to rejuvenate<br />

both body and mind.<br />

Bar, Restaurant<br />

& Rooms<br />

Taking bookings for Easter<br />

Choose from a range of Spa Treatments<br />

or Spa Packages which include:<br />

Spa Mornings, Afternoons & Spa Days<br />

from £85.00 pp<br />

Relaxing Spa Breaks from £150 for 2<br />

Live music on 30th <strong>April</strong>, 4-6pm<br />

GeorgeInnRobertsbridge<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 16/03/<strong>2017</strong> LondonBeach<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 17:02<br />

1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:33<br />

Easter Sunday Lunch<br />

Easter Egg Hunt For Children!<br />

• £20 per person – 3 Course Lunch<br />

• £10 per child 12 & under<br />

Sunday 16 th <strong>April</strong><br />

To book please contact 01580 202103<br />

e. marketing@dalehill.co.uk w. dalehill.co.uk<br />

Ticehurst, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 7DQ<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

164<br />

DaleHill<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 06/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:58


Food<br />

clockwise<br />

from left:<br />

Rosemary and<br />

apprentice Lauren-<br />

Louise present the Lamb<br />

Navarin; Lauren-Louise<br />

and tutor, Shenley<br />

Moore<br />

Main Course<br />

Rosemary Shrager talks to Lucy Fleming about the new apprenticeships<br />

on offer at her Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells<br />

Why did you decide to offer apprenticeships?<br />

Rosemary: “I came down to Tunbridge Wells to set up<br />

the Cookery School with the intention of eventually<br />

offering apprenticeships. When I was learning to cook,<br />

I was desperate for a mentor – I kept books and wrote<br />

about food – and ending up putting myself through<br />

apprenticeships that I organised myself. I learned on the<br />

job, searching out the relevant expertise for each area that<br />

I wanted to find out more about. For me, to give back<br />

what I truly loved myself was the most important thing.<br />

I love to see students develop. It’s a wonderful<br />

way to begin. An apprenticeship scheme in the<br />

catering industry is one of the most logical ways<br />

of starting out as you’re learning on the job.<br />

Before, we didn’t have the infrastructure to do the<br />

marketing to let people know that we were offering<br />

apprenticeships, so I decided a year ago that I needed to<br />

find a partner who was able to fulfil the side that I couldn’t.<br />

And that’s when I found Hadlow – through a bit of a stroke<br />

of luck. We were at the Kent Choices for You Careers Fair<br />

at Detling and Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow’s Deputy<br />

Group Principal and Deputy CEO happened to be there.<br />

Mark came to see me and I explained our situation and he<br />

decided that there was a future in us working together.<br />

Months later, we’re now in partnership with the Hadlow<br />

group. It’s the best partnership, as they are able to deliver<br />

what we haven’t got – the marketing side, the apprenticeship<br />

side, the funding side. I am absolutely over the moon with it.<br />

I honestly do believe that they can offer us as much as we can<br />

offer them. Here we have a high-end catering side whereas<br />

at Hadlow they don’t – we can deliver an introduction into<br />

live shows, work experience, getting apprentices into top<br />

restaurants. I have had students here working on set on<br />

a TV show – now that’s experience! They have also been<br />

invited to Abu Dhabi and Dubai and we’re doing exchanges<br />

with universities in the Scottish Highlands and Ireland,<br />

too. I’ve even got them into the Royal Tent at Buckingham<br />

Palace where they’ve met the Royals. I’ve been able to<br />

introduce them to a world that they wouldn’t necessarily<br />

have had the opportunity to become involved in before.”<br />

How do apprentices apply?<br />

Shenley Moore, Tutor: “We take apprentices from 16 years<br />

of age, working on NVQ 2, 3 & 4. There is space for up<br />

to 40 here. To apply, prospective apprentices would either<br />

phone the Cookery School or Hadlow College and come<br />

in for an interview to talk through their skills, before being<br />

enrolled. You can apply at any time throughout the year.”<br />

What’s the response been like?<br />

Rosemary: “It’s just beginning, it’s brilliant! We’ve got more<br />

and more students coming on board. We’ve got interviews –<br />

there’s lots going on. Lauren’s been with us for nearly three<br />

years, she absolutely loves it!”<br />

Lauren-Louise Nicholson, apprentice: “I did my level 2, went<br />

travelling for a year and I’ve come back to do my level three.”<br />

Rosemary: “It’s perfect – I love it! I’m so lucky. I<br />

have some wonderful people working here and<br />

teaching – they’re incredible, they really are.”<br />

To enquire about an apprenticeship, email<br />

ABCGroup@hadlowgroup.ac.uk, call 01732 372888 or<br />

fill out the online application form at rosemaryshrager.<br />

com/the-cookery-school/apprenticeships/.<br />

165 wealdentimes.co.uk


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02.17


WT Garden Supplement<br />

Course Work, page 33<br />

Contents<br />

Garden Clinic, page 11<br />

Fresh Air, , page 18<br />

6 Vegetables with meals<br />

in mind<br />

Jo Arnell’s tasty picks<br />

11 Garden Chic<br />

<strong>2017</strong>’s horticultural<br />

trends<br />

13 If you could go to any<br />

garden in the World<br />

Our garden experts’<br />

memorable choices<br />

15 Made to Measure<br />

TV presenter and<br />

writer, Mark Lane talks<br />

us through his love of<br />

the outdoors<br />

17 The Instant Gardener<br />

BBC presenter Danny<br />

Clarke explains what<br />

drew him into the<br />

world of horticulture<br />

18 Fresh Air<br />

Brilliant garden ideas<br />

21 <strong>April</strong> Treats<br />

Sue Whigham’s spring<br />

goodies<br />

27 Project plant!<br />

WT finds out about<br />

The Woodland Trust’s<br />

tree disease solution<br />

29 The Forgotten Harvest<br />

Michael White gets<br />

cooking with weeds<br />

33 Coursework<br />

Book onto a learning<br />

experience near you<br />

33 Make a scarecrow<br />

Get your child’s<br />

school involved<br />

in Harpers<br />

& Hurlingham’s charity<br />

competition<br />

34 Directory<br />

The garden a-z<br />

The Instant Gardener, page 17<br />

Editor’s Letter<br />

I<br />

love getting out in the garden and, after a mammoth weed<br />

clear, (wrongly timed, seasonally speaking) hedge attack<br />

and plant cleansing session over the last few weekends,<br />

I think we’re starting to be able to see light at the end of a<br />

tunnel of winter neglect! If you’re raring to get gardening,<br />

this month’s <strong>supplement</strong> is positively packed with perfect<br />

expert tips, trend advice, shopping inspiration and plenty of<br />

how-tos for a heavenly horticultural spring and summer.<br />

The Forgotten Harvest, page 29<br />

Enjoy your<br />

Garden Supplement<br />

5<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk


WT Garden Supplement<br />

Vegetables<br />

with meals in mind<br />

Dish up your home-grown feasts with pride by following Jo Arnell’s tips for growing success<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

6


WT Garden Supplement<br />

The soil is warming and it’s time<br />

to sow some vegetables. This<br />

year I’m trying to tailor the<br />

crops I grow to what – and how much<br />

– we actually eat. I’m sure that I’m<br />

not alone in suffering from the ‘grow<br />

it and throw it’ regime which comes<br />

from sowing too many plants, or from<br />

growing prolific crops like courgettes<br />

that never seem to stop. It’s not always<br />

easy to judge how much is enough. For<br />

the time-pressed, crops that are quick<br />

and easy to grow, harvest and prepare<br />

are also a must. Vegetables that are<br />

used in favourite recipes, crops that<br />

taste much better than shop bought<br />

– that are worth the effort – should<br />

go onto the list too. Deciding what<br />

to grow, and when, can be a bit of a<br />

minefield, but with a little thought at<br />

the beginning of the season (let’s not<br />

make a meal of that bit) we can grow<br />

“If you are short of time,<br />

but still want to grow<br />

something, then salad<br />

leaves are wonderfully<br />

quick and simple”<br />

some useful ingredients, save money<br />

and eat fresh and healthy vegetables.<br />

Plot for portion size<br />

This won’t work for everyone, or for<br />

every crop, but I have found that<br />

dividing your plot up into ‘meal sized’<br />

sections can help with planning out<br />

how much of some things you will<br />

need. The dividing lines don’t need<br />

to be permanent and the size of crop<br />

will depend on how many are in your<br />

household. I’ve found it successful for<br />

peas and beans (dwarf and broad),<br />

for salad crops, beetroot, spinach,<br />

broccoli and herbs like coriander<br />

and flat-leaved parsley. Some of these<br />

can be sown in succession so that (in<br />

theory) the beds can be used several<br />

times during the growing season.<br />

Salad days<br />

If you are short of time, but still want<br />

to grow something, then salad leaves are<br />

wonderfully quick and simple to grow<br />

from scratch. Scatter a pinch of seeds<br />

straight from the packet (remember<br />

portion sizes – it’s easy to sow too much)<br />

and within a few weeks – earlier if you<br />

like baby leaves – they will be ready to<br />

harvest. You can make up your own mix<br />

of seeds, or buy ready mixed packets of<br />

salad seed. Rocket, mustard and stir-fry<br />

mixes of oriental leaves tend to bolt (run<br />

to seed) when grown in hot weather, so<br />

are best sown in the spring and autumn.<br />

Once you get into the habit of sowing<br />

a few leafy crops, you will discover how<br />

easy it is – and how much cheaper and<br />

fresher your salads will be. Most will<br />

keep growing as you cut them too –<br />

hence the ‘cut and come again’ idea.<br />

Convenience food<br />

Some vegetables are tricky. They can be<br />

tricky to grow, a magnet for pests and <br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/John Byer<br />

7 wealdentimes.co.uk


We’ve got designs !<br />

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WT Garden Supplement<br />

diseases and all in all<br />

can put you off growing<br />

your own completely. If you<br />

are not able to check on your plot<br />

every day, then you’ll need to grow<br />

reliable, hardy and pest resistant crops<br />

that won’t mind if you miss a few days<br />

of tending. Root crops like beetroot<br />

and potatoes are good, chard seems to<br />

be indestructible and I find leeks and<br />

kale to be resistant to the worst of the<br />

weather, and not especially attacked by<br />

pests (if kale is prone to whitefly and<br />

caterpillars, sow later in the summer).<br />

These hardy crops will sit out there<br />

in the soil, patiently waiting to be<br />

harvested all through the winter.<br />

Herbs<br />

Herbs can be grown in the smallest<br />

of spaces and will even thrive in<br />

containers or on a sunny windowsill.<br />

They do need a sunny spot and<br />

free draining conditions, as most of<br />

them are native to the sun-baked<br />

Mediterranean. Depending on what<br />

you grow, a little will go a long way,<br />

so you should only need one rosemary<br />

bush (it may need to be kept pruned)<br />

and a few chive, thyme and oregano<br />

(or marjoram) plants. Watch out for<br />

mint plants; you may find these are<br />

best grown in a pot, as they spread<br />

about rampantly if left unchecked. If<br />

you have a bigger space available, then<br />

a designated herb garden in a sunny<br />

place, preferably near to the house,<br />

will be as pretty as it is productive.<br />

Back door bounty<br />

If your vegetable patch is at the very<br />

bottom of the garden, or if you don’t<br />

Grow some ingredients<br />

have room for a dedicated space in<br />

which to grow vegetables, then some<br />

containers by the back door will easily<br />

keep you supplied with salads and herbs<br />

through the season. The big advantage<br />

here is that you can just lean out of<br />

the door and pick herbs for cooking<br />

and fresh salad ingredients, without<br />

having to put on your coat and wellies<br />

and go trudging out to your patch.<br />

Slow but sure<br />

The seeds of some root crops – potatoes,<br />

parsnips and large carrots take quite<br />

a long time from sowing to harvest.<br />

Onions and leeks need to be sown<br />

early in the season because they take so<br />

long to bulk up. Once they’re planted<br />

out (grow them in a pot first, because<br />

the seedlings are like tiny blades of<br />

grass) you can forget about them until<br />

the winter. If you want long white<br />

shanks on leeks, either dig them up<br />

and replant them into a deeper hole, or<br />

earth up around the base of the plants.<br />

Harvests and holidays<br />

It’s worth looking on the back of the<br />

Leeks - great to grow in the winter and versatile: use<br />

in soups, casseroles, risotto and quiche.<br />

Courgettes - a prolific summer crop, easy to incorporate<br />

into lots of dishes: fritters, in Ratatouille, or even cake.<br />

Tomatoes - home grown have more flavour. Grow big, beefsteak ones<br />

to stuff and make sauce, smaller varieties for snacking, salads and tarts.<br />

At the end of the season the less ripe make wonderful chutney.<br />

Garlic and herbs - easy to grow and use in small quantities, herbs will<br />

also benefit from regular cutting to keep them tidy and fresh looking.<br />

seed packets (there are also useful<br />

charts online) to find out what the<br />

approximate sowing to harvest times<br />

are for certain crops; this will give you<br />

an idea of what to expect, and help you<br />

to plan when, and how much, to sow.<br />

Annoyingly the harvest may fall while<br />

you’re on holiday, and hopefully it’s<br />

not too late this year to do something<br />

about it (or you will just be encouraging<br />

friends and family to enjoy the bounty<br />

while you’re away…), so make a note<br />

to sow crops like beans, lettuce and<br />

courgettes, which need regular picking,<br />

either late or early, so that you stand<br />

a chance of catching the harvest.<br />

The plot to plate journey should<br />

be uncomplicated, and, if possible,<br />

easier and cheaper than going to the<br />

supermarket. If you are short of time,<br />

or limited in terms of space, choose<br />

carefully. I have a few stalwarts that<br />

I tend to grow each year and then<br />

other crops come and go, depending<br />

on the time and space available. It<br />

makes sense to get the best from the<br />

vegetables we grow, so keep the mantra<br />

of quality and versatility in your mind<br />

as you peruse the catalogues and racks<br />

of seeds at the garden centre. It is<br />

time to get sowing now, so let’s open<br />

those packets and get out there.<br />

Jo Arnell will be running a new<br />

gardening course in her garden. Gain<br />

some practical skills and a year of<br />

gardening inspiration. Book now on<br />

hornbrookmanor.co.uk 01233 861149<br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/Mohamed Aly, Cory Lievers<br />

