Wealden Times | WT194 | April 2018 | Garden supplement inside

GARDEN Supplement inside 

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes 

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TotalQualityMaintenanceWT192.indd 1 15/01/2018 12:20

Contents 

April 2018 

52 

124 

28 

41 

52 

LATER LIVING STYLE 

Maggie Alderson finds the best 

of retirement properties 

APRIL NOTEBOOK 

Wealden events to take 

note of this month 

FAMILY FAVOURS 

Interior designer Alexis Wylie 

rejuenvates a family home 

117 

124 

137 

FLOOR PLANS 

We take a look at three 

fabulous flooring trends 

RAIN OR SHINE 

Kate Watts combats 

April showers in style 

SOAP STARS 

Jo Fairley is bringing 

back the bar 

157 

161 

167 

148 

SPICE IT UP 

The Bell in Ticehurst’s head 

chef spices things up with 

South American flavours 

LET THE CHILDREN SPEAK 

Hilary Wilce on the importance of 

helping children find their voices 

WHAT’S ON? 

Events to keep you busy this month 

77 

GET THE LOOK 

Inspiration for how to emulate 

Alexis Wylie’s unique style 

141 

SPRING INTO SUMMER 

Strictly no scalpels in these 

summer-ready solutions 

173 

COMPETITION 

Win a dazzling pair of 

diamond earrings 

80 

INTERIOR DIRECTIONS 

The details that will bring 

your home bang up to date 

145 

A YEAR OF WELLNESS 

Eminé Rushton begins her Year 

of Wellness with a cleanse 

174 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Jane Howard warmly welcomes 

new arrivals to Coopers 

92 

115 

COASTAL HAVEN 

Kathryn Flett loves the lack of 

cliché in this maritime cottage 

GET THE LOOK 

Ideas to try from Marta 

Nowicka’s style sheet 

147 

148 

NATURAL WISDOM 

Yoga, skin treats and priceless 

advice from a wellbeing guru 

FROM AN ENGLISH GARDEN 

Aaron Bertelsen of Great Dixter’s 

simply beautiful recipes 

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

Telephone 01580 714705 Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk Visit wealdentimes.co.uk 

Copyright © 2018 JPS Media Ltd. The views of the advertisers and contributors are not 

necessarily those of JPS Media Ltd. 

GARDEN 

SUPPLEMENT 

34 pages of 

flowers, veg, 

hens, lawns and 

expert advice on 

outdoor living 

After page 158. 

Gardens 

A Wealden Times Supplement 

Sponsored by 

View the new Garden Directory online at wealdentimes.co.uk View the new Garden Directory online at wealdentimes.co.uk 

9 

Flowers • Veg • Hens • Lawns • Outdoor Living 

06WT194Supplement.indd 1 20/03/2018 10:09

Staplehurst 

A compact Grade II listed country estate in a quiet and peaceful setting 

surrounded by its own land 

6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 5 reception rooms. Separate 2 bed cottage. Separate 3 

bed bungalow. Double garage, triple garage, stabling and studio. Tennis court. In all 

approximately 40 acres. 

Guide price: £1,750,000 

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 

01892 310700 

KnightFrank.co.uk/tunbridge-wells 

julia.robotham@knightfrank.com 

01892 310700 

KnightFrank.co.uk/country 

@KF_HomeCounties 

KnightFrank.co.uk

Our understanding of the 

ever-changing market enables us 

to price your property accurately. 

And with our local knowledge 

and extensive network of London 

offices, you can rely on Knight 

Frank to get you moving. 

Call us today on 01892 310700 to 

discuss your property search or to 

arrange a free market valuation. 

Guide price: £450,000 

Iden Green 

* Computer generated image 

Opportunity to build a detached family house within the Cranbrook School Catchment Area 

Building plot with Planning Permission to construct a detached 4 bedroom family house 

with ancillary gardens, parking and 2 car ports (one double and one single). 

In all about 0.6 acres. 

@KF_HomeCounties 

KnightFrank.co.uk 

Guide price: £1,595,000 

Hawkhurst 

An impressive period property on the Moor side within the Cranbrook School Catchment Area 

5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. Detached double garage with 1 bed annexe above. Swimming pool, paddocks, stables 

and manege. Detached games room. In all about 9.72 acres.

Winchelsea, East Sussex - £675,000 

Four bedroom link detached house on the edge of the 

Ancient Town of Winchelsea. Living/dining room, kitchen, 

study, bedroom 1 with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms. 

Attached double garage. Garden. EPC C 

Fairlight, East Sussex - £735,000 

Lovely detached Grade II Listed thatched cottage in a rural 

position. Living room, dining room, kitchen, utility, master 

bedroom with en suite, two further bedrooms. Double garage 

and attached office. Garden & grounds of approx. 1 acre. 

Rye, East Sussex - £450,000 

An attached modern property in a favoured hill top location 

in the Conservation Area. Living room, open plan dining 

room and kitchen, 3 double bedrooms. Double garage. 

Shared front courtyard. Partly walled rear garden. EPC F 

Winchelsea Beach, East Sussex - £530,000 

Detached three bedroom bungalow situated within the 

coastal village of Winchelsea Beach overlooking the Harbour 

Field. Sun room, dining room, living room, kitchen, utility, 3 

bedrooms. Tandem garage. Off road parking. Gardens. EPC D 


Stunning detached period house close to Rye. Reception 

hall, sitting room, drawing room, living room, dining room, 

study, kitchen/breakfast room, cellar, master bedroom 

suite, 4/5 further bedrooms. Garage. Parking. Garden. 


An attached Grade II Listed period property on a cobbled 

street in the central Conservation Area with views. Sitting 

room, dining room, kitchen, cellar, three bedrooms, bathroom. 

Walled rear garden. Store. Permit parking. 

