Wealden Times | WT183 | May 2017 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

PRICELESS
FEBRUARY MAY 2017
Wealden Times
The lifestyle magazine for the Weald
RESTORATION WEDDING & NEW SUPPLEMENT BUILD SUPPLEMENT inside inside
Inspirational Interiors • • Fabulous Fashion • • Delicious Dishes

Designers and makers of handmade kitchens
The difference is in the detail

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms
Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart
Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES
Tel: 01732 762682
81 Calverley Road
Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY
Tel: 01892 520730
www.rencraft.co.uk

FAIRBANKS LOUNGER
BY JOHN SANKEY

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AT
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PLACED DURING MAY 2017
11 5-17 Sayers Lane | | TENTERDEN | | KENT | | TN30 6BW
00 1580 761 008
w ww.WoodcocksInteriors.co.uk

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OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS | | QUALITY DECKING && CLADDING
OAK && WALNUT FLOORING | | HOME && GARDEN FEATURES
Tel: 01435 867 072
Round Wood | | Newick Lane Lane | | Mayfield | East | East Sussex | | TN20 6RG 6RG

01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk Biddenden Showroom

MINTERIORS
JFine hand crafted kitchens and bespoke furniture

GERMAN ENGINEERED KITCHENS
MODEL SHOWN
WHITE AND AND GREY LACQUERED LAMINATE DOORS, WHITE QUARTZ & & MARBLE WORKTOP, SIEMENS APPLIANCES – – £18,793*
KRIEDER SHOWROOM – 3 – 3 Chapel Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Kent TN1 TN1 1YQ 1YQ – – 01892 619721 – – info@krieder.com – – www.krieder.com
* Price * Price includes delivery, cabinet furniture, appliances, worktops and and VAT VAT

5 High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3EB
01580 715144
Email: cranbrook@kingsfords.net www.kingsfords-solicitors.com
We offer an excellent, swift and friendly service.
Conveyancing - Wills & Estates - Commercial Law -
Matrimonial Law - Prenuptial Agreements - Litigation -
Employment Law - Family Law - French Property
Conveyancing Services from £550.00+VAT
Wills from £215.00+VAT / Mirror Wills from £295.00+VAT
Lasting Power Of Attorney (LPA's) from £250.00+VAT
(Initial fixed-fee appointments also available at our Cranbrook offices)
Litigation Solicitor from £200.00+VAT
Matrimonial Solicitor from £150.00+VAT
We will always try and match any quotation
Kingsfords Solicitors Limited registered office address 2 Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD
Regulated by the Solicitors regulation Authority 621466
KingsfordSolicitorsWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 12:00
A weekend of pure nostalgia, recreating the sights,
sounds and fashions of the 1940s.
Spitfire Display
both days
(subject to operating conditions)
Book early for this popular event.
Kent & East Sussex Railway
www.kesr.org.uk Tel: 01580 765155
wealdentimes.co.uk
10
KentEastSussexRailwayWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 16:54

Contents
May 2017
102
148
128
26
49
56
81
85
102
125
FRESH START
Maggie Alderson picks her
favourite new builds
IT’S MAY
Fill your diary with hand
picked events going on
around the Weald
PAPER TRAIL
Designer Trudi Savin’s
Victorian villa
GET THE LOOK
Emulate Trudi’s pretty prints
ASK THE ARTIST
Uncover what inspires the
work of four creatives
LOVE STOREY
Explore Ali Kittermaster’s
unusual bungalow renovation
GET THE LOOK
Shop Ali’s style
128
141
145
147
148
155
157
163
HELLO TAILOR!
Men’s fashion at the Historic
Dockyard Chatham
MAKE-UP PALETTES
Jo Fairley explains how to
choose the right one for you
FLEX INTO MAY
This month’s bitesize
health news
WHAT IS YOGA?
Julie Simpson explains...
FOOD ON THE GO
Travellers’ treats
SEASONAL SWEETNESS
Bake a delicious rhubarbtopped
cheesecake
KEEPING IT CONTAINED
Jo Arnell’s potted gardens
PLANTS THAT HEAL
Sue Whigham uncovers
the medicinal properties
of common plants
Published by JPS Media Ltd, Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent. TN17 3HF.
Tel: 01580 714705 Fax: 01580 715983. Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk wealdentimes.co.uk
copyright JPS Media Ltd 2017©. The views of the advertisers and contributors are not
necessarily those of JPS Media Ltd.
167
177
179
183
184
ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY
Students and teachers discuss
their own experiences of
art, drama and music
THE NEXT STEP
Susan Elkin discusses the new
two year degree courses
WHATS ON?
Find out
COMPETITION
Win dinner, bed & breakfast for two
at Frasers in Egerton, plus tickets to
Wealden Times Midsummer Fair
FABLES FROM THE FARM
Jane Howard preps her herd
for the Heathfield Show
RESTORATION
& NEW BUILD
SUPPLEMENT
24 pages of
inspiration to get
your project started
After page 126.
Restoration
& New Build
A Wealden Times Supplement
View the new Garden Directory online at wealdentimes.co.uk
11
04WT183Supplement.indd 1 19/04/2017 17:12

Matfield
A beautifully presented Grade II Listed country house, close to the village centre
7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. Quadruple garage with 1 bed annexe above. Attractive
gardens and grounds with swimming pool, tennis court, vegetable garden, orchard, paddocks and
stabling. In all about 7.61 acres.
Guide price: £2,850,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/CHO090353
simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com
KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells
01892 310700
julia.robotham@knightfrank.com
KnightFrank.co.uk/country
020 7861 5390
@KF_TWells
KnightFrank.co.uk

Hawkhurst
An attractive and beautifully converted oast house, refurbished to an incredibly high standard
5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms. Formal gardens with terraces, pergola and topiary. Detached
triple garage, detached studio. Decked seating area overlooking a pond. Paddock. Cranbrook School
Catchment Area. EPC: E. In all about 5.89 acres.
simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com
KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells
01892 310700
Guide price: £1,695,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/TNW170055
@KF_TWells
KnightFrank.co.uk

‘Our Focus ‘Our Determines Focus Determines Your Reality’ Your Reality’
harpers and hurlingham
cranbrook £1,395,000
Immediate access to Bedgebury Forest · Drawing room
· Sitting room · Kitchen/breakfast/dining room · Utility
room · Five bedrooms (two ensuite) · Attic room
· Grounds of approximately 7.6 acres · Stables, barn,
garaging · EPC: n/a
Cranbrook School Catchment Area
Headcorn £1,200,000
Impressive Grade II* Listed Wealden farmhouse
· Four reception rooms · Kitchen and breakfast room
· Six bedrooms (five ensuite) · Garden and grounds
approximately 9 acres · Swimming pool · Garaging
· EPC: n/a
Short distance to mainline station
HigH Halden £1,100,000
Medieval Wealden farmhouse · Four reception rooms
· Conservatory · Kitchen/breakfast room · Six bedrooms
(one ensuite) · Garden, orchard and paddocks
approximately 8.25 acres · Detached barn with potential
· Garaging · EPC: n/a
Convenient edge of village location
HawkHurst £1,050,000
Spacious family home with views · Entrance hall
· Sitting room · Garden room · Kitchen/breakfast room
· Utility room · Four bedrooms (two ensuite) · Gardens
and terrace with swimming pool · Garage and shower
room · EPC: D
Cranbrook School Catchment Area
Harpers&Hurlingham
The Cornerhouse, Stone Street, Cranbrook
01580 715400
www.harpersandhurlingham.com
London offiCe: KenSingTon 020 7938 2311
Lettings Team
Sales Team
Charles Janey Chez Jane Cathy Sarah Debbie Jane A Debbie S Caroline Dawn
Dianne

SALES / LETTINGS / MANAGEMENT
VISIT US AT HUNTERS.COM
HERE TO GET you THERE
Rolvenden £585,000
Picturesque white weatherboard Grade II Listed Georgian family home,
offering deceptively spacious accommodation and situated within the CSCA
Four Bedrooms • Modern Kitchen/Dining Room • Private Garden • EPC Exempt
Benenden £800,000
Sympathetically extended detached family home with 1 bedroom annexe,
set in 1.35 acres set within the Cranbrook School Catchment Area
Four Bedrooms • En Suite & Bathroom • Private Gardens • EPC Rating D
Tenterden £400,000
This secluded and well-presented Neo-Georgian terrace home in an enviable
position to offer level and accessible access to the picturesque High Street
Three Bedrooms • Downstairs Cloakroom • Garage • EPC Rating C
High Halden £575,000
Spacious detached Kentish barn with a wealth of character features
including exposed timbers, brickwork, polished fl oors, vaulted ceilings
Three Bedrooms • Three Reception Rooms • Three En Suites • EPC Rating D
Meet your local Tenterden Team!
Branch Partner, Andrew Barker has been in the estate agency business since 2000.
Andrew has comprehensive local knowledge, having worked in Tenterden and the surrounding villages throughout his career.
Over 150 independently owned branches across the UK.
Myself, Laura & Jake are highly motivated in offering our customers a fi rst class service,
“we’re here to get you there”
TENTERDEN 01580 763 278
ASHFORD 01233 613 613
Over 180 independently owned branches across the UK.
HYTHE 01303 261 557
FOLKESTONE 01303 210 335

The Property Ombudsman
Hunton Guide Price £1,250,000
In a tranquil rural setting, a stunning barn conversion with excellent
commuter links nearby - Paddock Wood Station 6.5 miles • 3 Reception
Rooms • Kitchen/Family Room • 4 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Carport and
Stables • PP for Outbuilding • About 1.7 acres in all • EPC D
Frittenden Excess £650,000
A deceptively spacious and inviting period cottage in the heart of
the village with rural views • CSCA • 3 Reception rooms • Study Area
• Kitchen/Breakfast room • 4 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • Landscaped
gardens • EPC E
Sutton Valence Excess £600,000
In the heart of the village, a fascinating Grade II listed residence with
terraced garden and direct access to The Greensand Way • 2 Reception
Rooms • Kitchen • Cellar • 5 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • Terraced Garden
• Timber Garden Stores
Horsmonden Excess £570,000
A delightful semi-detached period cottage amid enchanting gardens
affording pastoral views • Cranbrook School catchment area • No Onward
Chain • Living Room • Kitchen/Dining Room • 3 Bedrooms • Family
Bathroom • Cottage Gardens • Workshop • CSCA • EPC F
Northiam Excess £500,000
A detached chalet bungalow amid lovely landscaped garden with
stunning far reaching rural views • No Onward Chain • Sitting Room with
Dining Area • Kitchen • 3 Bedrooms • Family Bathroom • Tandem Garage
• Landscaped Gardens
Northiam Excess £400,000
Development Prospect • A rare opportunity to create a contemporary
5 bedroom dwelling in a semi rural setting • PP for 2 Receptions • Open
Plan Kitchen/Dining/Living Room • Master Suite • 4 further Bedrooms
(1 En Suite) • Family Bathroom • Two Bay Garage • Circa 1/4 acre in all
coming 26 January 2015

Icklesham, East Sussex - £410,000
Attached period house close to village centre with rural
views. Kitchen, living room, dining room, 3 double
bedrooms. Garden and courtyard. Parking. EPC E
Pett, East Sussex - £499,950
Detached Grade II listed period village house with
southerly rural views. Living room, dining room,
sitting room, kitchen, sun room, 3 bedrooms. Garden.
Off road parking
Staplecross, East Sussex - £485,000
Delightful cottage forming part of Grade II listed period
house. Dining hall, sitting room, living room, kitchen/
breakfast room, study/bedroom 2, 2 double bedrooms.
Double garage. Garden.
Lydd, Kent - £315,000
Detached Victorian house. Living room, family/dining
room, breakfast room, kitchen, four bedrooms. Large
garden to rear. Summerhouse/office. Off road parking
space. EPC F
Fairlight, East Sussex - £1,500 pcm
Beautifully presented refurbished property on quiet
lane. Living room, large kitchen, dining/bedroom 4,
conservatory, 3 bedrooms. Double garage. Garden.
Coastal views. EPC D
Littlestone, Kent - £495,000
Spacious former coastguard cottage over 3 floors
approx 500 yards from the beach and adjoining the golf
course. Living/dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, 4
double bedrooms. Gardens. EPC E
RYE OFFICE 01797 227338
MAYFAIR OFFICE 0870 112 7099
phillipsandstubbs.co.uk

Weald Property half - 1 property.qxp_half page 11/07/2014 15:42 Page 1
Residential Sales • Management and Lettings
01580 242700
wealdproperty.net
Moving this Spring? Let the Country House specialists with over 30 years of local
property expertise make it happen for you, on your terms……seamlessly.
FOR SALE
Grovehurst Cottage is a beautifully appointed 3/4 bedroom detached,
period cottage set in almost 5 acres of pretty garden and grounds.
Nestled in unspoilt Kent countryside, the property is located within the
Cranbrook School Catchment Area and offers approximately 1974 square
feet of living space. This welcoming home has benefited from thoughtful
extensions and the attractive conservatory with a climate controlled
wine cellar beneath it, provides a useful year round living space.
The impressive garden and grounds with interspersed mature trees,
burgeoning flower beds, bluebell wood and a large magical pond at
its heart has created an outdoor space of enchantment and peace. The
outbuildings and large 1 bedroom studio / annexe create the option
of usable overspill accommodation / office space, being separate from
the main house. Situated in a quiet rural location, being on the outskirts
of the sought after village of Horsmonden, there are excellent local
amenities and superb transport links – the A21 is easily accessed (2 miles)
and nearby Paddock Wood Station provides main line trains to London
(42 mins to London Bridge).
Horsmonden OIEO £900,000
Weald Property – bespoke estate agent
Spring Offer Instruct Weald Property in May 2017 and receive a complimentary garden design appraisal from one of the South
East’s leading garden / landscape designers, Catherine Berkeley (see below).
2 Windmill Oast, Windmill Farm,
Rolvenden, Kent TN17 4PF
CatherineBerkeleyWT178.indd 1 08/11/2016 12:53

MAXIMISE THE VALUE
OF YOUR LAND
Have you got a large
garden or plot of land?
We are experts at working
with owners to maximise
the full value of their land
Industry leading experts
We take care of the planning permission!
The risk-free way to maximise your land
Zero cost to you!
Planning laws are changing
Act now before its too late!
What our clients say…
"The team had a huge amount of
knowledge and every step was handled
in a professional manner. Their excellent
relationship with the local planning
department helped achieve a fantastic
result for us. We would have no
hesitation in recommending them to
anyone who wants to achieve planning".
Amanda and Robert Petch
June 2016
"The cost involved to try and
get planning on our land
were just not feasible for us.
Working with Country House
meant we didn’t have to risk
our money as they took care
of everything"
Mr C Partridge (Loose, Kent)
September 2016
“Guy and team at CHH did a
fantastic job securing planning
permission on our rear garden plot.
Although a fairly problematic
application (which took over 18
months), they kept us informed
throughout the entire process.
I would certainly use them again”
David J (Oxted, Surrey)
January 2017
For a free appraisal call 0843 557 4080
www.maximisemyland.co.uk

Residential Sales
www.hobbsparker.co.uk
Little Chart
£795,000
Brand new development of just four detached family
homes within a country lane on the rural edge of the
village. EPC Rating TBA
Woodchurch
£895,000
Converted Kentish barn, lovely location along a
peaceful country lane, flexible living space including
annexe, outbuildings, gardens and pond. EPC Rating NA
Little Chart
£850,000
One of the most distinctive period farmhouses to come
onto the market in this area for many years. Same family
ownership for generations. Further details on request.
Aldington
£1,150,000
A wonderful 16th Century period farmhouse at the end
of a tree lined driveway, courtyard of buildings, gardens
and land in all about 25 acres. EPC Rating NA
Tenterden
POA
Converted Kentish oast house and barn. Detached two
bay oak frame cart lodge, detached cart barn. Gardens and
paddock. In all about an acre. EPC Rating D
Bethersden
OIEO £1,000,000
Grade II listed detached country house, double
garage, outbuildings, pond, set within beautiful
woodland. In all about 19 acres. EPC Rating NA
Hobbs Parker Estate Agents
Tenterden 01580 766766 | Ashford 01233 506260
01580 766766

sJd – developing potential
If you think your property
could be developed, why not
give us a call without obligation
and in confidence.
Many of our clients retain our
services and, in the majority of
cases, pay our fees saving property
owners significant costs.
Call us now
for regular updates, visit us at twitter.com/projects
Contact Stephen Donnelly on
07739 514350 or 0845 456 8969
web: sjd-projects.com • email: steve@sjd-projects.com
We are alWays on the lookout for property With developmental potential
We call it home
SJDprojectsWT182.indd 1 08/03/2017 17:01
The Coachworks. Luxurious properties
in a unique and beautiful location.
Discover the hidden delights of village life in retirement.
There are few villages as vibrant as Ticehurst and the generous
apartments of The Coachworks are but a short stroll from its heart.
Becoming part of our community and right sizing for
retirement will give you freedom to make the most of every
day, whether that involves looking after the grandchildren or
hopping on the Eurostar. More spacious than most and set in
delightful courtyard gardens, we think you will like what you see.
Come and visit and have a drink on us at our
favourite local. Please quote CHEERS to retrieve this
offer when booking your appointment with us.
THE COACHWORKS
TICEHURST VILLAGE
High Street, Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7EX
01892 507 005
TunbridgeWellsRDS@savills.com
www.coachworksticehurst.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
22
Savills-SevenoaksWT183.indd 1 18/04/2017 11:56

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Nothing for sale?
A professional property finder, Mandy Bissell of Garrington explains how homebuyers frustrated by
an apparent lack of properties for sale can find a solution in the secretive off-market sector…
Despite the former chancellor’s
pessimistic predictions relating to a post
Brexit vote, the UK economy and housing
market has remained surprisingly
robust and whilst it is true that the rise
in house prices has steadied, demand
from homebuyers locally has continued
to grow.
Estate agents covering Cranbrook and
the surrounding areas are reporting
increasing frustration amongst those
looking to move, as the number of quality
properties available for sale is just not
keeping up with demand.
Reflecting this, Garrington is frequently
approached by those struggling to find
somewhere to buy – as well as, ironically,
those who are reluctant to put their
property on the market because they
cannot see anything that they would like
to buy. So, a state of stalemate in some
sectors prevails.
One solution to a frustrating market
lacking choice is to explore the elusive
‘off-market’ sector. Some local estate
agents use this approach effectively as
a marketing tool; advertising ‘discreet
sales’ or ‘private sellers’, as a means of
increasing a property’s exclusivity.
For some homeowners, this method
provides a welcome veil of privacy
as a true off-market property is not
something you will see advertised or in
print in any form.
Mandy Bissell GARRINGTON
So what is a genuine off-market property?
Real off-market properties are bought and
sold away from the public eye, brokered
by a property buyer or estate agent. In
the Cranbrook area the most common
off-market properties are at the top end of
the market and often include large period
properties with land, building plots and
homes in high demand locations, such
as popular villages within the Cranbrook
School catchment area.
In the past few years, Garrington has sourced
off-market properties in Wadhurst and an
unlisted detached period house (with 10
acres of land) in a hamlet near Hamstreet.
How do you gain access to these elusive
properties?
If you are well connected in the area, are
in a strong financial position and patient,
it should be possible to hear about homes
that may be quietly available for sale. You
just need to send out your feelers and keep
gently reminding your contacts that you
are looking for something unusual.
An alternative and easier approach is to work
with a professional property finder who will
usually hold a ‘little black book’ of off-market
properties, a well-established network of
property contacts, as well as, the knowledge
of how to approach homeowners direct to
gauge whether there is an appetite to sell.
Whilst this method of sourcing property is
not guaranteed to bear fruits, Garrington
regularly unearths exciting opportunities
this way.
What are the benefits of using an expert
property finder?
Whilst sourcing genuine off-market
properties for clients is an exciting prospect
for many buyers, the role of the property
finder does not stop there (and this is key,
even to those who go it alone).
Once found, the most difficult aspects are
negotiating the price and then seeing the
deal through the subsequent conveyancing
and due diligence stages. Properties that
are being sold on the open market have
their asking prices tested; if a buyer asks too
much, then they get no viewings but if the
asking is low then a gaggle of hungry buyers
can push the paid price considerably higher.
Away from this market test, establishing
a price that is acceptable to an ambitious
seller and prudent buyer is more difficult
and this is where a skilful property finder
can use evidence, market knowledge and
diplomacy to find a meeting point.
If you would like further information regarding off-market properties or to learn how using a
property finder can make purchasing a property easier for you, Garrington offer a complimentary
initial meeting without obligation. Please contact Mandy Bissell for more information.
Tel: 01892 882892 | info@garrington.co.uk | www.garringtonsoutheast.co.uk

Land & Property Experts
Computer generated image
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
THE OLD ORCHARD, CHARTWAY STREET, SUTTON VALENCE ME17 3JA
A development of five 3, 4 & 5 bedroom new homes, ready for occupation summer 2017
Call our selling agent now for more information and to book your personal appointment
Guide prices from £465,000 | T: 01622 673086 | E: enquiries@sibleypares.co.uk
Follow us for updates: @MillwoodDHomes millwooddhomes MillwoodDesignerHomes
www.millwooddesignerhomes.co.uk
SibleyParesWT182.indd 1 17/03/2017 10:17
Land & Property Experts
FOR SALE
A SmAll RESidEntiAl And
AgRiCultuRAl EStAtE on thE
EdgE of thE AShdown foRESt
near CrOwbOrOugh.
Crowborough 2.3 miles
Tunbridge Wells 9.3 miles
Gatwick 21 miles
207 ACRES
The farm includes a detached six
bedroom period farmhouse, three
cottages, approximately 20,000ft 2
of farm buildings, over 154 acres
of arable and pasture and 51 acres
of woodland with sporting or
conservation potential.
Guide Price: On Application
Challock Office
wealdentimes.co.uk
24
BTF-Rural-WT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:13

THE BRUNSWICK - Affordable luxury in Rye
Spacious double fronted 3 bedroom detached homes with parking
and private gardens from £380,000
FAMILY
BEDROOM 3
LOUNGE
CPD
WC
KITCHEN
/ DINER
BEDROOM 1
BEDROOM 2
WDR
HALL
EN-SUITE
FAMILY
BATHROOM
WDR
First Floor Plan
Ground Floor Plan
A collection of delightful New England style homes a short walk from Rye centre overlooking an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Offering three bedrooms with en-suite to master bedroom.
Glazed conservatory overlooking private rear garden. All houses have oak laminate floors and
carpets throughout with under floor heating and Bosch appliances
ARONCORP
Freephone: 0800 612 7933
sales@ValleyParkRye.com
www.ValleyParkRye.com

HOUSE OF THE MONTH
1.
Fresh Start
Maggie Alderson steps into brand new homes
As a nation we are justly proud of our architectural history, still so gloriously
apparent throughout the land. Any British town and village will have buildings
from a sweep of centuries: five-hundred-year-old Tudor homes boasting beams
and leaded windows, elegant Georgian houses with their glorious symmetrical frontages
and wide floorboards and Victorian villas with splendid mouldings and capacious cellars.
It’s no wonder ‘period details’ and ‘original features’ are so joyously
proclaimed on estate agents’ details. But as anyone who has ever enjoyed
the privilege of living within gloriously weathered walls knows – they
do seem to puff dust and filth into the air out of their very walls.
It is very special to live somewhere you know has been a haven for multiple
generations before you – especially if it has some interesting history. But a fortnight’s
holiday in a freshly built villa or apartment, everything shiny and new and in the
right place can make coming home to your tatty old period home a bit of a shock.
Of course underfloor heating, elbow level light switches and electrical sockets with
integral USB ports can be inserted into older properties, but only with significant
upheaval and expense. Plus the release of vast volumes of the previously mentioned
historic dust. I know, because I’m trying to do it in a Victorian house at the moment…
How I envy my friends who have just moved into a divinely elegant
apartment, they bought off the plan. They were smitten by the sleek
contemporary design in the computer-generated images, but what convinced
them to leave behind their period features for a new build was that they were
then able to tweak the new home exactly to their personal preferences.
As I knock my 150 year old house about, the better to serve our contemporary
lifestyle with eat-in kitchens and en suite bathrooms where there were none – while
living like a Stone Age family during the earthworks – I can’t help thinking how
much easier it would have been to buy a house which had all that designed into it.
Here are some of the best new homes on the market now.
1. The Old Orchard
Where? The Old Orchard is a
development of just six new spec houses
in a mixture of Kent vernacular styles
in the High Weald village of Sutton
Valence, five miles south of Maidstone.
The convenience of a local farm shop,
post office and three pubs is combined
with good rail links to London (just
over an hour) and access to the M20.
What? The largest house of the six,
The Stanford has the ideal contemporary
layout with a kitchen/breakfast room
and living room both with doors
onto the garden. There’s also a dining
room and separate utility room on the
ground floor and the double garage
(with electric doors) has an entry into
the kitchen. The first floor has an en
suite master bedroom, three further
bedrooms and a family bathroom.
The second floor has a further en
suite bedroom and a generous study.
How much? This development
is listed with Sibley Pares at the
Maidstone office at £870,000. Call
them on 01622 692206 and view
more details at sibleypares.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
26

2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
4.
2. Ravenwood
Where? Gables Park is a select
development of five individually gated
executive homes with stunning views
across the North Downs. Located just
outside the village of Wrotham, five
miles from Sevenoaks, with Victoria
just 45 minutes away by train and
superb access to major road networks.
What? Ravenwood is a four storey
house with traditional beamed frontage
and a luxurious contemporary interior.
The lower ground floor comes with a gym,
games room, cinema, utility room and
a garden room with over all, four sets of
glass doors onto a deck. On the ground
floor there is a large kitchen/breakfast
room and a study, then a studio, dining
room and sitting room, all opening onto
a balcony. The second floor houses the
en suite master bedroom, with a further
balcony, another en suite bedroom on
the view side, with two more bedrooms
and another bathroom. The second floor
hosts the fifth and sixth bedrooms and a
bathroom. There is also a two car garage.
How much? Ravenwood is on
the market at £1,550,000. Selling
agents are Clarendon Homes on 01622
851144 and Savills Locksbottom
on 01689 869630 savills.co.uk/
estate-agents/savills-bromley.aspx
3. The Brackens
Where? The Willows is a
development of five executive family
homes combining traditional features
with modern styling in the village
of Chestfield, five miles north of
Canterbury and just over a mile from
the north Kent coast. Whitstable is
just three miles. Trains to Victoria
take just under an hour and a half and
there are good road links to the M2.
What? The Brackens is a fourbedroom
detached house within
The Willows, with a designer fitted
kitchen with integrated appliances
and a breakfast bar seating four. The
ground floor also has a living room with
French windows on to the garden and
a dining room. Upstairs, the master
bedroom has an en suite bathroom,
and there are three further bedrooms,
a family bathroom and a study.
How much? The Brackens is
priced at £699,995, through Kent
Estate Agencies on 01227 272302
kent-estate-agencies.co.uk and
RPC New Homes 01634
835900 rpclandandnewhomes.
co.uk/new-homes/
4. Hawthorne House
Where? Hawthorne House features
just three very high spec family homes
in the village of Addington, overlooking
the stunning West Malling golf course.
Trains take less than an hour to London
from West Malling station and there
are excellent road links via the M20.
What? Hawthorne House is a very
generous five-bedroom detached home,
covering 2.645 sq ft, tile hung in the
local traditional style, with interiors
designed for contemporary living. The
ground floor has a study, TV room and
sitting room, as well as a huge kitchen/
dining/family with two French windows
to the garden and a separate utility room.
Upstairs there are five bedrooms – three
en suite – and a further family bathroom.
How much? Priced at
£1,050,000, Hawthorne House is on
the market with Savills Sevenoaks,
call 01732 789700 savills.co.uk.
Please note, as all these houses are new
developments still in progress, some of the
images used here are computer generated.
27 wealdentimes.co.uk

Because we understand
that it’s so much more than
bricks and mortar
+44 (0) 1580 713825 | fionapenny.com
Property Search in Kent and East Sussex

NOW SELLING
Set in the heart of the historic Wildernesse Estate, this development includes the restoration of
the main house, together with a series of 8 newly built mews houses available for sale this summer.
These two-bedroom houses benefit from access to all that’s on offer across the estate, from the spa
and lounge to the restaurant and extensive landscaped grounds.
Mews house prices from £735,000
To book an appointment or find out more, call or visit:
01732 789 740
sevenoaksnewhomes@savills.com
wildernessehouse.co.uk
Retirement livin
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but not as you know it

FREE APPLIANCES
WITH ALL KITCHENS PURCHASED IN MAY*
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Visit takethefamily.com before you
take your family anywhere
The ‘perfect’ family holiday varies by family. Cranbrook-based Take the Family’s passion
is inspiring parents to think beyond the sun-lounger – there are so many exciting options
around the world that you and the kids will love and talk about long after your return.
Visit www.takethefamily.com to find your perfect family holiday today,
or book with our tailor-made travel consultant on 020 3633 0653 and
get complimentary airport lounge access with bookings over £5,000.
Quote TTF Wealden Times.