9 wealdentimes.co.uk


15<br />

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WT Garden Supplement<br />

Garden Chic<br />

WT checks out the latest garden trends and how<br />

they can be applied to your own outdoor space<br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/Dejan Ignjatovic<br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/Marie Jeanne Lliescu<br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/Greg Hurley<br />

Andrew McCoryn<br />

Head Gardener of Leeds Castle<br />

This year I am expecting a renewed interest in English gardening. The seasons will be<br />

celebrated more during <strong>2017</strong> especially autumn with late-flowering plants and leaves.<br />

Colour combinations in flowers, particularly herbaceous perennials, will create more<br />

comments and Conifers will finally gain more attention in the latter part of the year.<br />

Apply some of these trends to your own garden by growing hardy plants such as tulips,<br />

irises, clematis and roses, available from my recommended Kent nurseries such as Iris of<br />

Sissinghurst, Palmstead Nurseries and The Potted Garden. 01622 765400 leeds-castle.com<br />

Hanging<br />

Double Cacoon<br />

Sky Blue<br />

£270.00<br />

Dragon<br />

<strong>Gardens</strong> with<br />

products from<br />

Corker<br />

Round Happy<br />

Cocooning Fire<br />

Table, Grey<br />

£599.00<br />

Langton<br />

Round Chair<br />

£99.99<br />

Mick Corkery<br />

Managing Director, Corker<br />

<strong>2017</strong> will see people prolonging<br />

those hazy summer days and utilising<br />

their garden as an additional room.<br />

2016 trends of natural stone<br />

paving and outdoor living products<br />

will continue into <strong>2017</strong>, both of<br />

which Corker Outdoor Living<br />

and Landscape Supplies offer in a<br />

huge range of choice and variety.<br />

Growth within the Porcelain stone<br />

market is anticipated for <strong>2017</strong> along<br />

with colour schemes that focus on a contemporary<br />

look, including greys, whites, blacks and light browns.<br />

Find out how you can transform your garden and<br />

include these trends by heading to Corker, situated on<br />

the A228 near Paddock Wood. Wander around their<br />

inspirational show gardens, open 14th <strong>April</strong>, and shop<br />

until your heart’s content, thanks to the wide range of<br />

paving, turf, sleepers, outdoor furniture and more.<br />

Corker Outdoor Living & Landscape<br />

Supplies 01892 833325 corker.co.uk<br />

11 wealdentimes.co.uk


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WT Garden Supplement<br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/claudiameyer<br />

Jo Arnell,<br />

Hornbrook Manor<br />

I would go to Monet’s garden<br />

in Giverny, but I’d have to go<br />

back in time too – to the day I<br />

visited when I was just 18. The<br />

shutters on the house were so<br />

vividly green, the bridge over<br />

the pond reflected on the water, the Irises and<br />

Waterlilies were flowering, and there were very few<br />

visitors. I’ve not gone back since, in case it changes<br />

my memory of that perfect morning.<br />

WT gardening expert, Jo, provides garden<br />

consultations, makeovers and appraisals<br />

alongside running gardening courses from her<br />

home in Woodchurch, Kent. 01233 861149<br />

hornbrookmanor.co.uk<br />

If you could go to any garden in the World...<br />

Jo Arnell, Jen Stuart-Smith and Juliet Sargeant share their ultimate garden picks<br />

Jen Stuart-Smith,<br />

Blooming Green<br />

I would love to visit Arne<br />

Maynard’s garden, Allt-y-bela, in<br />

Monmouthshire. It’s got it all really:<br />

a romantic Welsh tower house at<br />

its heart, surrounded by quirky<br />

topiary, roses, fruit, vegetables and<br />

wildflowers, all of which are linked<br />

to the Elizabethan house and the<br />

surrounding landscape. Arne started<br />

with a relatively blank canvas, so<br />

this garden really shows off his<br />

talent, and what can be done if you<br />

have a clear vision. Magical!<br />

Jen runs Blooming Green<br />

with her cousin, Bek Bibby<br />

(pictured above, right),<br />

where they produce seasonal,<br />

organically grown PYO<br />

and wedding flowers.<br />

bloominggreenflowers.co.uk<br />

No-dig<br />

guru, Charles<br />

Dowding, will be at<br />

Blooming Green on Sunday<br />

14 May from 11-3pm for a<br />

special talk followed by lunch<br />

cooked by Home Gurr’own’s<br />

Nicci Gurr. Book online at<br />

bloominggreenflowers.<br />

co.uk<br />

We ask garden lovers and experts to name<br />

their three favourite gardens in Kent,<br />

Surrey and Sussex<br />

Juliet Sargeant, Designer of the Chelsea Goldmedal<br />

winning Modern Slavery Garden 2016<br />

The best gardens move your spirit and draw on your emotions.<br />

I would love to visit Sacro Bosco in Italy, because its creator<br />

intentionally un-nerves the visitor with shocking edifices<br />

and thought-provoking references. ‘The Park of Monsters of<br />

Bomarzo’ is not meant to be comfortable or even beautiful – borne<br />

out of its owner’s grief for his dead wife, its sculptures speak of<br />

passion through the ages. A reminder of the power of landscape.<br />

For more information on the services that award-winning garden<br />

designer Juliet undertakes call 01273 300587 / 07934 496118<br />

julietdesigns.co.uk<br />

13 wealdentimes.co.uk


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1 07/03/<strong>2017</strong> 11:18<br />

Beautiful gardens waiting to be discovered<br />

The 12th Century Leeds Castle sits within 500 acres of magnificent parkland and formal gardens.<br />

Amongst many horticultural delights, visitors will discover tranquil woodland walks, exotic<br />

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colours and scents to enjoy across the seasons.<br />

Weekly garden tours available between <strong>April</strong> and September.<br />

leeds-castle.com<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

14<br />

28096J1 LC <strong>Gardens</strong> <strong>Wealden</strong> 185 x 130.indd 1 06/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:20<br />

ZestLtdLeedsCastle<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 06/03/<strong>2017</strong> 15:54