RYE OFFICE 01797 227338 

MAYFAIR OFFICE 0870 112 7099 

phillipsandstubbs.co.uk

‘Our Focus Determines Your Reality’ 

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM 

CHAINHURST £1,695,000 

SUBSTANTIAL COUNTRY HOME 

Entrance hall · Four reception rooms · Kitchen/ 

breakfast room · Seven bedrooms (four ensuite) 

· Detached two bedroom cottage · Pool complex 

with gym and sauna · Approx. 7.6 acres · EPC: G 

Rural yet convenient hamlet location 

GOUDHURST £1,395,000 

QUINTESSENTIAL GRADE II LISTED COTTAGE 

Three reception rooms · Kitchen with Aga · Utility/ 

cloakroom · Four/five bedrooms (two ensuite) 

· Delightful, well stocked garden with stunning views 

· Garage and parking · EPC: n/a 

Cranbrook School Catchment Area 

RURAL STAPLEHURST O.I.E.O. £1,350,000 

STUNNING UNLISTED PERIOD FARMHOUSE 

Three reception rooms · Kitchen and breakfast room 

· Utility room · Six double bedrooms (two ensuite) 

· Extensive outbuildings with planning to convert 

· Gardens approximately 0.72 acres · EPC: D 

Cranbrook School Catchment Area 

GREAT CHART £1,195,000 

GRADE II LISTED FARMHOUSE 

Two reception rooms · Kitchen/breakfast room · Four 

bedrooms (one ensuite) · Annexe · Pool and pool 

house · Snooker room and gym · Equestrian facilities 

· Grounds approximately 4.5 acres · EPC: n/a 

Must be viewed to appreciate all that is on offer 

Sales & Lettings Team 

Harpers&Hurlingham 

The Cornerhouse, Stone Street, Cranbrook 

01580 715400 

www.harpersandhurlingham.com 

LONDON OFFICE: KENSINGTON 020 7938 2311 

Jane Emilie Chez Cathy Sarah Debbie Jane A Debbie S Janey Caroline Dianne

SALES / LETTINGS / MANAGEMENT 

VISIT US AT HUNTERS.COM 

HERE TO GET you THERE 

BROOKLAND £800,000 - £850,000 

Equestrian Property | Rubber School, Paddocks and Stables | Four Bedrooms 

A unique detached family home with a detached self-contained annexe and 

yard with alarmed containers ideal for commercial use, set in approx 1.66 

acres, located off a quiet country lane. 

EPC RATING D 

ROLVENDEN O.I.E.O £800,000 

Open Plan Living Space | Mature Private Gardens | Located in the CSCA 

A truly unique and one of a kind three bedroom detached home that has been 

converted from a water tower, set in grounds of around 1.4 acres with fantastic 

far reaching views over the surrounding countryside in a popular village. 

EPC RATING D 

HIGH HALDEN £775,000 

Five Bedroom Detached | Three Reception Rooms | Views Over Countryside 

A spacious well-presented fi ve-bedroom detached family home with three 

reception rooms, situated in a private development of only 12 executive homes, 

and on a third of an acre plot with fantastic views over open countryside. 

EPC RATING D 

OLD ROMNEY £800,000 

Underfl oor Heating | Three Reception Rooms | Detached Double Garage 

If you have an eye for detail and high quality then this exclusive 4/5 bedroom 

property is a must view. The home has recently been built to a high 

specifi cation and has wonderful views across the Romney Marsh countryside. 

EPC RATING B 

GREAT CHART £400,000 - £425,000 

Four Bedroom Cottage | Three Reception Rooms | Period Features 

Beautiful Grade II Listed detached cottage in a tucked away position, backing 

onto open countryside. The property has retained many period features to 

include exposed beams and inglenook fi replace. 

EPC EXEMPT 

WOODCHURCH £500,000 

Five Bedrooms | Two Reception Rooms | En Suite and Bathroom 

A spacious fi ve bedroom detached family home with 24ft reception room, 

large kitchen/dining room, conservatory and located in a quiet cul de sac just 

off the village green in the desirable village of Woodchurch. 

EPC RATING D 

HERE TO GET you THERE 

TENTERDEN 

01580 763 278 

ASHFORD 

01233 613 613 

HYTHE 

01303 261 557 

Over 150 independently owned branches across the UK. 

FOLKESTONE 

01303 210 335 

MEET YOUR LOCAL Tenterden Team! 

Jake, Andrew & Laura 

Over 200 independently owned branches across the UK.

Cranbrook Guide PriCe £2,350,000 

5 Receps · 6 Beds · Leisure Complex · S Pool · 6 Acres · CSCA · Grade II* 

robertsbridGe Guide PriCe £775,000 

2 Reception Rooms · 4 Beds · Superb Kitchen · Walk to shops & MLS · EPC C 

HiGH Halden offers in exCess of £700,000 

3 Receptions · 5 Bedrooms · 3 Bath/Shower Rooms · Extended Victorian · EPC E 

betHersden offers in exCess of £500,000 

1/2 Reception Rooms · 2/3 Beds · Income Potential from Pod · Listed Grade II 

Thinking of moving? Contact us today for a free market appraisal 

For Lettings call Ella Krzos or Sales call Rupert Newcomb 

biddenden Guide PriCe £375,000 

PP to create: 3 Receptions · 3 Beds · 2 Baths · Secluded Setting · CSCA · EPC E 

benenden Guide PriCe £295,000 

2 Receptions · 2 Bedrooms · Centre Village · Walk to Shops · CSCA · Grade II 

SALES 01580 720 000 

LETTINGS 01580 720 400 

37 Stone St, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF 

cranbrook@jackson-stops.co.uk 

lettings.cranbrook@jackson-stops.co.uk 

jackson-stops.co.uk propErTy ExpErTS SINcE 1910

My son mentioned it, 

so I decided to look 

round. The apartments 

were stunning and the 

facilities fantastic. I can’t 

wait to move in. 

LUXURY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, HEXTABLE, KENT 

Opening soon, Emerson Park, Hextable, will provide an 

exceptional choice of beautiful, elegant apartments all 

designed for active, independently-minded retirees. Live life to 

the full with exclusive private amenities, on-site services and 

fully-managed maintenance – all from as little as £315,000 

*. 

• Reception/concierge 

• Lounge, restaurant & bar 

• Exercise studio & gym 

• Hair and beauty salon 

• Cinema/TV room 

• Private transport service 

• Recreation and social 

events calendar 

• 24 hr emergency call 

system to on-site staff 

Take control today. To find out more, and 

to visit the show suite, call 01322 515417. 