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Telephone 01323 509 661 Freephone 0800 988 1071
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
BI FOLD DOORS ARE BECOMING EVER MORE POPULAR AS
A WAY OF OPENING LIVING SPACE TO THE GARDEN
ONCE INSTALLED an issue can be finding a blind
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Pleated blinds offer the perfect solution as they
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Put back pain
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for lasting recovery. SUITABLE FOR ADULTS OF ALL AGES.
Don’t live with your pain, get help today.
Wealden Osteopaths & Spine Centre
Risebridge Health & Sports Club,
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Saturday 6th May - Sunday 21st May
This is your opportunity to “Meet our Experts”.
Join us in the Beauty Hall where experts at the top of their game
will be sharing their top tips on all things makeup, skincare, fragrance,
haircare and more. From masterclasses with senior makeup artists
at bareMinerals, Bobbi Brown, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC and YSL to
consultations with skincare specialists from the likes of Aveda, Clinique,
Dermalogica and Kiehl’s, there is something for everyone.
Have lots of fun experimenting with our latest skincare innovations,
flawless finishes, exciting colour collections and discover your new
signature summer scent from our exclusive selection of luxury
fragrances.
Plus don’t forget to collect beauty points with every purchase of
£25 or over with our Beauty Loyalty Card. With every 10 points
you collect, you will receive £10 to spend in the Beauty Hall *
*T&C’s excludes Jo Malone London and Aveda.

the home of world furniture
NEW IN
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WEALDEN_TB_Half_APRIL.indd 1 21/03/2017 14:39
TradingBoundariesWT182.indd 1 21/03/2017 14:54
At Love Blinds we offer a wide
range of beautifully made
plantation shutters, blinds and
window coverings.
We specialize in the shutter business,
combining years of experience with the best
quality products available on the market to
provide an unbeatable price and service.
Fully guaranteed
Free fitting & measuring
wealdentimes.co.uk
38
LoveBlindsWT183.indd 1 20/04/2017 12:35

White’s The Jewellers is Under New Family Ownership
Gold, Diamond Jewellery &
Prestigious Watches Purchased For Cash
Pre-owned Antique Timeless
Family Owned
96 High St, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6JB
Telephone 01580 763 155
www.whitesjewellers.co.uk
info@whitesjewellers.co.uk
35 St Leonards Rd, Bexhill-on-Sea TH40 1HP
Telephone 01424 211 835
www.thomasfrenchjewellers.com
thomas.frenchjewellers@gmail.com

TAKE THE MASERATI WAY
Levante. The Maserati of SUVs. Starting at £54,335 OTR
The road you choose to travel might not be a road at all. A quick trip might turn
into the adventure of a lifetime, because there’s no reason to stay on the beaten
track when you can create a path of your own. The Maserati Levante was designed
with world-class engineering prowess and features Q4 intelligent all-wheel-drive and
sophisticated air-suspension systems, which allow you to enjoy a fully capable SUV with
outstanding Maserati driving dynamics.
MOTORLINE MASERATI MAIDSTONE
Bircholt Road, Maidstone, ME15 9XY
Phone: 01622 616 424 | www.motorline.co.uk/maserati
Official fuel consumption figures for the All New Maserati Levante Diesel in mpg (l/100km): Urban 34.4 (8.2), Extra
Urban 42.8 (6.6), Combined 39.2 (7.2). CO 2 emissions 189g/km. Fuel consumption and CO 2 figures are based on
standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown is a Maserati
Levante Diesel MY17 at £66,640 On The Road including optional Luxury Pack at £5,950, 21 inch Anteo alloy wheels
at £2,695, Driver Assistance Pack at £1,450, panoramic sunroof at £1,200, Rear laminated privacy glass at £350
and bi-xenon front headlamps at £660.

JANE FORD SOLO EXHIBITION
A Curious Slice of Wild
East Grinstead: 6th-18th May Battle: 20th May-3rd June
Gallery
5 Middle Row
High Street
EAST GRINSTEAD RH19 3AX
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Annexe
30 Abbey Court
off High Street
BATTLE TN33 0TZ
+44 (0)1424 77 77 66
SaffronGallery.co.uk
info@SaffronGallery.co.uk
facebook.com/SaffronGallery
twitter.com/Saffron_Gallery
SaffronFineArtWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 12:23
FINE HANDMADE FURNITURE, OAK DOORS, FLOORING & OTHER BESPOKE JOINERY
MADE FOR YOUR HOME
Manufactured by C R Foreman Ltd
Selected pieces are available for immediate delivery.
Our Kent Showroom is open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturdays 10am - 1.30pm
Tel. 01622 743747 | Email. info@tudor-oak.co.uk | www.tudor-oak.co.uk
41 wealdentimes.co.uk
TudorandMoreWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 16:19

@
Woodstoves • Fireplaces • Interiors • AGA • Gas Fires
Aga authorised showroom
Aga cookshop in store
31 Wincheap, Canterbury CT1 3RX • 01227 780267 • www.hearth.uk.com • sales@hearth.uk.com
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HeatDesignWT176.indd 1 19/09/2016 15:59
Cottage Door
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1
2
Internal Doors
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from £85 price includes: Door,
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6
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wealdentimes.co.uk
42
DoorToDoorWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 11:42

OPEN DAY 20th May, 11am-4pm
Guest chef • Wine tasting from Majestic Wine • Cake treats from Hollie’s Little Cakery
Competitively priced kitchens from as little as £5,000
See our website: www.kutchenhaus.co.uk
Call in for a free quotation
Free Designs Free Quotations All Kitchens delivered Pre-built Free Parking
Visit our website or our showroom in Tunbridge Wells
1st floor, 319 St John’s Road (above Majestic Wine), Southborough, Tunbridge Wells TN4 9XE
01892 289070
Tunbridge Wells . Sutton Coldfield . Manchester . York . Brentwood . Beverley . Farnborough

HASTINGS
WHITE ROCK
THEATRE
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
BUDDY –
THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
TUE 2 – SAT 6 MAY
LA BOHEME
MON 8 MAY
HORRIBLE HISTORIES
BARMY BRITAIN
THU 11 MAY
BRIAN CONLEY
FRI 19 MAY
JOOLS HOLLAND
WED 24 MAY
SHAKIN’ STEVENS
SUN 28 MAY
REMEMBERING FRED
WITH ALJAZ & JANETTE
WED 31 MAY
BABE THE SHEEP-PIG
TUE 6 – WED 7 JUNE
TEA DANCE
WED 7 JUNE
LOCATION: The White Rock Theatre is on
Hastings seafront (A259), opposite the pier. BOOK ONLINE whiterocktheatre.org.uk TICKET OFFICE 01424 462288

VISIT OUR NEW STORE IN SEVENOAKS -
5000 SQ FT OF BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE AND GIFTS OVER 3 FLOORS!
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FARNINGHAM OAK BRANCH - TEL 01322 863230 - HIGH STREET, FARNINGHAM, KENT DA4 0DG
Extend your Living Space this summer with a
Markilux Awning from ABS Blinds Of Tenterden
FarninghamPineOakWT176.indd 1 21/09/2016 09:41
GET READY FOR SUMMER
• Self Cleaning
Fabrics
• Remote Control
• Heaters
• Motion Sensors
• Call into our
showroom and
have a look
FREE MOTION SENSORS* on orders placed until the 31st May *ON PRODUCTION OF THIS ADVERT
Tel: 01580 765169 www.absblinds.co.uk
8 The Fairings, Tenterden • Mon-Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-3pm
45 wealdentimes.co.uk
ABSBlindsWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 12:17

Shutters designed
for the way you live
discover our wide range of chic
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Understanding that your house is your home is at the
very heart of our thinking, from design consultation
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where we ensure that your house is treated like a home,
not like a building site! For years to come you will admire
the practicality and style of your beautiful shutters.
Call us today on 01892 575858
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wealdentimes.co.uk
46
AcademySalonsS29.indd 1 01/03/2017 T2653 JustShuttersWT182.indd 16:15 JS 2017 MAR Wealden 1 Times 90x265.indd 1 22/03/2017 09:41 10:06

WWW.HANDMADERUGS.CO.UK
104, HIGH STREET, TENTERDEN, KENT, TN30 6HT
Tel 01580 762524
Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 5
30-31, HIGH STREET, BATTLE, E. SUSSEX, TN33 0EA
Tel 01424 772944
Monday to Saturday 9.30 to 5
Modern and Traditional Handmade Rugs
Furniture and Accessories
WWW.MOREBYDESIGN.COM
History In the Making
A rug is a breathtaking work of art with thousands of hand-tied knots woven in intricate designs,
one knot at a time. Memories become woven into them as they slowly absorb your family history
and become family heirlooms. Building a home is about collecting pieces that you will want to
have forever, pieces that one day your children or grandchildren will be proud to own.

Mayday! Mayday!...
It’s the year of the Wrens’ 100th anniversary and the 77th
anniversary of Operation Dynamo to the day, so from
Saturday 27 to Monday 29 May, Dover Castle are celebrating
with English Heritage’s biggest event of the year. The castle
will be decorated with military encampments, a full size
replica Spitfire, assault course, live band and an explosive
battle. Meet the Land Girls, visit the 1940s beauty parlour for
a victory roll hairdo, then head over to the original NAAFI
wagon for a lovely brew. Call 0370 333 1183 or visit
english-heritage.org.uk for information and booking.
May
notebook
Exhibitions & events
near you this month...
You won’t Regret it...
On Thursday 18 May, The Bell in Ticehurst hosts
the award-winning comedy cabaret that critics are
calling a “clever”, “hilariously moving” example
of “cabaret at its consummate best”. Funny, tragic
and compelling, Je Regrette! is the story of La Poule
Plombée, a French singer tortured by jealousy
and unrequited love. Propped by her hen-pecked
pianist Muma, she weaves her darkly comic tale
with beautiful original music and stunning vocals.
Call 01580 200300 or visit thebellinticehurst.com
Picture this...
On Saturday 20 May, award-winning published
photographer, Sarah Medway, leads a unique
workshop to teach you how to take a standard
iPhone and learn to capture priceless moments in
the beautiful outdoor environment around Bough
Beech Nature Reserve. Combine natural inspiration
with modern focusing and exposure techniques
before returning to the visitor centre to add the
final touches with some useful editing features. For
more details visit kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
Shiver Me Timbers!...
The pirates have sailed in to the Historic
Dockyard Chatham! From 27 May to 4 June,
hop on-board the Dockyard’s very own pirate
ship, the HMS Gannet, search the beach
for hidden treasure that only the bravest of
buccaneers can find, leave your sea legs behind
and raise your sword for a swashbuckling week
full of adventure, you savvy? This one’s free with
standard entry price so call 01634 823800 or get
online at thedockyard.co.uk/whats-on/pirates
No Diggity...
Charles Dowding, the no-dig gardening guru, is
teaching Kent how to work less, save your back
and harvest more vegetables than ever before.
On Sunday 14 May, at Blooming Green, Linton,
Dowding will be talking about his revolutionary
no-dig gardening technique. This will be followed
by a Q&A and lunch cooked by Nicci Gurr of
Home Gurr’own. For further information call
07903 683017 or visit bloominggreenflowers.co.uk
Gig for Life...
10cc, Maverick Sabre, Toploader, and Los
Pacaminos (featuring Paul Young), all rock up in
Kent for one day only at this family music festival
in aid of Cancer Research UK. On Saturday 27
May at The Hop Farm, these chart-topping acts will
be supported by local talents to create a fantastic
line up which caters to all musical tastes. There will
be a range of tasty food outlets and some incredible
inflatable attractions including Zorbing and Nerf
wars. Tickets are on sale online at gigforlife.co.uk
Fantastic Meats...
On Saturday 6 May the Pasture Fed Livestock
Association (PFLA) and Macknade Fine Foods
will raise awareness of the benefits of pasture-fed
meats. Explore and compare shoulders of Kentish
hogget from a handful of PFLA accredited farmers
in Kent, taste a beer specially brewed on-site to
accompany the hogget, and hear from each of the
farmers, Macknade’s head butcher, Roy Campbell
and the PFLA themselves. For details visit
macknade.com or call 01795 534497
49 wealdentimes.co.uk

ARCHITECTURE • INTERIOR DESIGN • PROJECT MANAGEMENT • FURNISHINGS
www.thorntonallaninteriors.com e: lisa@thorntonallan.com t: 07720 099033
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
TOP TIPS TO CREATE THE PERFECT HOME
Interior architect and designer, Lisa
Thornton-Allan shares her top tips for
creating the perfect home.
1. Draw inspiration from the history of
your property and the area.
This will provide you with a useful
reference point and give integrity to your
scheme.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Most of our clients have impeccable taste
but a good interior designer will be able
to help you with space planning and
introduce you to new materials and
suppliers that you may not be aware of.
3. Invest in classics and have fun with
accessories.
Just like a good wardrobe it’s important
to invest in quality key pieces of furniture
and then add fun accessories.
4. Make your house your own.
Art, photographs, heirlooms or just things
that make you happy should be key
features of your scheme. Use fabrics,
shapes and textures that reflect your
personality and lifestyle. Make sure your
home reflects who you really are rather
than who you think you should be.
5. Storage is key.
Providing a ‘home’ for items such as
shoes, coats, paperwork, toys etc that is
practical and in the right place will mean
that you can keep your home tidy without
it becoming contrived or hard work.
6. Make sure there is a flow and
cohesion to your scheme.
This doesn’t mean every room should look
the same, far from it, but there should be a
flow to the design that links the scheme
throughout the house.
51 wealdentimes.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
What’s the point in
making a will?
There have been a number of high
profile inheritance cases recently
involving children challenging
their parents’ wills - leaving parents
wondering if there is any point in
making a will and children possibly
believing it is now simple to overturn
whatever inheritance a parent may, or
may not, have left them. Here Myles
McIntosh, head of private client at law
firm Cripps, explains the issues.
For the first time this particular issue
reached the Supreme Court in March
2017; a case involving a daughter
whose mother disinherited her after
she ran away from home to live with a
boyfriend she didn’t approve of. The
daughter was cut out of her will, instead
gifting her estate to several charities.
After her death the daughter went to
court and successfully claimed that her
mother’s will was unreasonable and
received £50,000. She was not happy
with the amount awarded and
appealed. The Court of Appeal
significantly increased the sum to
£143,000 which as a result, meant that
the charities received less.
The case attracted nationwide interest
and seemed to be a ‘game changer’, the
press implying that it marked a moment
in time when making wills became
redundant, when each of us lost the
ability to decide to whom we wanted to
leave our estates on our death.
The charities appealed the decision
and so the case went to the Supreme
Court. It reversed the Court of Appeal
decision so that while reducing the
amount she was entitled to, it
reaffirmed that she was entitled to
something from the estate,
notwithstanding the facts of her
estrangement from her mother.
So where does that leave those
people making wills and those who
are considering whether to
challenge a will?
There are still many reasons for making
a will. A will tells everyone what you
want to happen to your money and
possessions. By making one you still
have control. You can choose your own
executors and appoint guardians to
look after your children if they are
under 18. If you remarry, a will can
ensure any children from a previous
marriage get a share of your estate. It
can also significantly reduce
inheritance tax that might otherwise be
payable as it is an excellent tool for tax
planning purposes.
If you don’t make a will you cannot
control how your estate is divided or
who benefits from it. Without a will in
place, unmarried partners may not
receive anything from the estate and if
you are married or in a civil
partnership, your partner may not
receive as much as you would have
intended.
For those who wish to challenge a will, it
can be disputed on the grounds that it is
invalid (for example it was not signed in
the presence of two witnesses), or
because the person disputing it has not
been left any or sufficient provision
under the terms of the will. This was the
gist of the case above. However, please
note that as always, cases turn on facts
which are unique. A child who is left,
say, far less than a sibling might not be
able to overturn the will if his or her
behaviour justified being largely
disinherited. That can include lifestyle
choices such as choosing not to work.
Several other will challenges have failed
this year for precisely those reasons.
A will might also be invalid if the testator
did not have the required mental
capacity to make the will, or for example,
was pressurised into making the will and
gifting someone part of the estate.
If a person thinks they should have been
left a share (or all) of someone’s estate
they can make a claim if they meet a
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Cripps is a key regional law firm serving clients
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www.cripps.co.uk @crippslaw This article gives examples and is intended for general guidance only

Editor’s
Letter
The atmosphere in the Wealden Times office is
reaching fever pitch as our Midsummer Fair edges
even closer. Our events team has hand-picked the
very best exhibitors to ensure a fabulous shopping experience in
the heart of the Kentish countryside at beautiful Hole Park in
Rolvenden. Within this issue you’ll find a comprehensive show
guide, so you can pre-plan your shopping route and get a preview
of exactly what’s on offer, including the schedule for our brand
new Garden Hub. You can also look online at wealdentimes.
co.uk where you book your tickets, and enter our special
competition for dinner, bed and breakfast at Frasers in Egerton,
along with a pair of Saturday tickets to the Midsummer Fair.
We’ve been over to photograph paper designer Trudi
Savin’s wonderfully creative Victorian villa, and explored
Ali Kittermaster’s unusual bungalow renovation tucked
down a country lane. See how they’ve both stamped their
personalities onto their interiors on pages 56 and 102.
Fashion editor Helen has styled this month’s men’s fashion at
the Historic Dockyard, Chatham. See model Thomas showcasing
tailored fashion from across the Weald from page 128.
If you’re keen to get out and about on your bike this month,
Julie Simpson has devised a hamper of recipes that are perfect
for eating on the go. And for all you self-builders out there,
our Restoration & New Build Supplement is a must-read.
Enjoy your Wealden Times!
Wealden Times Team
Editor ............................................................................................ Lucy Fleming
Editorial Assistant ........................................................................Rebecca Cuffe
Design .........................................................................................Powerful Pierre
Design Team ..............................................................................Anthony Boxall
Rob Cursons
Phoebe Gilbert
Tanya Goldsmith
Managing Director ........................................................................ Julie Simpson
Commercial Director ............................................................... Colin Wilkinson
Sales Team ................................................................................ Hayley Biddulph
Sarah Norwood
Nick Robinson
Distribution .................................................................................Emma Murphy
Wealden Times Events Team
Sales Director ..................................................................................... Joy Adams
Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson
53 wealdentimes.co.uk
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Paper Trail
Words: Jennifer Stuart-Smith Photographs: David Merewether
Styling: Helen Barton
wealdentimes.co.uk
56

Fuelled by a shared passion for block printing,
Trudi Savin and her friend Sophie Morton created
Yateley Papers. Trudi’s own home in Surrey is a
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Previous pages: The sitting room is mostly used in winter, when the fire is lit. Original Anaglypta lines the ceiling
Above: The kitchen. The cricket ball lamp-base was from Tobias and the Angel, made by Angel’s brother Shaun. The
ostrich egg was brought back from South Africa – one of Trudi and Guy’s favourite places
There’s something about this time of year that not
only inspires a good spring clean but also prompts
many of us to have a serious ‘de-clutter’. Is there
anything as cathartic as attacking an area of the house that
has been taunting you for months, joyously separating items
into ‘bin’, ‘charity shop’ or ‘eBay’. Even if you don’t enjoy
the process, once it’s all done and you can admire your
efforts, it’s hard not to feel the stress melting away. But,
there are still some things you have to keep whether you like
it or not... We need a place for everything and then, as the
expression goes, we can put everything in its place. Ideally.
The reality, for most of us, is that after a few days
things start to creep back to their old resting places...
The solution? Take a leaf out of Trudi Savin’s book, and
have a decorative box file for everything. As we sit in her
kitchen I am free to admire various well-chosen artifacts and
design features, free from the distraction of household bills,
catalogues, Bic biros, letters and all the other detritus that
59 wealdentimes.co.uk

A subtle nautical theme runs through beach pictures and maps on the walls of the
dining room, while a huge round mirror resembles a porthole: “That came from a
friend. She was getting rid of it and I thought, ‘Wow! I love it,’ ” says Trudi
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This page: A door from the dining room
opens into a pretty courtyard garden
seems to blight my own kitchen surfaces. Instead, on her
kitchen bookcase is a selection of striking, printed folders
and files which, one can only assume contain all the bits and
bobs the rest of us find on the floor being chewed by the dog
or piled high, in an ever increasing stack on the sideboard.
Just over a year ago, Trudi set up Yateley Papers with her
friend Sophie Morton. The company, whose name does
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box files and other paper goods. So, what was the idea
behind the company? “It’s basically posh storage,” says
Trudi. “We developed these boxes with lids, where you
can put the TV remote, your glasses, keys etc – you
63 wealdentimes.co.uk

“We have to rein ourselves in, as we’re both creative and we think ‘Oh, we could do this,
and we could do that! Sometimes we just have to tell ourselves to slow down!” laughs Trudi
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66
HawkhurstFishFarmWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 16:12

Above: A short flight of steps down from the hallway and the living room leads to the kitchen at the back of the house
know ‘tut’. We all have ‘tut’ in our lives, don’t we? And
also, a lot of people have multi-function rooms, or openplan
living. This way you can have storage boxes that
you are happy to display, which hold all your ‘stuff’.”
She and Sophie met while they were working together
at the interiors shop, Tobias and the Angel. “The lady
who owned it, Angel, came across all these old printing
blocks which had belonged to a company called Yateley
Industries – it was closing down, so she bought the whole
lot of them.” The wooden, hand-carved blocks are artworks
in themselves – Trudi has a collection of similar ones in
baskets in her workroom – but are not much use unless
you know how to use them. So, Trudi learnt the ropes: “At
Tobias and the Angel I block-printed textiles for bespoke
orders, for interior designers. So, really, I learnt on the
job, with 10 years printing for Tobias and the Angel”.
The influence of Tobias and the Angel becomes clear
as we walk around the house, a semi-detached Victorian
house in Surrey, which Trudi shares with her husband,
Guy, and 21-year-old daughter, Daisy. One such item is
an impressive lamp in the kitchen, the glass base of which
has been filled with cricket balls: “Guy is a manic cricketer,
though he doesn’t play so much any more. Angel’s brother
Shaun made that – it’s one of our favourite things.”
The kitchen itself is a classic design, put in by the couple
when they bought the house 19 years ago, and yet the
67 wealdentimes.co.uk

style is very much the minimal, crafted wooden kitchen
one sees today, with dark-coloured panels and polished slate
surfaces contrasting with lighter wooden frames. “I suppose
I’d call the panels ‘tobacco’,” says Trudi. Either way, it’s
effortlessly stylish. Water for tea is boiled in a spectacular
kettle – the likes of which I’ve never seen before. “It was
Guy’s grandmother’s, so it’s really old. God help us if it ever
blows up! ” It resembles a classic, metal hob-top kettle which,
apparently, is exactly what it is – or what it once was.
On a shelf, above potted herbs and large, pretty jars
containing pasta and other ingredients, is a huge egg under
a Victorian-style glass dome. “That’s from travels in South
Africa. We first went there when Guy and I got married
and then we went back again the next year, we loved it so
much.” Other ‘finds’ from their travels include the ornate
and varied handles – including leaves and pebbles – on
each of the kitchen cupboards: “The handles all came
from different trips down to Cornwall. We spend a lot
of time down in Padstow as Guy’s mother Penny used to
live there. You just pick things up when you see them,
don’t you?” Trudi clearly has a natural ability to spot
This page: In the bathroom, Trudi has hung glass fragments
in the window and created a mock aquarium using salvaged
glass, crystal and a little hand-made wire and pebble fish. The
off-white tiles are from Fired Earth – a more classic version of
Metro tiles, but crackle glazed
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Above: Daughter Daisy’s room features a quilt made from squares of Guy’s shirts
special items, that work together, without appearing overly
styled. And if she can’t find them, she’ll make them.
Exploring the house is like going on a treasure hunt.
Not only is it fun trying to spot the latest Yateley Papers
products, it’s equally fun spotting things that Trudi has made
herself. After a cup of tea in the kitchen, we go through
to the dining room, which sits on the same level as the
kitchen, at the back of the house, and is reached by a short
flight of steps down from the hallway and the living room
at the front of the house. As is often the case, Trudi and
Guy opened up this downstairs space, so that the kitchencum-dining
room works with the rear courtyard garden.
Though almost open-plan to the kitchen, the dining room
still fulfils the traditional role of entertainment space – though
glitter on the table suggests that it sometimes doubles up
as a workspace: “We’re introducing crackers into our range,
so I’ve been fiddling and experimenting with glitter,” says
Trudi. The atmospheric, dusty blue walls have a sponged
appearance, though Trudi suggests this look was more just
a fortunate accident. A subtle nautical theme runs through
beach pictures and maps on the walls, while a huge round
mirror resembles a porthole: “That came from a friend.
She was getting rid of it and I thought, ‘Wow!’. I love it.”
Below and either side of the circular mirror sit two large
lamps, both of which Trudi played a part in making. One
carries a muted Yateley Papers lampshade on a sculpted metal
base while the other features one of Trudi’s signature homedecorating
tricks – a huge glass jar, decorated internally using
the technique known as ‘decoupage’. “It’s all done from the
inside, but using the good old-fashioned method, where you
cut designs out and stick them together like a collage. It’s quite
easy to do and it’s a really effective way of decorating glass.”
71 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Above: Manga drawings lie on the surface of Daisy’s desk. She’s currently studying art and design at a local college
Up the steps to the sunny front living room and one can’t
help keeping one’s eyes peeled for more geometric Yateley
Papers designs – which I spot pretty quickly in the form of
files on the bookshelves and on a couple of lampshades: “That
one’s called Kite – it’s a new one that hasn’t come out yet and
this one is called Chrome, which only comes in a very dark,
smoke colour,” says Trudi. It’s funny how, once you start
looking for geometric designs, you spot them everywhere...
The 3-D wallpaper on the ceiling – original 19th-century
‘Anaglypta’ according to Trudi – the grille on the hallway
radiator, and even the frosting on the front windows.
With Trudi’s background in fabric printing, I wonder
why they have not gone down that route? “We concentrate
on paper, not because we don’t want to do textiles, but
textiles are a massive investment and also, having printed
textiles for so long, it’s the ‘fixing’ that’s a challenge.
Fixing can be a little temperamental, unless you are
doing massive batches. At the moment we are quite
small and artisan, so we decided to concentrate on paper.
So, items such as lampshades are perfect for that.”
Their styling is equally well-considered: “Sophie and
I both love quite earthy, muddy colours and character
properties – so we wanted our designs to work with old
and new. So, that lampshade design would work well in a
minimalist, contemporary home but it also sits comfortably
in a character room. That’s what we work hard at to
achieve.” It’s clear that with such talent and ability, they
have to curb their enthusiasm at times too: “We have to
rein ourselves in, as we’re both creative and we think ‘Oh,
we could do this, and we could do that! Sometimes we
73 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The quilt in the master bedroom is made from squares
of fabric that Trudi printed by hand. On a bedside table, a
decoupage jar has been turned into a table lamp
just have to tell ourselves to slow down!” laughs Trudi.
As the treasure hunt continues upstairs, I feel that my
senses are becoming more alert to Trudi’s handiwork. We
peak into the bathroom, which the couple re-did two years
ago and I immediately spot another gorgeous ‘decoupage’
jar, with a marine theme, on top of the bathroom cabinet.
The glass cabinet doors have also had a similar treatment,
with gold and silver leaf: “I just wanted to lift it a bit. It
gives it a bit of a shimmer, without being a solid colour,”
says Trudi, who has hung glass fragments in the window
and created a mock aquarium using salvaged glass,
crystal and a little hand-made wire and pebble fish.
We have a brief look in Daisy’s room, where wonderful
‘work in progress’ Manga cartoons are scattered over
her desk and a quilt, made by Trudi from pieces of
Guy’s old shirt-fabric, decorates the bed. Daisy is
studying art and design at a nearby college but also
helps her mother with their printing projects: “Sophie
creates the designs, then Daisy cuts the lino for us.”
In the master bedroom, the first thing you notice is
another wonderful quilt: “That’s made from squares of
block-printed fabric, from the days when I was block
printing,” says Trudi. “It was just a way of using them up,
really. The velvet all came from Penny’s house – I just don’t
like throwing things away!” Another gorgeous decoupage
jar sits on top of a bedside chest of drawers while jewellery
hung from hooks and mirrors on one wall, creates a
display of its own. It’s a beautiful room, on the sunny side
of the house – and yet there is just one more room I
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Trudi clearly has a natural ability to spot special items, that work together,
without appearing overly styled. And if she can’t find them, she’ll make them
77 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: Trudi’s workroom shelves are stacked with files in
pretty prints, papers and prototypes
want to look in... and that’s the work room next door.
If we were really on a treasure hunt, then this would be
the treasure trove and as work rooms go, they don’t get
much lovelier. All around are shelves stacked with files in
pretty prints, papers, prototypes. Paper stars dangle from a
string – “Daisy does those and makes a lot at Christmas,”
says Trudi – while elsewhere strips of pretty paper turn
out to be the components of paper chains, which you
can buy in a pack to put together yourself. As you would
expect for a company who make storage solutions, it’s a
wonderfully organised room and not an inch of space is
wasted. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Address Book:
yateley Papers was born out of a shared passion for
both traditional block printing techniques and a love of
utterly gorgeous desk stationery and home accessories.
As well as selling a range of files, boxes, stationery
and other paper products, they also run regular
hand block-printing workshops 07799 627014
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84
TownerArtGalleryWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 10:33

Ask the
Artist
Just what is it that inspires an artwork? WT chats to four creatives,
across a range of disciplines, about the motivation behind their pieces
Jessica Zoob
Painter
What inspires you? I am inspired by my travels
and by the beautiful Sussex Downs I am lucky
enough to call my home. I see beauty everywhere
and try to capture and reflect it in my work. If you
want to see photographs of things which inspire
me I quite often post them on Instagram.
What are you currently working on? I am currently
working on a huge collection called Ecstasy which I am hoping
to complete at some point next year. The largest painting in the collection
is 3 x 14 m. I am also exploring printing onto metals, copper, brass and
steel to create unique Limited Edition series of pieces. I am considering the
possibilities of creating some fashion items, possibly bespoke bags. I am also
very busy renovating and extending a 400 year old cottage and creating a
wildlife garden as well as preparing for my annual Open Studio and I am
very excited to show everyone how my latest collection is progressing.
Can you run us through a typical working day? That simply
doesn’t exist for me, every day is completely different! At the moment
the day lasts about 18 hours and feels about four days long!
How do you start your creative process? I start with glimmers of ideas
which nag away at the edges of my mind. Once I begin the process of
building up the layers the works often take on a character of their own.
How has your style evolved over your career? My style is constantly
changing as I keep discovering new paints and techniques and I want to
explore the limitless possibilities of colour on canvas. I don’t ever want to
become bored so I keep pushing myself to take greater creative risks.
Where does your work end up? In private collections worldwide
and in corporate environments with large walls.
Can you tell us a little about your recent collaboration with luxury interiors
brand, Romo? It was a real pleasure working with Romo. I actually had no
idea who they were when they first suggested a collaboration but the quality
of their textiles was enough to convince me that they would respect my
integrity and create a beautiful collection. I think they achieved that and it is
wonderful to get so much positive feedback from new clients across the globe.
Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase works directly from Jessica
at a special Open Studio at her home in Upper Clayhill, East Sussex ,
part of the Brighton and Hove Artists Open Houses Festival, on 6&7
and 20&21 May, 11am-5pm or by appointment. Private previews
for collectors are available from 29 April. Book early by emailing
info@jessicazoob.com or call 07966 572204 jessicazoob.com
85 wealdentimes.co.uk