WT Garden Supplement<br />

Made to<br />

Measure<br />

Garden designer, TV presenter and<br />

writer, Mark Lane talks us through<br />

his love of the outdoors<br />

For those that don’t know, how did<br />

you get into gardening? Both sets of my<br />

grandparents were very keen gardeners.<br />

My paternal grandparents had a large<br />

garden and I would spend hours following<br />

my grandfather around. He taught me<br />

how to sow seeds, how to divide plants,<br />

how to put colours together and more<br />

importantly close my eyes and listen to<br />

the garden. I remember to this day lying<br />

on my back in the middle of the main<br />

lawn on a very hot summer’s day with my<br />

eyes closed and smelling the roses as their<br />

scent was carried along on the breeze. I<br />

cherish all of these memories, although<br />

it was not until much later when my<br />

partner and I bought our first house in<br />

London, and then in Pluckley, Kent, and<br />

now in a small village on the outskirts of<br />

Canterbury that I really started gardening.<br />

With each move we acquired a larger<br />

plot and when I became a landscape<br />

designer and BBC gardening presenter I<br />

started to look at plants, gardening and<br />

horticulture in a much broader sense.<br />

How has gardening helped you? Without<br />

gardening I would be a completely<br />

different person today. I was born with<br />

spina bifida and several years ago I was in<br />

a car crash which resulted in me being a<br />

wheelchair user full-time. I was very lucky<br />

to have spent some of my rehabilitation at<br />

the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital<br />

in Stanmore where I was introduced<br />

to horticultural therapy. I was already<br />

gardening by this point but through<br />

slight adjustments to posture, pacing my<br />

gardening activities and being introduced<br />

to alternative ways of doing gardening<br />

my rehabilitation took an upward turn,<br />

and I have not looked back since. I love<br />

every aspect of gardening, from sowing a<br />

seed and watching it grow, to composting,<br />

pruning and even weeding. I spend hours<br />

outside gardening and every stress of<br />

modern day life seems to disappear and<br />

my breathing slows down. I also love my<br />

job as a landscape designer, and being in a<br />

wheelchair has not stopped me, nor has it<br />

hindered me with site surveys, designing<br />

and managing projects. Gardening is<br />

good, both physically and mentally, for<br />

my health and wellbeing. I am living<br />

proof. This is why I am honoured to<br />

be the first Health, Wellbeing and<br />

Community Ambassador for Groundwork<br />

and an Ambassador for Thrive.<br />

When planning a garden that is<br />

wheelchair friendly, where do you begin?<br />

The first thing to consider is the person in<br />

the wheelchair. Do they use a wheelchair<br />

all of the time? What is their condition or<br />

disability? How far can the person reach?<br />

Can they twist their body, lean forward<br />

or use their hands? I suppose what I am<br />

saying is that every wheelchair user is<br />

different, and every wheelchair is different.<br />

There are regulations that stipulate how<br />

wide a path needs to be, for example,<br />

but depending on the size of the garden<br />

adjustments may have to be made in order<br />

to work specifically for an individual. In<br />

most cases, the hard landscaping must<br />

be firm, stable and level. There needs to<br />

be enough traction to a surface to stop a<br />

wheelchair sliding, but too much traction<br />

can make it very difficult for someone<br />

who self-propels their wheelchair.<br />

Regulations aside, a big aspect of designing<br />

or planning a garden for a wheelchair user<br />

is their viewpoint. People in wheelchairs<br />

see a garden from a much lower position<br />

so a focal point in a garden may have to<br />

be tweaked slightly. Planting feels taller<br />

to a wheelchair user, so the right use of<br />

plants needs to be taken into account<br />

and lighting needs to assist and not<br />

blind. So, there are many considerations,<br />

too many to write about now.<br />

What’s the most valuable piece of<br />

gardening advice you’ve ever been given?<br />

Have a go, have patience, enjoy yourself<br />

and not to be disappointed if a plant dies.<br />

What’s been your biggest gard ening<br />

challenge to date? As a landscape designer<br />

I think it is about to start, but I cannot<br />

say what it is for. As a gardener in my own<br />

garden, nervously opening for the first<br />

time this year for the National Garden<br />

Scheme. I know the garden has to look<br />

its best from May to September, so a lot<br />

of preparation in March and <strong>April</strong>.<br />

What are you working<br />

on at the moment?<br />

Filming for BBC Gardeners’ World,<br />

acting in my Ambassadorial roles,<br />

writing for magazines and currently<br />

designing and managing ten projects.<br />

Mark Lane will be talking in The Garden<br />

Hub at <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer<br />

Fair on Saturday 10 June <strong>2017</strong>. For more<br />

information see wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

15 wealdentimes.co.uk


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16<br />

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WT Garden Supplement<br />

The Instant<br />

Gardener<br />

BBC presenter Danny Clarke explains what drew<br />

him into the world of horticulture<br />

Why gardening? I think the bug<br />

for gardening was as a result of my<br />

parents asking me as a child to tidy<br />

their outside space. I remember toiling<br />

for what seemed like ages cutting the<br />

grass with a pair of shears and a push<br />

mower. I can’t say that I enjoyed it<br />

because it seemed like a chore. But years<br />

later when I owned my first property<br />

I found that working on my patch of<br />

land evoked childhood memories of<br />

the scent of roses, the beauty of the<br />

nodding daffodils in the wind, and<br />

the smell of the grass during its first<br />

cut after its winter dormancy. Before<br />

I knew it I was hooked and the seeds<br />

for my future career were sown.<br />

What was your favourite part<br />

about being on BBC One’s The<br />

Instant Gardener? For me the best<br />

part about being on The Instant<br />

Gardener was the camaraderie among<br />

everyone on the show, from the<br />

bosses at 12 Yard who produced the<br />

show right through to the runners.<br />

I have forged some great friendships<br />

which I’m sure will last a lifetime.<br />

What’s your favourite local garden?<br />

Great Dixter in Sussex which used to be<br />

owned by the late Christopher Lloyd has<br />

given me so much inspiration. I just love<br />

his relaxed style of planting as well as the<br />

man’s willingness to push boundaries.<br />

Out of all the great gardens this is the<br />

one I probably visit the most. There is<br />

certainly a little bit of Great Dixter in<br />

many of The Instant Gardener projects.<br />

What’s the most valuable piece of<br />

gardening advice you’ve ever been<br />

given? My very first client was a lady<br />

called Jo Bryant. She had the most<br />

amazing larger than life personality<br />

along with the most beautiful garden<br />

which was the love of her life. What she<br />

didn’t know about gardening you could<br />

write on the back of a postage stamp. A<br />

fantastic teacher, I knew her for three<br />

years until her untimely death. I suppose<br />

it wasn’t the advice she gave me that<br />

was so valuable but the way she would<br />

alter my state of mind. For example, if<br />

I arrived at her property and it was a<br />

cold rainy day, she would greet me with<br />

that booming smile of hers and the first<br />

thing she would say is “Danny, how<br />

lovely to see you, what a dramatic day.”<br />

What she was saying is there is no such<br />

thing as a bad day and there’s a beauty in<br />

everything if you choose to look for it.<br />

What’s your biggest<br />

gardening challenge<br />

to date? That’s an easy<br />

one. The first garden<br />

I ever designed and built. It could<br />

have been an absolute nightmare<br />

because the client was very testing. I<br />

remember thinking. “If this is what<br />

this job’s all about then I’m going to<br />

find an office job.” I’m glad I didn’t!<br />

What are you working on at the<br />

moment? I’ve been spending my time<br />

adjusting a friend’s garden in Romney<br />

Marsh. It’s a lovely property which<br />

doesn’t really need my input. The job<br />

has involved opening up the views<br />

into the surrounding countryside by<br />

cutting back shrubs and re shaping<br />

trees on its boundaries, installing raised<br />

beds in the vegetable garden, returfing<br />

some areas and doing a general tidy.<br />

There’s been lots of clearing and<br />

burning which I really enjoy. You just<br />

can’t beat the smell of wood smoke.<br />

Danny Clarke will be talking in<br />

The Garden Hub at <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

<strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair on Friday<br />

9 June <strong>2017</strong>. For more information<br />

see wealdentimes.co.uk/events<br />

17 wealdentimes.co.uk


WT Garden Supplement<br />

Heritage Seeds<br />

Antirrhinum, £2.99,<br />

Historic Royal Palaces<br />

historicroyalpalaces.com<br />

The Crown Windsor package<br />

includes a timber pavilion with<br />

thatch or cedar tiled roof, a<br />

wooden table and benches, seat<br />

cushions and deep-filled back<br />

pillows, marine-grade blinds<br />

delivery and installation, for<br />

£19,950. Crown Pavilions 01491<br />

817856 crownpavilions.com<br />

Twine String Holder, £14.99,<br />

Historic Royal Palaces<br />

historicroyalpalaces.com<br />

Small Stone Rabbit,<br />

£16.99, Dobbies<br />

dobbies.com<br />

Abella Planters,<br />

£60-£165, Cedar<br />

Nursery, Cobham<br />

01932 862473<br />

landscaping.co.uk<br />

Fresh Air<br />

Alfa Pizza Duetto Wood<br />

Fired Oven, £3,950, Cedar<br />

Nursery, Cobham 01932<br />

862473 landscaping.co.uk<br />

Create your own unique garden style with our<br />

pick of buildings, furniture and accessories<br />

Wild and Wolf Thoughtful Gardener<br />

Bird House, £19.95, Charity Farm<br />

Country Store, Cranbrook 01580<br />

713189 charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk<br />

Valencia Day Bed,<br />

£2,695, Cedar<br />

Nursery, Cobham<br />

01932 862473<br />

landscaping.co.uk<br />

Julie<br />

Dodsworth<br />

Orangery Mid<br />

Cuff Gloves,<br />

£12.99,<br />

Dobbies<br />

dobbies.com<br />

Terracino planter, £50, Cedar<br />

Nursery, Cobham 01932<br />

862473 landscaping.co.uk<br />

Wild and Wolf Homefront<br />

allotment set, £14.95, Charity Farm<br />

Countrystore, Cranbrook 01580<br />

713189 charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

18<br />

Charlbury Oak Table,<br />

£1,750, with Emerald<br />

Acrylic Wine Glasses,<br />

£12.95 each, Rosara 01869<br />

340350 rosara.co.uk


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LamontLawrenceWT133.indd 1 07/02/2013 17:07


WT Garden Supplement<br />

<strong>April</strong> Treats<br />

Sue Whigham selects some beautiful spring<br />

goodies to bring your garden to life<br />

Whilst March is the month when things start<br />

tentatively unfurling and lifting their heads<br />

above the parapet, only to flinch as another<br />

stormy day approaches, <strong>April</strong> really is the time when<br />

spring flowers start bursting into life. And of course it’s<br />

the month when bulbs really come into their own.<br />

Then there is the blossom on the crab apples, the<br />

pears and the dramatic appearance of magnolia flowers<br />

while in the woods the iconic bluebells carpet the<br />

ground before the deciduous leaf canopy grows over<br />

and they lose much of the light. It is interesting how so<br />

many spring blooming plants are shade lovers or partial<br />

shade lovers and of course for the same reason.<br />

Wood anemones carpet the ground in shady areas early in<br />

the month. A. nemorosa (AGM) is one of the earliest of spring<br />

flowers and its star-shaped white flowers are so refreshing<br />

after a long winter. Once they have finished flowering, their<br />

foliage disappears until next year. They take a very long<br />

time to spread and you may want to grow A. blanda instead<br />

which self sows rapidly. There are blue and white forms of<br />

Anemone blanda. A choice wood anemone is A. nemorosa<br />

‘Robinsoniana’ (AGM), named after William Robinson, which<br />

is a pale blue and which looks wonderful with cowslips.<br />

My mother, now in her ninety-third year, remembers<br />

clouds of cowslips growing wild in her youth and just ready<br />

for the picking. These are our native primulas, P. veris,<br />

and their lemony yellow flowers last right through until<br />

May. They are just lovely and wow, they spread rapidly so<br />

that we too can have a sea of them although perhaps not<br />

on the verges and in the meadows as they used to be.<br />

One of my favourite groups of plants in <strong>April</strong> are the <br />

Credit: FreeImages.com/helenhumphrey<br />

“...in the woods the<br />

iconic bluebells carpet<br />

the ground before the<br />

deciduous leaf canopy<br />

grows over and they lose<br />

much of the light”<br />

21 wealdentimes.co.uk


WT Garden Supplement<br />

pulmonarias or lungworts. Every garden should have them.<br />

They just seem to get on with it and now come in the most<br />

fantastic forms. They too are best in dappled shade and<br />

most thrive where other plants find conditions difficult.<br />

They are native to Europe and the UK hence their ability<br />

to do well here. They look great with early flowering plants<br />

such as the hellebores and the brunneras. I notice that<br />

the pure white flowers of P. ‘Sissinghurst’ are beginning<br />

to flower now. They come in blues, pinks and red as well<br />

as a combination of colours which change as they mature.<br />

I’m very taken with P. officinalis ‘Blue Mist’ with its large<br />

pale blue flowers and spotted leaves and P. ‘Blue Ensign’<br />

which has rich blue flowers which combine beautifully<br />

with the mauve flowers of its neighbour, a cardamine that<br />

has been dormant all summer, reappearing in March,<br />

the clump spreading out a bit more each year. Some of<br />

the pulmonarias have wonderful long silver leaves like P.<br />

longifolia ‘Majeste’. Another treasure is P. ‘Opal’, again with<br />

silvery leaves and opalescent flowers of the palest blue.<br />

Another group of <strong>April</strong> lovelies are the epimediums,<br />

also known as Bishop’s Hat and, more appropriately, Fairy<br />

Wings. I think actually that I would have them at the top<br />

of my list of ‘would like lots’. We have the European forms<br />

which are pretty hardy here and then the absolutely gorgeous<br />

Japanese and Chinese forms. They are really fun to collect as<br />

their foliage and their flowers are simply exquisite with the<br />

flowers seemingly floating above the leaves on impossibly<br />

fine stems. The other thing is that many of them are <br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

22<br />

PetalsForPlants<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 13/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:13


e<br />

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rise from a carpet of E. pinnatum subsp. colchicum (AGM).<br />

I love Christopher Lloyd’s description of Euphorbia<br />

palustris’s lime green ‘flowers’ as literally sparkling perhaps<br />

with ‘a tiny crystal of nectar in the centre of each flower’.<br />

It is a particularly nice euphorbia with a good spread and<br />

an average height of a couple of feet as well as lime green<br />

inflorescences. Perfect for giving a dramatic backdrop to<br />

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not a rich and rare plant and it pops up usually where you<br />

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One that is completely different from the hellebore hybrids<br />

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argutifolius. I saw a clump in full flower yesterday and it<br />

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big bold trifoliate leaves, distinctively veined and many<br />

bunches of apple green flowers is very striking. I couldn’t<br />

help noticing that seedlings were coming up merrily in<br />

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Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810 457948 for<br />

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wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

ErnestDoe&Sons<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 17/03/<strong>2017</strong> 15:30<br />

24


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WT Garden Supplement<br />

Project Plant!<br />

Do you have spare land to plant some native trees? Help The Woodland Trust to<br />

combat the spread of tree diseases with its specially selected tree packs<br />

As part of a campaign to help protect the<br />

countryside from ash dieback and other tree<br />

pests and diseases, The Woodland Trust is urging<br />

landowners across the UK to consider buying one of<br />

its new ‘Targeting Tree Disease’ tree planting packs.<br />

Unfortunately, cases of tree disease are on the increase<br />

across the country, with two that tree health specialists<br />

are particularly interested in: sweet chestnut blight<br />

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Sweet chestnut blight first reared<br />

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area of spread. Acute oak decline<br />

has been recorded since 2006, and research into how the<br />

condition spreads is ongoing. At present the disease is<br />

largely concentrated in Central and South East England.<br />

Ash dieback has now been recorded in over 1,000 locations<br />

and has been confirmed in every county across England.<br />

In response to the threat, The Woodland Trust has created<br />

‘Targeting Tree Disease’ tree packs which contain 45 cellgrown<br />

saplings, 40-60cm in height, which the charity has<br />

chosen from species carefully selected to best replace trees<br />

“Our Targeting Tree Disease<br />

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for people to pre-empt any<br />

losses which could occur<br />

in the countryside.”<br />

which will be lost to disease and to strengthen the landscape<br />

against other threats. You can choose three species from<br />

oak, wild cherry, silver birch, hornbeam and beech.<br />

John Tucker, Woodland Trust director of woodland creation,<br />

comments: “Ash dieback is the most commonly known<br />

threat currently, but there are other pests and diseases which<br />

could spread here. Our Targeting Tree Disease packs give<br />

the opportunity for people to pre-empt any losses which<br />

could occur in the countryside. Of<br />

course, they also will provide other<br />

benefits such as shade, shelter and<br />

creating homes for wildlife.”<br />

The charity also offers a wide<br />

variety of other tree schemes to<br />

the public. The Trust piloted the<br />

tree pack scheme in 2015 in five<br />

counties, with over 400 packs being<br />

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To buy your tree pack, for £60, visit woodlandtrustshop.<br />

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27 wealdentimes.co.uk


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WT Garden Supplement<br />

dandelion<br />

The Forgotten<br />

Harvest<br />

Expert forager Michael White<br />

explains there’s more use<br />

for garden invaders than<br />

just compost fodder as he<br />

explores edible weeds<br />

Freeimages.com/AdrianaHerbut<br />

chickweed<br />

Productivity is everything in the<br />

vegetable garden and to that end<br />

every square inch and no end of<br />

loving labour is employed to conjure<br />

a good yield from the precious loam.<br />

But what of the forgotten harvest,<br />

the unbidden crop which appears<br />

in the absence of work and care?<br />

Weeds are easy to write off with a one<br />

way ticket to the compost, but in fact<br />

many are perfectly edible and can bring<br />

a whole new dimension to cropping<br />

the veg plot. At this time of year the<br />

weed harvest is even more precious,<br />

as it supplies fresh salad leaves and<br />

greens, at a time when many cultivated<br />

crops haven’t even germinated.<br />

At the top of my tasty weed list<br />

is chickweed stellaria media, a great<br />

coloniser of cultivated ground which<br />

forms tangled mats during the winter<br />

months. To me it’s the iceberg lettuce<br />

of the foraging world, mild and<br />

sweet with a superb crunchy texture.<br />

Select the young growth and use it<br />

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The dandelion taraxacum officinale<br />