SHOW SUITE OPEN Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm 

Emerson Park, Rowhill Road, Hextable BR8 7RL 

Web: www.cinnamoncc.com/emersonpark 

* Other costs and charges apply, please talk 

to our advisers for further information.

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 

For a free appraisal call 0843 557 4080 

www.maximisemyland.co.uk 

sales@countryhousehomes.co.uk 

“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

LAST FEW 

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BEAUTIFUL NEW HOMES 

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At the heart of Tenterden is an exclusive collection of 

apartments, coach houses and houses available on a 

shared ownership basis (part buy/ part rent) with Moat. 

Register your interest today: moat-churchview.co.uk 

For more information contact Jenny Slatcher at Moat on 0845 359 6228 jenny.slatcher@moat.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

Highest Returns 

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Land Sales Support 

land-sales-support.co.uk 

Unlock the 

full value 

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We are a friendly, independent company 

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Whether a garden plot or a large development site, with 

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will explore all of your planning and sales options and 

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Unlike some others we work solely for the benefit of the 

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• Free site visits and valuations 

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To discuss the potential of your land or to 

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01424 251976 

01622 673086 

enquiries@sibleypares.co.uk 

sibleypares.co.uk 

LandSalesSupport192.indd 1 15/01/2018 12:31 

50% 

SOLD 

Esquire Developments 

Invite you to see the home 

of your dreams……. 

Take the opportunity to view a range 

of bespoke homes with exclusive offers 

available for those looking to reserve. 

These two exclusive private gated developments 

offer executive 4 & 5 bedroom homes. 

Showhome open 

Thursday-Monday 

10:00-16:00 

*Call for all other appointment 

times 

Prices from £475,000 

Penny Close & Summer Sun Court, Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, ME17 4HY 


22 

SibleyParesWT194.indd 1 16/03/2018 14:59

Residential Sales 

#TheGardenOfEngland 

NO CHAIN 

Tenterden 

OIEO £625,000 

Elegant 4 bedroom Georgian town house with 

a self contained one bedroom cottage in the 

grounds, off road parking. EPC Rating E 

Charing 

Guide £1,295,000 

Beautifully restored Kentish farmhouse in 1.4 acre 

gardens, two adjacent dwellings available separately 

and up to 18 acres of additional land. EPC Rating NA 

Great Chart 

Guide £970,000 

Converted period barn, courtyard setting, garden 

frontage to the River Stour (fishing rights). Good 

access to the International Station. EPC Rating D 

Charing 

Guide £995,000 

Detached 5 bedroom Georgian house - high 

specification with contemporary and traditional 

styling, gardens with coach house. EPC Rating C 

Tenterden 

Guide £875,000 

Extended 4 bedroom detached family home, double 

garage, south facing gardens overlooking fields, 

walking distance of town centre. EPC Rating D 

Tenterden 

Guide £675,000 

Well presented detached 4 bedroom house, double 

garage, gardens backing onto woodland, in a popular 

residential area of the town. EPC Rating C 

Hobbs Parker Estate Agents www.hobbsparker.co.uk 

Tenterden 01580 766766 | Ashford 01233 506260 

01580 766766

sJD – Developing potential 

If you think your land or property has development 

potential, 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 

Commercial buildings for residential conversion • Former public houses • Redundant buildings for redevelopment 

Buildings for conversion or replacement • Houses for improvement • Large sites on the edge of town • Barn conversions 

Large gardens in residential areas • Major regeneration projects 

We are alWays on the lookout for lanD anD property With Development potential 

We call it home 

We call it it it home 

SJDprojectsWT191.indd 1 30/11/2017 17:16 

The Coachworks. Luxurious properties 

The The The Coachworks. in a unique Luxurious and beautiful properties 

location. 

in a in in unique in a a Discover unique and the and and hidden beautiful delights location. of village life in retirement. 

Discover Discover the hidden the the There hidden delights are delights few of villages of of of as village vibrant life in life as life in in Ticehurst in retirement. 

and the generous 

There There are There few are villages are few 

apartments 

few villages as vibrant as as 

of as vibrant 

The 

as Ticehurst 

Coachworks 

as as as Ticehurst and 

are 

the and 

but 

and generous 

the 

a 

the short 

generous 

stroll from its heart. 

apartments of The of of of The Becoming The Coachworks part are but of are our a are but short community but a a short stroll a short from stroll and stroll its from right from heart. its its sizing its heart. heart. for retirement 

Becoming Becoming part of part 

will 

our part of of 

give of our our 

you community freedom 

and right and 

to 

and 

make sizing right right the 

sizing for sizing 

most 

retirement for for of 

for retirement 

every day, whether that 

will give will will you give give freedom you you involves 

freedom to make to 

looking 

to to make the make most 

after the the of most 

the 

most every 

grandchildren 

of of of every day, every whether day, day, or 

whether 

hopping that 

that 

on 

that 

the Eurostar. 

involves involves looking looking after More the after after spacious the the grandchildren than 

or 

most 

hopping or or 

and or hopping 

set on 

in 

the on 

delightful 

on Eurostar. 

on the the Eurostar. 

courtyard gardens, 

More spacious More More spacious than most than than and most most set and in and 

we set delightful 

think 

set in in delightful in 

you courtyard 

will like 

courtyard what 

gardens, 

you 

gardens, 

see. 

we think we we we you think Come think will you you and like will what will visit like like you what and what see. 

you have you see. see. a drink on us at our 

Come Come and visit and favourite and and visit visit have and local. and have a have Please drink a a drink a on quote us on at on us CHEERS us our at us at at our our to retrieve this 

favourite favourite local. local. Please offer Please quote when quote CHEERS booking CHEERS to your retrieve to to appointment to retrieve this 

this this with us. 

offer offer when offer when booking booking your your your appointment with with us. with us. us. 