JUST TEN GALLERY
LIMITED EDITION FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
BY CLIVE SAWYER
103a High Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JN
www.just-ten.gallery clive@just-ten.gallery
M: 07738 715354 T: 01797 222213

Jane Richardson
Ceramic artist
Have you always been an artist? I haven’t
always been an artist, from the age of three
I’d been to ballet lessons so wanted to be
a dancer. I’d even boarded for two years
at a dance school when I was 13. I was
dancing for four hours a night after school
and absolutely loved it. Sadly my diet was
so poor at the time of boarding my body
packed up and I had to stop – I’d come
from an organic farm where everything
was homegrown or homemade but at
dance school it was a tin of spaghetti! I
was mortified at giving up. I dropped back
a year at school and, being very dyslexic,
clay was another creative option. So, I
later travelled to Nottingham from Wales
with my sister in our old Ford Anglia. It
took all day in those days! The college
hadn’t opened yet, so I was allowed to go
to their sister college and study Beauty
Therapy. I didn’t transfer back and this
gave me a 10 year career in London
and Stroud. Everywhere I’ve ever lived
I’ve always joined recreational pottery
classes, so dance and massage became an
integral part of my work – the driving
force behind my figurative sculpture.
What do you create? I hand throw on
the pottery wheel making functional
pieces and I sculpt too. I love different
clays – they inspire my work. I’ll go from
smooth white porcelain clay, making tiny
perfect vases, to a black heavily-grogged
clay making large gnarly ‘grumpy’ crows,
then a ‘molochite’ for my figurative work..
What inspires you? I love work and love
pottery – I don’t switch off from that.
For some reason I often think of ideas in
the shower, one being a little handmade
robin on an old fork as a garden sculpture.
These fly out from my studio! On a
recent trip to Portugal I saw huge rugged
rocks, sculpted by the ocean. I couldn’t
wait to recreate them as ‘bottles’ – these
will be part of an installation in my next
art show at Lenham Barn in May.
How do you start your creative process?
I always procrastinate and do a hundred
other jobs! My studio has to be tidied (I’m
so messy!), then the kettle goes on, then
it is head down for days on end, whether
it’s a ‘body’ of work for an exhibition or
one piece for a commission. Then I start
all over again... more jobs. Kettle on....
How has your style evolved over your
career? My attitude has changed, I
want more from my clay, thinner, finer,
more expressive – the clay, glaze and
form to work as one. Commissions and
clients alter what you do, too, as you tap
in to their aspirations, extending your
own boundaries. I moved to Godinton
House last year so I’m surrounded by
these beautiful gardens, already it’s
influencing my work. My pieces have
become more garden orientated with
more birds, pods, pebbles and ‘quirky
moments’! I seem to have a fetish for wood
too now, marrying the two together.
Where do you sell your work? Galleries,
commissions and sculpture or art shows. I
plan shows a year ahead. Each show I do
gives me a chance to evolve like a new
chapter as I create new work and tailor it
for each show. May is the Pilgrims Way
Art Show. In June I participate in South
East Open Studios. In July I’m making
for the Royal Reggata and Henley music
festival. Also the Sculpture Show at
Godinton House and Gardens. I always
have work at a lovely gallery in Wales
called Golden Sheaf Gallery who’ve
supported me for years and West End
House Gallery in Smarden, Kent.
I’ve exhibited in the Ivy London,
Whitstable, France, Battle, Hatfield,
Canterbury – I’m gradually
getting closer to my dreams.
Jane is a member of Pilgrims Way
Artists (pilgrimswayartists.org.uk).
For more info. email janespottery@
gmail.com or call 07599 355601.
Keith Tyson
Turner Prize
winner
Have you always
been an artist?
No. After leaving school I’d been
working in a factory for four years
and so I was very earnest at art
college. It took me a while to realise
you could play with the rules, that
you could do whatever you wanted to
do. I think my whole artistic journey
really has been trying to create more
liberation in what I do, trying to be
freer, to express more of the wonder
of the world instead of the “meaning”
of it. The early work looked towards
mathematics and logic for solutions
to my artistic problems. I used a lot of
algorithms, made an art machine to
come up with ideas for me and other
conceptual strategies. Now the work
has become much more emotive. The
original titles used scientific terms
and although I’m still fascinated by
science those titles have evolved into
an element in which to create a poetic
tension between the text and image.
As you grow older your circumstances
change too – I’ve got three children
now, I’m in a very different place
than I was 20 years ago. I think the
work can’t help but reflect that.
What do you create? I paint and
draw. I write and I make sculptures.
What inspires you? Like every other
artist who has ever lived, my work is
simply a response to the world I live
in (and it seems to me at least that we
live in quite a complex one currently).
My studio wall drawings are like
a visual diary that I have been
keeping for over 20 years. I always
have thought that I would like
to show a great many of them
together at some point and
87 wealdentimes.co.uk

THE SPRING EXHIBITION
A R T
Featuring
new original works by
Edo Kaaij
PILGRIMS WAY ARTISTS
ANNUAL SUMMER EXHIBITION
TITHE BARN - LENHAM - ME17 2QD
MAY 19th - 29th 2017
www.pilgrimswayartists.org.uk
Molland Antique
Mirrors
AshfordVisualArtistsWT183.indd 1 11/04/2017 09:56
13 May - 20 June
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Available From The Gallery
McALLISTER THOMAS
117 High Street
Godalming
Surrey GU7 1AQ
T: 01483 860591
www.mcallisterthomasfineart.co.uk
31 Hollybush Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3TJ
Tel: 01732 452909 Mobile: 07774 226042
www.mollandantiquemirrors.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
88
McAllisterThomasFineArtWT183.indd Half Page - Kent.indd 1 1 13/04/2017 18/04/2017 MediterraneanStudioWT183.indd 16:17 10:11
1 10/04/2017 17:08

show the scale of what we all navigate
as human beings. Although the
events are mainly autobiographical
I hope they speak of more universal
conditions that we all experience.
How do you start your creative process?
Originally I had a very small studio
and only a tiny wall space in which I
could work. There was a large piece
of watercolour paper that you could
buy from the local art shop that just so
happened to fit that wall, so I bought
half a ream and every day I’d work on
that piece of paper. Sometimes I’d jot
down ideas for paintings or sculptures I
wanted to make, sometimes I’d record
my emotional state that day, sometimes
a world event would inspire me, it
could be anything at all really. I just
wanted to keep a free space in which
to explore ideas without defining them
too much. I kept them, like one might
keep a journal or a sketchbook. I call
them drawings but in reality they lie
somewhere in between a diary, a painting
and a poem. Over time working on these
drawings has evolved from a preparatory
activity into a more expressive and
essential practice for me. The Jerwood’s
three ground floor rooms are filled
with more than 300 of these works.
How has your style evolved over your
career? It has been interesting to see the
changes over time. I originally was very
interested in science and mathematics and
the drawings were quite geeky but as I’ve
grown older, had children etc they have
become distinctly more emotional I think.
Then there are the societal changes, the
smartphone, the ability to record everyday
moments, social media with everyone
now posting images on their own ‘walls.’
Photoshop and other technologies that
I can use in the studio. All these things
have affected the work because we are
dynamic beings, we change all the time.
Where do you sell your work? You
can find out more information at
keithtyson.com. See Keith Tyson ‘Turn
Back Now’ at Jerwood Gallery, Hastings
until 4 June 2017 jerwoodgallery.org
Clive Sawyer
Photographer
Have you always been
an artist? I call myself
a commercial artist. I
create photographic
pieces for a commercial
market – that someone
wants to buy. I like to think I’m
producing something really beautiful
that someone would like to hang on
their wall. This is my 10th year of
having my own gallery, before that I
was primarily a travel photographer - I
might do 150 days a year shooting
abroad from Barbados to Benidorm! I
have had to move with the times from
film to digital, and I’m glad I did.
What do you create? I photograph the
local area – the Romney Marsh, Rye. The
photographs that I take of the local area
are bought by local people or tourists who
come to visit Rye. They can choose from
a selection of limited edition prints in a
variety of media including canvas, giclee
or acrylic panels. My main body of work
is produced for people who come down
from London. These tend to be images
of cities – New York, London, Paris. I
try to get the real world and turn it into
an abstract – I try to photograph all the
little details. I’ve just done some shots in
Canary Wharf. One of my bestsellers at
the moment is the London skyline, shot
across the river. I go up early on a Sunday
morning whilst it’s still dark and I take
lots of images whilst the sun comes up.
Londoners come down to the gallery and
are surprised they can get an amazing
London shot from someone living in Rye.
What inspires you? Texture, light,
mood, shadows, colour, contrast…
How do you start your creative
process? I’ll go to London and know
what I want to get out of the trip. I
plan in advance – taking into account
the time, weather etc. This comes from
years of experience. At the moment, I
know I need to go back to New York to
find the right location. I need to be at
the top of the Rockefeller Center and
Empire State. I know there’s a demand for
pictures of certain things, so I make sure
I’m in the right place at the right time.
How has your style evolved over your
career? The difference between an
amateur and a professional photographer
is that an amateur will shoot purely to
please himself, whereas a professional
will take photographs to satisfy a client’s
needs. I’m somewhere in between! The
beauty is that I take photos of the things
that I like, whilst being mindful that
someone would like to buy them.
Where do you sell your work? In my
gallery in Rye. People like to meet the
photographer – when you put photos
with another gallery you’re not there
to talk about the image. I like to be
present in the gallery to sell my work
– if I’m not on shoots, then I’m in
there! I love talking to my clients. The
gallery’s open at least six days of the
week, especially at the weekend, with
works ranging from £30- £5,000.
07738 715354 clive-sawyer.com
89 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Pre-book
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Using this code
WT1
Featuring the Healthy Living Festival & Garden Hub
HOLE PARK, Rolvenden, TN17 4JB
8th, 9th & 10th June 2017
See online for ticket details & special offers
BOOK ONLINE: wealdentimes.co.uk/events
TICKET HOTLINE: 01580 713915
TICKETS: On the gate: £9.50
Sponsored by
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Garden Hub & Healthy Living Festival Sponsored by
CANTERBURY & TONBRIDGE
Credit: Kent & East Sussex Railway Co Ltd.
TONBRIDGE

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June 2017
10
Discover
1
things you
MUST DO
at the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair
Come to the
Garden Hub sponsored
by Neptune of Tonbridge
and Canterbury
Meet gardening professionals for talks
and workshops (all events in the
Hub are free to visitors).
3
Shop ’til
you drop
We’ve hand-picked
more than 270 stands selling
fantastic fashion, heavenly
homewares, gorgeous garden
equipment and so much more!
See the full exhibitor list in
the show guide.
6
the
beautiful gardens
Enjoy free entry to the
magnificent Hole Park gardens,
including their long borders,
filled with colourful herbaceous
plants in early June.
2
Visit the Healthy
Living Theatre sponsored
by Benenden Hospital
Listen and learn from health
experts on nutrition and exercise
(all events in the theatre are free
to visitors).
FENWICK PRIZE DRAW WORTH £1000
Win a Fenwick beauty pamper
hamper worth £500 which includes:
• Clarins: Tri-Active Facial
• Clarins: Tri-Active Body Treatment
• Charlotte Tilbury: Make-over and
£100 of Charlotte Tilbury products
• Nails Inc: Gel Manicure
• Blink: Eyebrow Shape
• Fragrance Consultation and scent
of your choice from the Fragrance
Department to the value of £100
and a Gift card to the value of £500
to spend throughout the store
HOW TO ENTER: To be
in with a chance to win this
fantastic prize head down to the
Wealden Times tent located next
to the Healthy Living Theatre,
sponsored by Benenden Hospital.
Terms and conditions: The prize
draw is not open to employees
of Fenwick Ltd, employees
of concessions trading within
Fenwick or their families.
Treatments may be booked
at separate times.
Valid until 31 January 2018.
4
De-stress in
the deck chair zone!
Chill out to Cranbrook Town
Band, hand-jive to Dulwich
Prep’s Jazz Band or swing
along to Big Swifty.
5
For
your chance to
win the Fenwick Prize
Draw worth £1000
Head to Wealden Times’ tent to enter.
(Prize comprises a Fenwick Beauty
Pamper Hamper, worth £500 plus a
£500 store gift card).
wealdentimes.co.uk
92

£4.30
8
7
See the Scarecrows!
Visit our headline sponsor
Harpers & Hurlingham’s stand
to see the fabulous display of
scarecrows created by local schools
and children’s organisations and
vote for your favourite!
Harpers&Hurlingham
Enjoy a free
Beauty Treatment
Enjoy complimentary beauty
treatments - including mini
manicures, skincare consultations
and head and shoulder massages –
from Fenwick of Tunbridge Wells’
beauty experts. You’ll find them
next to Wealden Times’ tent.
9
Eat, drink and
be merry
You’ll be spoiled for choice
when it’s time for a pit stop:
street food lunches, barista coffee,
afternoon tea (and cake!!) plus local
wines and ciders are just some of
the treats on offer (consult the
show guide for full list).
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Ticket Hotline: 01580 713915
wealdentimes.co.uk/events
THE ENGLISH
GARDEN
For everyone who loves beautiful gardens
APRIL 2017 www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
TIME for
TULIPS
Unusual ways
to use spring’s
brightest bulb
Choosing and
using a new
greenhouse
Carol Klein’s
favourite plants
for shade
Discover this
sensational
tulip meadow
The very best of Spring
● Perfect partners for TULIPS
● BLEEDING HEART blooms
● Advice for SPRING LAWNS
● SALADS & VEG to sow now
ENGLISH
HOME
Ticket Offer: Free magazine
with every ticket order
The current issue of The English Garden or
The English Home delivered to your door
when you buy your tickets to Wealden
Times Midsummer Fair*.
The English Garden features the most beautiful
gardens, from the UK and Ireland. Whether
you have a country or town plot, you’ll find
practical advice from real gardeners, plantspeople
and designers plus stunning photography.
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Life at Highclere –
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Cover4_Apr.indd 1 16/02/2017 12:28
PICTURE PERFECT
From converted barn to Gothic rectory
Celebrating the essence of English style
April 2017 | Issue 146 | £4.20 | UK Edition
Grow a floral
cutting garden
TEH UK APR 17 COVER final.indd 1 16/02/2017 14:59
Bathroom
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INSIDE
* One magazine per order, when tickets ordered online from wealdentimes.
co.uk/events newsstand price £4.40. Offer lasts until midnight 28 May 2017
Credit: Boris Djuranovic, FreeImages.com/Liana S, haseeb Iqbal
10
Source your
supper
The food avenue will be
showcasing fabulous fresh local
produce from local cheese
makers, vineyards, farmers
and bakers.
Booking
Book your tickets to the fair today and get 50p
off, just quote WT1 when booking! Visit wealdentimes.
co.uk/events or ring our ticket hotline on 01580 713915. To
keep up to date with the latest fair info sign up to the newsletter
online and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Dates & Opening Times
Thursday 8th, Friday 9th & Saturday 10th June
9.00am – 4.30pm
Venue
The fair is at Hole Park, Benenden Road,
Rolvenden, TN17 4JB. For more details visit wealdentimes.co.uk/events.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome provided they are
kept on a lead and that their owners are prepared to scoop any poop!

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June 2017
Timetable
Thursday 8th June
11.15 - 11.45 Brogdale
FRUITS OF THE EARTH:
An orchard in your garden.
13.30 - 14.00 Cathy Pope
HOST A HIVE: Hassle free beekeeping,
someone else does the work!
15.00 - 15.30 Jo Arnell
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT: Find the
perfect plants to prettify your veg plot.
Friday 9th June
11.15 - 11.45 Martin Gurdon
DOING BIRD: Martin shares his amusing
anecdotes and top tips on keeping poultry.
13.30 - 14.00 Danny Clarke
THE INSTANT GARDENER: Five quick
fixes to give your garden a facelift.
15.00 - 15.30 Quentin Stark
HOLE PARK: A year in Hole Park Gardens.
Saturday 10th June
11.15 - 11.45 Whitney Hedges
THE CUTTING GARDEN: Flowers to
pick from April to October.
13.30 - 14.00 Mark Lane
IN TUNE WITH NATURE: Bring birds,
bees and butterflies into your garden.
Garden
Hub
Visit the
Garden Hub sponsored
by Neptune Canterbury
& Tonbridge for three days of
talks and workshops. Whether
you have a courtyard or couple
of acres, our experts will have
plenty of gardening tips to
inform and inspire.
15.00 - 15.30 Katharine Slater
HONEY I’M HOME: The importance of
bringing bees into your garden.
Thai spiced courgette
fritters with sweet chilli dip
Jo Arnell will be hosting a talk on veg in the Garden Hub
sponsored by Neptune, on Thursday 8th June and she’s
shared this lovely Thai spiced courgett recipe with us.
Makes approx. 12 small fritters
• 2 medium courgettes
• 4 spring onions, finely chopped
• 2 beaten eggs
• 2 heaped tbsp plain flour
• 1-2 tsp green Thai curry paste
• 1 stick lemon grass, finely sliced
(or use juice and zest of ½ a lime)
• 1 small handful of coriander,
finely chopped
• 1 tsp fish sauce (or soy sauce)
• ready made sweet chilli
dipping sauce to serve
1. Grate the courgettes and squeeze out some of the liquid (place in a colander
or sieve and press a saucer down on top) this will help the fritters stay crispy.
2. Add the other ingredients, but save half the coriander
as a garnish. Combine thoroughly.
3. Form the mixture into patty shapes and sauté in a little oil
until crisp and golden. Serve with sweet chilli dip.
wealdentimes.co.uk
94

Healthy
Living
Theatre
Entry to all talks is included within the
Wealden Times Midsummer Fair
ticket price.
Timetable
Thursday 8th June
10.30 - 11.00 Liz Lark
YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE: Learn how yoga
can enhance all our lives, creating harmony for
mind and body.
12.00 - 12.30 Madeleine Shaw
MADELEINE’S RECIPE FOR A HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE: Feed your mind, body and soul
with yummy food and yoga.
14.30 - 15.00 Katie Peck
BECOME YOUR BEST SELF: Gain power
over food and find your perfect weight.
Diet and exercise
lie at the heart of a healthy
life. We’ve brought together a
team of experts from the worlds of
nutrition, exercise and health who
will be speaking in the Healthy
Living Theatre sponsored by
Benenden Hospital over the
three days of the fair.
Tray-Roasted Cod with Olives, Smoked Paprika and Asparagus
Madeleine Shaw will be in the Healthy Living Theatre sponsored by
Benenden Hospital, on Thursday 8th June and we love this delicious tray
roasted cod recipe from her new book A Year of Beautiful Eating.
Serves 4
• 1½ tsp sweet smoked paprika
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• salt and freshly ground black
pepper, to taste
• 4 x 150g cod fillets
• 200ml fish or chicken stock
• 200g pitted green olives
• 2 tbsp capers
• bunch of asparagus, trimmed
• 3 tbsp avocado oil or melted
butter
• 1 lemon
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.
2. Mix the smoked paprika, garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper together
and rub the mixture into the cod. Then pour the stock into a large
roasting tray and scatter in the olives, capers and asparagus. Nestle the
cod fillets amongst the veggies and pour the avocado oil over the fish.
3. Thinly slice the lemon into 1cm slivers and place around the cod
fillets. Sprinkle salt over the entire dish and bake for 15–20 minutes,
until the asparagus and cod are cooked through. Serve hot.
Friday 9th June
10.30 - 11.00 Sarah Jane Holt
HEALTHY HABITS FOR BUSY MUMS:
Eating and exercising on a limited time budget.
12.00 - 12.30 Jaime Cooke
FITNESS MADE FUN: Spin your way to a
happy, healthy and positive life.
14.30 - 15.00 Anissa Germain
BUILD A BEAUTIFUL BODY: Discover
how pilates can help you get stronger, healthier
and look great.
Saturday 10th June
10.30 - 11.00 Jaime Cooke
FITNESS MADE FUN: Spin your way to a
happy, healthy and positive life.
12.00 - 12.30 Davina McCall
FROM FOOD TO PHYSICAL FITNESS:
Healthy living expert Davina shares insight and
knowledge on how to look and feel amazing.
14.30 - 15.00 Sarah Jane Holt
HEALTHY HABITS FOR BUSY MUMS:
Eating and exercising on a limited time budget.
Madeleine Shaw’s A YEAR OF
BEAUTIFUL EATING is published
by Orion Books in hardback & eBook
on 20 April 2017, priced £20/£10.99
95 wealdentimes.co.uk

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June 2017
Massagical
Stand O53
massagical.com
Health
&
Beauty&
Edwards
and Todd
Stand B05
07590 057703
y Miraculous Skincare
Freyaluna
Stand A03
freyaluna.co.uk
We want to help you feel and look fabulous this summer!
You’ll find a fantastic range of products available from
our exhibitors, as well as a chance to meet the experts for
essential health and beauty tips at our Midsummer Fair…
Fenwick
Stand F
fenwick.co.uk
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Village
Green Soaps
Stand R05
villagegreensoaps.
co.uk
Edwards
and Todd
Stand B05
07590 057703
Romney
Marsh Wools
Stand O20
romneymarsh
wools.co.uk
Isabel
Haines
Stand R23
07733 113440
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Bee Potion
Stand A26
bee-potion.com
NEW
EXHIBITOR
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Bora
Studio
Stand B25
borastudio.co.uk
The Oil
Hut
Stand B24
theoilhut.co.uk

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Ticket Hotline: 01580 713915
wealdentimes.co.uk/events
LouLoubelle
London
Stand Y23
louloubelle
skincare.co.uk
Romney
Marsh Wools
Stand O20
romneymarsh
wools.co.uk
Happy &
Glorious
Stand R06
happyglorious.com
Tinker and
Toad
Stand O56
tinkerandtoad.
com
Parkminster
Products
Stand Y07
parkminster.
co.uk
Meet the maker
Love to b
‘Love to b’ is a conscientious skincare company that
evolved from a mother’s love for her daughter and
went on to develop into a business idea. Everything
in the range Julie Astley-Weston creates is made with
love and devotion to one principle – developing
a natural brand that is ethical in every way.
What makes you unique? Our customers are often new
to natural skincare and love discovering the gentleness
of our products. The combination of our story, the
power of plant based products and our brand ethos set
us apart from other natural skincare companies.
Have you always been creative? It wasn’t difficult to
summon the passion within me to start the creative journey
of ‘designing’ skincare products and researching/studying
online, to solve the challenges of my daughter’s skin issues.
Do you have a typical working day? After my daily
mindfulness session and mint tea, I’m set for the day! Then it’s
catching up on emails and posting on social media. At ‘Love
to b’ HQ I will find myself manufacturing in the skincare
studio, corresponding with customers and retailers, working
with our design team or whatever needs my attention.
What makes all the hard work worth it? Hearing
people tell me their eczema has disappeared, or
they don’t itch any more, or just that they love
our products because they are so luxurious.
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Love to b
Stand O16
lovetob.co.uk
What is your proudest moment so far? Back to the reason
why we are here at all – my proudest and happiest time was
watching my daughter grow in confidence as her skin issues
improved and healed. You really can’t beat that as a mum!
What can we look forward to from Love to b at the
Midsummer Fair? We can’t wait to welcome the lovely
ladies of the Weald to visit the ‘Love to b’ gazebo and enjoy
how uplifting and luxurious our products are for the skin.
97
wealdentimes.co.uk

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 8th -10th June 2017
Slient Pool
Gin Company
Stand O72
silentpool
distillers.com
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Beals Barn
Gardens
Stand O76
01892 783146
The Crow
Kitchen
Stand A39
thecrowkitchen.
co.uk
Kent Cider
Co
Stand O73
kentcider.co.uk
Dine in
Sauces
Stand A37
nonyasecrets.com
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Alsop and
Walker
Stand A51
alsopandwalker.
co.uk
Food&
Flint and
Flame
Stand A32
flintandflame.
co.uk
&
Drink
Here’s a little taste of some of the delicious food and
drink on offer at the Wealden Times Midsummer
Fair this June. From enticing gift hampers and
handmade treats, to the mouth-watering street food
from our vendors, we cannot wait to tuck in…
Pieroth
Stand A31
pieroth.co.uk
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Summerdown
Mint
Stand G25
summerdown
mint.com
Oatopia
Stand O67
oatopia.co.uk
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Greensand
Ridge
Distillery
Stand O41
greensanddistillery.
com
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Kate of
Kensington
Stand Y16
kateofkensington.
com

Alsop Cheese Posters 500x750mm_Layout 1 18/02/2016 09:21 Page 1
NEW
EXHIBITOR
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Ticket Hotline: 01580 713915
wealdentimes.co.uk/events
Little Bo’s
Stand O64
bofrozenyogurt.
com
Meet the maker
Alsop & Walker
Arthur Alsop and Nic Walker make their
cheese in East Sussex; following a mixture of
traditional and modern methods and with
the addition of their own twist, they produce
some very exciting and bespoke cheeses.
Burrow &
Hide
Stand B21
burrowandhide.
com
NEW
EXHIBITOR
The
Cheese
Bomb Gift Co
Stand A36
cheesebombgifts.
com
The
Kent Dark
Chocolate Co
Stand A33
kentdarkchocolate.
co.uk
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Oxney
Organic Estate
Stand A48
oxneyestate.com
Please describe how your business evolved?
eight years ago, a dairy and its equipment came up
for sale and we seized the opportunity to create a
complete cheeseboard, from hard to soft, to blue
cheese, made from East Sussex milk. We now produce
1.5 tons of cheese per week, which we supply to
independent hotels, delis and restaurants, along
with our own shop in London’s Borough Market.
What do your customers tell you
they like about your products?
They love our ‘Super Gold’ World Cheese
Award winner ‘Mayfield’ which is the only
Emmental style cheese produced in the UK.
‘Lord London’ is a semi-soft bell shaped Silver
awarded cheese and is popular for its natural
creamy texture, with clean citrus undertone.
Please tell us about the journey from a
new cheese idea to marketplace?
It can be a very lengthy process. We make a
new cheese, then wait for the maturing process,
which can be anything from 12 weeks to six
months. ‘Lord London’ only took 6-7 months
in total but when a lot of tweaking is required it
can take two years to develop a new cheese.
Simply Ice
Cream
Stand O24
simplyicecream.
co.uk
What is your proudest moment so far?
Whilst on vacation a French cheese maker tasted one
of our cheeses and we were privileged enough to be
asked back the next day to help them develop a new
soft cheese. A dream come true!
Burrow &
Hide
Stand B21
burrowandhide.
com
NEW
EXHIBITOR
What can we look forward
to from Alsop & Walker at
the Midsummer Fair?
It’s our first Wealden Times Fair
and we can’t wait to share our
passion and award-winning cheeses
– please comem by for a taste.
NEW
EXHIBITOR
Judges
Bakery
Stand A42
judgesbakery.
co.uk
Stand A51
Cheese Tower:
Sussex Crumble, Sussex
Brie, Mayfield, Sussex
Farmhouse, Lord
London, Five Ashes

WE BELIEVE
That change is as good as a rest
Believe it or not, our Henley oak kitchen used to be seen as our most
traditional, our most classic, and our most refined collection.
But we knew it had hidden depths. So we took it apart and looked at
all of the pieces from the inside-out and from the outside-in. Then we
added new ones. To those of you who knew it before, it might look
familiar, but it’s an entirely new era of design.
It’s Henley, redefined. Now available in both oak and painted.
neptune.com
Neptune Tonbridge, 1-2 Tannery Road, TN9 1RF
01732 351866, info@neptunetonbridge.com
Neptune Canterbury, Wincheap, CT1 3TY
01227 209300, info@neptunecanterbury.com

Love Storey
Seeing the potential in a project that had been overlooked by other
potential buyers, and working to a strict budget, Ali Kittermaster
has remodelled a dated bungalow in the heart of a Kent village
into a bright and surprisingly roomy contemporary home
wealdentimes.co.uk
102

Words: Jennifer Stuart-Smith Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Lucy Fleming
103 wealdentimes.co.uk

we design | we install | we care
PRE-BOOK YOUR TICKETS
NEW FOR 2017
MEET THE
DINOSAURS
KITCHEN & APPLIANCE SPECIALISTS
23 Cranbrook Road | Hawkhurst | Kent TN18 4AZ
01580 753470 | martinsofhawkhurst.co.uk
7,8,9 JULY
www.kentshow.co.uk 01622 633060
Kent Showground, Maidstone ME14 3JF
kentcountyshow
kentcountyshow
MartinsOfHawkhurstLtdWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 KentShowgroundWT183.indd 14:18
1 24/04/2017 14:58
Lizzy. Bury St Edmunds.
Plant lover who wants to keep spring
in her home all year long.
It’s your story.
So it’s tailored to you.
Spring
Sale
Kentwell Large Sofa in Primrose Linen / Cotton. Cushions in Fresco Citrus.
Let’s design together
The Estate Yard, Eridge, Nr Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9JR
Call us on 01892 572 309 or visit sofasandstuff.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
104
SofasAndStuffWT183.indd 1 05/04/2017 15:28