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<br />

29 wealdentimes.co.uk


Kent Garden Show<br />

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Sat 27th, Sun 28th & Mon 29th May<br />

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Garden furniture, water features, garden sheds and<br />

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Jacqueline Aviolet & Tom Hart-Dyke will be in attendance<br />

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team<br />

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● Chainsaw carving display ● And much more!<br />

Kenward Road, Yalding, ME18 6AH<br />

For more information or to book a pitch at this event:<br />

Contact us for more details<br />

visit: kenwardtrust.org.uk call: 01622 814187<br />

kenwardtrust.org.uk<br />

or email: enquiry@kenwardtrust.org.uk<br />

@kenwardtrust<br />

enquiry@kenwardtrust.org.uk<br />

Kenward Road, Yalding, ME18 6AH<br />

01622 814187<br />

Registered charity no. 1146481. Registered in England no. 7931728.<br />

Registered Charity No 1146481<br />

have you wetting the bed if you eat it. Try using the<br />

young shoots sparingly to add a little chicory-esque<br />

piquancy to a warm salad of duck confit - the results<br />

are stunning! Also the effort taken in digging out the<br />

long roots will be well rewarded if, after a quick scrub<br />

they are baked until black and brittle, then ground<br />

to make a caffeine free alternative to fresh coffee.<br />

Though there are many more to choose from, hairy<br />

bittercress cardamine hirsuta (the name belies its edible<br />

qualities) completes my gourmet trinity of spring weeds.<br />

They pop up just about anywhere on bare ground and<br />

produce distinctive florets of cress shaped leaves. The<br />

young growth has a wonderfully peppery tang, almost<br />

identical to the cultivated cress of windowsill fame.<br />

Fresh or cooked, bittercress will give a wild kick to all<br />

sorts of dishes including salads, tarts and pasta dishes.<br />

Welcome then to the enlightened world of<br />

weeding, where with the prospect of a good meal<br />

every pull is a pleasure, every dig delight!<br />

Please remember that the correct identification<br />

of edible plants is vital! Use a decent field guide,<br />

or search the web using a plant’s Latin name, for<br />

information and images from reputable web sites.<br />

Michael White is a foraging and self sufficiency<br />

expert who heads the business ‘Rural Courses’.<br />

To contact him, or to find out more about the<br />

courses he runs please visit ruralcourses.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

KenwardTrust<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 20/03/<strong>2017</strong> 09:55<br />

wealdon times_WoW ad_90x130.indd 1 17/03/<strong>2017</strong> 20:21:39<br />

30


ALL THE<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

FOR YOUR<br />

DREAM<br />

GARDEN.<br />

www.corker.co.uk<br />

At Corker we can supply everything from topsoil to timber,<br />

paving to parasols and fencing to furniture. Enjoy a coffee<br />

and wander around our inspirational show gardens, opening<br />

Friday 14 th <strong>April</strong>. We have loads of unique ideas and products<br />

you won’t find in your average garden centre because at<br />

Corker, we don’t do average. Pay us a visit on the A228<br />

near Paddock Wood or call 01892 833 325.<br />

MAKE YOUR GARDEN A


www.elliottreid.co.uk


WT Garden Supplement<br />

Course Work<br />

The newest member of the WT team,<br />

Rebecca Cuffe, tracks down a handful of<br />

the best gardening tutorials around<br />

For all you readers out there oohing<br />

and ahhing over the gorgeous images<br />

in our gardening <strong>supplement</strong> this<br />

month before quickly sinking into a sigh<br />

over the daunting prospect of how to recreate<br />

something like that for yourself, you are<br />

not alone. Like gardens themselves, often a<br />

gardener needs a little nourishment before<br />

their real talent blooms into life. Whether<br />

you’re an experienced gardener interested in<br />

learning something new or a complete novice<br />

who just wants to know where to begin,<br />

there are options out there for everyone.<br />

Wisley <strong>Gardens</strong> in Surrey (rhs.org.uk/<br />

gardens/wisley) have myriad options for all<br />

skill sets, interests and levels of expertise with<br />

courses and tutorials covering everything<br />

from photosynthesis to botanical cocktails.<br />

These courses are often run by the RHS team<br />

but others feature guests and experts such<br />

as the gardens’ curator, Matthew Pottage,<br />

and renowned plantsman Noel Kingsbury.<br />

Claire Brown will also be tutoring on The<br />

Perpetual Herb Garden in October, and<br />

runs talks and workshops herself through her<br />

business, Plant Passion (plantpassion.co.uk),<br />

which focuses on locally grown flowers. This<br />

is a great option for those who love local<br />

and are interested in arranging bouquets<br />

for their homes or as gifts to others.<br />

Meanwhile, Kew <strong>Gardens</strong> (kew.org) and<br />

Painshill in Surrey (painshill.co.uk) both<br />

have a number of courses and lectures<br />

which you may find helpful if you’re<br />

interested in capturing the beauty of the<br />

garden in photography or illustration, as<br />

well as their courses on gardening itself.<br />

Jo Arnell’s comprehensive year long<br />

course at Hornbook Manor in Woodchurch,<br />

Kent (pictured) (hornbrookmanor.co.uk), is<br />

run in small, informal groups, so there’s<br />

plenty of chances to ask Jo any questions<br />

you may have over some homemade cake.<br />

The course lasts a full year but you can<br />

also book an individual course if there’s<br />

a particular field you’re interested in.<br />

Godinton House is also well worth a visit,<br />

as they run gardening events throughout the<br />

year (gardeningworkshops.co.uk/godintonhouse.<br />

co.uk). You may have noticed in our own<br />

<strong>April</strong> Notebook that they are holding a<br />

topiary workshop this month, but there<br />

is more to learn with head gardener Viv<br />

Hunt, who has combined forces<br />

with professional gardener Fiona Abrahams<br />

in monthly workshops since November.<br />

For the foodies of the Weald there are some<br />

invaluable learning opportunities at Brogdale<br />

Collections (brogdalecollections.org). As the<br />

home of the national fruit collection, there<br />

are few better places than Brogdale to learn<br />

about fruit, food and foraging in the British<br />

countryside, with courses on grafting, pruning,<br />

orchard design or cider making, to name a few.<br />

One last tutor worth a try is Steve Edney,<br />

who is head gardener at The Salutation<br />

in Sandwich (the-salutation.com) and runs<br />

classes limited to only eight people. These<br />

courses include light lunch and refreshments<br />

in their £80 price as well as demonstrations,<br />

practical work, tours and invaluable advice.<br />

Make a Scarecrow Competition<br />

Take part in Harpers & Hurlingham’s charity competition at<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair for the chance to win £250 for your child’s school<br />

Harpers & Hurlingham in Cranbrook<br />

are inviting schools and children’s<br />

organizations to take part in ‘Making a<br />

Scarecrow’ competition. All entrants will be<br />

displayed in the Harpers & Hurlingham stand<br />

at <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Midsummer Fair at Hole<br />

Park, Rolvenden on 8, 9 & 10 June <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

The general public will be invited to judge the<br />

winner, whilst at the same time raising money<br />

for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The winning<br />

school/organization will also receive £250. To<br />

participate please call Jane at Harpers and<br />

Hurlingham on 01580 715400 and join in<br />

the fun! The competition is open to children<br />

aged 10 and below, who must enter as part<br />

of a school or children’s organisation, rather<br />

than as individuals.<br />

HOW TO MAKE A SCARECROW<br />

• Build the frame. Begin by centring a 5 foot<br />

(1.5 m) stick near the top of a 6 to 8 foot (1.8<br />

to 2.4 m) stick, rake handle or garden pole.<br />

This creates the shoulders of the scarecrow.<br />

Fasten the shorter stick in place using a<br />

screwdriver and screw, some twine, or hot glue.<br />

• Put the shirt on. Button up the front,<br />

then tie the arm ends and bottom<br />

of the shirt using twine or wire.<br />

• Stuff the shirt with straw, hay, leaves,<br />

grass clippings, wood chips and rags.<br />

• Put the overalls on. Make a hole in<br />

the seat of the overalls for the vertical<br />

stick to pass through. Stuff the legs.<br />

• Give him hands.<br />

• Give him feet.<br />

• Make the head using burlap or a pillowcase<br />

• Give your scarecrow facial features. Ideas<br />

include using a pen to draw them on, cutting<br />

out felt shapes, using buttons for eyes, nose<br />

and mouth,<br />

and bits of<br />

black plastic or<br />

pipe cleaner to<br />

make eyebrows.<br />

• Give your scarecrow<br />

some hair.<br />

• Accessorise. You can personalise your scarecrow<br />

by accessorising it any way you like. His most<br />

important accessory, however, is a straw hat.<br />

Use any old hat you have lying around and<br />

secure to his head with hot glue. Here are<br />

some other (optional) accessorising ideas:<br />

- Tie a red bandana around his collar, or<br />

leave a bright handkerchief peeking out of his<br />

pocket.<br />

- Jazz up his hat using some brightly coloured<br />

plastic flowers.<br />

- Stick an old pipe in his mouth.<br />

- Tie reflective or shiny ribbon to your<br />

scarecrow to add movement and reflect light.<br />

33 wealdentimes.co.uk


<strong>Gardens</strong><br />

A <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Supplement<br />

Directory<br />

Sponsored by<br />

Bumble Bee Solar Fairy<br />

Lights, £8.99 lights4fun.co.uk<br />

ARCHITECTURE,<br />

CONSTRUCTION &<br />

GARDEN DESIGN<br />

Cat & Mouse Landscapes<br />

Herstmonceux 01323<br />

833600 / 01323 843488<br />

catandmouselandscapes.com<br />

City Escapes 01435 868211 /<br />

07831 302107 cityescapes.co.uk<br />

Cross Builders Folkestone<br />

01303 211805 / 07966<br />

496911 cross-builders.co.uk<br />

Crown Oak Buildings<br />

Ltd 01732 866910<br />

crownoakbuildings.co,uk<br />

Elliot Reid Conservatories<br />

Ltd. Herstmonceux 01323<br />

833924 elliottreid.co.uk<br />

Garden & Home Design<br />

Ltd. 07854 221338<br />

gardenandhomedesignltd.co.uk<br />

Gardenproud 07725 173820<br />

reallygardenproud.com<br />

Geoff Tiltman Smarden 01233<br />

770777 / 07775 694963<br />

Homeleigh Maidstone 01622<br />

791111 / Staplehurst 01580<br />

892037 & 01580 892733<br />

/ Ashford 01233 850075<br />

homeleighgroup.co.uk<br />

Hornbrook Manor (Jo<br />

Arnell) Woodchurch 01233<br />

861149 hornbrookmanor.co.uk<br />

Johnsons Garden Buildings<br />

needextraspace.co.uk<br />

Kibblewhite <strong>Gardens</strong><br />

Cranbrook 01580 850394<br />

kibblewhitegardens.co.uk<br />

Lamont & Lawrence 01342<br />

825414 Bonnie Lamont: 07786<br />

246530 lamontandlawrence.co.uk<br />

Open View Landscape Design<br />

Ltd. Tenterden 01580 764090<br />

openviewlandscapes.co.uk<br />

Robinson Waters Architects<br />

Cranbrook 01580 754806<br />

robinsonwaters.co.uk<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> Country Landcraft<br />