THE COACHWORKS 

THE THE COACHWORKS 

TICEHURST VILLAGE 

TICEHURST High Street, Ticehurst, VILLAGE 

East Sussex TN5 7EX 

High High Street, Street, Sales: Ticehurst, 01580 East East Sussex East 200 Sussex TN5 557 TN5 7EX / TN5 07506 7EX 7EX 177 233 

Sales: Sales: 01580 01580 Green 200 200 Lizard 557 557 / 07506 Wadhurst: / 07506 / 177 177 233 177 01892 233 

786 720 

Green Green Lizard Lizard Wadhurst: 01892 01892 786 786 720 

720 

www.coachworksticehurst.co.uk 

www.coachworksticehurst.co.uk 

www.greenlizardhomes.co.uk 

www.greenlizardhomes.co.uk 


24 

CourtRoyalDevelopmentWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 16:53

In property, trust is everything… 

01580 242700 

2 Windmill Oast, Windmill Farm, Rolvenden, Kent TN17 4PF 

CaNterBury £650,000 

Grade II listed 4 bedroom townhouse sitting proudly within the City walls. 

BeCkley, Nr. rye oieo £875,000 

3/4 bedroom detached Eco house set in 11 acres of semi-ancient woodland. 

sold 

sold 

WittershaM £725,000 

Enchanting Grade II Listed 4 bedroom detached Oast House. 

let agreed 

horsMoNdeN oieo £900,000 

3/4 bedroom detached, period cottage set in almost 5 acres. 

let agreed 

BoughtoN MoNChelsea 

£3250 pcm 

A magnificent 5 bedroom, 16th century house set in an idyllic rural position. 

PeasMarsh, Nr. rye 

£3000 pcm 

Unique and architecturally significant 4/5 bedroom Oast conversion. 

Boxley, Nr. MaidstoNe – to let £2300 pcm rolveNdeN layNe – to let 

Poa 

16th Century, 5 Bedroom Grade II listed farmhouse in pretty village location. Exceptional 6 bedroom country house with breath-taking rural views. 

Weald Property… trusted to sell and let exceptional Wealden homes since 1985. 

wealdproperty.net

Playden Guide Price £995,000 

A delightful detached family home with versatile accommodation in excess of 3,700 sq ft set on a quiet country 

lane with rural views. 7 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 4 Reception Rooms, Kitchen/Breakfast room, Cellar, Utility room and 

Cloakroom. Workshop/Store/Potting Shed. Garden grounds 0.8 acres - EPC: F 

Icklesham Guide Price £675,000 

A modern rebuilt character thatched cottage, with open plan living, situated on a quiet country lane with stunning 

rural views looking over the Brede Valley. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2 Reception Rooms. Large open plan Kitchen/ 

Dining Room, Utility Hallway and Cloakroom. Detached Garage. Garden grounds approx. 0.25 acres - EPC: D 

Thinking of Moving - Now is the Time. 

With spring on the way and new shoots blooming, come and talk to the 

experienced Anderson Hacking team for a Free market appraisal. 

www.andersonhacking.com 55 Cinque Ports Street, Rye TN31 7AN Rye 01797 224852 | London (Park Lane) 020 76294141

EXQUISITE 

COMFORTS 

Elegantly crafted three, four and five bedroom homes. 

Just 400 metres from Tenterden’s boutique High Street. 

YOUR STYLE OUR QUALITY 

High specification homes available now with a 

bespoke range of premium fixtures and fittings 

and paint colours by Farrow & Ball. 

Prices from £450,000.* 

Show homes open daily 10am to 5pm 

01580 854076 churchview-tenterden.co.uk 

RESERVE EARLY AND HAVE 

FIRST CHOICE OF 

THE BEST HOMES 

HOUSE TO SELL? Ask about our 

Easy Mover service to help sell 

your existing home 

*Prices correct at time of print. Farrow & Ball colour shades apply to front door.

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 

1. 

1. 

Later living it up 

Maggie Alderson is looking forward to the 

next of life’s housing stages 

Life’s housing stages used to divide up neatly into parental home, first 

home and family home… then it all got a bit vague. If you were lucky 

there would be a granny flat arrangement with one of the sprogs, if not 

there were very few options, especially once the point was reached when even a 

retirement bungalow got a bit much to deal with. 

How quickly and brilliantly that has all changed, with the dawn of the 

appealing concept of ‘later years living’, with the emphasis very much on the 

word living. That’s how we think about the stage after the family home years 

now, another style of living, not a custodial sentence. Something to look 

forward to. 

Now there is a whole new genre of retirement living options, with 

developments so well designed that, rather than induce regret at the house 

and environs left behind, they can inspire a whole new lease of energy, with 

an invigorated social life. And not having to worry about roofs, gutters, lawns, 

fallen leaves etc ever again. The joy. 

I consider myself particularly well versed in this segment of the property 

market, having researched it very thoroughly for my mother and being so 

impressed with what I saw I was inspired to set a large part of the action in my 

most recent novel in a glamorous retirement development (The Scent of You, out 

in June). 

The apartments themselves, in every later years set-up I visited, are sleek and 

thoughtfully equipped to take unnecessary little irritants out of daily life, with 

luxuries such as electric windows, illuminated light switches at elbow height 

and front doors that don’t lock automatically on closure. 

I can also attest to the quality of the social aspect. Lunch with my mum’s 

new group of friends is a riot and the wine flows. Here are some of the best 

retirement developments currently on the market. 

1. Audley Mote 

Where? Audley Mote is situated near 

the village of Bestead, from where trains are 

just over an hour to London Victoria, just 

over ten minutes drive to Maidstone. 

What?In a development by premium 

retirement home specialists Audley 

Number 3, The Stables is set within the 

Grade II* listed Georgian stable block at 

Audley Mote House retirement village. 

This two-bedroom cottage has a walkin 

wardrobe and en suite in the Master 

bedroom and a high quality kitchen with 

SieMatic units and Corian worktops. The 

kitchen and dining room are open plan 

and look out over the sunny courtyard. 

The cottage also has a downstairs WC 

and main bathroom next to the second 

bedroom upstairs. All owners automatically 

become members of the Audley Club, with 

use of the restaurant, bistro bar, health 

and wellbeing centre, fitness suite and 

swimming pool. 

How much?The apartment is priced 

at £414,000. Contact Audley on 

01622 297192 audleyvillages.co.uk 


28

2. 

3. 

4. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

2. Emerson Park 

Where? Emerson Park is situated in 

the Kent village of Hextable with easy 

access to the M25 and M20 motorways. 

The nearest train station is a five-minute 

drive away, and from there, central 

London is just 35 minutes. 