Previous pages and above: The spacious kitchen was designed and supplied by Martins of
Hawkhurst. The panelled vaulted ceiling gives the Kittermasters’ home a beach-house feel
It takes a certain amount of
imagination and vision to see the
potential in an unprepossessing 1950s
bungalow, to buy that bungalow and –
within budget – turn it into a light, bright
and gorgeous family home. Anyone,
who perhaps viewed this property a
couple of years ago and passed it by
because of its lack of curb appeal and
period features, should look away now...
The rest of you, if you’re on the hunt
for inspiration, need look no further.
“You could say that we’ve turned
this house from an ugly duckling to a
beautiful swan,” says Ali Kittermaster,
with a smile. “It was so hard to find a
house within the Cranbrook School
catchment area that was the right price,
and I knew that it would be a real
struggle.” The house, known at the time
as Hedges, had been on the market for
about a year before the Kittermaster
family – comprising Ali, husband
105 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The kitchen table was made for Ali by the carpenter at SB10 from scaffolding planks that had been used on the build
Johnnie, Katie, 16 and Harry, 13 – found it. According to
Ali, there had been little interest: “A lovely lady had lived
here for many years, so you could say that it was a little
dated.” Fortunately for Ali, other potential buyers failed
to look past the superficial trappings of the bungalow.
“I knew immediately when I viewed the house how I
was going to develop the property,” says Ali. “I needed
to create more living space, an additional bedroom and
a studio space for my daughter, Katie. Replacing all the
casement windows was central to my plan as these have
changed the style and character of the property totally.
My draughtsman couldn’t understand my need to remove
the plastic casement windows but I am glad I stuck to
my guns.” The windows, which have lovely low sills,
allow light to flood in and, on the exterior, have mock
shutters, which give the house an attractive colonial feel.
So, how long did the renovation take? “We bought it
in January 2016, the builders started in March and we
moved in the third week of August, though the house
wasn’t quite finished. There were a few bits left to do.”
That sounds like a pretty quick turnaround, considering
the extent of the building’s transformation. “It could have
been quicker, if we’d used a big company and thrown
lots of manpower at it,” says Ali, “but we wanted to use a
local firm, SB10, who had been recommended to us.”
Ali and the children house-sat for a little while during
wealdentimes.co.uk
106

Photo courtesy of www.goodnestone.com
Rectory Interiors
FABRIC & WALLPAPER SHOWROOM
www.rectoryinteriors.co.uk
The Old Forge 24 Wish Street Tuesday - Friday 9.30 - 16.00
Rye TN31 7DA 01797 222511 Saturday 10.00 - 16.00
Explore Vispring’s impeccable range of beds
and mattresses, filled with the finest natural
materials from around the world
RectoryInteriorsWT182.indd 1 13/03/2017 16:23
Quality
hardwood floors
supplied & fitted
by craftsmen
www.clarkesfurnishers.co.uk
01622 753073
Sandling Road, Maidstone, ME14 2RF
UPHOLSTERY | DINING | BEDS
BEDROOM | CCESSORIES
Showroom: The Barn, Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6EE
For a free no obligation estimate call us on 01959 563063
visit our website: www.dbwf.co.uk
107 wealdentimes.co.uk
LenleysWT183.indd 1 04/04/2017 DavidBrownWT183.indd 10:24
1 20/04/2017 12:29

TRADING
FOR OVER
HOMELEIGH TIMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES
www.homeleighgroup.co.uk
YEARS
ESTABLISHED 1966
Timber & Sheet
Materials
Building Materials
Bricks & Blocks
Painting &
Decorating
DIY, Aggregates &
Gardening Products
Fencing &
Landscaping
Plumbing
& Drainage
Ironmongery
Insulation
£3
Delivery in
Kent & Sussex
Call for details
Get Your Home Ready
For The New Season!
Maidstone
01622 791111
Hall Road | Maidstone | ME20 7QZ
Woodford Depot:
01580 892733
Maidstone Road | Staplehurst | TN12 0RH
Staplehurst:
01580 892037
Station Road | Staplehurst | TN12 0PY
Ashford:
01233 850075
Ashford Road | High Halden | TN26 3BP

Ali and the children house-sat for a little while during the latter stages
of the renovation, to save the pennies. “Before that, every time I paid a
rent cheque, I thought ‘that’s a sofa, a light or something’.”
109 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: Ali finds decorating inspiration online through Houzz or Pinterest as well as from her childhood friend, Linda, who is a house
builder and designer in Haut Bay in South Africa. She’s certainly created a contemporary but homely feel, with pops of colour and
photographic prints injecting interest and informality
the latter stages of the renovation, to save the pennies.
“Before that, every time I paid a rent cheque, I thought
‘that’s a sofa, a light or something’.” Her entrepreneurial
approach is impressive and evident in a career that has
included market research, advertising, work for Warner
Brothers looking after brands like Harry Potter and for
the last ten years she has worked as a photographer.
Ali’s photographs can be seen dotted around the house,
adding colour and humour to the relatively blank canvas
of Strong White walls. Ali has worked across many of the
photographic disciplines including weddings, events and
portraiture and ran a sports photography company in Dubai,
Capture That, with her friend and business partner. Since
returning from Dubai nearly two years ago, Ali has worked
as a portrait photographer creating memories for many local
families. She also undertakes informal photography for schools
in the South East. Most recently Ali has set up in business with
fellow photographer, Emily Parton. hh DESIGNS sells a range
of fun and contemporary greetings cards and canvases.
Many of these cards feature animals from Ali’s extensive
wealdentimes.co.uk
110

BE INSPIRED AND
CHALLENGED /
SHORT COURSE
PROGRAMME
A selection from our inspiring programme,
which includes some Saturdays
01732 352316
www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge
tonbridgeadmin@kent.ac.uk
Down the rabbit hole: explore
and interpret the legacy of Lewis
Carroll’s ‘Alice’ books
Study day Fri 19 May
10.30-16.30 £37
Thomas Hardy and the
Dorset coast
5 weeks from Tues 30 May
10.30-12.30 £69
Walking and writing in Tonbridge
3 alternate weeks from Tues 6 June
13.00-16.00 £75
Queen Elizabeth I’s Men:
Patriots or Profiteers?
4 weeks from Thurs 8 June
10.30-12.30 £55
George Orwell
4 weeks from Fri 23 June
10.30-12.30 £55
Get published!
Study day Sat 24 June
10.00-16:00 £42
A stroll through the
Underworld
Study day Sat 24 June
10.00-16:00 £37
Jane Austen’s later novels
Study day Wed 5 July
10.30-16:30 £37
How to listen to the music
of Wagner
Study day Sat 8 July
10.00-16:00 £37
University Centre Tonbridge,
Avebury Avenue, TN9 1TG
Just a few minutes’ walk from the railway
station and close to the High Street
UniversityOfKentTonbridgeCentreWT183.indd 1 07/04/2017 12:08
111 wealdentimes.co.uk
JosephMcCarthyWT183.indd 1 13/04/2017 14:18

01227 767576 www.stellisonselectrical.co.uk
Visit our 10,000 square foot Electrical Superstore in Canterbury
BSH Group is trademark licensee of Siemens AG
Trade-in and save
up to £100 * this Spring.
Don’t miss great savings on selected Siemens appliances. Ask in store for details.
siemens-home.bsh-group.com/uk/springtradein
*On selected models only. Promotion dates
12.04.2017 – 06.06.2017. T&C’s apply
Wincheap Industrial Estate, 17 Maynard Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RH
Monday - Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm
PromoBoxStellisons-Siemens.indd 1 13/04/2017 10:31

Above: A colourful chameleon, painted in a vibrant palette by Ali’s friend Ann Pybus, greets visitors in the hallway
travels but also the lambs, piglets and cows of the Kentish
countryside! A canvas featuring a cheeky giraffe with his
tongue sticking out takes pride of place on the kitchen wall.
All of this experience, a creative eye, as well as doing up two
other cottages has stood Ali in good stead when renovating
their current home, especially as her husband Johnnie has
been away, working in Egypt. In fact, it seems that Ali
is quite happy to be left to her own devices... “Johnnie’s
quite traditional, ex-army. So, in his absence, I’ve been
able to do what I want and be a bit girly, which is nice.”
It’s clear she has a knack for doing up properties: “I enjoy
doing it. There isn’t a limitless pot of money... so what I love
doing is searching for things that cost less, but then perhaps
involve a little more work. Like these engineered oak boards
which I sanded and waxed myself. Or a little glass door knob
that would cost £30 from someone in London – I’d prefer to
find a similar item for 10% of the price on Etsy. I love that.”
She points out that her sofas are 25 years old, and
that at some point she would like a corner sofa, but at
the moment the budget won’t stretch. “They’re the first
sofas I bought, on King’s Road, when I lived in London.
Our dining table is made from scaffolding planks that
were used on the project.” The vaulted kitchen-living
area is clad with routed MDF – although the effect is
very similar to tongue and groove – giving it a beachhouse
feel. Interior designer Ali Wylie suggested this
113 wealdentimes.co.uk

“This is Harry’s room,” says Ali, “and he’s got his own little en suite. I was
determined to get these sliding doors in!” Incidentally, she found the sliding doors and
runners on eBay, for a snip, and all of the bathroom fixtures were sourced individually
and bought at a discount from either Victoria Plumb, Bath Store or Ikea.
wealdentimes.co.uk
114

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Interiors.Designed
Our ethos at Barker & Frank is to deliver
inspirational interiors to suit each individual client
that reflect both their personality and lifestyle.
Our creative team’s attention to detail ensures
practical solutions that are seamlessly
executed and beautifully finished.
Come and visit us at our showroom and browse
through our extensive fabric and wallpaper
library. We look forward to meeting you
Beth Barker & Jo Frank
Blenheim Studios, London Road,
Forest Row, Sussex, RH18 5EZ
01342 826600
www.barkerandfrank.co.uk
Forest Row Showroom Now Open
What are the foundations to the partnership?
Beth: I have worked in architectural interior design for over
twenty years within the UK and abroad. As a designer and project
manager, I have coordinated a wide range of developments,
including hotels, show homes and listed buildings.
Jo: I began my creative career working in the fashion sector for
royal fashion designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel. Moving
into interior design I gained valuable experience within an
internationally renowned London based design practice prior
to working for a partnership dealing with prestigious London
properties for foreign clients.
A Lifestyle Ethos
Having known each other for many years and successfully
collaborated on numerous interior design projects, Jo Frank and
Beth Barker took the decision to form Barker & Frank in late 2016.
Sharing the same ethos, they wanted to combine their unique
intuitive approach and keen attention to detail to provide practical
design solutions, seamlessly executed and beautifully finished,
enhancing the lives of their clients.
Do you have a signature style?
Jo: No, our ethos at Barker & Frank is to deliver inspirational
interiors that suit each individual client reflecting both their
personality and lifestyle.
Are your projects mainly larger in scale or may a customer
simply purchase fabric?
Beth: Our design projects range from small intimate spaces to
large renovation and refurbishment projects working alongside
our skilled and trusted teams to deliver on time and on budget.
We are equally at home advising on the purchase of a roll of
wallpaper or some fabric, as we are designing and managing a
major kitchen or bathroom design and installation.
Where is your studio located?
Jo: Barker & Frank are situated within the Blenheim Studios
in Forest Row. This beautiful building houses, amongst others,
Chadder & Co Bathrooms, a wonderful café and a bespoke
dressmaker, all served by ample customer parking.
Come and visit us at our showroom and browse through our extensive
fabric and wallpaper library. We look forward to meeting you.

vage@aol.com
SHOPPING
ELSEWHERE
CAN SERIOUSLY
DAMAGE YOUR
WEALTH!
magazine
Drive down our leafy lane & go
Drive
Drive down
down
our
our
leafy
leafy
lane
lane
& go
&
Maison Meublés
Highgate Lodge, Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Kent TN18 4EP | Tel: 01580 755611
InPartyTentCoWT183.indd 1 20/04/2017 SymondsSalvageWT147.indd 10:46
1 17/04/2014 10:24
MADE‐TO‐MEASURE – WE WILL BEAT ANY WRITTEN QUOTE
Why pay more elsewhere?
All furniture made-to-fit any space - any configuration
of your choice and finished in any Farrow & Ball
colour or natural timbers. All at no extra cost - eg.
2 door, 1 drawer wardrobe – £595, all the above
applies and you will not pay a penny more.
No M.D.F., no chipboard, no veneers.
Plus we supply a free local delivery service.
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Too good to be true?!! See for yourself.
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Apologies for any inconvenience caused, we are now up and running again.
You are invited to visit our new showroom in the historic Kent village
of Hawkhurst for the complete Maison Meublés experience.
An eclectic range of furniture and accessories for the home.
Free Delivery. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm. Closed Wednesday and Sunday
email:
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Delve through centuries old oak beams, tiles, bricks, slates, tel: stone, 01892 fireplaces, 517320 antique
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wealdentimes.co.uk
116
MaisonMeublesWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:45

Above: Pops of bright colour punctuate the white walls in Harry and Katie’s rooms
idea as she has used it extensively in her own house.
Apart from being lovely, light and open-plan, what
look did Ali have in mind when she started work on the
house? “I suppose it’s kind of Cape Cod, New England,
or perhaps a bit Nordic,” says Ali, though she admits she’s
never been to either place. “I just spot things on Houzz
or Pinterest.” She’s certainly created a contemporary
but homely feel, with pops of colour and photographic
prints injecting interest and informality to what she and
her children jokingly refer to as ‘the show home’.
Seated at the breakfast bar-cum-kitchen island, the
first thing that catches your eye is a wall of square family
photographs: “This is my organic picture wall,” says Ali. “As
I take more pictures that I like I’ll add them to the wall, so
eventually the whole wall will be covered in five inch MDF
squares.” Ali has avoided using frames, as she “hates clutter”.
A sleek, modern kitchen – in a most subtle pale taupe – from
Martins in Hawkhurst, is just the ticket, occupying one wall.
Cleverly, Ali has used a mirror behind the sink, which
creates a sense of space as well as giving whoever is at the
sink a view of the room behind them. “I used Facebook
quite a lot when I was designing the house, rather than
making all the decisions on my own,” says Ali. “I would
sometimes put an idea out there, as Johnnie wasn’t
117 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: Katie’s room is remarkably tidy. The pink pom-pom trim on the blinds is a recent addition that matches her pink chair
around to chat things through, and say: ‘So everyone,
shall I go with this colour or that colour?’ ” She asked her
friends if she should go for coloured glass or a mirror. “I
reckon about 95% went with coloured glass, but it felt like
a full stop. So I went with the mirror and I really like it!
It reflects the light and makes the area look bigger.” Pale,
composite worktops also keep the kitchen light and bright.
High up, overhead in the rafters of the living area are
five gorgeous metal lampshades: “I bought one of the
lampshades on a visit to Cairo, thinking it would be big
enough. Poor Johnnie. I said, ‘Can you go to the souk next
week, and get me four different ones? I don’t want them
matching.’ Then a local electrician wired them up for me.”
On the wall are two huge photographs of Katie and Harry,
standing in a stubble field amongst rolling hills. “That was
taken the day before we moved to Dubai,” says Ali, who has
accompanied her husband to numerous countries, where
he works setting up British schools. “It wasn’t a planned
shoot. We were driving along near Wye, and I thought ‘this
is Kent for me’. So I took the photos as a little reminder,
to hang in our house out there, to remind us of home.”
As I cast my eye around their current home, I notice a
curious ladder hanging on the wall, next to the kitchen.
“ The builders had just put up the 4x2 posts as the plan
was to use the lofted area as storage but at the very last
minute we changed the plan and turned it into an X-box/
movie den as well as extra bed space for the overspill of
teenagers at the weekends. The space is great and would
have otherwise been wasted.” The ladder is a French hoppickers’
ladder and is both beautiful as well as functional.
The majority of rooms in the house come off a wide
corridor, which runs perpendicular to the front door,
from the open-plan living area at one end, to the master
bedroom at the other. “I widened the corridor,” says Ali,
“and revitalised the 1930s doorway by painting the door
and replacing the rather ugly bevelled glass on either side
with clear glass panels.” The modernised doorway works
a treat and, as Ali points out, cost a fraction of what it
would have done to have a new door and surround.
Although Ali has found clever and affordable solutions at
every turn, it’s clear that she hasn’t shied away from making
radical changes to the building’s layout and, in doing
wealdentimes.co.uk
118

Designed.Built
Millers Ley is an 18th century Grade II listed
property which we worked on through 2015.
“Barker & Frank were instrumental in the design
across the whole property, inside and outside.
Their attention to detail is second to none and the
copious research undertaken across the spectrum
of finish, materials, furniture and accessories has
yielded an environment which begs to be adored”.
For a personal consultation to discuss
enhancing your project contact
Beth Barker & Jo Frank
Blenheim Studios, London Road,
Forest Row, Sussex, RH18 5EZ
01342 826600
www.barkerandfrank.co.uk
Forest Row Showroom Now Open
Orlestone Oak
BarkerAndFrankWT183-HP-1.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:32
Tailor-made Oak Joinery and Oak Flooring
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OAK DECKING & BEAMS
www.orlestoneoak.co.uk 01233 732179
SHOWROOm Open mOnday tO FRiday 9am-5pm, SatuRday 9am-12pm
119 wealdentimes.co.uk
OrlestoneOakWT167.indd 1 02/12/2015 11:42

It’s It’s
It’s more
more
more than
than
than our
our
our
outstanding It’s more knowledge
than our
outstanding knowledge
outstanding product knowledge
range
and that product makes us range
and product range so that
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Unit Orchard Business Centre
Unit 4 Orchard
Unit Orchard Business
Business Centre
Sanderson Way, Tonbridge Centre
Sanderson
Sanderson Way, Tonbridge
Kent TN9 1QG Way, Tonbridge
Kent TN9 1QG
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01732 350 911
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showroom@townsbathrooms.co.uk
showroom@townsbathrooms.co.uk
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showroom@townsbathrooms.co.uk
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Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm
Customer Towns 1-2
TownsBathroomsWT179.indd 1 Publication The INDEX Magazine - December 2016 - Issue 253
07/12/2016 15:14
Date sent 17 November 2016
Deadline 12noon 17 November 2016
traditional Proof reading notes handmade New artwork created furniture
at SG Media
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EMAIL: production@indexmagazine.co.uk
DESIGNER
JL
ADVERTISEMENT PROOF
We trust the artwork is as you wish your advertisement to appear – please let us know if not. However, please note that if no response is received by the deadline stated above
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address, web address etc... We offer a free artwork service with two sets of amendments allowed. If further changes are required they will be charged at £45 per hour, or part
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PLEASE NOTE The content of the advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser – the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Positions in the magazine
cannot be guaranteed except where special positions are agreed in writing and on payment of a Special Position Fee.
Kitchens
Bedrooms
Studies
Showroom: 78 London Road, Southborough
Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 0PP
Tel: 01892 533273
Web: Woodworkkitchens.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
120
WoodworkWT183.indd 1 07/04/2017 11:59

This page: Ali’s photographs, taken on her travels,
are on display throughout the house
so, has created a practical family home with decent-sized
rooms, each with masses of light. “This is Harry’s room,” says
Ali, “and he’s got his own little en suite. I was determined
to get these sliding doors in!” Incidentally, she found the
sliding doors and runners on eBay, for a snip, and all of the
bathroom fixtures were sourced individually and bought at a
discount from either Victoria Plumb, Bath Store or Ikea.
The sliding door makes optimum use of the available
space. Fitted wardrobes, made by the builders and with snazzy
leather handles, also provide essential ‘de-cluttering’ space.
Ali’s photographs grace the walls, as does the number ‘10’
of a rugby shirt that belonged to Harry’s great-grandfather
– who was captain of the England rugby team in 1924.
Personal touches transform this from a ‘show home’ into a
real, family sanctuary. Katie’s room is also remarkably tidy,
but with pops of colour including a simple wooden chair
that Ali painted pink using spray paint from Halfords. “The
pink pom-pom trim on the blinds is a recent addition, but
it goes rather well with the chair, don’t you think?” says Ali.
A selection of pretty mirrors, with painted frames, which
Ali refers to as “granny’s mirrors”, are dotted around the
room. Finally, we reach Ali’s retreat, the master bedroom.
As well as the lovely, low sash windows, this room has
French doors into the garden. There is a sleek, modern en
suite, which makes use of the other sliding door and minimal
furniture. “The bed was from Feather & Black,” says Ali,
“and the quote on the wall – as is the ‘Boys will be boys’
in Harry’s room – is by a girlfriend of mine called Leonora
Hammond.” An ornate mirror is another from ‘Granny’ but
Ali has painted over the gilt with dove grey. “When we went
to Dubai, I visited various second-hand shops and bought
pretty furniture then took it all to a place where they sprayed
everything dove grey.” An attractive, plain French set of drawers
with a marble top has escaped the spray paint, adding a little
natural wood and warmth to the corner of the room.
As we step out of the French doors, into the sunshine, and
look at the garden side of the house, with wooden painted
sash windows and pretty pale grey shutters, it would be easy to
imagine we were in Africa. Mulberry House is a fine example
of just what can be achieved with initiative and vision and it’s
evident the family love their new home, just as Ali loved creating
it. “I feel quite sad that I have finished this. I feel bereft!” So, what
next? “I’d love to do another house – though then I’d have to sell
this one...” For now, it seems, the family will be staying put.
121 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above left: A corner of Ali’s bedroom Above: The spare room
Left: Singer Katie has her own music studio in the garden and
will be performing at Woodlands Festival in Hawkhurst on 9, 10
& 11 June 2017 (woodlandsfestival.co.uk)
Address Book:
To find out more about Ali’s greetings cards and
canvases, contact hh DESIGNS at hellohhdesigns@
gmail.com / Ali 07864 376144
The hop-pickers’ ladder and miscellaneous chairs
are from Country Furniture Barns Flimwell
01580 879800 countryfurniturebarn.co.uk
DWL (Bi-fold doors) 07725 363178
Howarth (windows and doors) 0330 119 2369
windowsanddoors.howarth-timber.co.uk
Leonora Hammond (wall stickers) leonorahammond.co.uk
Martins of Hawkhurst (kitchen) 01580
753470 martinsofhawkhurst.co.uk
SB10 01892 785220 sbten.co.uk
Simply Shutters (shutters) 01842 814260 simplyshutters.co.uk
122

CELEBRATING
1974 - 2017
CELEBRATING
CELEBRATING
1974 1974
-
-
2017
2017

台 䗰 䗰 ⃰ 嗰 台 ⃰ 俰 仰 䳰 䧰 仰 䗰 ⳰⃰ 困 䧰 台 䧰 哰 ⃰ 俰 嗰 勰 ⃰ 仰 䗰 埰 ⃰ 台 䣰 俰 埰 勰 俰 俰 ䷰⃰ 俰 勰 ⃰䷰ 䗰 䗰 哰 ⃰ 䇰 ⃰ 䓰 䗰 台 䧰 䟰 仰 䗰 勰
䣰 懰 淰 淰 濰 滰 擰 珰 ⃰ 䛰 懰 狰 淰 ⃰ 䟰 濰 痰 擰 棰 痰 狰 珰 瓰 ⳰⃰ 䯰 旰 滰 瓰 ⃰ 哰 仰 ㇰ 㟰 ⃰ㇰ 䗰 嗰
䏰 懰 泰 泰 ⃰ヰㇰ 㗰 㣰 ヰ⃰ムㇰム 㧰 ㏰ 㓰 ⃰ 濰 狰 ⃰ 旰 淰 懰 槰 泰 ⃰ 懰 瓰 ⃰ 槰 滰 曰 濰 䃰 旰 擰 淰 濰 滰 擰 珰 濰 滰 槰 滰 瓰 旰 狰 槰 濰 狰 珰 ⻰ 揰 濰 ⻰ 痰 毰 ⃰
矰 矰 矰 ⻰ 旰 擰 淰 濰 滰 擰 珰 濰 滰 槰 滰 瓰 旰 狰 槰 濰 狰 珰 ⻰ 揰 濰 ⻰ 痰 毰

Perry Tarnished Silver
Pear Shaped Mercury
Glass Pendant Light,
£137, Artisanti
artisanti.com
Blue Smoke Round Mirrored Glass
Pendant (left), and Blue Smoke Mirrored
Glass Pendant (right), both £103.95,
Alexander & Pearl, alexanderandpearl.co.uk
Hounslow mini
pendant, from a
seleciton, Elstead
Lighting, Alton
01420 590510
elsteadlighting.com
You Are My Sunshine
Quote Wall Stickers,
£24.99, IN-SPACES
in-spaces.com
Aran Rugs in Ivory
£244, The Rug Seller
therugseller.co.uk
the Look
Pictures and Mirrors
Jungle King, £265, Lenleys
Canterbury, 01227
766655, lenleys.co.uk
Brass Porthole
Mirror, £35, Batela
Home & Giftware
batela-giftware.co.uk
Get
See
Barleycorn
Prints at
Wealden Times
Midsummer
Fair
‘Swiss Cow (not
laughing)’ framed
print, 14” x 11”,
£30, Barleycorn
Prints 07714 648502
barleycornprints.com
Hungry Giraffe, available in a
selection of sizes and finishes, hh
DESIGNS hellohhdesigns@gmail.com
/ 07864 376144 (WT readers can get
25% off giant canvases - quote ‘WT183’)
Decorate L.O.V.E
Lights, £149,
Sweetpea & Willow
sweetpeaandwillow.com
Velvet Stripe footstool, £365,
A Little Furniture Shop,
littlefurnitureshop.co.uk

Multi Award Winning Company
SPATA Pool Contractor of the Year 2015
Specialists in indoor and outdoor swimming pools,
servicing, maintenance and improvements.
XL Pools Ltd, The Parlour, Saracens Dairy,
Pluckley Road, Pluckley, TN27 0SA
Telephone: 0845 20 60 420
Email: enquiries@xlpools.com
www.xlpools.com

Restoration
& New Build
A Wealden Times Supplement

...change ‘your’ business commute
LOCAL VILLAGES LATEST OFFERS BUY ONLINE
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DESIGN & PLANNING | RESTORATION | NEW BUILD | BARN CONVERSIONS | EXTENSIONS | JOINERY
For a brochure or home consultation call 01797 366895
www.anthony-hicks.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
Let’s go outside page 23
Building with glass page 15
Contents
Xxxxxxxx
page xx
6 Source of inspiration
We revisit a striking new build in Kent
9 Building with glass
Letting light do the talking
Renovation project page 17
Source of inspiration page 6
17 Renovation project
Revamping an oast’s oak frame and how to tackle
property renovations in France
21 Total rejuvenation
WT takes a look at Back From Black’s mess-free beam
restorations
23 Let’s go outside
Make the most of your own corner of the great outdoors
24 Directory
The homebuilder and renovator’s a-z
Editor’s Letter
Let’s go outside page 23
Building with glass page 11
There’s nothing more exciting (and utterly terrifying)
than sinking your teeth into a property project.
We start our supplement with a look back at
one of our favourite new build projects to date – Katie
and Richard’s amazing marble-clad family home, built
using local trades and specialists. Take inspiration from
their address book on page 7. If you’re after illumination,
our Building with Glass feature is bound to inspire:
read the expert opinions from page 9. Oak framer Paul
Cresswell, meanwhile, talks us through the renovation
of a stone oast (page 17) – a stunning project indeed.
Enjoy your Restoration & New Build Supplement
5 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
Bi-folding doors open out from the
orangery onto the terrace, complete
with an oval swimming pool
Source of
Inspiration
At the touch of a button a large white screen and
projector appear from the ceiling of the drawing
room to transform it into a home cinema
The kitchen is by
Clive Christian
wealdentimes.co.uk
6

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
The incredible entrance hall
The dining part of the
open plan kitchen
Katie and Richard’s incredible new build (WT156)
was the result of a packed address book of local trades,
with many features – like the stunning metalwork
bannister – designed especially for the house.
Building work: Bridgehurst
Builders 01580 211667
bridgehurst-builders.co.uk
Ornamental metalwork: Burvills
Cobham 01932 589666 burvills.co.uk
Kitchen: Clive Christian
clivechristianinteriors.com
Home Entertainment: Old Barn
Audio Tunbridge Wells 01892
752246 oldbarnaudio.co.uk
Stonemasons: Radley Stone
contact Ben on 07729 884406
Chandeliers: Wilkinson
Sittingbourne 01795 830000
wilkinson-plc.com
Pool: XL Pools Pluckley 0845
206 0420 xlpools.com
Read the full feature online at
wealdentimes.co.uk/house/wt156a
7 wealdentimes.co.uk

Kent Peg Tiling &
Listed Building Specialists
conservation and renovation
specialists § high quality work
by experienced craftsman
Proud winners of
both the Heritage and
Double Lap Tiling awards at the
UK Roofing Awards 2016
01797 270268 or visit www.kentpegs.com
RobinsonWaters
steel beam.
Kitchen
Lintel
ARCHITECTS
ARCHITECTURE
54
new build?
renovation?
extension?
Cloakroom.
UP.
Entrance Hall
Innovative and practical
Personal and professional
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Contemporary and traditional
Sitting Room
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architects@robinsonwaters.co.uk
Tel: 01580 754806
www.robinsonwaters.co.uk
8
All aspects of building
work undertaken
studios:
sevenoaks
hawkhurst
Lintel
2373
58
Internal area of the Ground Floor 121.4 sq. metres.
hastings
KarlTerryWT172.indd 1 16/05/2016 RobinsonWatersWT161.indd 16:59
1 08/06/2015 14:36
New Builds
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wealdentimes.co.uk
8
FornoAlfrescoWT183.indd 1 11/04/2017 15:33

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
Building with Glass:
The Basics
Ben Lee from Vita Architecture gives us an insight into the use of
glass in buildings from an architect’s perspective...
Building with glass enriches projects and lives in many ways. Its
ability to bring natural light into internal spaces drives architectural
design from the outset of every one of our design projects at Vita
Architecture. It is however, usually, the most expensive part of a construction
project. Here are our 3 key tips on how to get the most out of glass...
Step 1:
Orientation
In the UK it’s typically preferred
to utilise glass on the south-facing
facade to maximise sunlight coming
into the building. In such a scenario,
you’ll have to strike a careful balance
between sunlight and shading, as an
unprotected glass facade can lead to
solar glare as well as overheating to
the internal space. Bear this in mind
when designing and consider how
you’ll integrate shading/blinds/curtains
should the sun become too intense.
Step 2:
Balancing thermal efficiency with cost
In most buildings glass is typically
the weakest point when it comes to
thermal efficiency in the building
envelope, and to comply with building
regulations, careful planning must go
into designing a thermally efficient
home with high levels of glazing
without sky rocketing your build costs.
There are of course new technologies
such as triple glazing and energy
efficient glass, but very often these will
come at a premium. The more cost
effective way of building a thermally
efficient home is to use increased
levels of insulation in the floors, roof,
walls or even the existing house. This
will be considerably cheaper than
buying super-efficient glazing whilst
maintaining a healthy thermal envelope.
Step 3:
Ask the architect to get the details right
When designing with glass an attentive
eye to the detailing and specification
can pay dividends in the end product.
Simple moves such as choosing sliding
door systems with thin frames over
bi-fold doors with wider frames will
help to let natural daylight flood the
internal spaces and will also give a better
outlook from within. Another neat trick
is to design flush levels between internal
and external spaces with a continuous
material that flows between the two.
This will help to create a seamless
boundary between the inside and
outside.
Ben Lee is a partner at Vita Architecture, an architectural practice with a specialism in contemporary architecture.
To find out more, and explore projects that they’ve been involved with, call 020 8144 1737 or see vitaarchitecture.com.