Tonbridge 01892 722699<br />

Adam: 07979 362241<br />

Tim: 07990 751353<br />

playfootgardendesign.co.uk<br />

EVENTS & PLACES TO GO<br />

Fairlight Hall fairlighthall.co.uk<br />

The Garden Show at<br />

Firle Place Firle 21-23<br />

<strong>April</strong> 01243 538456<br />

thegardenshowonline.com<br />

Kent Garden Show The<br />

Kent Showground, Detling<br />

27-29 May 01795 474660<br />

kentgardenshow.com<br />

Kenward Trust Yalding 01622<br />

814187 kenwardtrust.org.uk<br />

Leeds Castle leeds-castle.com<br />

Pashley Manor <strong>Gardens</strong><br />

Ticehurst 01580 200888<br />

pashleymanorgardens.com<br />

West Kent Shooting School<br />

Brenchley 01892 834306<br />

westkentshooting.co.uk<br />

FEATURES<br />

Chilstone Langton Green<br />

01892 740866 chilstone.com<br />

Symonds Salvage<br />

Bethersden 01233 820724<br />

symondssalvage.co.uk<br />

XL Pools Pluckley 08452<br />

060420 xlpools.com<br />

FLORISTS<br />

Sissinghurst Flowers 01580<br />

852144 / 07977 142447<br />

sissinghurstflowers.co.uk<br />

LAWN MAINENANCE<br />

Battle Mowers Ltd<br />

Battle 01424 773096<br />

battlemowers.co.uk<br />

Capital Garden Products<br />

Ticehurst 01580 201092<br />

capital-garden.com<br />

Ernest Doe Power Etchingham<br />

01580 860495 ernestdoeshop.com<br />

Godfreys Sevenoaks<br />

01732 741177 godfreys.com<br />

Green Thumb 01892 835808<br />

weald@greenthumb.co.uk<br />

Kent & Sussex Lawns 08454<br />

670258 kentsussexlawns.com<br />

Lawn Revival Team 01580<br />

712129 lawnrevivalteam.com<br />

SHOPPING & SUPPLIERS<br />

Capital Garden Products<br />

Ticehurst 01580 201092<br />

capital-garden.com<br />

Corker nr. Paddock Wood<br />

01892 833325 corker.co.uk<br />

Cranbrook Iron<br />

Hawkhurst 07765 344298<br />

cranbrookiron.com<br />

<strong>Gardens</strong>cape<br />

Newenden 0800 854663<br />

gardenscapedirect.co.uk<br />

Petals for Plants<br />

Broad Oak 01435 884111<br />

petalsforplants.co.uk<br />

Staplehurst Nurseries<br />

& Frankie’s Farmshop<br />

Staplehurst 01580 890713<br />

frankiesfarmshop.co.uk<br />

TREE SERVICES<br />

Fernshire Tree Services 01580<br />

890462 fernshiretrees.co.uk<br />

VERANDAS & AWNINGS<br />

SBI 0800 0742 721<br />

sbiproducts.co.uk<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

34


New Gardening Course<br />

We know trees.<br />

We’re professional tree surgeons covering<br />

Kent and East Sussex.<br />

Join Jo Arnell at her garden in Woodchurch for <strong>2017</strong>s new<br />

practical gardening course. Learn how to prune, sow seed,<br />

take cuttings, design a border and care for your plants through<br />

the seasons. Tools and cake supplied. No experience needed.<br />

Contact Jo Arnell 01233 861149 www.hornbrookmanor.co.uk<br />

Monthly on Friday & Saturday morning<br />

Our commitment is to deliver a comprehensive<br />

range of high quality tree work, from delicate<br />

pruning operations and hedgecutting,<br />

to replanting and complete tree removal.<br />

01580 890462<br />

fernshiretrees.co.uk<br />

insured experienced professional<br />

Creating gardens<br />

of distinction<br />

HornbrookManorWT180.indd 1 11/01/<strong>2017</strong> FernishireTreesWT172.indd 12:43<br />

1 09/05/2016 10:19<br />

Fernshire Ad-A5landscape.indd 2 06/06/2011 13:41<br />

Pop-up Shop Now Open<br />

Ockley Road, Hawkhurst TN18 4DP<br />

Probably the most experienced, established<br />

& qualified contractor in the area<br />

Geoff Tiltman<br />

City & Guilds in Horticulture N.C.T<br />

FREE QUOTATIONS, CALL<br />

SMARDEN 01233 770777 or 07775 694963<br />

All Garden Construction &<br />

Maintenance • Drives<br />

Paving • Walling • Fencing<br />

Untidy <strong>Gardens</strong> Made<br />

Tidy • Grass Cutting<br />

bespoke ironwork for home & garden<br />

07765 344298<br />

www.cranbrookiron.com<br />

Open: Wednesday - Saturday<br />

LANDSCAPING<br />

DESIGN & BUILD<br />

Creating a Garden of Style<br />

& Quality, within your budget<br />

• Hard & Soft Landscaping<br />

• Buildings & Structures<br />

• Lighting Schemes<br />

• Drawn & Visualised by Computer & Hand<br />

• Local Authority Approvals Managed<br />

Call Brian 07854 221 338 for a Free Quotation<br />

Qualified – University of Greenwich/Hadlow<br />

Pre-Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers<br />

GeoffTiltmanWT168.indd 1 18/01/2016 CranbrookIronWT177.indd 15:41<br />

1 25/10/2016 15:41<br />

Glass Verandas with traditional or modern looks.<br />

Remote control awnings and large patio covers.<br />

Specialist conservatory shading products<br />

For more information view our website:<br />

www.gardenandhomedesignltd.co.uk<br />

0800 0742 721 sbiproducts.co.uk <br />

167 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

GardenAndHomeDesign<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 21/03/<strong>2017</strong> SBIWT178.indd 18:08 1 23/11/2016 11:44


www.vinehallschool.com<br />

Easter Fun!<br />

Monday 10th - Thursday 13th <strong>April</strong><br />

A fun filled week, activities including:<br />

cooking, crafts, Easter egg hunt, Easter<br />

bonnet parade and outdoor fun in the woods...<br />

3-7 years, 8.30am-3.30pm<br />

Book individual days or the whole week. Snacks provided<br />

Please bring a packed lunch, change of clothes, waterproofs and boots!<br />

£25.00 per day or £85 for 4 days<br />

Early booking recommended as limited spaces<br />

Please book through the Office at Vinehall School<br />

office@vinehallschool.com / 01580 880413<br />

Vinehall<br />

R O B E R T S B R I D G E , E A S T S U S S E X<br />

DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS & GIRLS AGED 2-13


Education<br />

“<br />

W<br />

hat counts can’t be counted and what can<br />

be counted doesn’t count.” No one knows<br />

whether Einstein really said it but whoever<br />

came up with the observation, I agree with it totally.<br />

The ‘counting’ which dogs education these days – from<br />

league tables to SATS performance targets and<br />

all the rest of it – has killed learning for its own<br />

sake. And I strongly suspect it has taken the<br />

love of learning with it in far too many schools.<br />

When, many years ago, I was choosing<br />

my A Level options I desperately wanted<br />

to do zoology because I was fascinated by<br />

biology and craved more. Now, I am no scientist. I’d long<br />

since thankfully abandoned physics and chemistry. Most<br />

of the students opting for zoology were high fliers doing<br />

an all science programme with a view to medical school,<br />

research science and the like. So I was a bit of a maverick.<br />

To her eternal credit and my profound gratitude, the head<br />

BS_WEA_TIM_90wx130h.qxp_Layout 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 17:30 Page 1<br />

Number Crunchers<br />

Susan Elkin looks at school performance targets and statistics<br />

“My interest counted<br />

for something more<br />

important than<br />

examination statistics”<br />

of science allowed me to do it, knowing that I wouldn’t do<br />

well in the exam. I adored the subject and that was enough<br />

for her. My interest counted for something more important<br />

than examination statistics. I had a wonderful time for two<br />

whole years and the learning has stayed with me for life.<br />

Well, we all know that would never<br />

happen today. Schools have to get the best<br />

results they can in everything – results which<br />

should be a marginal end product have<br />

turned into the tail which wags the dog.<br />

Everything has to be ruthlessly quantified.<br />

I meet far too many teachers and heads<br />

who tell me, for example, that there’s no time for drama,<br />

music or free-range reading because all the focus is on passing<br />

exams. They miss the point, of course, that wider learning<br />

and experiences enhance progress in all subjects. Achievement<br />

is mysteriously transferable. The child who does well, say<br />

in the school play or develops skills in painting, is quite<br />

<br />

belong<br />

L O V E W H A T Y O U L E A R N<br />

Discover the Virtue of Learning<br />

Take a fresh look at Bethany School and discover a<br />

world of freedom. No limiting your options, just the<br />

independence and support you need.<br />

Join us at our next Open Morning<br />

Open Morning<br />

Tues 2nd May<br />

9.00am - 11.30am<br />

Entrance Assessments<br />

for September 2018<br />

Sat 11th November<br />

bethanyschool.org.uk 01580 211273<br />

registrar@bethanyschool.org.uk<br />

BETHANY SCHOOL, CURTISDEN GREEN, CRANBROOK, KENT TN17 1LB<br />

“<br />

co-ed day and boarding<br />

I love the environment at<br />

Bethany, because the rural<br />

setting is so peaceful. I’m<br />

happiest when I’m being<br />

creative in Design & Technology,<br />

and I want to go on to become<br />

an Architect.<br />

“<br />

Maria-Bisila Dougan, Year 11<br />

Design & Technology Scholar.<br />

NORTHBOURNE PARK SCHOOL<br />

DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL FOR NURSERY TO 13 YEAR OLDS<br />

OPEN MORNING<br />

10am - 12.30pm<br />

Pre-Prep and Prep School<br />

Saturday 6th May <strong>2017</strong><br />

Pre-Prep<br />

Friday 12th May <strong>2017</strong><br />

T: 01304 611215<br />

E: admissions@northbournepark.com<br />

Northbourne Park School, Betteshanger, Deal, Kent CT14 0NW<br />

www.northbournepark.com<br />

169 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

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1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> 16:01


Registered charity 1101358<br />

Where are the skills our children will need<br />

to discover new planets?<br />

Well, creative thinking skills are embedded in the<br />

curriculum at Sevenoaks School, so in theory we need<br />

look no further.<br />

Our alumni certainly go on to achieve extraordinary<br />

things; equipped as they are with the skills they need to<br />

change the waiting world.<br />

Lars Blackmore for example, mastered creative<br />

thinking at Sevenoaks. He left in 1998, studied robotics<br />

at MIT, earned a PhD and went to work for NASA. Primary<br />

objective: how best to land a craft on Mars.<br />

It’s worth considering then, that many of the skills<br />

your child may need to make a significant impact, can be<br />

acquired here at Sevenoaks.<br />

www.sevenoaksschool.org<br />

Every day at Sevenoaks, students practise creative thinking, critical thinking, complex problem solving, negotiation, team working and<br />

service provision – essential skills our alumni will use to excel at jobs which have yet to be invented and to reshape their universe.


Education<br />

likely to be making good progress in maths as well.<br />

Bearing all this in mind it was privilege and a pleasure<br />

recently to visit Springhead Primary School at Talke Pits near<br />

Stoke-on-Trent. The school works with the Royal Shakespeare<br />

Company as a ‘hub’ to encourage Shakespeare being done<br />

actively and enjoyably across the area. I was there to see an<br />

RSC 90 minute production of The Tempest in the school<br />

hall which the children were fizzing with excitement about.<br />

A group from another school joined the audience and both<br />

Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the RSC and Jacqui<br />

O’Hanlon, Director of Education were there. In the evening<br />

there was a second performance open to the local community.<br />

This very enlightened school – headteacher: Brian Anderson<br />

– devoted the whole of last term to The Tempest. Children<br />

enthusiastically showed me Miranda’s bedroom and Caliban’s<br />

den which they’d created in corridors. They’d also written<br />

stories, painted pictures, explored language, studied the science<br />

and mathematics of storms and the history and geography<br />

behind the play. It was utterly inspirational and just shows<br />

how you can foster the love of learning in a way which really<br />

counts and follow the National Curriculum. It need not be a<br />

banal box ticking exercise. Schools everywhere please note.<br />

Susan Elkin is the author of Encouraging Reading (Continuum,<br />

2008) and Unlocking the Reader in Every Child (Ransom, 2011).<br />

Be all<br />

you can be<br />

St Ed’s is a school where every pupil is connected by a love of learning, the pursuit of possibility and the<br />

challenge of being the very best they can be.<br />

01227 475601 | www.stedmunds.org.uk<br />

Open Morning<br />

Wednesday 10th May, 9.30 - 11.30am<br />

171 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

StEdmunds<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 21/03/<strong>2017</strong> 17:11


SaintRonans<br />

@saintronans<br />

www.saintronans.co.uk<br />

/SaintRonans<br />

© Sarah Clark Photography<br />

www.saintronans.co.uk<br />

© Sarah Clark Photography<br />

“What’s not to love...”<br />

“What’s not to love...”<br />

Good Schools Guide 2016<br />

Good Schools Guide 2016<br />

...about the Forest School at Saint Ronan’s?<br />

...about the Forest School at Saint Ronan’s?<br />

100 acres of stunning woodland with rides and mudslides<br />

No paper, no pens, no ceilings, no walls…..<br />

Building 100 acres dens of stunning and roasng woodland marshmallows with rides and mudslides<br />

Roosng No paper, on no logs pens, whilst no ceilings, sipping no hot walls….. chocolate<br />

Tasng Building wild dens garlic and with roasng friends marshmallows<br />

Watching Roosng on tadpoles logs whilst under sipping the Troll hot Bridge chocolate<br />

Hunng Tasng wild minibeasts garlic with and friends spong birds<br />

Telling Watching stories tadpoles in the under Hobbit the House Troll Bridge<br />