What? Emerson Park is a brand new 

retirement village providing wonderful 

facilities including Club Room, cafébar, 

hair and beauty salon, cinema 

room and gym. Services include staff on 

site 24 hours a day, a daily scheduled 

transport service, a dedicated Events and 

Activity Manager as well as all external 

maintenance. Apartment 11 is situated 

within Emerson Lodge and is a generous 

911 sq ft two-bedroom apartment. The 

large lounge has an adjoining fully-fitted 

kitchen, complete with granite worktop. 

The main bedroom has an en suite 

shower room while there is a second 

bathroom off bedroom two. 

How much? Apartment 11 is on the 

market for £453,000. For more details call 

01322 515417 or visit 

cinnamoncc.com/emersonpark 

3. The Coachworks 

Where? The Coachworks sits in the 

centre of the lovely (you could say perfect) 

Wealden village of Ticehurst, with its great 

shops, the wonderful Bell pub (see page 

157) and the Lighthouse Bakery. There’s 

so much going on here you probably 

wouldn’t want to leave, but there are 

several stations on the Charing Cross line 

in easy reach, with journey times just over 

an hour to. Tunbridge Wells is 30 minutes 

by car. 

What? There are just 25 apartments in 

The Coachworks, so they are larger than 

most other ‘right-sizing’ homes on the 

market, all with more than 1,000 square 

feet of space, and set around beautiful 

courtyard gardens. Each has its own 

private outdoor space, whilst inside is 

light and spacious. From the silent fresh 

air exchange system to generous storage, 

these apartments have been thoughtfully 

designed throughout 

How much? Prices start at £330,000 

for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom 

apartment. Coachworks is marketed 

through Green Lizard, 01892 786720 

greenlizardhomes.co.uk 

4. Durrants Village 

Where? Durrants Village is set amongst 

30 acres of idyllic parkland and beautiful 

West Sussex countryside in the hamlet 

of Faygate, close to the market town of 

Horsham, from where it’s just over an hour 

to Victoria. Gatwick airport is a cheeky 20 

minute drive. 

What? The village offers 175 luxury 

retirement properties – two-bedroom 

apartments and two and three bedroom 

cottages. The homes centre around an 

on-site clubhouse providing country 

club-style facilities, including a restaurant, 

bar, lounge, swimming pool, gym and 

library. Within the landscaped grounds 

there is also a croquet lawn and a lake 

with duck houses. The management will 

also be implementing bespoke home-care 

services that will offer residents a hotel-style 

standard of service, as well as an increased 

level of care, should their needs change in 

the future. 

How much? Prices start from 

£510,000 for a two-bedroom cottage and 

from £527,950 for three bedrooms. 

01293 851935 durrantsvillage.co.uk 

29 wealdentimes.co.uk

OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS 

HOME & GARDEN FEATURES 

QUALITY DECKING & CLADDING 

TUMBLED & CRACKED ENGINEERED FLOORING 

OAK & WALNUT FLOORING 

www.roundwood.com 

Tel: 01435 867 072 

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

Fast access to GPs 

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flexible appointments to get 

you back on track in no time 

25minute 

appointments 

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care 

X-rays 

CT scans 

Blood testsMRI 

Pathology 

In-house 

pharmacy 

Appointments 

£95 

Rapid 

access to results 

Call 01580 242 521 or visit benendenhospital.org.uk/GP 

For Terms & Conditions please visit benendenhospital.org.uk/GP 

The Benenden Hospital Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, number 3454120. 

Registered charity number 1065995, Registered Office, The Benenden Hospital Trust, Goddard’s Green Road, 

Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AX

Had enough 

of being 

overweight? 

Hands up all those who feel they’re in a 

constant battle to achieve and maintain 

the weight they want to be. 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.’ 

Leading Weight Loss 

Consultant 

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 15 years, 

she has helped over 5,000 clients 

from all walks of life to help bring 

their dieting days to an end once 

and for all. Clients’ ages range 

from 8 to 90 years, so there is hope 

for everyone! 

A sustainable way to lose 

your weight and keep it off 

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. 

‘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 help you keep it off – for good!’ 

Health Benefits 

With an average 

weight loss of 7-14lb 

a month for clients 

and hundreds of hand 

written testimonials, 

Rachel’s results speak 

for themselves. 

Rachel Ricketts, Weight Loss Consultant 

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!’ 

One-to-one support 

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. 

For those who are not able to 

visit, a very successful remote 

support service is provided 

throughout the UK and overseas. 

With an average weight loss of 

7-14lb a month for clients and 

hundreds of handwritten 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.’ 

Do visit www.rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk for 

client’s videos and testimonials. 

Rachel offers free consultations for those who 

are wanting to lose their weight once and for all 

Call now: 01342 327396 

Email rachel@rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk 

www.rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk

FREE 

NO OBLIGATION 

HOME VISIT, 

QUOTATION AND 

FITTING 

For the ultimate in timeless elegance look no further than 

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Call Freephone 

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For Your Free Home Visit Visit 

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LIVING SPACES MADE BEAUTIFUL 

THIS KITCHEN WAS DESIGNED AND INSTALLED BY HKS 

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Selection from ‘Colour Corrosion’ Limited Editions 

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BY CLIVE SAWYER 

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www.just-ten.gallery clive@just-ten.gallery M: 07738 715354

7th, 8th & 9th June 2018 

Hole Park, Rolvenden TN17 4JB 

Pre-book 

discounted 

tickets online 

now! 

Using this code 

WT1 

Sponsored by 

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM

INTERIORS & SOFT 

FURNISHINGS 

Interiors are close to our hearts here at 

Wealden Times and we’ve hand-picked a 

collection of makers and collectors to 

showcase their products at the fair! See 

wealdentimes.co.uk/events for the full list. 


Where better to find glorious plants and 

outdoor accessories than in the ‘Garden of 

England’ amongst the formal borders of 

the Hole Park Estate? See page 158 for this 

month’s Garden Supplement and keep an eye 

out for some of our fabulous exhibitors! 

Don’t miss... 