The Oak Glasshouse Company
We design & build oak sunrooms, oak kitchen
extensions, oak orangeries and garden offices.
Please phone or email to request a brochure,
07522 544158, email info@theoakglasshouse.co.uk
www.theoakglasshouse.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
Building with Glass:
The Projects
WT investigates the briefs behind three illuminating designs and how
they were brought to life by the teams involved in their construction
The Kitchen Extension
James Ransley
The Oak Glasshouse Company
“Our client had lived in the original house
for more than 20 years but considered that
by today’s standards, whilst the house was in
a lovely setting, it felt dark and enclosed.
For five years before meeting us they had
been considering options for an extension,
but also had design problems as the main
brief was to put a new kitchen in the house
and let lots of light through into the existing
house. It was vital that the extension must
not make the existing kitchen space darker,
therefore the existing wall was demolished to
link the kitchen with the new light space.
Given the space around the house they wanted
to improve views of the garden and feel the
benefit of that exterior space even when indoors.
The main frame of the building was
an oak frame incorporating two large
‘A’ frames in the roof structure.
The glazing used was 28mm toughened
double glazed units, argon filled to U value
1.2. Glazing oak buildings is a specialist area
as you need to allow for the potential for the
beams to move as they continue to dry. It is
important to allow for this movement as part of
the glazing system. The roof tiles were clay.”
07522 544158 theoakglasshouse.co.uk
Project info
To supply and
install the main
oak structure
(on foundations
prepared by the
client), glaze the
building and
erect the roof
buildings usually
cost in the region
of £1,000 per
sqm + VAT
11 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
The Conservatory
Charles Page, Architect
“Two main criteria formed the brief; firstly, the desire to
extend the house to create additional space and, secondly,
the ambition that this space should be wrapped in glass and
extend out into the garden with views to the countryside
beyond. The existing house is Grade II Listed which
added a further level of complexity to the project.
The nature of the old farmhouse, dating back to the 16th
century, helped drive the form of the new extension, its low
ceilings highlighting an opportunity for the new room to offer a
generosity not found in the older parts of the house. The design
was also inspired by the geometry of greenhouses found in walled
gardens with the strong form of their single pitch roofs. So the new
extension rises from the constraints of the existing house, linking
the kitchen with a floor to ceiling height of 2.1m and climbing in
height as it reaches into the garden to an internal height of 3.2m
at its apex. From within, not only does the space have a generous
quality, it also maximises the views to the countryside beyond.
The extension is formed of a laminated oak frame with
bolted connections, a contemporary interpretation of the oak
beams within the oldest part of the house. Fine steel frame
windows reference the casement windows on the existing
building and a brick plinth echoes that of the main house. A
patinated copper cladding completes the extension, a playful
transition from the house to the green of the garden
beyond, that will continue to weather with time.”
Project info
Architect: Charles Page 07789 741255 charlesrussellpage.co.uk
Structural Engineer: Structure Modestructuremode.com
Contractor: Marc Construction 01797 344293
Products: Windows: Crittall crittall-windows.co.uk
Copper: KME TECU kmetecuuk.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
12

The finest of British
Country Outbuildings
From Passmores - Est 1909
The ideal home for your
daily run around or classic car
OAK FRONTED
CARRIAGE HOUSES
AND STAND ALONE
TIMBER GARAGES
View our picture gallery on line
for ideas and inspiration.
Excellent range and service.
HIGH STREET, STROOD
ROCHESTER, KENT ME2 4DR
Est 1909
Tel: 01634 290033
For further information visit : www.passmores.co.uk
PassmoresWT171.indd 1 11/04/2016 HamletBuildingsWT169.indd 10:53
1 29/01/2016 14:20
For all your bespoke glass needs
• Shower Screens • Bath Screens
• Coloured glass splashbacks
• Toughened Glass • Glass balustrades
• Glass fl oors • Double/triple glazed
sealed units • Shelves • Roof panels
• Glass for woodburning stoves
• Glass furniture made to your design
• Well tops • Antique/standard mirror
stocked - cut to shape/size
• Offi ce Partitions • Horticultural glass
• (Supply only) Bi-fold doors, composite
doors, uPVC windows, doors
& conservatories
Trade enquiries welcome
01233 626045
www.cpglassandwindows.co.uk
info@cpglassandwindows.co.uk
13 wealdentimes.co.uk
CPGlassWT181.indd 1 15/02/2017 10:20

monarchoak
Oak Frame Buildings
Over 50 years’ experience making oak frame buildings
Design, Extension, Renovation, Conversion, New Build,
Maintenance from a blocked gutter to a new roof.
All work carried out by our team of experienced craftsmen.
T: 01797 225950 / 01892 891874
www.jonraybuilding.co.uk M: 07778 808 950
• Garages
• Garden Rooms
• Complexes
• Gazebos
• Bespoke Buildings
01323 765410 Quality in its finest form
www.monarchoak.co.uk
Design & Planning · Restoration · Extensions
JonRayWT149.indd 1 23/06/2014 MonarchOakWT147.indd 12:19
1 15/04/2014 15:06
Barn Conversions · New Build · Joinery
01580 850307 07799 766248
hazelwoodbuilding.co.uk info@hazelwoodbuilding.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
14
HazelwoodWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 15:31

Palettes
Make-up
Josephine Fairley finds out whether the latest colour collections are
worth the investment, and how to choose the right one for you
Beauty
Twice a year, shiny, bright new toys appear
on the make-up counters – or
rather, the beauty equivalent:
palettes filled with pretty, eye-catching
unicorn-esque shades, perhaps dustings of
sparkle. They are deeply, deeply seductive.
And the fact is, they’ll probably end up at the
back of the toy cupboard (a.k.a. the make-up
drawer), unplayed-with after an initial burst
of enthusiasm during which you discover
that emerald green, aqua or (heaven forbid)
glimmering pink really aren’t that easy to wear. And
if that isn’t the case – well, you’re probably 17.
But that’s no reason to give make-up palettes a
wide berth in general. They can be time- and
space-saving – if you choose carefully. I’m
sure I’m not the only woman who’s wasted
ridiculous amounts of time opening and
closing identical single shadows to try to find
the one I’m looking for because the identifying
label on the back has been scuffed off in my
make-up bag. So a palette which combines
all you need for an eye look, or better still
throws in the perfect tone of blusher, can
be just a little bit life-changing, actually.
But let’s set some guidelines, here. First of
all, never buy a palette because you like just
one or two of the shades. The whole line-up has
to float your boat – or you’ll find yourself carrying
round a chunky quartet in which one corner’s
been used down to the metal, while carrying
around the ‘excess baggage’ of the other three
shades (and a heavy mirror, to boot). Secondly,
I sort of think there ought to be a law that eye
make-up is only produced in neutral shades
– browns, taupes, greys, ivories and creams,
maybe a soft plum or two. The colours of
actual shadows, actually. It is almost impossible
– unless you are a professional make-up artist
– to make brighter colours, or even unusual
‘sludges’, sit well on the skin. Therefore, any
eye palette you decide to buy should essentially
feature neutral shades. (That’s not quite true of
lips: for lots of us, deep burgundies and reds can be a signature.)
I’ve swept my brushes over a lot of palettes, in my time – the
equivalent of kissing a lot of frogs – but have consistently had
success with Bobbi Brown. . Their counter should always be your
first port of call for palette-shopping and a particular favourite
of mine is the double-decker Bobbi Brown
Sultry Nude Eye & Cheek Palette, £48,
which features a great line-up of basics with a
complexion-awakening blusher on the bottom
‘deck’. (It’s also a great starter set for a teenager
who you’re trying to keep away from My
Little Pony-like colours and textures.)
Adored by beauty editors everywhere,
meanwhile, are the
Urban Decay Naked
palettes – the newest of which is the
Naked3
Eyeshadow Palette, £39.50.
With 12 shades it showcases everything
you could possibly wish for any look
ranging from a soft wash of barely-there neutral
colour right through to an intense smoky
eye, spanning smooth mattes to gleaming
metallics for an ‘accent’ of shimmer.
Probably impractical to lug around
– but nevertheless it is a complete
eye kit, in one – and the powders are
famously velvety and easy-to-blend, with
great staying power. As palette brushes
go (and they do usually go straight in the
bin), theirs offers good blendability, too.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural
Eyeshadow Palette, £TBC, is the most
brilliant new palette of what I call ‘weekend’
eyeshadows – a spectrum of five neutrals for
can’t-tell-it-from-real shadowplay when you
want a little extra help but rocking a seriously
smoky eye is going to be overkill. Four great
nudes, in a sexy
Chanel palette. Nothing – but
nothing – not to love about this (including,
of course, the beige double-C-ed packaging).
And I’m also loving
Estée Lauder Pure Color
Envy Sculpting EyeShadow 5-Color Palette,
£40, in Defiant Nude – a completely brilliant
selection of plush-textured neutrals. Unlike
most websites, by the way, where you really
don’t get a clue what colours look like in
reality, the photos of this palette (which
comes in several neutral options) are really
true to life if you check them out at
esteelauder.co.uk.
If you can’t find a combination of tones that you like, the
alternative is to build your own palette. At the luxe end of
the spectrum, there is Chantecaille
Ma Palette – a glamorous
empty case that enables you to interchange any eight colours
from the Chantecaille collection including Shine Eye
141 wealdentimes.co.uk

Specialists in Traditional Oak Framed Buildings
AT SACKVILLE OAK FRAMES, WE GUARANTEE THAT OUR WORK IS CONSIDERED,
COMPOSED & NOT MASS-PRODUCED. OUR WORK WILL NURTURE, SUPPORT
& ENHANCE YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENT.
Sackville Oak Frames are specialists in Oak Framed Buildings; including Houses & New Builds,
Extensions & Garden Rooms and Garages & Outbuildings. Call us on 01580 212106 or visit our
website to get in touch and find out how we can help you with your project.
W W W . S A C K V I L L E O A K F R A M E S . C O . U K
Find us on Instagram
@sackvilleoakframes
T R A D I T I O N A L | S U S T A I N A B L E | H A N D C R A F T E D

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
“We simply couldn’t have wished
for more; all aspects have far
exceeded our expectations;
craftsmanship, the like of which
I didn’t think still truly existed.”
Private client, Kent
Renovation
Project:
The Oak
Frame
Paul Cresswell,
Sackville Oak Frames
The brief: “Sackville Oak Frames were commissioned to design and build an oak
framed roof structure to replace an existing dilapidated roof. The existing stone
oast roundel and barn had previously been re-roofed at some point in the past with
a single straight run roof which needed to be replicated for planning purposes.
Our client wanted to enhance the character of the property, whilst celebrating
the history of the once working oast. Due to the fragile existing stone walls, the
oak frame needed to distribute the roof loading evenly without having any point
loads or transverse loads acting upon the walls. With limited head height and
two different levels on the first floor, a tie beam truss would not give the required
height needed. The roof shape and pitch had to match the old derelict roof.”
The finished oak frame: “The roof frame is a green oak principal rafter frame,
with softwood common rafters over and a warm roof construction. Due to the
height restrictions on the first floor, an arch brace truss was used. The roof frame
cantilevers out over the oast roundel and forms a full glazed gable to match the
existing roof. The glazed gable over the roundel was glazed with 24mm toughened,
LowE units. The glass was fitted onto the frame using our proven direct glazing
system that we have developed over many years; in essence, the system relies
on cleverly profiled sole plates and quarter sawn air-dried oak cover strips.”
Frame cost: £25,000 (as of 2016). 01580 212106 sackvilleoakframes.co.uk
17 wealdentimes.co.uk

Design & Planning
Restoration
New Build
Barn Conversions
Extensions
Joinery
Cox Developments (Charing) Limited
www.coxrestorations.co.uk
For a free consultation please contact: 01233 714950
www.coxrestorations.co.uk
Established 1986

Renovation
Project:
The House
in France
Jay Cross,
Cross Builders
Why do your customers ask you to renovate holiday homes in France? “Many of
our English customers have used French builders in the past but there were reports
of problems ‘in translation’ and major projects were sometimes left incomplete.
One customer had instructed French builders to renew her roof. A few months
later, the roof had sprung a leak and brought down two elaborate lime and
horsehair period ceilings. We repaired the roof and re-plastered the ceilings but
discovered that the French builders had forgotten to install a breather membrane.
Our customers prefer to use our services because we send photos and regular
updates by email so they can make informed decisions about priority repairs.
Because we use French materials such as Sable blanc and local Châtaigne
(chestnut timber) our customers know that their home is being renovated
with appropriate materials so it will look correct and authentic.”
What do customers like about your services? “We restored a 17th century
country cottage on the edge of a forest and stripped the beams back to reveal
their true colour. Wild bees had made their home in the ceiling of one of the
bedrooms and the scent of the forest honey had permeated the timber with its
sweet fragrance. The bedroom has a natural honey scent and we used beeswax
to enrich the timber beams so our renovation work did not detract or alter
the natural fragrance of the bedroom. Our customers like the way we work in
sympathy with the original features to really make the most of a character home.”
What has been your proudest moment? “In 2015 we were awarded STEM
accreditation from KCC. This means that we have a sustainable approach to
building and renovating homes so there is far less reliance on burning fossil
fuels to keep the home warm. Professor Jane Rendell introduced us to a Frenchmade
reflective quilt product which was originally designed to keep wealthy
villa owners’ homes cool in summer. We have been using the same product in
the UK to keep draughty and cold homes warm and reduce heating bills. We
now encourage homeowners to consider installing Thermaline when they are
embarking on renovations. This product feels warm to the touch and re-lines
unsightly uneven interior walls, making them warmer, smoother and drier.”
What types of properties do you renovate? “Over the past few years we
have repaired tiny cottages with stone roofs in the Dordogne, restored a lovely
apricot-coloured villa near St Jean de Luz in the South West of France, a
former 1930s hotel near Carcassonne and re-roofed a retirement property – a
huge remote country farmhouse in Brittany. All sorts of holiday homes in
different parts of France, from the North right down to the Mediterranean.
Is language a barrier? “Two members of staff are now fluent French
speakers so there is no problem in going to the local builders’ merchants
and ordering sacks of plaster and timber. Our new trainee is learning
French and I have been having French lessons every Saturday in Canterbury
with Fabienne – a French teacher who lives permanently in the UK.”
01303 211805 cross-builders.co.uk
19 wealdentimes.co.uk

Traditional Craftsmanship
for Modern Applications
SPECIALIST PLANNING ADVICE
Residential Development
and Extensions
Listed Buildings
Equestrian
Permitted Development
Planning Appeals
Agri Business
Certificate of Lawfulness
Rural Buildings
Objections
Local Plan Submission
CRANBROOK
01580 201888
01580 715378
Helping to Unlock the
Potential of Your Land,
Buildings & Assets
www.therpp.co.uk
office@therpp.co.uk
CIRENCESTER
01285 719568
Garages & Porches
Garden Buildings
Homes & Extensions
Quality Buildings at
Competitive Prices
chartwelloakbuildings.co.uk
Call for a quote 01959 447477
Filston Farm, Filston Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5JU
Back From Black
Beam Renovation Ltd
Renovating Beams Since 1997
RuralPlanningPracticeWT180.indd 1 13/01/2017 ChartwellOakBuildingsWT177.indd 10:01
1 14/10/2016 10:51
All beams renovated without mess
A unique system - No blasting
No damage to the wood
Tel: 01797 458508 www.beam-renovation.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
20
BackfromBlackWT162.indd 1 15/07/2015 12:20

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
Total Rejuvenation
Nicholas Sinclair from Back From Black Beam Renovation
Ltd explains how his company’s unique system can give
your property’s beams a facelift
AFTER
BEFORE
What do you do? “We restore oak
beams using a special beam renovation
process invented in the Cotswolds
by my parents back in 1997.”
How does your process work?
“Our process works by lightening the
beams without the need for blasting
or stripping. It’s a unique process
which offers a viable alternative to
sandblasting, chemical or mechanical
stripping without damage to the fabric
of the beam and surrounding décor.
Our team applies a special recipe
directly onto the existing surface (glossy,
matt, painted, varnished, stained,
mismatched, pine wood, fire damaged
or any other beamed surface).”
Is it messy? “There is no mess, we
work in fully furnished houses and
have hundreds of happy clients.”
Does it work on all types of
beams? “Yes, it works on all types.
We do work in listed houses as well
as in Potton homes that have been
built since 1980. Our process helps to
harmonise even mismatched timber
in a room. As it retains the historic
fabric and all the features of the wood,
it is therefore very suitable to use on
old beams in period properties.”
What type of problems do you
come up against? “Mostly it’s
judging people’s taste which is why
we have developed three main finishes
to choose from. These we call ‘The
Aged Oak Finish’ (our most popular),
‘The Warm Oak Finish’ (a warmer
finish) and ‘The Pippa Grey’ (a
weathered oak finish very popular for
people with contemporary tastes).”
What’s the most satisfying
project you’ve ever worked on?
“That is a very tough question! We
have worked in beautiful properties all
over England and throughout France.
We deliver a high level of satisfaction –
rooms are genuinely transformed and
the clients are so nice: their houses have
so much history. The most satisfying
project has to be doing my own house.
We had the good fortune to buy a small
12th century hall house. Revealing
the character of the property to make
it truly beautiful, and then being able
to live in it... nothing can beat that!”
How much does it cost? “How
long is a piece of string? The houses
we work in are all different. I can truly
say in my years of doing this I have
never been to any identical houses!
One client referred to her farmhouse
as ‘the house that Jack built’ – bits
here, bits there. We price the work
according to the room size and the
amount of beams in that room. We ask
potential clients for room dimensions
and a photograph showing as much
of the room as possible, to be sent
to nick@beam-renovation.co.uk.”
See examples of the three
main finishes on offer at
beamrenovation.com. You can also view
Back From Black’s work at the Potton
show homes in St. Neots at potton.
co.uk/our-show-homes/cambridgeshire/
the-gransden/. Find out more by calling
01797 458508 beam-renovation.com
AFTER
BEFORE
21 wealdentimes.co.uk

www.elliottreid.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement
Round Wood of Mayfield offer
a range of oak framed garden
rooms that will blend beautifully
with any property. All frames are
crafted using traditional framing
techniques, including mortise and
tenon joints. The building shown
features oak weatherboard, oak
joinery and a glazed hip. Garden
room prices depend on a wide
variety of factors, but a kit range is
on offer from Round Wood with
prices starting at £6,000 (supply
only). For more info. 01435 860260
roundwood.com. Round Wood of
Mayfield are offering WT readers
and Midsummer Fair visitors the
chance to win one of seven prizes
at the event this June at Hole
Park, Rolvenden (wealdentimes.
co.uk/events). One lucky winner
will receive a £1,000 gift voucher
to spend on anything in their
range. There will also be a second
prize voucher of £500, with five
runners up receiving £100 prizes.
To enter, just visit them on stand
O21 to fill out a competition form.
Let’s Go Outside
Beautify your outdoor living space
Flower & plant cushions,
£49.50 each, Botanical
Cushions botanicalcushions.com
Indoor/outdoor rug,
from £4, Dash & Albert
dashandalberteurope.com
Millboard’s composite decking is a new
generation of innovative anti-slip and
maintenance-free external flooring. It
looks as beautiful and warm as natural
timber, but with no wood content – so
will stand the test of time. Made in the
UK, the unique blend of polymer resin
and fibres is an environmentally friendly
alternative to traditional timber decking.
gardenhousedesign.co.uk
Multicoloured outdoor
LED cube table/stool,
£240 limelace.co.uk
23 wealdentimes.co.uk

Restoration
& New Build
A Wealden Times Supplement
Directory
Architects & PLANNING
Robinson Waters 01580 754806
robinsonwaters.co.uk
The Rural Planning Practice
01580 201888 / 01580 715378
/ 01285 719568 therpp.co.uk
BEAM RENOVATION
Back from Black Beam Renovation Ltd.
01797 458508 beam-renovation.co.uk
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
SERVICES
Anthony Hicks 01797 366895
anthony-hicks.co.uk
A.T. Palmer Ltd.
01233 770077 atpalmer.co.uk
Chartwell Oak Buildings 01959
447477 chartwelloakbuildings.co.uk
Cox Restorations 01233
714950 coxrestorations.co.uk
Dude & Arnette Oast
Cowell Construction
01622 725898 / 07973 332790
dudeandarnette.co.uk
GJ Alldis Building Services 01233
513498 / 07975 540504
Hamlet 0800 08 59 699
hamletbuildings.co.uk
Hazelwood Building Contractors
01580 850307 / 07799 766248
hazelwoodbuilding.co.uk
Johnsons Garden Buildings
0845 45 99 444 needextraspace.co.uk
Jon Ray Buildings Ltd. 01797 225950
/ 01892 891874 jonraybuilding.co.uk
Monarch Oak 01323 765410
monarchoak.co.uk
The Oak Glasshouse Company
07522 544158 theoakglasshouse.co.uk
Passmores 01634 290033 passmores.co.uk
Sackville Oak Frames 01580
212106 sackvilleoakframes.co.uk
CONSERVATORIES
Elliot Reid Conservatories Ltd.
01323 833924 elliottreid.co.uk
DOORS, WINDOWS &
ROOF LANTERNS
CP Glass 01233 626045
cpglassandwindows.co.uk
KSE Home 01622 851400 /
07973 669590 ksehome.co.uk
pools
XL Pools 0845 206 0420 xlpools.com
ROOFING
Karl Terry 01797 270268 kentpegs.com
Established 25 Years, Family Business
01622 851400 07973 669590
Visit Our Showroom - 4 Ashmill Business Park, Ashford Road (A20), Lenham ME17 2GQ
Bi-fold Doors Roof Lanterns Composite Doors
ksehome.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
24
KSEHomeImprovementsWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:52

Dude and Arnette are a fourth family generation family
business. Our team specialises in restoring and repairing
cowls – the distinctive chimneys on the top of Oast houses.
est
DUDE &
ARNETTE
OAST COWL CONSTRUCTION
We are the UK’s leading restorer and repairer of traditional Kent hop kilns.
From royalty to businesses and regular homeowners, we have been the
go-to Oast house repair company for over seven decades.
Why not call us today for a discussion about your oast cowl:
01622 725 898 / 07973 332 790 or info@dudeandarnette.co.uk
Employed Skilled Workforce | Renovations & Extensions
Conversions & Alterations | Design & Build
Dude&ArnetteWT174.indd 1 15/07/2016 12:22
A.T. Palmer Ltd
RestoRation specialists est.1949
T: 01233 770077
Smarden Business Estate, TN27 8QL
atpalmer.co.uk
127 wealdentimes.co.uk
ATPalmerWT176.indd 1 09/09/2016 11:44

Hello Tailor!
Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Helen Barton
Model: Thomas Location: The Historic Dockyard Chatham
wealdentimes.co.uk
128

waistcoat & jacket, £225, Olymp stripe
shirt, £69.50, Magee blue trousers, £119,
Barker Cohen shoes, £225, County
Clothes, Canterbury 01227 765294 /
Tenterden 01580 765159 / Reigate 01737
249224 countyclothesmenswear.co.uk
129 wealdentimes.co.uk

further ado here it is.
• We are launching a fetching new website which parades our shoes and our new canvas and leather
accessories in all their glory
• We have introduced a new welted Collection in all of our styles so whether you are a Loafer, Brogue or Oxford
type of man there is a welted shoe for you
• We have now a very limited number of Cordovan leather loafers. Genuine Horween leather is exceedingly rare,
immensely tough and exceptionally beautiful. We never know when more will be available and we want to give you
the opportunity of being able to buy them ahead of the rest.
So there’s our news. We hope you agree it is captivating. All the details are in the enclosed limited
edition leaflet.
Varca is a unique brand
redefining traditional
handcrafted European designs
to the British lifestyle.
Specialising in the Menorcan
sandal, their collection also
includes Italian Loafers, clothing
and new Mediterranean
footwear designs.
We like to think that Billy Ruffians are an enthusiastic and eclectic group of individuals full of zes
for life’s great adventures. As such we know that you are very busy but do take time to keep in
touch and feel free to spread our word.
We’re always on hand in the Boathouse, so please call on us soon on 01234 816820.
Yours aye
Nicholas Tusting
Shoes and accessories for men
01903 746677 www.varca.com
Unit 3 Spring Buildings, Robell Way
Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 3DW
BILLYRUFFIANSHOES.CO.UK
+44 (0) 1234 816820
CAN WE HELP +44 (0) 1234 816820
WWW.BILLYRUFFIANSHOES.CO.
VarcaWT183.indd 1 12/04/2017 BillyRuffianWT183.indd 10:57
1 03/04/2017 10:42
The Boot
Room at
Charity Farm
is now open!
Swattenden Lane | Cranbrook | TN17 3PS
01580 713189
www.charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk
Come and see
Oscar nominated
Bafta winning
Shuna at her shop
in Heathfield
Market
Men’s and women’s
vintage clothing
and accessories
Tuesday mornings and by appointment
01435 883394 or 07831 258582
shuna
¹ @btinternet.com
1920s–1960s items always wanted. Also Chinese
embroidered clothes, Ossie Clark, Biba.
wealdentimes.co.uk
130
CharityFarmWT183.indd 1 11/04/2017 ShunasVintageClothesWT182.indd 09:47
1 17/03/2017 13:24

Hugo Boss Norwin jacket, £480,
Bevan trousers, £139, stripe shirt,
£129, Fenwick, Tunbridge Wells
01892 516716 fenwick.co.uk

Abi Gurney Hat Hire
By appointment only...
Hawkhurst-No6 The Collonade Rye Road Kent. TN184ES
01580 752118
Rye- No12 High Street Rye East Sussex. TN317JF
01797 224369
Lewes -27 High Street Lewes East Sussex. BN72LU
01273 480896
www.abigurneyhathire.co.uk
01825 713448
abigurneyhathire@gmail.com
Now open in Heathfield!
CordeliaJamesWT183.indd 1 18/04/2017 AbiGurneyWT183.indd 10:20
1 04/04/2017 16:22
o.
N 37
We are an independent womenswear boutique in
Heathfield High Street, offering quality clothing and
accessories, with collections chosen for their comfort,
style and versatility from brands including:
Masai ∙ Adini ∙ Sahara ∙ Cutloose ∙ InTown
Capri ∙ Eva TraLaLa ∙ Join Clothes ∙ Brodie ∙ GR
Nature ∙ Amazing Woman ∙ Ochre Knitwear
We look forward to welcoming you to browse in our
relaxed friendly atmosphere.
N˚37 High Street Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8HU ∙ 01435 868414
wealdentimes.co.uk
132
No37-WT183.indd 1 12/04/2017 15:50

Digel black trousers, £95, Olymp
black shirt, £69.50, County Clothes,
Canterbury 01227 765294 / Tenterden
01580 765159 / Reigate 01737 249224
countyclothesmenswear.co.uk
Barker Cohen shoes, £225,
County Clothes, as before

Claudio Lugli grey waist coat &
jacket, £275, Profuomo brown
leather belt, £60, MMX jeans,
£129, Liberty print tie, £29.50,
Olymp white shirt, £59.50, Barker
Harry shoes, £250, County
Clothes, Canterbury 01227
765294 / Tenterden 01580
765159 / Reigate 01737 249224
countyclothesmenswear.co.uk

The Clever Dresser
Boutique stocks
some of the most
sought-after brands
of the moment
cashmere and silk knitwear
Alice + Olivia
Rebecca Taylor
DVF Diane Von
Furstenberg
MCQ McQueen
Milly New York
Duffy
360 cashmere
AG jeans
Mercy Delta
Pyrus
CleverDresser
6 Bank St. Sevenoaks,
Kent TN13 1UW
01732 453 002
www.thecleverdresser.com
THE CLEVER DRESSER
BOUTIQUE
Come and browse our new
Spring/Summer Collections
Exclusive to Cashara-
Moutaki Shirt £95
23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ
Telephone 01580 761222 Email sales@cashara.co.uk
Shop online at www.cashara.co.uk
STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET
CleverDresserBoutiqueWT180.indd 1 16/01/2017 CasharaWT183.indd 16:32
1 10/04/2017 11:27
purely beauty
Beauty Salon Hawkhurst
Spring Special Offer
Limited Edition
Spa Pedicure or Manicure
Spa Manicure - £25
Spa Pedicure £30
Or Both for - £50
Valid Until June 1st
Inspired by afternoon tea
Flavours and scents these luxurious
Treatments are the ultimate spring treat.
These deluxe treatments include
Cut, file and shape of the nail, exfoliation using a
Lemon drizzle salt scrub,
Cuticle work with a cucumber balm,
Massage using a Victoria sponge inspired body oil,
Finished with an O.P.I colour.
Call 01580 753383
Book Online www.purenique.co.uk
Hawkhurst, TN18 4JU
135 wealdentimes.co.uk
PureniqueWT183.indd 1 06/04/2017 ManukaShoesWT183.indd 12:37
1 12/04/2017 12:22