Hunng minibeasts and spong birds<br />

Telling stories in the Hobbit House<br />

“This lot achieve loads of<br />

scholarships, with leavers to more<br />

“This lot achieve loads of<br />

than 60 different seniors<br />

scholarships, with leavers to more<br />

in the past decade”<br />

than 60 different seniors<br />

Tatler Schools Guide <strong>2017</strong><br />

in the past decade”<br />

Tatler Schools Guide <strong>2017</strong><br />

Discover Saint Ronan’s<br />

Discover Saint Ronan’s<br />

Book an appointment on 01580 752271 or e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk<br />

Book an appointment Boys & Girls 3-13 onyears 01580 | Founded 752271 1883 or | Hawkhurst, e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk<br />

Kent | 01580 752271


Open Day<br />

Saturday 6th May <strong>2017</strong><br />

9.15am – 12 noon<br />

The Principal will speak at 9.30am<br />

First rate independent education for boys and girls aged 3 - 18<br />

First-rate ISI Inspection Report in 2013 • Nursery and Pre-Prep rated “outstanding”<br />

Top academic results from a broad ability intake • Extensive Sports facilities<br />

Boarding from 11 • Wide range of scholarships available at 11/13/16<br />

Cathedral Chorister scholarships available for boys aged 8 and girls aged 10<br />

T: 01634 888590 E: admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk www.kings-rochester.co.uk


BLUEBELL RAILWAY<br />

This iconic<br />

and historic<br />

locomotive will<br />

make its only<br />

visit to the South<br />

East. More<br />

information<br />

is available<br />

on website.<br />

Bright Bricks<br />

Build It Weekend<br />

27th & 28th<br />

May<br />

13th–19th<br />

<strong>April</strong><br />

Visit of Flying<br />

Scotsman<br />

Steam rides and<br />

LEGO ® , who<br />

could ask for<br />

anything more?<br />

Help us build a<br />

LEGO ® mosaic<br />

and ‘make and<br />

take’ a LEGO ® toy.<br />

Come and join us from 5th to 7th May <strong>2017</strong><br />

Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm<br />

St.George’s Church in the heart of the village will be exhibiting<br />

an abundance of amazing artwork by over 45 artists and<br />

craftspeople for you to browse, buy and take away.<br />

The work ranges from contemporary watercolours, oils,<br />

pencil drawing, sculpture, ceramics and much more.<br />

There’s something for everyone, for every space and budget.<br />

Treat yourself or find the perfect gift –<br />

the Wrotham Arts Festival is a great day out with a<br />

lovely café serving hot food as well as delicious cakes.<br />

You can find us by following directions to TN15 7AH<br />

and there’s plenty of parking too!<br />

A FREE event the whole family can enjoy!<br />

(See website for details)<br />

For more information 01825 720800 www.bluebell-railway.com<br />

Further details can be found at www.wrothamartsfestival.co.uk<br />

Or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wrothamarts<br />

The Contemporary<br />

Craft & Design Fair<br />

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wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

RHS Garden<br />

WISLEY<br />

Purchase<br />

direct from<br />

190 of the very<br />

best makers<br />

in the UK<br />

27 <strong>April</strong> - 1 May<br />

9am – 6pm Thursday to Sunday<br />

9am – 5pm Monday<br />

The UK’s most<br />

popular Craft Fair<br />

Admission to Garden<br />

also gives admission to<br />

Craft Fair • GU23 6QB<br />

Held in floored marquees<br />

Free Garden entry for<br />

RHS Members • Last entry<br />

1 hour before closing •<br />

Garden open until 6pm daily<br />

www.craftinfocus.com T: 01622 747325<br />

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Arts and Crafts<br />

Ibbett Mosely<br />

AuctIoneers & VAluers<br />

Limited Liability Partnership<br />

The Auctioneer's Next Sale Will Be On<br />

Wednesday 3rd May <strong>2017</strong><br />

Commencing at 12.30pm | Viewing 10.00am - 12.30pm<br />

At Ibbett Mosely Auction Rooms, Argyle Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HJ<br />

Valuation Day - Wednesday 10th May <strong>2017</strong> 11am to 4pm<br />

Crown Inn, School Road, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5PQ<br />

Tel: 01732 456731 Web: www.ibbettmosely.co.uk<br />

125 High St, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UT<br />

Registered in England No. 0C341637 Regulated by RICS Registered at the Sevenoaks office as Ibbett Mosely Surveyors LLP<br />

Sat 1 <strong>April</strong>-Sat10 Jun<br />

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif<br />

Art Gallery, St. Faith’s Street<br />

Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH<br />

Japan: A Floating<br />

World in Print<br />

Over 60 eighteenth to twentieth<br />

century ukiyo-e prints collected in a<br />

surprising and delightful exhibition.<br />

Entry: Adults £4 (£3.50<br />

online), children free<br />

Info: 01622 602838/<br />

museum.maidstone.gov.uk<br />

Sat 1 <strong>April</strong>-Sat 24 June<br />

Tues-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm<br />

Artichoke Gallery, Church<br />

Street, Ticehurst TN5 7A6<br />

In the Garden<br />

This lovely exhibition brings<br />

together a collection of artists<br />

who specialise in what nature<br />

has to offer. Capture the spirit<br />

of spring and make it last with<br />

artwork including paintings,<br />

sculpture, ceramics and jewellery,<br />

or just come to look around this<br />

spacious and relaxed gallery.<br />

Info: 01580 200905 /<br />

artichokegallery.co.uk<br />

Mon 17-Sat 22 <strong>April</strong><br />

10am-5pm, 10am-4pm on Sat<br />

Zion Baptist Church,<br />

Tenterden, Kent TN30 6BB<br />

SPRING ART EXHIBITION<br />

The Weald of Kent Art Society<br />

is holding their first Spring Art<br />

Exhibition from Easter Monday.<br />

Discover original works from over<br />

40 artists including watercolours,<br />

oils, sculpture and jewellery.<br />

Entry: Free.<br />

Info: wealdofkentartsociety.co.uk<br />

Easter<br />

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Sat 1-Sat 15 <strong>April</strong> 10am-5.30pm<br />

Groombridge Place, Groombridge<br />

Hill, Groombridge, Tunbridge<br />

Wells, Kent TN3 9QG<br />

Alice’s Circus<br />

Adventures<br />

Go down the rabbit hole this<br />

easter. Meet all your favourite Alice<br />

in Wonderland Characters at a<br />

day packed full of fun activities<br />

with a circus themed twist.<br />

Entry: Save 10% at<br />

thelittleboxoffice.com<br />

Info: 01892 861444 /<br />

groombridgeplace.com<br />

Sat 1- Mon 17 <strong>April</strong><br />

Hever Castle and <strong>Gardens</strong>, Hever<br />

Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG<br />

Easter Family Fun<br />

at Hever Castle<br />

A magical family-friendly Easter<br />

bunny hunt with the Lindt Gold<br />

Bunny, with the chance of earning a<br />

mini fluffy bunny. There will also be<br />

an Easter bonnet competition and a<br />

castle quiz on the history of Easter.<br />

Info: 01732 865224/<br />

hevercastle.co.uk<br />

Fri 14- Mon 17 <strong>April</strong><br />

Spa Valley Railway, West<br />

Station, Royal Tunbridge<br />

Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY<br />

Spa Valley Easter<br />

Specials<br />

Win a family ticket for a day out<br />

with Thomas the Tank Engine,<br />

in the spot the Easter bunny<br />

competition. Every child gets a<br />

free Easter egg for taking part.<br />

Entry: Standard fares<br />

Info: 01892 537715 /<br />

spavalleyrailway.co.uk<br />

Fri 14- Mon 17 <strong>April</strong> 10am-5pm<br />

Dover Castle, Castle Hill<br />

Rd, Dover CT16 1HU<br />

Medieval Easter<br />

Weekend<br />

Dover Castle takes a fantastical<br />

journey back to the days of fireeating<br />

jesters, deadly dragons<br />

and St. George riding on<br />

horseback to save the day.<br />

Entry: English Heritage m embers<br />

free/ Adult £19.40/ Child aged 5-15<br />

£11.60 / Concession £17.50 /<br />

Family £50.40<br />

info: 0370 333 1181 /<br />

english-heritage.org.uk<br />

Fri 14-Mon 17 <strong>April</strong><br />

1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey<br />

and Battlefield, High St, Butter<br />

Cross, Battle TN33 0AD<br />

Easter Adventure Quest<br />

Get hands on with history as you<br />

meet a medieval monk, see if<br />

you are strong enough to carry a<br />

Norman shield into battle, climb<br />

the gatehouse to the rooftop and<br />

experience the stunning views<br />

across the battlefield landscape.<br />

Entry: English Heritage Members<br />

Free, Adult £11.20, Child<br />

aged 5-15 £7.70, Concession<br />

£10.10, Family £32.10<br />

Info: 0370 333 1181 /<br />

english-heritage.org.uk<br />

Sun 16 <strong>April</strong> 12.30-2pm<br />

Canterbury Cathedral, Cathedral<br />

House, 11 The Precincts,<br />

Canterbury CT1 2EH<br />

Canterbury Cathedral<br />

Easter Lunch<br />

The Cathedral lodge will be<br />

organising a delicious three course<br />

Easter lunch, followed by tea and<br />

coffee, and an Easter Egg hunt in<br />

the lovely Campanile garden.<br />

Entry: Adult £22.95 / child £10.95<br />

Info: 01227 865350 /<br />

canterburycathedrallodge.org<br />

Festivals<br />

Sat 1 <strong>April</strong><br />

Kent County Agricultural<br />

Society, Kent Showground,<br />

Detling, Maidstone ME14 3JF<br />

Heritage Transport<br />

Show featuring the<br />

South East Bus Festival<br />

Featuring the South East Bus<br />

What’s On In <strong>April</strong><br />

Festival, with over a hundred<br />

vintage buses. Also a must-see for<br />

any vintage vehicle fans with free<br />

tractor rides, miniature railway,<br />

trade stands, ‘Classic for the<br />

Future’ area, and Farmers Market.<br />

Entry: Adult £7 / Free for<br />

children under 14<br />

Info: 01622 630975 /<br />

amy@kentshowground.co.uk<br />

Sat 15 <strong>April</strong><br />

Faversham Town Centre Market<br />

Place, Faversham ME13 7AG<br />

Faversham Hat Festival<br />

A weird and wonderful parade<br />

of creative community-driven<br />

festivities. Decorate, make<br />

or create a hat, or just wear a<br />

favourite, see the parade and hat<br />

competition, witness a magic show,<br />

and attend the Hatter’s Dance.<br />

And as if all this excitement isn’t<br />

enough, it also coincides with<br />

the Best of Faversham market.<br />

Info: 01795 227071 /<br />

faversham.org<br />

Sat 15 10am-10pm and Sun<br />

16 <strong>April</strong> 10am–7pm<br />

John Hendry Pavilion, Kent<br />

Event and Exhibition Centre,<br />

Kent Showground, Detling,<br />

Maidstone ME14 3JF<br />

Maidstone Tattoo<br />

Extravaganza<br />

Featuring Harley Davidson<br />

motorbikes, sword eating, the Miss<br />

Lady Ink UK finals, live music<br />

from local bands, pop up bar,<br />

fairground rides, space for over a<br />

hundred tattoo artists and a wide<br />

variety of trade stands including<br />

nail bar, barbers, and mum’s bakery.<br />

Entry: £4.36-£13.85<br />

Info: 07984 916932 /<br />

eventbrite.co.uk<br />

Sat 15-Mon 17 <strong>April</strong><br />

Pierremont <strong>Gardens</strong><br />

and Park, High Street,<br />

Broadstairs CT10 1JZ<br />

Broadstairs Spring Fair<br />

This fair boasts over 50 stalls,<br />

featuring the very best of Kentproduced<br />

food and drink.<br />

For children there will be face<br />

painting, an art space and an<br />

Easter bonnet competition.<br />

Info: 01843 871102 /<br />

broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk <br />

175 wealdentimes.co.uk


9, 10 & 11<br />

June <strong>2017</strong><br />

stumble wood, kent<br />

Off Halden Lane, Rolvenden,<br />

Cranbrook,TN17 4JG<br />

small, intimate & family friendly...where kids can be kids again & you<br />

can relax, immerse yourself in great music, fantastic food &<br />

drink. be together, reconnect or simply escape...if only for a weekend<br />

live music ><br />

SEE WEBSITE FOR LINE UP<br />

kids activities<br />

including woodland<br />

treasure hunts,<br />

storytelling<br />

& B U S H C R A F T<br />

kent's finest<br />

STREET FOOD TRADERS<br />

Woodlands<br />

outdoor<br />

cinema+<br />

silent disco<br />

under the stars<br />

beautiful campsite<br />

+ glamping by the woods<br />

for more information and tickets go to:<br />

www.woodlandsfestival.co.uk<br />

/woodlandsfestivaluk<br />

woodlandsfestivaluk woodlandsfestuk<br />

in aid of<br />

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What’s On In <strong>April</strong><br />