The Fenwick Beauty Hub will feature 

a range of complimentary treatments 

from brands including Charlotte Tilbury, 

Dermalogica and Clarins. Plus, throughout 

the three days there will also be talks and 

workshops from Kiehl’s, Aveda, Caudalie 

and many more still to be announced!

Design & Planning 

Restoration 

New Build 

Barn Conversions 

Extensions 

Joinery 

COX 

Developments 

(Charing) Limited 

www.coxrestorations.co.uk 

www.coxdevelopmentscharing.co.uk 

NATIONAL AWARD WINNER COX DEVELOPMENTS 

(CHARING) LIMITED – BEST SMALL DEVELOPMENT 

For a free consultation please contact: 01233 714950 

www.coxrestorations.co.uk 

Established 1986

Over 30 years of inspiration 

Everything for your home 

• Traditional Hand-Made 

English Furniture 

• Contemporary Furniture 

• Upholstery 

• Lighting 

• Accessories 

• G i ft s 

High Street, Tenterden. 01580 764481 

tenterdenhouseinteriors.co.uk

The Kitchen is the Heart of Your Home 

See how we can transform your home today www.bentonskitchens.co.uk canterbury@bentonskitchens.co.uk 

Showroom: 17 Maynard Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RH Telephone: 01227 767576

Sourdough School... 

Both beginners and more advanced bakers can learn the lifelong 

skill of baking bread, sourdough, pasta, pizza and/or sweet-dough 

at Canterbury Baking School. At their Sourdough classes on 

Monday 2, Sunday 15 and Sunday 22 April, students will make 

two different starters and learn to develop, shape and adapt a 

variety of different sourdough breads. The usual entry price is 

£165pp but Wealden Times readers can claim £10 off when 

you quote Wealden10. For details and booking email vicky@ 

canterburybakingschool.com or visit canterburybakingschool.com 

April 

notebook 

Exhibitions & events 

near you this month... 

Mechanical Cabaret... 

Cabaret Mechanical Theatre comes to Hastings 

for the first time with an unmissable exhibition 

of mechanical moving toys and inventions. From 

Thurs 15 March to Sun 15 April Hastings Pier 

will be home to works by renowned artists Paul 

Spooner, Keith Newstead, Ron Fuller, Peter 

Markey, Matt Smith and Carlos Zapata as well as 

creations by members of the Craftivist Network, a 

consortium of local community organisations. For 

more information visit hastingspier.org.uk 

Circus Fun... 

Prepare to be amazed this Easter bank holiday 

weekend as Leeds Castle’s spellbinding outdoor 

show, Tarzanna, presents a playful aerial theatre 

show where children can learn circus skills 

including the trapeze and tightrope! For the rest of 

the school holidays, seek out clues hidden around 

the Castle grounds on a fun quest for children 

of all ages. This will be running from Friday 30 

March to Sunday 15 April and more information is 

available online at leeds-castle.com 

Flower Crowns... 

Those looking for a fairy-tale addition to their 

wedding outfits can learn how to make this 

‘must-have’ floral accessory on Friday 20 April 

at Blooming Green in Maidstone. Using freshly 

picked flowers and foliage from the Blooming 

Green flower plot, Jen will show you how to 

make anything from simple flower-girl circlets 

to abundant bridal crowns. All materials and 

homemade refreshments provided. Find out 

more at bloominggreenflowers.co.uk 

Heritage... 

Heritage and vintage vehicles are driving over for 

another year at the Kent Showground as the Heritage 

Transport show aims for a record of 800 vehicles in 

its ninth year. On Saturday 7 April you can expect 

the South East Bus Festival, trade stands, autojumble 

and a farmer’s market all celebrating heritage and 

vintage vehicles including cars, buses, motorbikes, 

steam and tractors. Find more details online at 

kentshowground.co.uk/heritage-transport-show 

Garden History... 

On Thursday 19 April at 11am garden historian 

Stephen Harmer will be walking visitors to 

Sissinghurst Castle through the history of the 

formal gardens, exploring how poet and novelist 

Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold 

Nicolson shaped the garden we know today, and 

the influence of other gardens and people such 

as Hidcote Manor and William Robinson. Go to 

sussexcountrygardener.co.uk to find out more. 

Tulip Season... 

20,000 tulips will be in bloom in Hever Castle’s 

stunning grounds this month. Visit from 

Wednesday 18 to Friday 27 April to indulge in 

a tour with head gardener Neil Miller, visit the 

Italian Garden’s kaleidoscopic display by the lake, 

and venture inside the castle to learn about the 

flower’s history and view in-house florist Pamela 

Brise’s striking floral displays. Go to 

hevercastle.co.uk for more information. 


The Furniture Event 

20% off * 

furniture orders 

PLUS 10% OFF * INTERIOR DESIGN 

ORDERS AND SERVICES 

‘Fairbanks’ in Leoni Velvet Topaz 

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

Thursday 22nd March to Saturday 21st April 

2-12 Mount Pleasant Road | Tunbridge Wells | Kent | TN1 1QT | 01892 530222

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

RDO 

Kitchen Studio 

Offering the 

combination of 

contemporary 

and classic kitchen 

design using fine 

furniture made 

in England by 

www.rdokitchenstudio.co.uk info@rdokitchenstudio.co.uk 

Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7RP 01737 240403

BE INSPIRED AND 

CHALLENGED / 

SHORT COURSE 

PROGRAMME 

A selection of inspiring short courses from 

our summer programme. Study for personal 

interest or self-development, among 

like-minded people and without assessment. 

Art Collecting and Collectors 

Study day Sat 7 July 10.00-16.00 £42 

Paul Klee: ‘taking a line for a walk’ 

6 weeks from Tue 5 June 11.00 - 13.00 £90 

Empowering Images: 

Tudor to Jacobean Portraiture 

4 weeks from Thurs 7 June 10.30-12.30 £60 

The Cold War in Literature 

6 weeks from Fri 8 June 10.30-12.30 £90 

How to listen to 

JS Bach’s Church Cantatas 

Study day Sat 7 July 10.00-16.00 £42 

For the full programme, more information and 

to book your place: www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge 

POSTGRADUATE 

LEVEL 

TASTER COURSES 

TONBRIDGE 

These small group, non-accredited courses are designed for anyone 

with the passion and motivation to develop their knowledge at an 

advanced level. They can be studied for pleasure or as an indication 

of your suitability for a postgraduate programme. 