QUALITY CLOTHING AND A PERSONAL SERVICE
New Weather Comfort Collection from
Barbour available in store & online
Tel: 01797 224271
16 Lion Street, Rye, E.Sussex TN31 7LB
e: shop@thegoldenfleece.co.uk
w: www.thegoldenfleece.co.uk
@goldenfleecerye
MEYER-HOSEN, established
in 1960 in Germany, are
producers of high quality
formal and casual trousers
of European manufacture.
Using some of the finest
fabrics , and only cottons
bearing the Fair Trade
Certification Mark MEYER
trousers are renowned for their
Quality, Comfort, Style and Fit.
This Spring/Summer season’s
ranges comprise ultra lightweight
wool blends, sand washed cotton,
pima cottons and kapok, in a bright
colour palette, with two-tone
and over-dyed fabrics, contrasted
by trims and summery linings.
MEYER ensures QUALITY that its CLOTHING products AND of showing A PERSONAL you the new SERVICE MEYER
have a high-quality of finish, a collection, together with the
good fit throughout all sizes other ranges of exciting summer
and are comfortable to wear. clothing we have to offer.
19 St. Margarets St,
Canterbury,
Kent CT1 2TH
Tel: 01227 765294
Follow us
• New store NOW OPEN in Sevenoaks
• Celebrating 40 years trading in Kent
CountyClothes
We are pleased to offer a
comprehensive range of MEYER
trousers in all three of our stores,
with sizes from 32 to 46 waist in
many ranges, and very much look
forward to having the opportunity
2 East Cross,
Tenterden,
Kent TN30 6AD
Tel: 01580 765159
6 High St,
Reigate,
Surrey RH2 9AY
Tel: 01737 249224
LOVELL & VIE
lingerie swimwear
Shersby
GoldenFleeceWT183.indd 1 10/04/2017 CountyClothesWT183.indd 17:02
1 12/04/2017 11:22
FINE JEWELLERS
Aubade
PrimaDonna
Empreinte
Marie Jo
Wacoal
b.tempt'd
Chantelle
Fantasie
Hanro
Huit8
DKNY
Moontide
Lidea
Hanky Panky
46 Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks TN13 3TL
01732 454445 www.lovellandvie.co.uk
George Cottage, High Street, Cranbrook
Cranbrook has free car parking
www.shersbyjewellers.co.uk Telephone: 01580 720003
shersbyjewellers@aol.com Find us on Facebook
wealdentimes.co.uk
136
LovellAndVieWT183.indd 1 10/04/2017 ShersbyJewellersWT182.indd 17:13
1 08/03/2017 17:01

Ted Baker Malibu jacket, £259, Maltro
trousers, £119, Scotch & Soda stripe shirt,
£95, Fenwick, Tunbridge Wells 01892
516716 fenwick.co.uk

Come and get
dressed at
We have some GREAT ideas for holiday clothes
For all
SHAPES
and sizes in linens, silks & cotton
With a w i d e range of accessories and
wraps to go with them, as well as something a
little more dressy for drinks on the patio!
Opening Hours: Tuesday—Friday 10.30am—5pm
Saturday 10.30am—3.30pm
44 High Street, Charing, Kent TN27 0HX 01233 714689
Linda Pope
Opticians
Elizabeth44WT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 SMEWconsultancyWT183.indd 11:46
1 03/04/2017 12:21
facebook.com/LindaPopeOpticians
Rye Road • Hawkhurst
Telephone. 01580 753744
dressing undeniable beauty
www.odyl.co.uk
01580 714907
wealdentimes.co.uk
138
LindapopeQRTWT183.indd 1 18/04/2017 OdylWT183.indd 16:16 1 21/04/2017 11:35

John Smedley knit polo shirt,
£115, knit cardigan, £150, Fynch-
Hatton trousers, £89, County
Clothes, Canterbury 01227
765294 / Tenterden 01580
765159 / Reigate 01737 249224
countyclothesmenswear.co.uk
WT would like to say a huge
thank you to The Historic
Dockyard Chatham for
allowing our team to come and
photograph for the afternoon.
For information about upcoming
events, and to book tickets,
visit thedockyard.co.uk
or call 01634 823800.

wealdentimes.co.uk
140

Palettes
Make-up
Josephine Fairley finds out whether the latest colour collections are
worth the investment, and how to choose the right one for you
Beauty
Twice a year, shiny, bright new toys appear
on the make-up counters – or
rather, the beauty equivalent:
palettes filled with pretty, eye-catching
unicorn-esque shades, perhaps dustings of
sparkle. They are deeply, deeply seductive.
And the fact is, they’ll probably end up at the
back of the toy cupboard (a.k.a. the make-up
drawer), unplayed-with after an initial burst
of enthusiasm during which you discover
that emerald green, aqua or (heaven forbid)
glimmering pink really aren’t that easy to wear. And
if that isn’t the case – well, you’re probably 17.
But that’s no reason to give make-up palettes a
wide berth in general. They can be time- and
space-saving – if you choose carefully. I’m
sure I’m not the only woman who’s wasted
ridiculous amounts of time opening and
closing identical single shadows to try to find
the one I’m looking for because the identifying
label on the back has been scuffed off in my
make-up bag. So a palette which combines
all you need for an eye look, or better still
throws in the perfect tone of blusher, can
be just a little bit life-changing, actually.
But let’s set some guidelines, here. First of
all, never buy a palette because you like just
one or two of the shades. The whole line-up has
to float your boat – or you’ll find yourself carrying
round a chunky quartet in which one corner’s
been used down to the metal, while carrying
around the ‘excess baggage’ of the other three
shades (and a heavy mirror, to boot). Secondly,
I sort of think there ought to be a law that eye
make-up is only produced in neutral shades
– browns, taupes, greys, ivories and creams,
maybe a soft plum or two. The colours of
actual shadows, actually. It is almost impossible
– unless you are a professional make-up artist
– to make brighter colours, or even unusual
‘sludges’, sit well on the skin. Therefore, any
eye palette you decide to buy should essentially
feature neutral shades. (That’s not quite true of
lips: for lots of us, deep burgundies and reds can be a signature.)
I’ve swept my brushes over a lot of palettes, in my time – the
equivalent of kissing a lot of frogs – but have consistently had
success with Bobbi Brown. . Their counter should always be your
first port of call for palette-shopping and a particular favourite
of mine is the double-decker Bobbi Brown
Sultry Nude Eye & Cheek Palette, £48,
which features a great line-up of basics with a
complexion-awakening blusher on the bottom
‘deck’. (It’s also a great starter set for a teenager
who you’re trying to keep away from My
Little Pony-like colours and textures.)
Adored by beauty editors everywhere,
meanwhile, are the
Urban Decay Naked
palettes – the newest of which is the
Naked3
Eyeshadow Palette, £39.50.
With 12 shades it showcases everything
you could possibly wish for any look
ranging from a soft wash of barely-there neutral
colour right through to an intense smoky
eye, spanning smooth mattes to gleaming
metallics for an ‘accent’ of shimmer.
Probably impractical to lug around
– but nevertheless it is a complete
eye kit, in one – and the powders are
famously velvety and easy-to-blend, with
great staying power. As palette brushes
go (and they do usually go straight in the
bin), theirs offers good blendability, too.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural
Eyeshadow Palette, £TBC, is the most
brilliant new palette of what I call ‘weekend’
eyeshadows – a spectrum of five neutrals for
can’t-tell-it-from-real shadowplay when you
want a little extra help but rocking a seriously
smoky eye is going to be overkill. Four great
nudes, in a sexy
Chanel palette. Nothing – but
nothing – not to love about this (including,
of course, the beige double-C-ed packaging).
And I’m also loving
Estée Lauder Pure Color
Envy Sculpting EyeShadow 5-Color Palette,
£40, in Defiant Nude – a completely brilliant
selection of plush-textured neutrals. Unlike
most websites, by the way, where you really
don’t get a clue what colours look like in
reality, the photos of this palette (which
comes in several neutral options) are really
true to life if you check them out at
esteelauder.co.uk.
If you can’t find a combination of tones that you like, the
alternative is to build your own palette. At the luxe end of
the spectrum, there is Chantecaille
Ma Palette – a glamorous
empty case that enables you to interchange any eight colours
from the Chantecaille collection including Shine Eye
141 wealdentimes.co.uk

Sit-in Private
Care Service
Be it companionship or just someone to
sit with a relative, our Private Care Service
carers can come to your house and help.
Visits can be for as little as one hour or as
long as 15 hours. This help can form part
of a tailored package of care that could
help you stay in your own home for longer,
rather than going into a care home before
its really needed. We can assist those who
need help due to frailty, disability or illness
to live as independently as possible, with
comfort and dignity, in their own home.
www.townandcountryhomecare.co.uk
Domestic
Care
£9.77
per hour
For a free assessment
of your care needs or to
receive your brochure
Call us on 01580 762244
Town & Country Homecare Limited
102a High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HT
TownCountryHomecareWT133.indd 7 04/02/2013 DrChristineWT179.indd 16:20
1 09/12/2016 11:22
Concept
Hair
salon
Want a Career Change?
Take That Next Step &
learn the skills of Beauty Therapy at
Eden Beauty Therapy Institute
50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564
Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk
or through our facebook page
We offer GTI accredited courses in Beauty Therapy
Visit our website to find out more
www.edenbeautytherapy.co.uk
or call
01732 862224
wealdentimes.co.uk
142
WilliamCharlesWT174.indd 3 05/07/2016 EdenBeautyTherapyWT182.indd 12:49
1 16/03/2017 13:07

Shades, Lasting Eye Shades and Cheek Shades – and it works
by magnets. (Also features a generous brush.) The palette
is £46, the refills £19.50 – but if that’s going to blow your
budget, check out M.A.C. Pro Palettes – a vast selection of
empty palettes ranging from two to nine slots for your chosen
shades, starting at just two quid for the smallest empty.
Of course, palettes aren’t just about eyes. My most-used
palette is probably Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and
Glow, £49 – the most wonderfully seamless, flattering bronzer
that I wear even in winter, accompanied by a shimmering
highlighter which I use on the inner corner of lids and on
brows to light up the face. It’s incredibly ‘buildable’ – so
in winter, just a touch; in summer, more sun-kissed.
I see less point in a lip palette, frankly. Most of us want to
slip a single shade into our handbags for a quick on-the-go
touch-up swipe – because who can be bothered to blend a load
of different colours or textures to get a so-called ‘perfect’ shade,
in our busy lives…? Lip palettes, then, are fine for keeping
on the dressing table – but on the go…? Just more work for
the chiropractor, lugging around all that weight. Having said
that, I am rather taken with the very affordable Maybelline
Lip Contour Palette, £9.99, in the suits-all-skintones Blushed
Bombshell line-up – or for lovers of reds, there’s Crimson
Vixen, featuring a primer, liner, gloss and more. Alternatively,
because lipstick choices are so, so personal, I like to smoosh my
lipsticks into a Perspex case to carry them around. Screenface’s
brilliant option appears to have been discontinued, but if
you input ‘empty lipstick case’ into eBay, several similar
alternatives come up which are very reasonably priced.
So the bottom line: if you’re really, truly, cross-yourheart
going to use all the shades – or can personalize an
empty case with the perfect colours and textures of your
preference – then the right palette can make an artist out of
anyone. But my advice remains: no matter how alluring their
glimmer, shimmer and rainbow-esque qualities, I suggest
you leave the ‘My Little Pony’ palettes to the under-20s.
Visit Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey’s beautybible.com for
the latest health and beauty news
and product reviews.
GENTLE RELAXING YOGA FOR ALL
Would you like a relaxing moment of calm in
the comfort of your own home or office?
Feel totally refreshed,
relaxed and rejuvenated.
Not enough time? Then you
could benefit the most from
a moment of calm helping
you to focus more efficiently
in day to day life.
Quiet poses allow time for
your body to stretch and
release while encouraging
your thoughts to be swept
to the side and your mind to
become still.
My mobile studio means that
a large space isn’t necessary
and a chair yoga class offers
a full body relaxing stretch
without the need to stand up
or get down to the floor.
I have pre and postnatal
experience and babies and
children can be included.
Also, visit one of my noncompetitive
small group
classes for a complimentary
trial, where you will be
treated to a whole hour of
peaceful “you time” with
comfortable blankets, bolster
cushions and eye bags.
All equipment is provided.
• Home class 1 or 2
people - £30.
• Group home/office class
(3-12 people) - POA
• Group class £8 per
person or £30 for a
consecutive booking of
5 classes.
Call Kate: 07904 335562
allyogakent@gmail.com
Tailor made class for all
abilities and ages.
AllYogaKentWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:29
Jasmine Homecare Services
Caring for people in their homes
Our private care offers the option to be looked after in the comfort of your
own home. Our carers are handpicked for the suitability of the job and are
highly trained to provide good old fashioned quality of care.
Jasmine carers can visit you in your home at times to suit
your daily routine.
It can be anything from 30 minutes to 1 hour or more
to help with everyday tasks.
We will talk to you about just what you want
and respect your wishes throughout.
Jasmine Homecare provide 24 hour on call services to ensure
that we are there when you need us.
We provide
✔ Personal care
✔ Visiting relatives or friends
✔ Cooking
✔ Sightseeing or leisure activities
✔ Shopping (together or for you) ✔ Visiting your G.P.
✔ Cleaning your home
✔ Over night care
✔ Assist with medication
✔ Live-in care
At Jasmine Care South East Ltd. we are proud to provide a trusted reliable service,
where you, our client is at the very centre of our focus.
To find out more please call our friendly team on
CRANBROOK: 01580 713 533 MAIDSTONE: 01622 759 946
Jasmine Care South East Ltd. offers services in the whole of Kent & East Sussex
143 wealdentimes.co.uk
JasmineHomecareWT174.indd 1 13/07/2016 11:02

Had enough with
being overweight?
Special offers
for May
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Hands up all those
who feel they’re in
a constant battle to
achieve a healthy
and sustainable body
weight. How many
diets have you tried
and failed, feeling
totally frustrated and
not knowing what to
do next?
Having had a weight problem for 35
years, Rachel was desperate to find a
way of being able to lose weight once
and for all. ‘I had just about resigned
myself to the fact that I would be
overweight for the rest of my life,
when I came across the principles of
the Metabolic Weight Loss Programme. I followed these and to my
amazement, I lost 3 stone in just over 3 months and then went on
to successfully maintain my weight. The relief was enormous to
have found something that finally worked for me.’
Rachel became passionate about wanting to help as many people
as possible with their weight problems, which led her to become a
qualified weight loss consultant. In the last 13 years, she has helped
over 4,000 clients from all walks of life to help bring their dieting
days to an end once and for all. ‘My clients’ ages range from from 8
to 90 years old, so there is hope for everyone!’
One of the popular aspects of the Metabolic Weight Loss
Programme is there’s nothing faddish about it. There are no
meal replacements, diet shakes or diet pills. All the foods on
the programme are easily obtainable. Clients frequently say
just how easy it is to follow, they don’t feel hungry and are not
having to constantly battle with cravings. The four stages of the
programme are tailored as necessary to provide the maximum
results for each client.
Rachel and her team give weekly one-to-one consultations, guiding
you through the programme with personalised support, lots of
empathy and total conviction in the success of the programme.
Email support is available in between consultations.
Recent success
“I was desperate to lose
weight and you really were
my last resort. Thanks
to you and your team’s
wonderful support I lost
3 stone. I no longer get
out of breath and can
now run around after my
grandchildren! My blood
pressure and cholesterol are
finally in a normal range.
My doctor is delighted with
my health improvement and
so am I! I would recommend
the Metabolic Weight
Programme to anyone.”
Christine from Hampshire
‘This isn’t an open-ended slimming club,’ says Rachel. ‘We set your
target weight at the beginning and then get on with the business
of helping you lose the weight, addressing any difficulties along the
way, then we concentrate on keeping it off – for good!’
For those who are not able to visit, a very successful remote support
service is provided throughout the UK - distance is no object!
Clients often comment on how impressed their doctors are with
their results. ‘My doctor is very happy– I’ve been able to come off
blood pressure and cholesterol medication,’ says one. Another
doctor said, ‘All my lady patients on thyroid medication are
struggling to lose weight, but you’ve lost 2 ½ stone despite being
on thyroxin – well done!’
With an average weight loss of 7-14lb a month for clients and
hundreds of hand written testimonials, Rachel’s results speak for
themselves. ‘I see real results daily, time after time I see people’s
lives change in front of me.’
Rachel offers free consultations for those who are
wanting to lose their weight once and for all.
Rachel Ricketts 01342 327396
Email rachel@rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk
www.rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk

Health & Beauty
Flex into May
Wealden Times talks to former Canadian figure skater, yoga and
Body Control Pilates teacher and founder of Popcycle, Jaime Cooke
do you have a beauty
regime? I start my day
with dry skin brushing to
stimulate the lymphatic
system, followed by a cold
flash shower to get the
circulation going and wake
me up! I don’t have a lot of
time in the morning as I
teach spin and Pilates most
days, so my face routine
is quick and easy. Environ
B-active is a perfect range
for keeping it simple. I start
with the Sebuwash followed
by Sebutone to prep the skin,
then AVST 5 face cream and
eye gel. After my ablutions,
I drink a large mug of hot
lemon water with a pinch
of pink Himalayan sea salt
to balance my body for
the day. I repeat the face
routine at the end of the
day as well – see simple!
do you have a particular
product you couldn’t live
without? My husband
bought me a tub of Guam
Salinated Algae from Liberty
a couple of years ago, and
now I am pretty much
hooked. Not only does it
smell amazing, but has a
high concentrate of algae,
which is great for detoxifying
Purely Rosey
Inika, the Australian organic
skincare company, has come
up with a handbag-sized pump
dispenser of 100% pure organic
and cold-pressed rosehip oil.
The list of beauty benefits of
this healing oil is impressive:
it’s rich in the essential fatty
acids omega 3 and 6 and the
antioxidant vitamins – A, C and
E6 – that fight signs of ageing.
Studies show that rosehip
and eliminating cellulite.
I mix it with Magnesium
flakes in my warm bath
to relax my muscles every
night before bed.
What’s your ultimate
pampering treat? I love
massages so much that I have
one every two weeks. A good
massage not only works into
the muscles, but also totally
relaxes the mind. It is the
only time I truly switch off,
unless I have loads of knots
in my calves, which can be
painful to release. Massage
is a bit like an MOT for
the body and not enough
people with postural stress
(from sitting at a desk)
realize the full benefits of
working into shoulder,
oil can also help minimise
scarring, redness and irritation
and promote healing, while
the antioxidant vitamin C
content helps increase collagen
production. Inika’s oil is easy
to use: one pump morning and
evening massaged into the face
leaves the skin feeling soothed
and nourished without a hint of
stickiness. £16 for 15ml from
inikaorganic.com
neck and back tension.
Who’s your style icon?
Charlize Theron is one of my
favourite women. Not only is
she a talented actor, but also
her work with the UN, PETA
and her own organization
CTAOP (Charlize Theron
Africa Outreach Project)
supporting African youth in
the fight against HIV/AIDS
proves she cares about the
world and has beauty within.
My favourite role of hers
was as Imperator Furiosa in
Mad Max: Fury Road, she
epitomizes feminism and
produces a strong female role
model – she also pulls off
a shaved head beautifully.
After having her three
children, Jaime founded
Popcycle in 2016. Her high
intensity classes and non-stop
energy are motivational and
challenging. Jaime will be
demonstrating Popcycle in
the Healthy Living Theatre,
sponsored by Benenden
Hospital, at Wealden Times
Midsummer Fair on Friday
9 June at 12pm and Saturday
10 June at 10.30am. Visit
wealdentimes.co.uk/events
for more information.
Ginger it up!
Originally from India and
China, the rhizome of the
ginger plant has been used in
cooking and as a medicine for
thousands of years. Its legion
of health benefits make it a
useful addition to any home
medicine chest. Drunk as a
tea, it helps alleviate symptoms
of colds and sore throats and
it’s very effective in easing
nausea and indigestion.
At a deeper level, ginger
contains powerful antiinflammatory
properties, or
gingerols. These inhibit the
formation of inflammation in
the immune system and have
proved particularly effective in
reducing the effects of osteo
and rheumatoid arthritis.
Ginger tea is a warming
and spicy alternative to
regular tea and a tasty way
to harness all the health
benefits that ginger brings.
Ginger Tea
Add a tsp of peeled and
grated fresh ginger to a mug
of boiling water. Allow to
infuse for 5 minutes and
enjoy. Add honey to sweeten
or a squeeze of lemon or
lime for a citrusy zing.
145 wealdentimes.co.uk

Visit our
stand for your
FREE
health check
Why put your life on
hold while you wait
for treatment?
Choosing Benenden Hospital as a private
patient means that you can rapidly access
safe treatment by our specialist consultants
and enjoy our modern and comfortable
facilities, allowing you to get back to your
active life as quickly as possible.
Benenden Hospital
offers a wide range of
treatments, including:
General surgery
Gynaecology
Respiratory
Urology
Orthopaedic
Gastroenterology
Call us on 01580 242 521 quote WT
www.benendenhospital.org.uk
The Benenden Hospital Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Reg in England 3454120. Reg charity 1065995.
Reg office, The Benenden Hospital Trust,Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AX

Health
What is yoga?
Yoga teacher Julie Simpson explains that there’s
so much more to yoga than we think…
Credit: FreeImages.com/Oshin Beveridge
T
he yoga that we practise in the
West today developed over
thousands of years from a series
of postures designed to help Indian holy
men sit for long periods in meditation.
The Indian sage Patanjali wrote the
first user manual for yogis around 2000
years ago. In it he divides yoga into
eight parts, only one of which describes
the physical postures we now think of
as yoga. The remaining seven include
ethical standards, breathing, meditation
and – the ultimate goal – the bliss of
union with something greater than
ourselves. And that is what the word
yoga really means, ‘union’, the coming
together of mind, body and spirit.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Yoga is well known for improving
flexibility but it also helps build strong
muscles and improve general fitness.
Twists and bends can aid digestive and
elimination systems while emphasis
on the breath improves lung capacity.
Yoga is not just for bendy beauties,
it’s good for all of us and it works for
all stages of life: pregnancy classes
provide safe and gentle exercises to
prepare for birth, while classes for older
people improve balance and provide
gentle stretches to keep mobile. Yoga
also helps the mind. The savasana
relaxation at the end of a yoga class
and the emphasis on movement and
breath working together give yoga
practice its relaxing and meditative
quality, while breathing exercises
improve concentration and help relieve
tension at the end of a working day.
TYPES OF YOGA
Yoga arrived in the West in the
1890s, and since then there’s been
a cross-fertilisation of philosophies
and ideas resulting in many different
schools. This can be confusing when
choosing a class, but on the plus
side it means that, whatever your
age, fitness or flexibility, there is a
style of yoga for you. Despite their
differences, most styles of yoga share
the emphasis on breath, the postures,
the final relaxation and core yogic
values. See the box on the right for
more detail on different styles.
HOW DO I START?
Find a style of yoga which appeals
to you and then, if you’re new to
yoga, always start with a beginners’
class. Be prepared to try a class
before signing up to a course – it’s
important that you like your teacher
but even more important that your
safety is their priority. If they don’t
ask you about any health issues
and emphasise the correct – and
safe – way of doing each posture
then move onto the next class. If
your first class doesn’t work out for
any reason, keep trying, the benefits
of yoga are well worth the effort.
Finally, one of the greatest
things about yoga is that it doesn’t
require much financial outlay, all
you’ll need is a yoga mat to stop
your feet from slipping, loose
clothing and a light blanket to
cover you during relaxation. A tiny
investment for such huge rewards.
Pick a Style
These are the most popular choices:
• Hatha is the gentle, show-paced yoga
which you’ll usually learn at any class
simply called ‘yoga’. It’s good for beginners
and a great way to learn the postures
before trying some of the other styles.
• Ashtanga, inspired by teenage
acrobats in the Maharajahs’ courts, is
a challenging, athletic style of yoga.
• Vinyasa Flow classes are quite energetic,
with postures ‘flowing’ from one to
the other in constant movement.
• Iyengar practice is all about alignment.
Expect to use lots of props and hold
poses for longer periods of time.
• Restorative yoga consists of just a few
postures held for longer periods while
supported by props. It’s a relaxing
and healing way to end the day.
Discover more about yoga at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair
Join us in the Healthy Living Theatre
at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair on
Thursday 8 June to hear yoga experts
Liz Lark and Madeleine Shaw.
Madeleine Shaw 12.00pm. 8 June
Madeleine’s recipe for a healthy lifestyle:
feed your mind, body and soul with
yummy food and yoga.
Liz Lark 10.30am. 8 June
Your life in balance: Learn how yoga
can enhance all our lives, creating
harmony for mind and body.
Visit www.wealdentimes/events for more information
147 wealdentimes.co.uk

Food
on the go!
Julie Simpson creates four simple recipes
for easy-to-transport travellers’ treats
Photographs: David Merewether
wealdentimes.co.uk
148

Food
Leek & Spinach Rolls
(makes 4 rolls) Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
• 2 medium leeks, chopped
• 300g baby spinach leaves
• 2 tbsp flat-leaved parsley,
chopped
• 6 sheets 10x18 inch filo
pastry
• 100g feta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp olive oil for
brushing pastry sheets
1. To create the filling, soften the chopped leeks for 5-10
minutes over a gentle heat in 1 tbsp olive oil and add
the spinach leaves. Stir over a low heat until the spinach
wilts. In a bowl, whisk in the eggs, crumbled feta and
chopped parsley. Add the cooked spinach and leeks and
stir together.
2. Cut the filo sheets in half, creating 12 squares measuring
roughly 10 x 9 inches each, and cover with a damp tea
towel while assembling the rolls. To create four pastry
sheets for the rolls, place a filo square on the work surface,
brush with olive oil and cover with a second sheet of filo,
brush that with oil and then place third and final sheet on
the top. Create 3 more sheets in the same way. Cover each
completed sheet with a damp tea towel.
3. To construct the rolls, divide the filling into four. Spread
the mixture down the right-hand side of each pastry sheet
leaving an inch at top and bottom. Turn over the top and
bottom to hold the filling in, then roll up neatly, and
brush the seam with oil.
4. Place the rolls, seam side down, on a baking tray and cook
in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 180°C.
Red Pepper & Onion Frittatas
(makes 8 frittatas)
Preparation time: 25 minutes (including roasting veg)
Cooking time: 15 minutes
• 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
• ½ red onion
• ½ red pepper
• 1 tsp smoked
paprika
• pinch sumac
• 110g grated cheddar
• salt and pepper
• 6 eggs
• salt and pepper
1. Chop and thinly slice the pepper and
onion, toss in the oil, sumac and smoked
paprika and roast on a baking tray in a hot
oven (200°C) for 15 minutes.
2. Divide the roasted vegetables and grated
cheese between 8 deep non-stick muffin tins.
3. Whisk the eggs, add a grinding of black
pepper and divide mixture between the 8 tins.
4. Cook in oven at 180°C for 12-15 minutes.
149 wealdentimes.co.uk

WINNER
Food and Drink
Innovation
AWARD WINNING GIN FROM THE SILENT POOL IN SURREY
Open seven days a week, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. For details and to order online, visit the website.
www.silentpooldistillers.com

Food
Smoked Salmon and Avocado Toasts
Serves 6 Preparation time: 20 minutes
• 3 ripe, blackskinned
Hass
avocados
• 3 tsp chives
• juice of one
lemon
• black pepper
• 100g smoked
salmon
• 6 slices of
sourdough rye
bread, toasted
1. Cut avocados in half lengthwise, and remove the stone. Scoop out the flesh,
ensuring that the skins remain intact, and mash in a bowl with lemon juice,
plenty of black pepper and the chopped chives.
2. Slice the smoked salmon into thin ribbons and add to the avocado and
lemon juice mixture.
3. Fill each of the six halved avocado skins with the avocado and smoked
salmon mixture. Re-assemble the avocados, putting the 2 halves back
together, and wrap each avocado in cling film and chill in the fridge.
4. To serve, separate the 3 avocados into halves and serve with sourdough toast.
151 wealdentimes.co.uk

Food
Beetroot Gazpacho
Serves 6 Cooking time for beetroot: 50-60 minutes
Preparation time: 20 minutes
• 2 tennis ball-sized
beetroot
• 1 cucumber, peeled
• 1 red onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 600ml passata
• 300ml vegetable stock
• 4tbsp red wine vinegar
• ½ tsp sugar
• 4 tbsp avocado oil
• salt and pepper
1. Wrap each beetroot loosely in tin foil and bake in the oven at
180°C for 50-60 minutes. Allow to cool, unwrap and peel.
2. Chop the beetroot, cucumber, garlic and onion, put in a
food processor and blend until finely chopped.
3. Place all the liquid ingredients and the sugar in a large
bowl and add the blended vegetables, stir until mixed.
Season to taste. Cover the bowl with cling film and
refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. To pack the soup, pour into jam jars, add an ice cube to
each one and screw on the lid.
wealdentimes.co.uk
152