Thurs 27-Sat 29 <strong>April</strong><br />

Robertsbridge Village<br />

Hall, 11-23 Station Rd,<br />

Salehurst, Robertsbridge,<br />

East Sussex TN32 5DG<br />

Robertsbridge<br />

Literary Festival<br />

Featuring Sussex authors Tom<br />

Connolly, Bronwen Griffiths, Alan<br />

Judd, Charlotte Moore & Vanessa<br />

Nicolson, as well as children’s<br />

spellbinding storyteller Kevin Graal.<br />

Entry: £5, Children’s Event:<br />

adults free, £3 per child<br />

Info: rap.org.uk<br />

Sat 29- Sun 30 <strong>April</strong><br />

Groombridge Place, Groombridge<br />

Hill, Groombridge, Tunbridge<br />

Wells, Kent TN3 9QG<br />

Extreme Festival<br />

For the first time ever in the<br />

UK, Extreme festival exclusively<br />

brings The Beast, the world’s<br />

largest inflatable obstacle course,<br />

to Tunbridge Wells! And it<br />

comes with live music, great<br />

food and of course beer.<br />

Entry: £22 (plus £1.70<br />

Booking fee),Under 5s Free<br />

Info: eventbrite.co.uk /<br />

extremefestival.co.uk<br />

Garden<br />

Sun 2 <strong>April</strong> 10am-6pm<br />

11am and 3pm<br />

Borde Hill Garden, Borde<br />

Hill Lane, Haywards Heath,<br />

West Sussex, RH16 1XP<br />

Borde Hill ‘Camellia<br />

Heritage’ Tours<br />

A guided tour of the Borde Hill<br />

Camellia Garden with camellia<br />

enthusiast, Nick Schroder, tracing<br />

the history of this beautiful flower<br />

back to the Chinese tea merchants<br />

of the eighteenth century.<br />

Entry: £10 including garden entry,<br />

£5 for friends of Borde Hill<br />

Info: 01444 450326 /<br />

sussextopattractions.co.uk<br />

Mon 3-Fri 7 and Mon<br />

10-Fri 14 <strong>April</strong><br />

The Canterbury Tales, St.<br />

Margaret’s Street, Canterbury,<br />

Kent CT1 2TG<br />

Medieval Story Garden<br />

Kids get the chance to attend<br />

Knight school, dance around the<br />

maypole, visit the herb garden<br />

to learn medieval medicine<br />

and be whisked away to the<br />

past in a storytelling session.<br />

Entry: Free<br />

Info: 01227 696002 /<br />

canterburytales.org.uk<br />

Sat 8 <strong>April</strong> 10.30am-12pm<br />

Edwin Budding Gallery, South<br />

Downs Heritage Centre,<br />

Brighton Rd, Hassocks<br />

Behind the Scenes<br />

at the Chelsea<br />

Flower Show<br />

A free illustrated talk with Chelsea<br />

Gold Medal Winner, RHS Show<br />

Judge and TV Presenter, Juliet<br />

Sargent. Juliet will be covering<br />

how to ‘win gold at Chelsea and<br />

stay sane’, what it takes to win the<br />

people’s choice award and how you<br />

can achieve the ‘Chelsea look’.<br />

Entry: Free<br />

Info: 01273 847707 / heritage.<br />

centre@south-downs.co.uk /<br />

southdownsheritagecentre.co.uk<br />

Mon 10-Fri 14 <strong>April</strong> 1-4pm<br />

Godinton House and<br />

<strong>Gardens</strong>, Godinton Lane,<br />

Ashford, Kent TN23 3BP<br />

Spring Week<br />

Including a traditional treasure<br />

hunt, children’s crafts and garden<br />

games as well as a different<br />

activity each afternoon with<br />

local artists and craftsmen.<br />

Entry: Adults £5, Children £4,<br />

Tours on Friday additional £4<br />

Info: 01233 643854 /<br />

godintonhouse.co.uk<br />

Fri 21 <strong>April</strong>-Sat 6 May 10am-5pm<br />

Pashley Manor, Ticehurst, Near<br />

Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE<br />

Tulip Festival<br />

This spectacular Tulip Festival<br />

sees Pashley Manor carpeted with<br />

over 30,000 tulips, in over 100<br />

varieties Bloms will be on hand<br />

to share their wisdom, and a cafe<br />

will be serving locally sourced<br />

homemade cakes, scones, and<br />

light lunches. There will also<br />

be lovely gifts, souvenirs and<br />

plants on sale and exhibitions of<br />

Garden sculpture and floral art.<br />

Entry: £10.50<br />

Info: 01580 200888 /<br />

pashleymanorgardens.com<br />

Health & Wellbeing<br />

Sun 2 <strong>April</strong><br />

Hole Park, Rolvenden,<br />

Cranbrook TN17 4JA<br />

Hole Park Cross<br />

Duathlon<br />

With it’s breathtaking views over<br />

the Weald, and three different<br />

events to chose from, the awardwinning<br />

Hole Park gardens is<br />

the perfect venue for Duathlon<br />

athletes from beginners to pros.<br />

Info: 01580 241344 /<br />

trispiritevents.com<br />

Thurs 20 <strong>April</strong> - Thurs<br />

15 June 6-7pm<br />

Charing Surgery, 1 Surgery<br />

Close, Charing, Ashford,<br />

Kent TN27 0AW<br />

Relaxation Mindfulness<br />

Meditation<br />

programme with<br />

Yvonne Fernando, NLP<br />

Master Practitioner<br />

& Life Coach<br />

Learn to relax, manage stress<br />

and create a calm mind, for<br />

improved health & wellbeing.<br />

Entry: £65 for 8 week programme<br />

Info: 01233 878474 / 07968<br />

785714 / yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk<br />

Weds 26 <strong>April</strong> 10am-1pm<br />

Charing Surgery, 1 Surgery<br />

Close, Charing, Ashford,<br />

Kent TN27 0AW<br />

‘NLP & Health’<br />

Workshop with<br />

Yvonne Fernando, NLP<br />

Master Practitioner<br />

& Life Coach.<br />

The role of the mind and<br />

emotions is vital to your state<br />

of health. Positively empower<br />

yourself, through NLP, for<br />

better health & wellbeing.<br />

Entry: £35.<br />

Info: 01233 878474 / 07968<br />

785714 / yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk<br />

Thurs 27–Sun 30 <strong>April</strong><br />

Begins at Linton Bull Inn<br />

ME17 4AW (Thurs 27). Ends<br />

at National Trust Punchbowl,<br />

Hindhead GU26 6AB (Sun 30)<br />

THE GREENSAND<br />

SCRAMBLE<br />

The Greensand Way goes from<br />

Linton, Kent passing hop fields<br />

and Leith Hill to finally finish at<br />

the National Trust Punchbowl<br />

in Surrey. Walk, run or cycle, go<br />

just a few hours with the dog, a<br />

whole day or the full distance. This<br />

event is open to everyone, and all<br />

funds go to support The Simon<br />

Trust, a local charity supporting<br />

young adults with autism.<br />

Entry: £10 (plus small booking fee)<br />

Info: eventbrite.co.uk<br />

Music<br />

​Thurs 6-Sat 8 <strong>April</strong><br />

Dorking Halls, Reigate<br />

Rd, Dorking RH4 1SG<br />

Leith Hill Musical<br />

Festival<br />

Having opened in March, the<br />

main festival comprising the<br />

competitions and concerts is the<br />

highlight of the LHMF year and<br />

is full of life with musical works<br />

of different periods and styles.<br />

Info: 01403 240093 / lhmf.org.uk<br />

Sat 8 <strong>April</strong> 7.30pm<br />

St. Mildred’s Church,<br />

Tenterden TN30 6AT<br />

Piano Recital<br />

Award-winning young Polish<br />

pianist Anna Szalucka will<br />

perform works by Haydn,<br />

Chopin, Ravel, Baciewicz and<br />

Szymanowski. Hear Anna’s dazzling<br />

performance in this beautiful<br />

fifteenth century Parish Church.<br />

Entry: £15<br />

Info: 01580 761467 /<br />

friendsofstmildredstenterden.co.uk<br />

Sat 22 <strong>April</strong> 7.30pm<br />

Rochester Cathedral, Garth<br />

House, Rochester ME1 1SX<br />

Mendelssohn: Elijah<br />

Gravesham Choral Society presents<br />

Elijah, the inventive and intensely<br />

dramatic oratorio that Mendelssohn<br />

regarded as his finest achievement.<br />

Entry: £17/ £5 for full time students<br />

Info: 01474 816684 /<br />

graveshamcs.co.uk<br />

Sat 22 <strong>April</strong> 8pm<br />

Trinity Theatre, Church Road,<br />

Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JP<br />

Local & Live<br />

The final sessions of spring is<br />

an eclectic showcase of the best<br />

local talent, hand-picked by <br />

177 wealdentimes.co.uk


What’s On In <strong>April</strong><br />

Registered Charity No. 239992<br />

Protecting Wildlife for the Future<br />

KentWildlifeTrust<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 10/03/<strong>2017</strong> 16:03<br />

music-maestro Paul Dunton.<br />

Info: 01892 678678 /<br />

trinity theatre.net<br />

Shows & Performances<br />

Sat 1 <strong>April</strong> 7.30pm<br />

EM Forster Theatre,<br />

Tonbridge School, High Street,<br />

Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1JP<br />

Ballet Central<br />

A chance to see future stars of<br />

dance from the touring company<br />

of the Central School of Ballet<br />

showcasing newly commissioned<br />

works and celebrated masterpieces.<br />

Entry: £15, £13 concessions,<br />

£10 groups<br />

Info: 01732 304241 /<br />

boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk<br />

Thurs 6 <strong>April</strong><br />

Folkestone Quarterhouse, Mill<br />

Bay, Folkestone CT20 1BN<br />

NT Live at The<br />

Quarterhouse:<br />

Twelfth Night<br />

Tamsin Greig of Friday Night<br />

Dinner, Black Books and Episodes<br />

stars as Malvolia in this exciting<br />

new twist on the Shakespearean<br />

tale of mistaken identity,<br />

comedy and unrequited love.<br />

Info: 01303 760750/<br />

quarterhouse.co.uk<br />

Sat 15 <strong>April</strong> 12 noon<br />

and 2.30pm<br />

High Street, Guildford<br />

The Passion of Jesus<br />

in Guildford<br />

The Wintershall cast of players<br />

and animals turn the Guildford<br />

high street into the stage of one<br />

of the greatest stories ever told.<br />

Entry: Free<br />

Info: 01483 892167 /<br />

wintershall-estate.com<br />

Wildlife<br />

Sat 1 <strong>April</strong>-Weds 25 October<br />

Sea Searcher Boat Trips, The<br />

Kiosk Pier Yard, Ramsgate Royal<br />

Harbour, Ramsgate CT11 8LS<br />

Seal and Wildlife<br />

Watching Trips<br />

The National Nature Reserve<br />

take you on a trip to an active<br />

seal colony. The trip also has<br />

the benefit of a range of wild<br />

birds including the rare ingret.<br />

Entry: £20<br />

Info: 07837 562076 /<br />

seasearcher.co.uk<br />

Tues 4 <strong>April</strong><br />

Turner Contemporary<br />

Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG<br />

Scavenger & Great<br />

Eggcase Hunt<br />

A different kind of egg hunt this<br />

Easter with a day of fun searching<br />

for shark egg cases to help create a<br />

‘marine art masterpiece’. The event<br />

will also continue at Broadstairs<br />

on Weds 5, and Ramsgate<br />

Main Sands on Thurs 6.<br />

Entry: Suggested £1<br />

Info: 01843 233000 /<br />

secure.thanet.gov.uk/<br />

Thurs 20 <strong>April</strong> 6.30pm<br />

Green Farm, Church Ln,<br />

Shadoxhurst, Kent TN26 1LS<br />

Sam Lee singing with<br />

Nightingales<br />

A chance to listen as some of<br />

the finest musicians in the land<br />

duet with the rare and sweet<br />

song of the nightingale. Sit by<br />

the fireside, immerse yourself in<br />

folklore, and dine on a gourmet,<br />

backwoods feast with fine cheer,<br />

woodsmoke and hearty stories.<br />

Entry: £80, £72 per person for<br />

groups of more than 4, including<br />

feast and alcoholic drinks<br />

Info: admin@thenestcollective.co.uk<br />

/ singingwithnightingales.com<br />

Listings are correct at time of going<br />

to press but may be subject to change.<br />

Readers are advised to check with<br />

venues before making arrangements.<br />

We can list your event in the next issue<br />

of <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> for only £15! Please<br />

supply up to 50 words that should<br />

include date, time, venue, and any<br />

entry price to whatson@wealdentimes.<br />

co.uk or send with payment (cheques<br />

payable to JPS Media) to What’s On,<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong>, Kettle Chambers, 21<br />

Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17<br />

3HF. <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> reserves the<br />

right to edit text to fit space allocated.<br />

If you would like your event listing<br />

to be accompanied by a full colour<br />

reproduction (42.5 x 62.5mm) of a<br />

poster or other pictorial image, the<br />

total charge will be £95. Deadline for<br />

the May issue is 10 <strong>April</strong> <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

178<br />

GodintonHousePreservationTrust<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 16:26


Penshurst VINTAGE<br />

& Antiques Fair<br />

Penshurst Village Hall TN11 8BP<br />

Thursday 4 th May <strong>2017</strong><br />

@ 7.45pm<br />

15 th , 16 th , 17 th <strong>April</strong><br />

Trade entry Saturday 9.30am<br />

Public 10.30am–5pm<br />

Entrance £2.00<br />

Come and find fashionable vintage,<br />

French brocante & antique treasures in<br />

charming Penshurst. Enjoy delicious<br />

cakes and tea by Rose & Olive.<br />

Being opened by Fixing Dad<br />

on Saturday 10.30am<br />

In association with the BBC and Prudential Ride London<br />

Tickets:<br />

£15 Adults £10 Students<br />

<br />

Box Office: 01580 711856<br />

or Online @<br />

www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />

<br />

Queen’s Hall Theatre,<br />

Waterloo Road, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD<br />

PenshurstAntiquesFair<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 06/03/<strong>2017</strong> QueensHallTheatre<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 10:40<br />

1 22/03/<strong>2017</strong> 14:08<br />

179 wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

CHD-<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 17/03/<strong>2017</strong> 16:52


Home & Interiors<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> <strong>Times</strong> - Bazaar - Classified<br />

Furniture showroom now open<br />

monday to Friday 10am-5pm<br />

s aturday 10.30am-1pm by appointment<br />

repairs - reFinishinG - paint eFFeCts<br />

unit 10 midiC y oast<br />

bodiam business parK tn32 5up<br />

01580 830681 07754427194<br />

atK insantiques.Com<br />

1/4 m ile s outh oF Curlew r estaurant<br />

Clare Langdon<br />

AtkinsAntiques<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 17/03/<strong>2017</strong> SusanSurgeyWT167.indd 11:16<br />

1 26/11/2015 12:41<br />

INTERIORS<br />

Made to measure<br />

curtains & blinds<br />

Tracks & poles<br />

Measuring & fitting service<br />

Home consultation<br />

Fabrics & design advice<br />

Telephone 01233 850829<br />

clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk<br />

Health & Wellbeing<br />

A pet portrait makes a wonderful gift<br />

Professional Oil Paintings & Drawings<br />

Visit www.dianewilks.weebly.com or<br />

Email for examples: wdiane93@aol.com<br />

Diane 01580 212327<br />

The complete kitchen service...<br />

...from a hinge to a complete makeover<br />

The supply & replacement of<br />

drawers, doors, worktops,<br />

hinges, all fitted kitchen<br />

components/appliances, door<br />

renovation & polishing, bedroom<br />

doors & bespoke cabinets.<br />

Please call<br />

01689 850000<br />

www.thekitchendoctor.com<br />

Serving London & the South-East since 1984<br />

DianeWilksWT144.indd 2 20/01/2014 KitchenDoctorWT145.indd 14:32<br />

1 28/01/2014 10:12<br />

ClareLangdonWT177.indd 1 24/10/2016 16:04<br />

Make <strong>2017</strong> Your Health Year!<br />

All you need to know on one website, based<br />

on thirty years<br />

experience in<br />

natural health<br />

promotion and<br />

therapy. This<br />

site offers you<br />

information on<br />

body, diet, stress<br />

& breathing.<br />

Equally useful<br />

for patients or doctors who want to give their<br />

patients more than just “A Pill for Every Ill”.<br />

Visit: www.TotalHealthMatters.co.uk<br />

St.Bridgets, Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Kent. TN18 5DA<br />

The Best Fun-Fitness,<br />

Calorie Burning, Aerobics<br />

Class In Tenterden!<br />

Buteyko<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 16/03/<strong>2017</strong> 10:08<br />

Building Construction<br />

Stonehurst Construction Ltd.<br />

Professional service covering all aspects of<br />

construction and refurbishment, from the<br />

planning and design stage to completion.<br />

Restoring Quality<br />

Full restoration service, over<br />

25 years’ experience. Including<br />

Cabinet making, French<br />

polishing, finishing / colouring /<br />

distressing, Gilding, Veneering.<br />

Call me for a free quote or<br />

advice. On site work available.<br />

SUSAN SURGEY<br />

Restorer of Fine Antique Furniture<br />

Ashford 01233 877342<br />

or 07712 451104<br />

For examples, please visit<br />

www.susansurgey.co.uk<br />

Renovation & refurbishment<br />

Extensions<br />

Landscaping<br />

Barn conversions<br />

New builds<br />

Oak frame buildings<br />

Free no obligation quotations<br />

References and portfolio<br />

available upon request<br />

stonehurstconstruction.co.uk<br />

T: 01825 830540 M: 07736158515 E: stonehurstconstruction@gmail.com<br />

Piano Shop<br />

StonehurstConstruction<strong>WT182</strong>.indd 1 14/03/<strong>2017</strong> 15:12<br />

Thursdays 6:30pm to 7:30pm at<br />

Homewood School Dance Studio<br />

Open to all ages and fi tness levels, come along<br />

to have some fun and improve your fi tness<br />

for more information fi nd us on facebook<br />

wealdentimes.co.uk<br />

Suzercize<br />

180<br />

Nevill Estate Yard, Eridge, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JR<br />

01892 543233<br />

www.thepianoshopkent.co.uk<br />

SuzerciseWT181.indd 1 21/02/<strong>2017</strong> PianoShopWT180.indd 14:11<br />

1 04/01/<strong>2017</strong> 16:06


See Firepod at<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />

Midsummer<br />

Fair this June<br />

Competition<br />

Win A firepod Pizza<br />

oven worth £445<br />

Several years ago David Coward returned from working in the<br />

Italian Alps wishing he could cook pizzas like the ones he had been<br />

enjoying out there. After speaking to his business partner, Tim, the<br />

pair endeavoured to find a suitable product, however they wanted it to<br />

be hassle-free to use, portable and affordable. Eventually David and Tim<br />

realised that the only way to get exactly what they wanted was to design<br />

their own, so, after much research they appointed Jedco of Weybridge<br />

to help with the design process. After over three years of testing and<br />

perfecting, they are now manufacturing their first batch of Firepods.<br />

The Firepod is a portable outdoor pizza oven which converts to a<br />

griddle BBQ and heater for Lava Stones for ‘hot rock’ cooking at your<br />

table. With the special pizza stones in place and the lid on, The Firepod<br />

is a fantastic pizza oven – very quick to reach cooking temperature and<br />

only a few minutes to cook your perfect authentic pizzas. For Hot Lava<br />

Stone Cooking simply replace the pizza stones with the Lava Stone, heat<br />

it up in your Firepod, lift the stone out and place on the board, then<br />

take to your table for cooking ‘Hot Rock’ style, indoors or out. Replace<br />

the lava stones with the reversible griddle – ridged on one side flat on<br />

the other – and you are ready to cook in the Firepod’s third function!<br />

The Firepod is currently available at thefirepod.com.<br />

How to enter: For your chance to win<br />

one Firepod, in a colour of your choice, just<br />

answer the following question: Who helped<br />

David and Tim with the design process? Enter<br />

your answer with your contact details* in the<br />

online form at wealdentimes.co.uk/competition<br />

or post to: The Firepod Competition, <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

<strong>Times</strong>, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent<br />

TN17 3HF by Friday 18 <strong>April</strong> <strong>2017</strong>. Prize<br />

comprises 1 x Firepod, 2 x Cordierite pizza<br />

stones, 4 x Short oak legs, 1 x Oak stand<br />

(Quadpod), 1 x Pizza peel, 2 x Heat-resistant<br />

gloves, 1 Gas pipe and clip on regulator. Lava<br />

Stones and Griddle available to purchase<br />

separately. There is no cash alternative and<br />

the prize must be taken before July <strong>2017</strong>. *All<br />

entrants’ details will be passed on to Firepod<br />

and <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Events. Please let us know<br />

if you do not wish your details to be passed on.<br />

Congratulations to Kim Bates who wins our March competition for a beauty day spa for two at Grayshott Spa<br />

181 wealdentimes.co.uk


See Firepod at<br />

<strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />

Midsummer<br />

Fair this June<br />

Competition<br />

Win A firepod Pizza<br />

oven worth £445<br />

Several years ago David Coward returned from working in the<br />

Italian Alps wishing he could cook pizzas like the ones he had been<br />

enjoying out there. After speaking to his business partner, Tim, the<br />

pair endeavoured to find a suitable product, however they wanted it to<br />

be hassle-free to use, portable and affordable. Eventually David and Tim<br />

realised that the only way to get exactly what they wanted was to design<br />

their own, so, after much research they appointed Jedco of Weybridge<br />

to help with the design process. After over three years of testing and<br />

perfecting, they are now manufacturing their first batch of Firepods.<br />

The Firepod is a portable outdoor pizza oven which converts to a<br />

griddle BBQ and heater for Lava Stones for ‘hot rock’ cooking at your<br />

table. With the special pizza stones in place and the lid on, The Firepod<br />

is a fantastic pizza oven – very quick to reach cooking temperature and<br />

only a few minutes to cook your perfect authentic pizzas. For Hot Lava<br />

Stone Cooking simply replace the pizza stones with the Lava Stone, heat<br />

it up in your Firepod, lift the stone out and place on the board, then<br />

take to your table for cooking ‘Hot Rock’ style, indoors or out. Replace<br />

the lava stones with the reversible griddle – ridged on one side flat on<br />

the other – and you are ready to cook in the Firepod’s third function!<br />

The Firepod is currently available at thefirepod.com.<br />

How to enter: For your chance to win<br />

one Firepod, in a colour of your choice, just<br />

answer the following question: Who helped<br />

David and Tim with the design process? Enter<br />

your answer with your contact details* in the<br />

online form at wealdentimes.co.uk/competition<br />

or post to: The Firepod Competition, <strong>Wealden</strong><br />

<strong>Times</strong>, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent<br />

TN17 3HF by Friday 18 <strong>April</strong> <strong>2017</strong>. Prize<br />

comprises 1 x Firepod, 2 x Cordierite pizza<br />

stones, 4 x Short oak legs, 1 x Oak stand<br />

(Quadpod), 1 x Pizza peel, 2 x Heat-resistant<br />

gloves, 1 Gas pipe and clip on regulator. Lava<br />

Stones and Griddle available to purchase<br />

separately. There is no cash alternative and<br />

the prize must be taken before July <strong>2017</strong>. *All<br />

entrants’ details will be passed on to Firepod<br />

and <strong>Wealden</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Events. Please let us know<br />

if you do not wish your details to be passed on.<br />

Congratulations to Kim Bates who wins our March competition for a beauty day spa for two at Grayshott Spa<br />

181 wealdentimes.co.uk


Think you need<br />

a strong partner<br />

when your<br />

marriage ends?<br />

I do.<br />

You’ll want<br />

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Divorce and Family Team at Slater and<br />

Gordon, London, is one of the most<br />

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Her cases often involve international issues<br />

and she frequently acts for clients with<br />

complex financial arrangements,<br />

including business, trusts, third party<br />

interests and foreign property. She also<br />

boasts a wealth of experience advising on<br />

pensions, helping you start your next<br />

chapter with everything you’re entitled to.<br />

Call us on 0203 319 2685<br />

slatergordon.co.uk<br />

Offices in London, Watford, Cambridge,<br />

Milton Keynes and throughout the UK<br />

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms<br />

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart<br />

Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES<br />

Tel: 01732 762682<br />

81 Calverley Road<br />

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY<br />

Tel: 01892 520730<br />

Family | Employment | Estate Planning | Wills and Probate | Property | Business Legal Services<br />

www.rencraft.co.uk<br />

Slater and Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.


3 seater Brenchley sofa<br />

from £1695<br />

Bayham chair<br />

from £1395<br />

• A large range of fabrics & leathers to choose from<br />

• Available in customers own fabrics<br />

• Old school, quality upholstery with coil sprung seats<br />

• Dimensions can be altered to suit personal preference<br />

Handmade in England & also<br />

available in bespoke sizes!<br />

Free delivery and up to<br />

3 years 0% APR free credit<br />

Wells Bedding and Interiors<br />

44 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1XF<br />

For more information call 01892 272353<br />

www.wellsinteriors.co.uk

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