ArT HISTory 

Beyond Beauty: The Weird and the 

Wonderful in Art Practice and Theory 

4 weeks from Weds 20 June 11.00-13.00 £135 

CrEATIvE WrITIng 

Writing Historical Fiction 

3 Saturdays 12 May; 9, 30 June 10.00-16.00 £250 

LITErATurE 

100 years of Women’s Suffrage: Celebrating 

a Century of British Feminist Literature 

5 weeks from Sat 4 May 10.30-12.30 £170 

For more information about these courses and 

to book your place: www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge 

university Centre Tonbridge, Avebury Avenue, Tn9 1Tg 

01732 352316 tonbridgeadmin@kent.ac.uk 

Just a few minutes’ walk from Tonbridge railway station and the High Street

At Krieder we produce furniture of beauty, rich in quality and daring in 

combination. We spend time understanding the needs of our clients, to enable us 

to create the most effective and usable products at a surprisingly affordable cost. 

To discuss your ideas contact us today 01892 619721 

Showrooms in TONBRIDGE | TUNBRIDGE WELLS | LONDON 

www.KRIEDER.COM

Editor’s 

Letter 

I 

write this with sunshine pouring in through the window 

of the Wealden Times offices, wearing three less layers 

of clothing than were necessary even last month. 

Spring really is here. And what better way to embrace 

this most glorious time of new sproutings and 

beginnings than getting out into the garden? Our 

annual gardens supplement is chock full of ideas and 

practical expert advice to inspire and guide you. 

And continuing the horticultural theme, we’ve also 

got exciting news about the Garden Hub at the 

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair in June (which 

can never come around soon enough for me). 

Among the brilliant speakers this year, you will have the 

chance to meet the real David Archer. Yes, that David 

Archer - or at least the actor who plays him, the fabulous 

Tim Bentinck, who will be talking about his new book 

Being David Archer. (Shall I say it again? David Archer!) 

With any luck that will be a gorgeous sunny summer 

day, meanwhile – embracing April’s rainy reputation 

- our fashion editor Kate Watts has chosen the best of 

the stylish new generation of waterproof jackets which 

keep the wet out without making you feel like a boilin-the-bag 

curry – or look like a train spotter. 

Enjoy your Wealden Times. 

Wealden Times Team 

Editor ....................................................................................... Maggie Alderson 

Editorial Assistant ........................................................................Rebecca Cuffe 

Digital Editor ...................................................................................Emily Pavey 

Fashion Editor ................................................................................... Kate Watts 

Design .........................................................................................Powerful Pierre 

Design Team ..............................................................................Anthony Boxall 

Rob Cursons 

Freya Bruce 

Tanya Goldsmith 

Managing Director ........................................................................ Julie Simpson 

Commercial Director ............................................................... Colin Wilkinson 

Sales Team ................................................................................ Hayley Biddulph 

Sarah Norwood 

Nick Robinson 

Distribution ....................................................................................... Kate Watts 

Wealden Times Events Team 

Sales Account Manager ...................................................................... Joy Adams 

Jude Brown 

Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson 

Local solicitors 

for all your 

personal and 

business needs 

Property 

Wills, trusts and probate 

Family and divorce 

Employment law 

Dispute resolution 

Company and commercial law 

www.bussmurton.co.uk 

TUNBRIDGE WELLS | CRANBROOK | EAST GRINSTEAD | DARTFORD 

Buss Murton Law LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership No OC345994 

and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 

47 wealdentimes.co.uk 

BussMurtonWT188.indd 1 11/09/2017 14:30

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DecorativeLivingFairWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 14:40 

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Tel: 01580 765169 www.absblinds.co.uk 

8 The Fairings, Tenterden • Mon-Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-3pm 


ABSBlindsWT194.indd 1 08/03/2018 16:01

DESIGN & PLANNING | RESTORATION | NEW BUILD | BARN CONVERSIONS | EXTENSIONS | JOINERY 

For a brochure or home consultation call 01797 366895 

www.anthony-hicks.co.uk

© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. 

Where to find your copy of 

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of 

Wealden Times or to have your free copy delivered 

for 12 months for just £22 postage 

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STATIONS: 

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Also available in: 

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Distribution of Wealden Times published in Cranbrook for Kent & Sussex. 

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LenleysWT194.indd 1 05/03/2018 10:54


52

Family favours 

A lovely family home which had got a bit lived in, was brought 

back to peak condition by interior designer Alexis Wylie 

Words: Maggie Alderson Photographs: David Merewether 


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54 

KSEHomeImprovementsWT183.indd 1 21/04/2017 17:52

Previous page: Ally commissioned bespoke bookshelves to create a focal point in the sitting room. The walls are painted in Farrow & 

Ball’s Varta, to add a splash of bold colour. Above: the oak sideboard used to be in the kitchen, but Ally thought it deserved a grander 

location. The chairs and sofa are from Furniture Village – to save money to spend on the bookshelves 

The Weald of Kent is a very special part of the world, 

with its beautiful rolling landscape peppered with 

postcard-worthy villages – and an unusually high 

volume of dream homes in ideal family proportions. 

This house is one of them. Set along a country lane with 

views from the back over a pond (and a swimming pool) to 

farmland and the rise of the High Weald in the distance. On 

one snowy morning visit, a robin red breast perched on the 

hedge, as if positioned by a stylist, with the winter silhouettes 

of trees against the sky beyond like a living Ravilious painting. 

It’s a magical spot. 

The house is equally blessed, a perfect combination of cosy 

beams – and no fewer than three inglenook fireplaces – with 

Victorian and 21st century additions which allow that modern 

ideal of lateral space. The kitchen melts into the dining area 

and on again to the sofas in the family snug. 

It also has that lovely circular flow, which always makes a 

house feel happy. You can walk round clockwise starting from 

the hall, past the cloakroom, into the snug, through the arch 

to the dining area, right turn into the kitchen and then back 

out to the hall. 

There are also various sets of French windows, so you can 

pop in and out at different places, or if you wanted to get 

away from everyone, there is an elegant sitting room off the 

other side of the hallway. 