The bluebells
are out.
English wine
is in.
Sample both at the award-winning
Hush Heath Winery.
The makers of the award-winning Balfour Brut Rosé
open their doors for lovers of English sparkling
wines and ciders. Wander the beautiful carpet of
bluebells in our ancient oak woodland, the
immaculate vineyards and enjoy in an expert-led
tasting. There is also a cellar door shop where
you can buy these delicious great wines and
ciders to take home.
Tours and Tastings available
hushheath.com/tours-tastings
TELEPHONE 01622 832 794 OR VISIT HUSHHEATH.COM
Bloomsburys
Restaurant & Retreat
HushHeathWineryWT183.indd 1 10/04/2017 10:14
Open:
8.30am - 5.30pm
Monday - Saturday
WEALD SMOKERY
FINE FOOD EXPERIENCE
GREAT TASTE AWARD
WINNERS
logo-white.pdf 1 16/04/2015 14:39
Open 5 Days a Week
See website for details
Call to Book Your Table for
Friday & Saturday Evenings
Look at the blackboard on road outside
shop for weekly 25% off offers!
Gold Award Winning Traditionally Smoked Food.
Quality range WEALD of British and Continental SMOKERY
Farmhouse Cheeses.
Delicious range of Bread delivered daily .
FINE FOOD EXPERIENCE
Range of excellent Ready Meals.
Jams, Chutneys, Biscuits, Chocolates, Coffee and Tea.
Delicatessen and Gourmet Foods.
Mail Order Gift Service.
It’s well worth a visit
WEALD SMOKERY
FINE FOOD EXPERIENCE
01580 292992
Sissinghurst Road, Biddenden TN27 8DQ
www.bloomsburysbiddenden.com
Mount Farm, Flimwell, East Sussex TN5 7QL Tel: 01580 879601
On the Hawkhurst Road – near the Flimwell traffic lights
Open: 8.30am - 5.30pm Monday - Saturday
info@wealdsmokery.co.uk
www.wealdsmokery.co.uk
153 wealdentimes.co.uk
BloomsburysBiddendenWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 WealdSmokeryWT150.indd 14:18
1 15/07/2014 11:58

FrasersWT179.indd 1 14/12/2016 12:45
VISIT OUR
HUSH HEATH
WINERY
NO NEED TO BOOK
7days a week
11am-5pm
FREE
Refreshingly Hush Heath. Passionately Local.
Hush Heath Estate owns two fabulous local pubs that offer great food along with
beautiful boutique hotel rooms, with gardens and dining terraces, all within a few
miles of the Winery. All day dining available.
CRANBROOK ROAD – GOUDHURST
KENT – TN17 1DX
01580 211 451
www.goudhurstinn.com
LOWER ROAD – WEST FARLEIGH
KENT – ME15 0PE
01622 814 717
www.thetickledtrout.com
PASSIONATELY PLAYING OUR PART AS CHAMPIONS OF GLORIOUSLY REFRESHING ENGLISH WINES AND CIDERS HUSHHEATH.COM
wealdentimes.co.uk
154
GoudhurstInnWT180.indd 1 19/01/2017 10:12

Food
Seasonal
Sweetness
Sara Farrell, chef at The Café at Lavender Goose in Gomshall,
cooks up a crowd pleasing baked cheesecake combining smooth
white chocolate with zesty ginger and the tartness of rhubarb
White chocolate, rhubarb and
ginger cheesecake
Serves 8
At this time of the year we’re lucky enough to be able to pick the delicate
deep pink stems of ‘Timperley Early’ rhubarb from our own vegetable
garden to make this delicious dessert. We serve it by the slice in the café
and pour over the jewel coloured compote at the last minute, but if you
are looking for a dinner party centrepiece just ladle it all on the top of the
whole cake and let the luscious pink syrup run merrily down the sides.
• 55g butter
• 400g cream cheese
• 75g gingernut biscuits
• 75g digestive biscuits
• 300g white chocolate
• 2 large eggs
• 6 pieces stem ginger
• 400g rhubarb trimmed and cut
into 3cm pieces
• 85g granulated sugar
• 300ml soured cream
• zest and juice of 1 lemon
1. Preheat the oven to 170˚C, fan 150˚C, gas 3.
2. Lightly oil the base of a 20cm springform
cake tin and line with parchment.
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the crushed biscuits. Mix well,
then press into the bottom of the tin. Chill until ready to use.
4. Melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl
placed over a pan of simmering water.
5. Put half the stem ginger, half the soured cream, cream
cheese and eggs into a food processor and blend until
smooth. Slowly add the melted chocolate.
6. Pour the mixture over the base and bake until just set in the
middle – about 40-45 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin.
7. To make the compote, cut the remaining ginger into fine shreds
and place in a pan with the rhubarb, sugar, lemon zest and juice,
and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved – stirring continuously.
Bring to the boil, put the lid on the pan then turn down the heat to
as low as possible for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat to cool.
8. Remove the cheesecake from the tin, put onto a serving plate or
cake stand, and spread the remaining soured cream over the top. Just
before serving, gently pour over the compote. lavendergoose.co.uk
155 wealdentimes.co.uk

ROZ-279-24823.pdf 1 23/01/2017 16:53:02
GreenThumbWT181.indd 1 09/02/2017 11:19
wealdentimes.co.uk
156
OpenviewLandscapeDesignWT182.indd 1 09/03/2017 09:48

Garden
Keeping it
contained
Jo Arnell pots up a visual feast of seasonal colour
Plants in containers, whether permanent or seasonal,
are very useful to have around the garden. If
you’re short of space, or don’t have much in the
way of a garden, they can even become mini gardens
in themselves. I often use potted versions of designs
and ideas that I’m planning for bigger spaces to see how
the plants get on together. More often than not my pot
plants are impulse purchases – bought in haste when life
(that thing that gets in the way of gardening) happens
and the big plans haven’t materialised. It is handy to be
able to wheel out some pots of distraction to act as focal
points and provide splashes of colour to divert the eye.
designing with containers
Container style... There are so many things to use as
containers for plants – from wellie boots to huge stone troughs,
the choice can be bewildering. You can choose containers
that blend with the materials used in the construction of
your house, terracotta, zinc or wooden planters perhaps, or
do the opposite and make a contrast. Pots in a single style
are effective and will tie a design together, but a relaxed and
informal mingling of styles can look just as attractive. It’s hard
to beat the simplicity and functionality of a terracotta pot.
Focal points... Use large or architectural containers to make
a bold statement and give a planting scheme impact. Big pots
can look dramatic
filled with just one large plant, or even
a small tree. Striking architectural plants like Phormium,
Fatsia, Bamboo, or a large box ball make good ‘statement’
plants. Climbers on supports can be used to bring height.
Colour impact... Bright colours will attract attention, but
using a limited range of colours, or repeating a single colour
will help to unite a scheme together. A jumble of annuals,
perennials and herbs will give a relaxed, cottage style, whereas
a cool, calm collection of single coloured flowers and tidy
foliage will bring a more restrained and formal look to an area.
Pots with a purpose
Seasonal colour... Planting pots with short-lived bulbs,
annuals and bedding is a familiar way to bring seasonal
interest. The advantage is that once the current season’s
flowers fade, they can be replaced with a new display.
Bulbs can be lifted and kept until the following year,
but it is harder to look after tender bedding plants
through the seasons, as these must be kept frost-free.
Crops for pots... Some vegetables can be successfully
157 wealdentimes.co.uk

Garden
grown in pots and containers. Short, or round carrots,
beetroot, radish, peppers, cherry tomatoes and most herbs
will happily grow in containers; in fact a mixture of herbs
and dwarf vegetables in a container or even a hanging
basket can look fantastic – and taste even better.
Planting and maintaining
How to plant... If you are growing permanent plants in
containers, put some crocks (broken bits of pot, stones or
even the polystyrene that some plants are sold in) in the
bottom of the pot to provide drainage. Add compost on
top of the drainage layer, then carefully remove the plants
from their original pots and check the roots, teasing them
out if the root ball looks congested. Plant and back fill
with compost to the same height as the plant was in the
original pot (climbers can be planted deeper). Water well.
Compost... Seasonal bedding plants and tender annuals
will be happy with a multi-purpose compost for a short time,
providing you don’t let the compost dry out – if that does
happen you may need to soak the whole pot in water for a
while, as it is hard to re-wet. Most composts for containers
have a six week supply of fertiliser added, but do supplement
this if you want the display to continue for the whole
season. Permanent plantings will need a more substantial,
soil-based compost. You can buy this (John Innes no. 3
is a good one), or mix up your own using garden soil and
either homemade, weed-free compost, or shop bought.
Prisoners on parade... Remember that a plant in a pot is
entirely dependent on your care – some plants will manage
to limp along with just a glance every now and then, but
others need to be treated like fussy old aunts. You probably
know what kind of nurturer you are by now and how much
time you can devote to your captives, so plant accordingly.
wealdentimes.co.uk
158

ED422 HURST GREEN V2.qxp_Layout 1 17/03/2017 14:36 Page 1
Battle Mowers Ltd
Main dealer for
LET’S GET
GARDENING
With Ernest Doe Power
THE ESSENCE OF FINE BRITISH LAWNS
For further information please phone 01424 773096
or-email: battlemowers@btconnect.com www.battlemowers.co.uk
visit our showroom at The Granary, Station Rd, Battle. TN33 0DE
NEW FOR THIS SEASON ROBOTIC MOWERS
WE HAVE 1000’s OF PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU
CREATE & ENJOY THE PERFECT GARDEN
BattleMowersWT182.indd 1 07/03/2017 11:18
Kate Ball
Garden Design & Planting Plans
Individual and bespoke garden spaces
07870 627145
www.kateballgardendesign.co.uk
There’s so much more in your local country store...
We’re online too: ernestdoeshop.com
The Foundry, Hurst Green,
Etchingham TN19 7QP
Tel: 01580 860495
159 wealdentimes.co.uk
KateBallWT177.indd 1 14/10/2016 ErnestDoe&SonsWT182.indd 14:41
1 17/03/2017 15:30

celebrating quality summerhouses
garden design and build for 20 years
Garden
Call or click anytime for your free summerhouse
brochure and visit our magnificent show site at
Brogdale, Faversham - now open 7 days a week
) 01323 833600/843488
8 www.catandmouselandscapes.com
CAMgardensWT181.indd 1 16/02/2017 09:47
10% off Barks throughout May and June
Suppress weeds and retain soil moisture during the growing season
Discount applies to all Bark Mulches delivered in Bulk Bags
Topsoils Composts Barks Aggregates
Small Bags, Bulk Bags or Loose Loads
Delivered or Collected
www.gardenscapedirect.co.uk
Freephone 0800 854663
The Wharf, Rye Road, Newenden, TN18 5QG
Most permanently potted
perennials and shrubs will need
feeding in the spring; a slow
release fertiliser is useful here,
rather than a swamping of food
and then nothing until the
following year. Some plants
will need repotting every year
or so, or at least top dressing
(removing some of the compost
from the top of the pot and
replacing it with fresh). All plants need water in the
summer – and there’s always a heat wave back home
when you’re on holiday, so it pays to take precautions.
Winter care... You may need to bring tender plants into
a sheltered area or greenhouse in the winter, or surround
pots with some insulation (bubble-wrap can work well, but
isn’t the most attractive patio adornment). Water-logging
kills more plants than anything else during the winter,
so good drainage becomes essential, especially for plants
like lavender that don’t like to get their feet too wet.
From tiny alpines and succulents to huge potted trees, from
permanent plantings to ephemeral flashes of colour, there is
a selection of plants that’s just waiting to be planted up in
a container somewhere in your garden. The choice is vast –
and very tempting. Let’s get out there and fill some pots.
For details of border design ideas and courses
contact Jo at hornbrookmanor.co.uk 01233 861149.
wealdentimes.co.uk
GardenscapeWT183.indd 1 07/04/2017 15:18
160

ALL THE
INGREDIENTS
FOR YOUR
DREAM
GARDEN.
www.corker.co.uk
At Corker we can supply everything from topsoil to timber,
paving to parasols and fencing to furniture. Enjoy a coffee
and wander around our inspirational show gardens. We
have loads of unique ideas and products you won’t find in
your average garden centre because at Corker, we don’t
do average. Pay us a visit on the A228 near Paddock Wood
or call 01892 833 325.
MAKE YOUR GARDEN A

Creating Beautiful Gardens
for Brilliant Year Round Results
Wealden Country Landcraft
Wealden Country Landcraft
For all your design, construction and maintenance requirements, contact:
Adam Sutton BSc (Hons) Environmental Science | Tim Playfoot BA (Hons) Garden Design
Tel:01892 722699| Adam:07979 362241 | Tim:07990 751353 | www.playfootgardendesign.co.uk

Plants that Heal
Garden
Sue Whigham highlights the therapeutic properties of common countryside dwellers
The Chelsea Physic Garden has been tucked behind a wall
in the Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, SW3 since it was
founded in 1673. It’s an ancient botanical garden with a
unique microclimate due to its proximity to the Thames which
enables plants from all over the world to thrive. Newly discovered
plants were brought up the river by barge to be delivered to the
garden. You can still see the remains of an ancient boat house there.
The Physic Garden was founded to train Apothecaries’
apprentices to collect and identify plants from the surrounding
area and to study their medicinal uses. 5,000 fascinating plants
from all over the world are housed here and the new layout
of the extended medicinal plants garden, opened recently,
has two ‘rooms’ just devoted to historic British plants. There
are also areas containing plants used world wide in modern
herbal remedies, modern pharmaceuticals and
also those which are being investigated for use
in future medicinal roles. If you have an interest
in medicinal plants, this is the place to go.
Closer to home, hundreds of medicinal plants
grow wild in the countryside and hedgerows and
the foraging movement is, hopefully, teaching
us about these plants and reminding us of the
knowledge that our forebears had before the days
of the NHS and conventional medicines. Thank goodness for
public footpaths which enable us to wander the countryside,
albeit in a controlled way, and to have access to their habitat.
I passed a derelict site just off Brixton Hill on Wednesday and
noticed, amongst the discarded debris, a wealth of plants doing
their own thing and amongst them were several which grow
almost everywhere and which we usually try to eradicate. So,
medicine for free – although I’m not sure that I’d want to harvest
this particular batch bearing in mind the dangerously high level
of pollution recorded in Brixton. However, amongst them were
nettles, docks, dandelions and elder. It seems to be a good year for
dandelions, they are shining away everywhere and I for one am
now looking at them in a different light.
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)
Alexanders were introduced to Britain as a food source by the
Romans and they are in full frothy lime green flower now,
lining road verges near the sea having a yen as they do for salty
conditions. A couple of years ago I decided to try cooking up
some stems having read that they tasted a ‘little like celery and
a little like parsley’ and found a slightly ropey patch outside
the fishmonger’s on the bridge down in Rye. I think they were
a little astonished when I went in and asked them if I could
borrow a knife! I think I’d left it a bit late as they were a bit
stringy but it was worth a try. Alexanders can often be found
on the sites of monastery gardens and were both a food source
and perhaps used as a medicinal ingredient by the monks.
Traditionally, the leaves were heated up and used as a poultice
“Hundreds of
medicinal plants
grow wild in
the countryside
and hedgerows”
on sores and skin ulcers to help the healing process. Another use
was in the treatment of the kidneys and the bladder.
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
The countryside is absolutely full of burdock and you can
recognise it by its huge, heart‐shaped leaves and its burrs. In its first
year you’ll only see a rosette of low growing leaves which can reach
about a metre wide on a mature plant. Eventually this develops
into a tall plant which has tall, large, purple thistle‐like flowers
from June onwards. A member of the daisy family, burdock was,
and still is, used combined with dandelions to make a cordial and
a medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine has used burdock for
combating colds and sore throats. It seems that researchers aren’t
really convinced as to which of many ingredients in burdock root
are responsible for its healing properties but it is
known that the plant is full of antioxidants and
extract of burdock root is used in homeopathic
remedies.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
The first reference to the use of dandelion
medicinally was in the 10th and 11th centuries
when physicians in the Middle East discovered
some of the plant’s properties. Dandelions are chock full of
vitamins including A, B, C, D and K as well as minerals such as
iron, potassium and zinc. Think again before you decide to excise
them completely from your garden. Perhaps you can harness
some of their good qualities instead. Amongst their benefits you
can brew up dandelion tea to detox your liver and improve both
your stomach health and your skin. Gather some of the younger
leaves, blanch them and add them to salads and teas. And it seems
that the large quantity of Vitamin K in dandelion is now thought
to play a role in limiting neuron damage to the brain (leading to
Alzheimer’s disease).
163 wealdentimes.co.uk

TREE SURGERY
Professional Tree Care Service
Garden Perfection
City Escapes provide domestic & commercial garden solutions
Fully Qualified & Insured Team
Felling and Stump Removal
Storm Damage Cleanups
Crown Thinning, Lifting and Reduction
Hedgecutting
Get in Touch for Free Consultation and Advice
■
■
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■
■
Regular Maintenance
Design & Construction
Small one off works
Turf care management
Problem area Solutions
■
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■
■
Seasonal Bedding plant displays
Approved pesticide/
herbicides operators
Habitat Management
RHS qualified gardeners
T: 01342 851 385 M: 07808 645 800
W: www.katsuragardens.co.uk
E: philip@katsuragardens.co.uk
Tel: 01435 868211 | M: 07831 302107 | E: damian@cityescapes.co.uk
www.cityescapes.co.uk
CityEscapesWT166.indd 1 30/10/2015 KatsuraGardensWT183.indd 12:07
1 20/04/2017 14:16
We’ve got designs
on your garden
See OUR SHOW GARDEN at CORKER’s from April 14th!
If you are planning a new garden for 2017 then contact Tim Sykes on
07725 173820, or just Google Gardenproud,!
wealdentimes.co.uk
164
GardenproudWT183.indd 1 11/04/2017 10:33

Garden
Alexanders can often be found on the
sites of monastery gardens and were
both a food source and perhaps used as
a medicinal ingredient by the monks
Nettles (Urtica dioica)
The compost heap is full of nettles. Well, they are happiest
in highly nitrogenous soils so I suppose that is not surprising
but it does mean a good supply of the young nettle tops just
yearning to be made into a nutritious soup. Traditionally
all parts of the nettle plant were used to treat all manner of
conditions including arthritis, anaemia and infections and a
benefit to our gardens is that an undisturbed nettle patch is
host to young ladybirds in the early part of the year which in
turn feed off aphids predating our vegetable gardens.
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)
This little plant, a member of the Lamiaceae family, can be
found throughout the countryside, on verges, in woodland
clearings and in our case, in the lawn which has never been
treated with chemicals. It has hooded violet flowers, and an
extremely long flowering period – perfect for bees. Self-heal is
edible and both the stems and the young leaves can be eaten
raw in salads. In folk medicine a poultice of self-heal would
have been used to cover wounds, treat irritated skin and as a
disinfectant. The list of its chemical compounds is astonishing
and it is currently being investigated for its antiviral properties.
Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
The teasel has been used in Chinese medicine for
centuries but Western herbalists are apparently only
now realising its medicinal benefits. It’s a beautiful plant
for its pure architectural structure and its ripening seed
heads are magnets for finches and bees. Now it is being
used against conditions such as ME and Lyme disease
as well as joint and tendon problems, muscle pain and
inflammation. It’s lovely to see it growing freely down by
the sea at Rye Harbour and being of benefit to the wildlife
at the Nature Reserve. It is an extraordinarily rampant
self-seeder but keep some at the back of your borders or
in a wild patch of the garden. The birds will thank you.
Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810 457948 for
gardening advice and help in the sourcing and supply of
interesting garden plants.
165 wealdentimes.co.uk
PetalsForPlantsWT183.indd 1 18/04/2017 10:23

SaintRonans
@saintronans
www.saintronans.co.uk
/SaintRonans
© Sarah Clark Photography
www.saintronans.co.uk
© Sarah Clark Photography
“What’s not to love...”
“What’s not to love...”
Good Schools Guide 2016
Good Schools Guide 2016
...about the Forest School at Saint Ronan’s?
...about the Forest School at Saint Ronan’s?
100 acres of stunning woodland with rides and mudslides
No paper, no pens, no ceilings, no walls…..
Building 100 acres dens of stunning and roasng woodland marshmallows with rides and mudslides
Roosng No paper, on no logs pens, whilst no ceilings, sipping no hot walls….. chocolate
Tasng Building wild dens garlic and with roasng friends marshmallows
Watching Roosng on tadpoles logs whilst under sipping the Troll hot Bridge chocolate
Hunng Tasng wild minibeasts garlic with and friends spong birds
Telling Watching stories tadpoles in the under Hobbit the House Troll Bridge
Hunng minibeasts and spong birds
Telling stories in the Hobbit House
“This lot achieve loads of
scholarships, with leavers to more
“This lot achieve loads of
than 60 different seniors
scholarships, with leavers to more
in the past decade”
than 60 different seniors
Tatler Schools Guide 2017
in the past decade”
Tatler Schools Guide 2017
Discover Saint Ronan’s
Discover Saint Ronan’s
Book an appointment on 01580 752271 or e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk
Book an appointment Boys & Girls 3-13 onyears 01580 | Founded 752271 1883 or | Hawkhurst, e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk
Kent | 01580 752271

Education
Pictured: Rosie, Year 8, Brambletye School
Encouraging
Creativity
With a huge emphasis on schools to
achieve the best grades in maths,
English and the sciences, what’s on
offer for students who have an interest in pursuing
the creative arts? And how do their experiences in
their preferred subjects at school affect the choices
they make once they leave the classroom?
Wealden Times talks to three students and three
teachers about the choices and support on offer at the
schools they attend and departments they work in.
167 wealdentimes.co.uk

Explore behind the scenes
open Morning
Thursday 4th May
Saturday 24th June
Dulwich Preparatory School
Cranbrook
Meet our Headmaster, chat to parents and pupils, take a tour.
registrar@dcpskent.org • 01580 712179 • dcpskent.org

Education
What the children say:
Francis
Year 13, Cranbrook School
Why did you decide to study music?
However hideous a cliché it might
be to say that you have always been
‘passionate’ about something, I really
have always had an interest in music.
Whilst I can’t quite claim to have been
writing fugues at four years old, I do remember repeatedly
abandoning my parents in favour of buskers on visits to
London, and I think that’s probably close enough.
Rosie
Year 8, Brambletye School
Why did you decide to study music? I don’t remember
a time I didn’t play something, as music is a big part of
school life at Brambletye but when I was in the Pre Prep
pupils from the main school came to our assembly and
played a variety of instruments. I loved the sound of the
oboe and had a trial in our class in Year 2 and I really
enjoyed it. I have recently won a music scholarship to
King’s Canterbury and have passed my Grade 5 oboe.
What creative facilities do you have at your school? We
have an amazing theatre and each year gets the chance to
be a part of a play or a musical. This year I was in Guys and
Dolls, which had the most incredible set and some really
great performances. The music department does all kinds
of concerts including the charity concerts in the theatre
to little grandparents’ concerts in Walnut (a smart little
room). We also have incredible art and DT facilities.
do you participate in music outside the classroom?
I make music all the time out of the classroom. I play
four instruments and I have private lessons in all of them. I
take part in music bands within school including an orchestra,
a concert band for woodwind and brass and Bramble Bows
for strings. I am also in Senior Chapel Choir in which we
have 51 students from years 7 and 8, and I am in Chamber
Choir which is an auditioned choir for years 6, 7 and 8.
What creative facilities do you have at your school?
Cranbrook music department features various ensembles
run by peripatetic teachers, such as Strings, Choir and Brass
Group, but it seems to me that the music created by the
students themselves testifies rather better to the musical spirit
of the school. The annual inter-house singing competition –
‘House Shout’ – is a great example of this; each house comes
together to present a few songs to the rest of the school.
do you participate in music outside the classroom?
Of the ensembles on offer, I play in the Orchestra and
String Group, and sing in the Chamber Choir.
Would you like a career in music? Will you study it at
a higher level? In terms of a potential career, the music
industry probably isn’t the first place you would turn to
for job security. That said, I am hoping to study music at
university next year because I firmly believe that, given what
an immense privilege it is to be able to, one should pursue a
passion as far as possible, whenever possible. Furthermore,
I like to think that if more people engaged in musical
activities, the world would be a better – if not louder – place.
Cranbrook School is a grant-maintained boarding
and day school for boys and girls aged 12-18 in
Kent. 01580 711800 cranbrookschool.co.uk
Credit: FreeImages.com/Jerzy Müller
Would you like a career in music? Will you study it
at a higher level? As a music scholar I do have to take
music for GCSE but if I hadn’t got the music scholarship I
would still carry on with music and take it to a higher
level. I think it would be fun and interesting to take
my music further in life and make a career out of it.
do you study any other creative subjects? In
years 3, 4, 5 and 6 you do drama lessons and
every year does art and DT once a week.
Brambletye is a day and boarding preparatory
school for children aged 3-13 in West Sussex.
01342 321004 brambletye.co.uk
169 wealdentimes.co.uk

BRAMBLETYE
Leading Co-Educational Pre-Prep and Prep School for Children aged 2½ to 13
th th
19 -20
May 2017*
Open Day
For more information,
please contact
registrar@brambletye.com
*Pre-Prep: Friday 19th May Prep: Saturday 20th May
Brambletye, Lewes Road, Sussex, RH19 3PD www.brambletye.co.uk +44 (0) 1342 321004

Nina
Year 13, ArtsEd Chiswick
Why did you decide to study drama? Drama was my way
of expressing myself. It allowed me to be a creative and an
open-minded person. I also loved watching people on TV and
on the stage when I was a child and just fell in love with it.
What creative facilities do you have at your school/
college? We have music, dance and black box studios. We
also have a gorgeous theatre, which is used for the music
concerts, the dance show and acting performance.
do you participate in drama outside the classroom?
On Saturdays I am a teaching assistant at my local
Stagecoach and we teach 4-6 year olds three disciplines -
singing, dancing and acting - for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
I am very fortunate to have this as my part-time job.
Would you like a career in drama?
Will you study it at a higher level? Yes
definitely 100%! I am taking a foundation
course in Acting starting in September
after finishing my Extended Diploma
in Acting and in the future hopefully
moving on to train for my degree.
Education
do you study
any other creative subjects?
I also love to sing and have had singing lessons since
I was little. I also have a YouTube channel in which
I post beauty and lifestyle vlogs every week.
ArtsEd Independent Day School & Sixth Form combines
an academic education with performing arts training in
Chiswick, West London. 020 8987 6666 artsed.co.uk
What the teachers say:
Emma Delpech
Art Teacher, Sevenoaks School
Why art? Art is my passion. From the youngest age my family
would draw together, with new sketch books every school
holiday. I remember the sense of fulfilment playing drawing
games with my dad. Of being in love with the feeling of moving
materials around and of creating. I would knit, sew, paint, draw,
sculpt, cast, photograph, print; all the time feeling like I wanted
to share it with everyone. Hence I became a teacher. I now aim
to bring some of that love of all things artistic to my students.
Who’s your favourite artist? That changes on a daily basis.
I am always open to inspiration and to learning new skills. I
am a huge fan of a wide range of artists including: Gormley,
Moore, Goldsworthy, Klimt, Auerbach, Frankenthaler,
Cragg, Bourgeois, Mueck, and Basquiat. They all inspire
me on so many levels. But a walk around any gallery fills
me (and my sketch book) with new ideas and reflections.
How do you keep your students inspired? I think it is
important for students to feel that they have some control in
what they do – that they can work from their own intuition
and build a project that has a language with which they
are fluent. Working with a wide range of materials is key
as so many students feel limited by one element of being
creative, whilst there are infinite pathways they can explore.
I also work with my students at times: they see my passion
and engage in conversation about creativity. We bounce
ideas around and leave conversations mutually inspired.
What are you currently working on with your students?
My students study Art on the Sevenoaks Certificate which
replaced the GCSE. This promotes huge independence and
allows for a smooth transition into the IB course which they
would study in the Sixth Form. They may start with the
word ‘Impact’ or a word that can have broad interpretation.
Contextually they do plenty of independent research and
find a path which suits them. This means that at any one
time, all of my students will be working on totally unique
and diverse projects utilising the full range of department
facilities: sculpture, ceramics, installation, paint, print,
photography and digital media. There are almost no limits
and we encourage them to be as ambitious as possible.
do they get the opportunity to go on field trips? We
take trips to London, Paris and New York at different age
ranges. Students are encouraged to go to galleries whenever
they are able to. We also bring exhibitions to the school and
recently had an exhibition at Sevenoaks School with the
title ‘Making It’ consisting of former students exhibiting
their work. This included many notable artists such as
Andrew Burton, Thomas Heatherwick, Emma Hope and
our own Oliver Barratt. This gave our current students
insight into some of the potential directions for creatives.
Sevenoaks School is a co-educational independent
day and boarding school for 11-18 year olds in
Kent. 01732 455133 sevenoaksschool.org
171 wealdentimes.co.uk

Education
Beccy Stroud
Music Teacher, Bricklehurst Manor School
Why music? I have sung and
played instruments from the age
of five, so it has always been a
huge part of my life. The feeling
of joy I get from singing or
playing really inspires me to try
and pass that love of music on
to the children that I teach.
EXTRAORDINARY
LIVES
BEGIN AT
HOLMEWOOD.
Who’s your favourite composer?
It would have to be Bob Chilcott.
He writes beautiful choral music, which is so accessible for
primary children to sing. I was lucky enough to be part of a
workshop hosted by Bob this year and will always remember
singing one of his compositions at St. Peter’s in Rome.
How do you keep your students inspired? I always ask for
their input so that I can find out what inspires them musically.
I find that by involving them in this way in lessons or
in choir practice they produce really creative work that
they are proud of and want to share with their peers.
What are you currently working on with your
students? Bricklehurst Manor has a Junior and a Senior
Choir and they are currently working towards their
performances for the biannual Arts Afternoon. We have
a large number of music students studying a huge range
of instruments at the school and the Arts Afternoon
gives them a chance to showcase their talents.
OPEN DAY
19 TH MAY 2017, 10.30–1pm
“Pupils of all ages and abilities make excellent progress across all areas
of school life” – Independent Schools Inspectorate, February 2017.
Please contact Connie Cherrett on 01892 860 006 or email:
welcome@holmewoodhouse.co.uk
HOLMEWOOD
HOUSE SCHOOL
A day and boarding school for girls and
boys aged 3-13 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent
www.holmewoodhouse.co.uk
HolmwoodHouseWT183.indd 1 06/04/2017 16:59
Do they get the opportunity to go on field trips? Yes
they do! The Senior Choir has just been to see the musical
‘School of Rock’ in London. As you can imagine, I had
lots of people offering to volunteer their help on the day!
Last year we took part in Young Voices at
the O2, which the children loved.
Bricklehurst Manor School is an independent
prep school for girls and boys in East Sussex.
01580 200448 bricklehurst.co.uk
Credit: FreeImages.com/Karl-Erik Bennion
173 wealdentimes.co.uk
SpringGroveSchoolWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 12:39

Blackland Farm
Outdoor Activity Centre
Education
Kayaking
Canoeing
Bungee trampolining
Rock climbing
Archery
Crate challenge
Zip wire
Abseiling
Aeroball...
...and many more!
Come and join us for
fun-filled activity days.
Why not have your
birthday party here too?
Blackland Farm
01342 810493
blackland@girlguiding.org.uk
www.blacklandfarm.org.uk
Full Day Care from
3 months to 5 years
Open 51 weeks a year
BlacklandFarmWT138.indd 1 10/07/2013 17:31
Chris Bryant
Head of Drama, Downsend School
Why drama? I had a passion for Drama from an
early age and appeared in school productions. Later,
I trained as an actor and worked in ‘the business’
without great success for a few years before re-training
as a teacher. I love directing and writing just as much as
acting and I love seeing the pupils enjoying it too.
Who is your favourite actor? The best stage actors
can make a connection with the audience and make
them forget they’re watching a play. In recent years,
I’ve been very impressed by actors like Sheridan
Smith and David Tennant, but I was blown away as
a teenager by Simon Russell Beale as Richard III.
TONBRIDGE
Cranbrook Opening June 2015
Do they get the opportunity to go on field trips? Trips
Adjacent to Tonbridge Train Station
to the theatre can be a revelation for school children; they
certainly were for me. This term, we took Year 8 to see The
For more information on Child places and Staff vacancies contact: Woman in Black and we toured Shakespeare’s Globe with Year
6, who also got to participate in Drama workshops there.
www.juniorsdaynursery.co.uk
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted
Tonbridge
Full daycare • 3 months to 5 years • Open 51 weeks per year
Newly opened in July 2015
Email: tonbridge@juniorsdaynursery.co.uk Mobile: 07462 641 341
cranbrook@juniorsdaynursery.co.uk or Telephone 01580 713 033
tonbridge@juniorsdaynursery.co.uk or Telephone 01732 365 188
www.juniorsdaynursery.co.uk
Dan Goldsmith Photography
How do you keep your students inspired? Children like
to know that the Drama teacher or director is enjoying
the experience as much as they are. The experience
needs to be fun! We use plenty of games, and wellstructured
activities to encourage the children to use their
imaginations and learn new ways to bring them to life.
What are you currently working on for your students?
We have just finished a school play based on Roald Dahl’s
Revolting Grown-Ups. Our previous productions have
included Bugsy Malone and the fantastic We Will Rock You.
We are also already looking ahead to next year and I am
hoping to get more of the children interested in working
in the technical and backstage elements of the shows.
Downsend School is a co-educational independent school
for pupils aged 2-13. 01372 372311 downsend.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
JuniorsDayNurseryWT169.indd 1 18/02/2016 14:20
174

100 Years of Education, 1000 Years of History
Battle Abbey School 1912 - 2012
Battle Abbey Prep & Nursery School Open Day
Friday 12th May, 10am - 12 noon
battleabbeyschool.com
Battle Abbey Prep School has been included in the Times Top 100 Independent Prep
Schools for 2015 and 2016. We are proud to be the only Prep School which makes this
prestigious list in East Sussex.
BattleAbbeySchoolWT183.indd 1 04/04/2017 15:41
SATURDAY 6 MAY
Education is not
preparation for life;
education is life itself
OPEN DAY
John Dewey
Is a change of plan needed for your child’s education?
The Junior School at Dover College offers children aged from 3 to 11 a creative curriculum,
specialist teaching in sports, music and languages - all in class sizes of no more than 15 pupils.
We create independent, confident, risk-taking learners and we are proud to celebrate every pupil’s
strengths and achievements.
Places now available for Summer or September entry.
Join us for our Whole School Open Day, Saturday 6 May, 10am - 1pm.
Book by email: admissions@dovercollege.org.uk
175 wealdentimes.co.uk
DoverCollegeWT183.indd 1 19/04/2017 11:50

N
I
D
I
N
The
An independent preparatory day School for girls 3-11 and boys 3-4
The Granville is a highly successful independent school with excellence at the heart of
everything we do. Our 11+ results to both state and independent schools are outstanding.
Our new extended, high quality facilities, including a magnificent Art Room, have enabled us to split our
Year 4 class into two smaller classes of a maximum of fi fteen pupils, in preparation for 11+ entry examinations
for state and independent schools. We have a few places available in our Year 4 for September 2017.
Please come and experience The Granville for yourself at our Open Evening on
Thursday 25 th May between 4.30pm-7pm. This is an opportunity for current and
prospective parents to celebrate the achievements of all of our pupils.
Please telephone the School Office
for more information: 01732 453039
www.granvilleschool.org
2 Bradbourne Park Road | Sevenoaks | Kent | TN13 3LJ
GranvilleSchoolWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 10:49
DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS & BOYS AGED 2-13
E
H
A
L
L
B
O
A
R
V
G
E
V
L
E
T W
FULL AND FLEXI BOARDING
Vinehall 12 & Vinehall 24 enabling the school
to revolve around your lives
For more information please contact Karen Cooper
on 01580 883090 or at kcooper@vinehallschool.com
Vinehall School
@vinehallschool
www.vinehallschool.com
ROBERTSBRIDGE, EAST SUSSEX
wealdentimes.co.uk
176
VinehallSchoolWT183.indd 1 24/04/2017 14:14

The Next Step
Susan Elkin analyses the new two year degree courses
Education
Any parent who has seen a son or daughter through higher
education in recent years could be forgiven for despairing.
Three years at close on £10,000 per year for – usually –
less than six hours a week of teaching time, with accommodation
on top. Terms are short, half term breaks and ‘reading weeks’ are
frequent. It adds up to an awful lot of time to sit in bars getting
drunk a long way from home, or worse, succumbing to mental
health problems triggered by loneliness and too little to do.
Now at last a change is in sight. In February the government
announced that universities and other higher education
institutions must start offering two year degrees in addition to
three year ones. The end of the extortionate three year stranglehold
is in sight. It is utterly scandalous that the three year closed shop
has lasted so long. It’s a long ignored example of restrictive practice.
Any good course is intensive and rigorous. Many three
year degree courses are anything but. Of course nearly every
course could be telescoped into two years if students were
provided with three proper 14 week terms each year (42
weeks with ten weeks’ holiday) and given a much more
structured programme while they were in session.
Students do not need four months ‘off’ in the summer. Yes,
they might need to earn a bit and perhaps enjoy a holiday
but ten weeks’ ‘leave’ a year – still far more than most people
get in the real world of grown -up work – allows for both.
Some detractors have argued that this is just a back‐door
method of allowing fees to soar. Well the first thing to
bear in mind is that students do not pay the full cost.
Expensive as they seem, degrees are still state subsidised.
Depending on the subject studied the actual cost is
in the region of £15,000 to £20,000 per year.
If the student’s contribution to a course – in round
figures – would normally be £30,000 over three
years, then logically the same course taught in two
years would have to charge £15,000 per year.
What does concern me – and it must be watched very
carefully – is that some universities and other providers will
simply offer a second rate, two thirds, watered down two year
degree course rather than giving two year degree students
everything which they would get on a three year course.
But the advantages for the student (and his or her
long‐suffering parents) are clear. There’s a whole year’s
less subsistence to pay for. The graduate is ready to start
work a year earlier and has a whole extra year in which to
begin earning money. Moreover an intensive degree will
probably have helped to instil a no-nonsense worth ethic and
goodness knows this country could do with a bit of that.
OPEN
DAY
Independent Preparatory School
for Boys & Girls aged 3 - 11
Inspiring minds,
creating
futures
.....................
SAT 20TH
& TUE 23RD
MAY
Bricklehurst
Manor School
& Kindergarten
Bardown Road, Stonegate, Wadhurst,
East Sussex, TN5 7EL Tel: 01580 200 448
www.bricklehurst.co.uk
Wealden Times_April_2017.indd 1 21/04/2017 10:59
177 wealdentimes.co.uk
BricklehurstManorWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 11:20

2 nd - 4 th June
10:30am - 5pm
Firle Place
A27, Nr Lewes, E. Sussex
BN8 6LP
Henry
Nicholls
Fine Art ~ Antiques
Decorative Accessories
www.penman-fairs.co.uk
07774 850044
S&J
Abbott
Wealden £1Times
discount
on entry
“Berwick, Alciston & Firle” by Sussex artist Frank Wootton
courtesy of E. Stacy-Marks Ltd
30 vetted Stands in the Georgian Riding School,
Gardenalia on the Lawns
Meet TV Experts Mark Stacey, Ben Cooper & Henry Nicholls,
selling on their own Stands (After 2pm: Appraisals £3 for British Heart Foundation)
See inside the House Every day, Noon - 4pm
“Free Flow Tours of the House” £5 with a Fair Catalogue
Licenced Refreshments
Free Parking
Complimentary E-Tickets via
www.penman-fairs.co.uk
Entry £3.50, catalogue included
BOOK ONLINE
TO SAVE
PenmanAntiquesFairsWT183.indd 1 10/04/2017 12:51
15%
ENDS MIDNIGHT
7 JUNE
The South of England Show is
celebrating its 50th anniversary
this year and it’s going to be
the best Show ever!
Thrilling new main ring entertainment · parades &
displays of prize-winning livestock · showjumping
& equestrian events · street entertainment · live
music stage · food & drink · acres of shopping ·
fairground… and much more!
Visit seas.org.uk for full details on this unmissable
countryside day out for the whole family.
Adults £21; Seniors/Students £19; Under 16’s FREE *
South of England Showground, Ardingly RH17 6TL
www.seas.org.uk/booking
#SoEShow
*when accompanied by a paying adult
wealdentimes.co.uk
178
SOES-WT183.indd 1 03/04/2017 12:46

What’s On In May
Art
Thurs 11 – Sun 14 May
Mayfield and Five Ashes,
East Sussex, TN20
Mayfield Artists Open
Studios Art Trail
For the first time, Mayfield
Artists’ studios will be open
to visitors. Artists and makers,
with venues in Mayfield
village and the surrounding
countryside, will show a
variety of work with paintings,
ceramics, sculpture, textiles etc.
Information leaflets with trail
map available at Mayfield High
Street shops and refreshments
available at selected venues.
Entry: Free
Info: margot@riverangel.plus.com
Sat 13 – Sat 27 May,
Tues-Sat 9.30-4.30pm
Artichoke Gallery, Church
Street, Ticehurst, East
Sussex TN5 7AE
Bee Special
Creating a bit of a buzz with
a two week feature show
alongside the “In The Garden”
exhibition, focusing on our
favourite pollinators with Louisa
Crispin’s intricate Bumble Bee
drawings, Kate Osborne’s vibrant
watercolours and specially
selected jewellery and ceramics.
Entry: Free
Info: 01580 200905 /
artichokegallery.co.uk
Festivals & Fairs
Sat 13 May 9am-5pm and
Sun 14 May 10am-5pm
Guildhall, Market Street,
St Peter’s Gardens and
King Street, town centre,
Sandwich, Kent CT13
Sandwich Food Fayre
Sandwich’s medieval town centre
will be closed to traffic and
brought to life with over 40 food
and drink stalls and live music
from various visiting buskers.
Info: 07736 057836 /
sandwichevents.org.uk
Sat 20 May
Ellington Park, Park Rd,
Ramsgate CT11 9TA
May Fayre
The Friends of Ellington Park
present May Fayre, a variety
of stalls, live music on the
bandstand, dog show, steam
train rides, funfair, beer tent,
bubble football and lots more.
All proceeds will go to the
regeneration of Ellington Park.
Info: friendsofellingtonpark.org.uk
Sun 28 – Mon 29
May 10am-4pm
High Street, Cranbrook,
Kent TN17 3EE
Cranbrook Goes
Nuts in May
For the first time ever, Cranbook
is closing the highstreet for
traffic, to make room for two
days of garden-related activities,
demonstrations and family fun
with music, food and drink in
association with Chelsea Fringe.
Info: 07721 672348 / info@
chelseafringe.com
chelseafringe.com
Family & Children
Sat 6 – Sun 7 May
Leeds Castle, Maidstone
ME17 1PL
Motors by the Moat
Hundreds of vintage, high
performance and classic cars come
to Leeds Castle from around the
world, including a World War II
themed section and look-a-like
Lightning McQueen and Mater.
Entry: Included with admission
Info: 01622 765400 / enquiries@
leeds-castle.co.uk / leeds-castle.com
Sat 27 May – Sun 4 Jun
Hop Farm, Maidstone Rd,
Paddock Wood TN12 6PY
Summer Half Term
at the Farm
This half term is all about
superheroes at Hop Farm, with
a superhero training camp, rides
and inflatables, 4D cinema,
driving school and animal farm.
In addition to all the fun, there
are lots of places to eat and drink
including a Pub, Diner, and Italian
Restaurant, and Drive in Movies
after Dark for the grown-ups.
Info: 01622 872068 / info@
thehopfarm.co.uk / thehopfarm.co.uk
Sun 30 April – Mon1 May
Penshurst Place, Penshurst,
Tonbridge TN11 8DG
Esacape to the Wild
Learn outdoor survival skills and
bushcraft with a demonstration
on the woodland trail. Best suited
for children aged seven and up,
this is the chance to learn from
experts about shelter building,
scavenging and living outside.
Entry: Included in standard
grounds admission price
Info: penshurstplace.com
Garden
Sat 20 May 10am-1pm
St John’s Church Green,
Tunbridge Wells TN4 9LG
Plant Sale
Friends of Woodbury Park
Cemetery invite you to reat
your garden with some well
priced plants, enjoy the work of
artists inspired by nature, and
learn about conservation in this
fascinating Victorian cemetery.
Info: fwpc.org.uk
Sun 21 May 10am-5pm
Whitstable Gardens,
Whitstable, Kent CT5 4LT
Whitstable Gardens
Whitstable Gardens open their
gates for the public with NGS.
Gardens available for admiration
and inspiration will be marked
with yellow balloons and come
in every quirky, colourful, and
eclectic flavour from fisherman’s
yards to classical formal gardens.
Entry: £6, Children Free
Info: 01483 211535 / ngs.org.uk
Sat 27 – Mon 29
May 10am-5pm
All Saints Biddenden Church,
High Street, Biddenden,
Kent, TN27 8AH
Books in Bloom
Enjoy stunning floral displays,
refreshments and music in this
beautiful village church. The
tower will be open daily and
Morris dancers will be performing
on Saturday at 3.45pm.
Entry: Free
Info: 01580 291463 /
jeannetteoatway@btinternet.com
Historical
Sat 20 – Sun 21 May
Kent & East Sussex
Railway, Station Rd,
Tenterden TN30 6HE
Fabulous 40s at Kent
and East Sussex Railway
Immerse yourself in a nostalgic
40’s atmosphere with re-enactors,
live performers, shopping
stalls, and hairdressers.
Entry: Save 10% Online Adult
£18, Children 3-15 years
£12, Family of up to 5 £38
Info: 01580 765155 / kenquiries@
kesr.org.uk / kesr.org.uk
Sat 27 – Mon 29 May
Leeds Castle, Maidstone
ME17 1PL
Grand Medieval Joust
An authentic jousting
competition with living history
encampments, firepower and
trebuchet demonstrations and
mounted skill at arms displays.
Info: 01622 765400 / enquiries@
leeds-castle.co.uk / leeds-castle.com
Shopping
Fri 19 – Sat 20 May 9am-4pm
Silcocks Farm, Grange Road,
St. Michael’s near Tenterden
TN30 6TL
Brocante Home and
Garden Collectables
The Three French Hens once
again have their Brocante
sale of vintage home and
garden collectables.
Info: 07803 122820 /
thethreefrenchhens.co.uk
Sat 20 May 10.30am-3pm
Winchelsea New Hall, Rectory
Ln, Winchelsea TN36 4AA
Country House
Attic Sale
To raise funds for the Rye,
Winchelsea and District
Memorial Hospital Charity,
the Winchelsea New Hall will
be decked out with exotic
plants, antiques and bric-a-brac,
vintage and secondhand clothes,
plus a raffle and cafe selling
homemade cakes, tea and coffee.
Entry: 10.30am £5, 11am £1
Info: sarah@antcreative.com
179 wealdentimes.co.uk

CRANBROOK GOES NUTS IN MAY!
Sunday 28 & Monday 29 May: 10am-4pm
Street Stalls · Family Fun · Music
Food & Drink · Demos & Activities
Join us and celebrate anything and
everything that grows - and what
you can do with it - dead or alive!
cranbrookgoesnutsinmay.co.uk
In association with Chelsea Fringe
- the alternative garden festival
Registered Charity No. 239992. Company No. 633098
Registered Charity No. 239992. Company No. 633098
Image © Steve Reeve
BOUTIQUE & ARTISAN
CranbrookGoesNutsWT183.indd 1 03/04/2017 KentWildlifeTrustWT183.indd 15:05
1 07/04/2017 14:46
Shopping Fair
Friday 19 - Saturday 20 May
A unique collection of over 50 Boutique Owners and Artisan Makers
Gorgeous Clothing / Unique Accessories / Beauty Products
Stylists / Gifts / Homeware / Food & Drink
East Sussex National Hotel, Uckfield TN22 5ES
Open 10am-4pm / £4 Cash Entry / Bar & Restaurant / Free Parking
*
WIN £50 to spend - countrylifestylefairs.co.uk
*T&Cs Apply
TULIP
FESTIVAL
SCULPTURE IN
PARTICULAR
Ticehurst TN5 7HE 01580 200888
pashleymanorgardens.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
180
CountryLifestyleFairsWT183.indd 1 10/04/2017 PashleyManorWT183.indd 15:14
1 13/04/2017 16:07

Sports & Leisure
Sun 14 May, registration opens
8.30am, run starts at 10am
Mote Park, Mote Avenue,
Maidstone, Kent ME15 7SU
Rainbow Run-Get Messy
Kent’s most colourful and messy
event of the year! Support the
Heart of Kent Hospice with
this family 5K fun run full
of colour and chaos with a
rainbow of powder paints.
Info: 01622 790195
/ hokh.org/events
Sunday 14 May, from 2-5pm
Tonbridge Town Sailing Club,
Haysden Lake, Lower Haysden
Lane, Tonbridge TN11 9BA
Push the Boat Out
Try dinghy sailing and see what
Tonbridge Town Sailing Club
has to offer at family friendly
open day. As well as free rides,
there will be tea cakes and
demonstrations and maybe
even a visit by Tonbridge’s
own Fire and Rescue service.
Entry: Free
Info: 07824 140743/
tonbridgesailing.org /
facebook.com/tonbridgesailing
Music, Dance & Theatre
Sun 7 May 2-5pm
Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, Main
Street, Peasmarsh TN31 6YA
Sussex Shuffle
Vintage Balboa
Dance Fundraiser
An excellent fundraiser for help
for heroes. No partner is necessary
and the event is suitable for any
dancers from complete beginners
to pros, to have a good time
learning about this dance that
originated in 20s South California.
Entry: £18 advance / £25 at the
door including afternoon tea
Info: 07710 279784 /
leahatholmurray@aol.com
Sun 21 May 3-7pm
Winchelsea New Hall, High
Weald AONB, Rectory Lane,
Winchelsea TN36 4AA
1940s Charity Tea Dance
A wonderful 1940s Tea Dance
raising money for Help for
Heroes with period clothing,
very good cake, and one of the
best dance floors in East Sussex.
Entry: £8 including tea and cake
Info: 01797 226041 /
leahatholmurray@aol.com
Sat 6 May – Sat 16 Sept
Betteshanger Park, Sandwich
Road, Deal, Kent CT14 0BF
Alfresco Cinema
The Park kicks off its outdoor
cinema season with Disney’s
The BFG. Throughout the
summer they will be showing
family friendly films at their
uncovered outdoor cinema
screen and natural auditorium.
Entry: £10, Early Bird £7.50
Info: 01304 619227 / info@
betteshangerparks.co.uk /
betteshanger-park.co.uk
Sat 27 May 7.30pm
St. Michael & All Angels,
High St, Marden,
Tonbridge TN12 9DR
Janusz Piotrowicz
piano recital
Beult Concerts are delighted to
present a Chopin Recital by Janusz
Piotrowicz, an eminent pianist,
remarkable interpreter of Chopin’s
repertoire and “Poet of the Piano”
Entry: £20 (including
interval drink)
Info: beultconcerts@gmail.
com / 01622 831948 /
beultconcerts.co.uk/
Listings are correct at time of
going to press but may be subject
to change. Readers are advised to
check with venues before making
arrangements. We can list your event
in the next issue of Wealden Times
for only £15! Please supply up to
50 words that should include date,
time, venue, and any entry price to
whatson@wealdentimes.co.uk or send
with payment (cheques payable to
JPS Media) to What’s On, Wealden
Times, Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone
Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF.
Wealden Times reserves the right
to edit text to fit space allocated. If
you would like your event listing
to be accompanied by a full colour
reproduction (42.5 x 62.5mm) of a
poster or other pictorial image, the
total charge will be £95. Deadline for
the June issue is 15 May 2017.
Kent Garden Show
& NAFAS Regional Flower Show
Sat 27th, Sun 28th & Mon 29th May
Gates Open 9.30am - 5pm (last admission 4pm)
Featuring over 300 exhibitors with a wide variety of goods.
Floral marquees with stunning fl oral displays including
medal winners from Chelsea. There is a food hall,
craft pavilion, brass band & children’s rides.
Garden furniture, water features, garden sheds and
buildings, tools, sculptures, & much more.
Jacqueline Aviolet & Tom Hart-Dyke will be in attendance
all weekend to give answers to your gardening questions.
Tickets available now.
Tickets
available at
the gate & online
Prices: Adults £8.00,
Seniors £7.00
Children up to
age 16: Free
Sorry no dogs
What’s On In May
Ibbett Mosely
AuctIoneers & VAluers
Limited Liability Partnership
The Auctioneer's Next Sale Will Be On
Wednesday 3rd May 2017
Commencing at 12.30pm | Viewing 10.00am - 12.30pm
At Ibbett Mosely Auction Rooms, Argyle Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HJ
Valuation Day - Wednesday 10th May 2017 11am to 4pm
Crown Inn, School Road, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5PQ
Tel: 01732 456731 Web: www.ibbettmosely.co.uk
125 High St, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UT
Registered in England No. 0C341637 Regulated by RICS Registered at the Sevenoaks office as Ibbett Mosely Surveyors LLP
Better Borders Course
IbbettMoselyWT182.indd 1 07/03/2017 11:24
Join Jo Arnell at her garden in Woodchurch for the borders
section of the practical gardening course. Learn how to
take cuttings, grow perennials, design a border and care for
your plants through the seasons. No experience needed.
Contact Jo Arnell 01233 861149 www.hornbrookmanor.co.uk
1 session each month: May, June & July
HornbrookManorWT183.indd 1 10/04/2017 16:15
01795 474660
www.kentgardenshow.com
The Kent Showground, Detling ME14 3JF
181 wealdentimes.co.uk
GardenShowWT182.indd 1 17/03/2017 10:58

Wealden Wealden Times Times - Bazaar - Classified
www.dhallcabinetmaker.co.uk
Clare Langdon
Home & Interiors
David Hall
Cabinet Maker
&
Antique Restorer
* High Quality Bespoke Furniture
* Antique Restoration of all types
* Carving and Copy Carving
* Polishing
NO VAT
Phone 01797 270761
Email: hallcrocket@aol.com
DavidHallWT108.indd 1 14/01/2011 CranbrookIronWT177.indd 15:27
1 25/10/2016 15:41
INTERIORS
Made to measure
curtains & blinds
Tracks & poles
Measuring & fitting service
Home consultation
Fabrics & design advice
Telephone 01233 850829
clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk
Garden & Building Services
Pop-up Shop Now Open
Ockley Road, Hawkhurst TN18 4DP
bespoke ironwork for home & garden
07765 344298
www.cranbrookiron.com
Open: Wednesday - Saturday
We know trees.
We’re professional tree surgeons covering
Kent and East Sussex.
Our commitment is to deliver a comprehensive
range of high quality tree work, from delicate
pruning operations and hedgecutting,
to replanting and complete tree removal.
01580 890462
fernshiretrees.co.uk
insured experienced professional
Gallery
ClareLangdonWT177.indd 1 24/10/2016 16:04
The Singing Soul Gallery
Contemporary Art & Craft
19 Stone St. Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF
01580 714551
www.singingsoulgallery.co.uk
Piano Shop
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Probably the most experienced, established
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Stonehurst Construction Ltd.
Renovation & refurbishment
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wealdentimes.co.uk
182
PianoShopWT180.indd 1 04/01/2017 StonehurstConstructionWT182.indd 16:06
1 14/03/2017 15:12

Competition
Win One night’s bed and breakfast with
a six course tasting meal AT FRASERS IN
EGERTON ON FRIDAY 9 JUNE
PLus TWO TICKETS TO WEALDEN TIMES MIDSUMMER FAIR ON SATURDAY 10 JUNE
Frasers is a private guest house and restaurant nestled at the end of a private drive
on a working farm set deep in the beautiful Kent countryside, halfway between
Maidstone and Ashford. The Frasers team offer a unique, idyllic venue for your
perfect event – whether it is a luxury get away from it all break, your fairy-tale wedding,
private dining to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary, baby shower or hen do.
Stay, relax and unwind in one of their beautiful, individually designed
rooms, all with luxury en suite bathrooms, comfy slippers and gowns.
The restaurant and function suite is a custom-made, traditionally
constructed beautiful oak-framed Kentish Barn, with a wealth of exposed
beams. Relax on the superb sun drenched terrace and enjoy dishes in
their 2 AA Rosette award winning restaurant. Frasers offer an excellent
array of hand picked wines to complement their exquisite food.
Enjoy complete tranquillity and savour the beautiful views across
the unspoilt Kent countryside. Watch the geese flying in to graze on
the pond and listen to the owls calling from the nearby oak trees.
How to enter: For your chance
to win one night’s bed and breakfast
with a six course tasting menu, plus two
tickets to Wealden Times Midsummer
Fair just answer the following question:
How many AA Rosettes has Frasers
restaurant won? Enter your answer
with your contact details* in the
online form at wealdentimes.co.uk/
competition or post to: The Frasers
Competition, Wealden Times, 21
Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17
3HF by Friday 19 May 2017. Prize
comprises one night’s bed and breakfast
in a superking room, with a six course
tasting meal for two on Friday 9
June plus two tickets to Wealden Times
Midsummer Fair on Saturday 10 June.
There is no cash alternative and the
dinner, bed and breakfast prize must be
taken on Friday 9 June 2017, and the
Midsummer Fair tickets on Saturday 10
June. *All entrants’ details will be passed
on to Frasers and Wealden Times
Events. Please let us know if you do
not wish your details to be passed on.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Yeates who wins our April competition for a Firepod!
183 wealdentimes.co.uk

Jane Howard’s
Fables from the Farm
Jane gets busy prepping for the Heathfield Show
It’s been one of the driest winters
I can remember and April saw
us lambing in the most glorious
conditions. The cattle were turned out
at the end of March – a good two weeks
early – and the first swallows arrived on
April 2nd, another record. But while
nature seems to be ahead of the game,
I am most definitely lagging when it
comes to preparing our cattle for the
annual round of summer agricultural
shows and must get my skates on.
Heathfield, a one-day show on 27
May is the first and always one of the
most enjoyable. But blimey there are
only a few weeks to go so
I must crack on, pick out
the team and get them
ready for the big day
which involves a ridiculous
amount of preparation.
At the show, each breed –
in our case the Sussex – has
its own section made up
of classes for different age
females: cows & calves, in-calf heifers
(two year old females that haven’t yet had
a calf) and yearling heifers. And ditto
for the bulls, though usually they just
have two classes, one for the old boys
and one for the adolescents. Having
picked winners for each class, the judge
then has to choose a female champion,
a male champion and then an overall
champion. That then goes forward to
compete against the champions from all
the other breeds to choose the overall
show winner. Heady stuff but with all
“ All that remains
is for Richard
the foot trimmer
to trim their
toes with an
angle-grinder”
the preparation necessary, right now
I will just be pleased to get there.
Last autumn I picked out the two best
bull calves from the 2016 crop and hope
I got it right as the vet turned up shortly
after and castrated the others! The chosen
two, Tom and Harry (you can’t really call a
bull Dick) have had buckets of grub every
morning and evening since then, as much
as they can eat, to turn them into 600kg
power packs. And now spring is in the air
they only have one interest in life and it’s
certainly not going showing. But they’ll
just have to be patient and wait for that.
By contrast I’ve only just picked out the
girls. It’s a different story
for the young females, as
give them too much hard
grub too soon and they
get fat, known as too fit
in bovine parlance, the
eternal female problem!
But luckily Caroline, the
top pick, is a rather tall,
gangly thing and should
hopefully flesh up nicely without putting
on the pounds in the wrong places.
And now it’s May, training must
commence in earnest. It’s fine with
all the seasoned pros, once trained
they never forget, but for Tom,
Harry and Caroline it’s game on.
Step 1: catch your beast, get a halter
on it and tie it up. Thankfully
Sussex, rather like Labrador dogs, are
exceedingly greedy and food plays a
major role in achieving the above.
Step 2: Get them to walk beside you
on the halter. This often involves an
impressive rodeo style performance with
yours truly being pulled round the yard
cartoon style, but they are the easy ones.
Much harder are those that decide to
adopt a line of least resistance and just
stand there, half a ton of immoveable
bullock. Bribery is the only option. For
Tom and Harry this usually means finding
an older cow and getting her to walk
in front. For Caroline, male company
is of little interest but a bucketful of
grub on the other hand and we’re off.
All that remains is for Richard the
foot trimmer to trim their toes with an
angle-grinder, a few sessions with the
pressure washer to clean off the last of
the winter coat and hey presto! team
Coopers is as ready as it ever will be.
Heathfield here we come and
hope I might see you there.
Follow Jane Howard – and the farm
– on Instagram @coopersfarm
wealdentimes.co.uk
184

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