But while the bones of the house are perfectly arranged 


Above and left: These chairs which had belonged to homeowner 

Jo’s mum, were looking a bit tired, but reupholstered with two 

old Mexican blankets Ally found in the big clear out, they are 

now the focal point in the hall – and a very handy place to hang 

a handbag 

for family life, there was a time when the hectic demands of 

that very set up had taken its toll. 

With three kids growing up through the stages of school life, 

with associated sports equipment littering the place up and an 

owner with a demanding career in town, the loveliness of the 

house had begun to feel rather lost under the tide of life. 

Owner Jo had put in the dining room extension that so 

brilliantly links the kitchen and the snug when they moved 

down to Kent 14 years ago. Then after that output of cash 

and energy, she was happy to let things be for a while and 

postpone decorating and refurnishing, but when her oldest 

child was heading off to university she decided it was time to 

bring the house up to date with their lives. 

That was when she decided to call in a professional and on 

the recommendation of friends got on the phone to interior 

designer Alexis (Ally) Wylie, who lives a handy ten minutes 

away. “Ally will sort you out,” she was told by happy previous 

clients – and they were right. 

 


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Right: Looking from the cloakroom hallway, through the hall, 

down another passage and on to the sitting room Below: the 

snug – with one of the three inglenook fireplaces in the house. 

The painting over the mantle is by Cranbrook-based artist Sandy 

Dooley. All the curtains and blinds on this floor are in the same 

fabric from Bell House Fabric and Interiors. Ally covered the 

small chair on the right with a patchwork quilt which had been 

made by Jo’s mother 

Using one fabric for the curtains and 

blinds throughout the ground floor unites 

the layout, giving the space a chic, pulledtogether 

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60 

SianLarkenDressageWT194.indd 1 20/03/2018 CPJFieldWT194.indd 11:15 

1 12/03/2018 14:25

Above: Ally had the dresser made to replace the dark wood dresser she moved to the sitting room and to reflect the kitchen’s 

contemporary country style. Baskets and apple crates are her favourite tools for keeping clutter organised 

 


Above: Jo put in the dining room extension which joins up the kitchen and the snug, when she first moved in 14 years ago, 

combining the beams of the original 16th century cottage with a light airy modern feel. The glorious four-oven Aga, was already in 

place 

Ally first visited at the end of September, had her swat team 

on site by November and then it was six weeks hard slog to 

have it ready for Christmas. 

“I was hanging pictures on December 23rd…” she says. 

But that was the fun end of the project, which started with 

three skips outside, with Jo determined to clear out all the 

stuff they didn’t need any more. 

“Jo was ruthless,” says Ally. “We had a system: in the skip, or 

to the side of the skip. The next morning, if it was still on the 

ground next to the skip it went into the skip. The house looks 

twice the size now we’ve cleared it out.” 

And while Jo was determinedly getting rid of unwanted 

belongings – and local charity shops had a bonanza from 

it – Ally was at work organising the interior starting with the 

entrance hall, which had been ‘a lost space’. 

She created a deep cupboard at the back of it, fitted out 

with apple crates, each with one family member’s name on it, 

as their designated space to stash their stuff between outings. 

No more hallway clutter. 

She was also on the hunt for family pieces that could be 

given a new lease of life. The two chairs now in the hall had 

belonged to Jo’s late mother and inspiration struck when Ally 

spotted some bold Mexican blankets and rescued them from 

the skip. 

“They’d been on the floor for years,” says Ally, “and looked 

seriously past their best, but I had them dry cleaned and they 

came up beautifully.” 

The chairs were transformed and what had seemed like 

rubbish, was upcycled and given a whole new lease of life. 

Also pressed into service was a trove of fabrics Jo found 

stored in a cupboard. A lovely patchwork quilt, which had 

been made by her mother for the babies’ cradles, was used to 

reupholster two chairs, one in pride of place in the snug as a 

lovely daily reminder of granny. 

Another great find was bolts of African printed fabrics, 

brought back from Tanzania by the family, which Ally had 

made into piles of brightly coloured mixed cushions and 

upholstery, creating a vibrant theme which runs through the 

house. 

This unifying technique is also used across the curtains 


62

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Above: The main change Ally made in the dining room, was to turn Jo’s table round, so it leads on invitingly from the kitchen. Ally 

had Jo’s existing dining chairs recovered in a mix of prints to contrast the graphic design of the curtains and blinds 

 


Above: The copper-lined pulley light over the dining table is by Original BTC (it was a bargain Ally found under the discontinued 

clearance table.). The leather club chair was a family favourite. Ally gave it new life with cushions covered in vibrant African fabrics 

brought back from Tanzania that turned up in Jo’s clear out 

and blinds on the ground floor which are all made of the same 

material – an Ikat-style print from Bell House Interiors in 

Cranbrook, which is very wide, so economical to use. 

It’s an idea which would never have occurred to me – I 

was almost shocked at the concept – but once you see it in 

place, using one window treatment fabric throughout unites 

the layout, giving the space a chic, pulled-together look, 

which makes you wonder why on earth we fuss about putting 

different patterns in every room. 

This is a perfect example of the kind of savvy Ally has 

gathered in her nearly 30 years of experience as an interior 

designer, working for eight years for South Africa’s doyenne 

of the profession, before returning to continue her trade in 

London, where she still does big projects, and then 15 years 

ago moving down to Kent. 

Another cheeky little solution learned from those years of 

experience was her treatment for the less than lovely radiators 

all over the house. Rather than replace, she disguised them. 

“We covered them with latticed box radiator covers, but the 

trick is, before you put the cover on, you paint the radiator 

charcoal grey, so you can’t see it through the air vents.” 

It works like magic and the box covers also created useful 

– and once again, unifying – shelves, perfect for grouping 

displays of ornaments and mementoes, many of which had 

been languishing in cupboards. 

It was with such individually small, but very effective en 

masse details, rather than any big structural building work, 

that Ally helped Jo transform the house. 

“It turned out the whole place needed rewiring, which was a 

pain, but it gave us the chance to put sockets where we needed 

them, which is so important and you have to do it first before 

you plaster, so it can all be made good afterwards.” 

With a chunk of the budget taken up by such invisible 

works, there was less left for decorating and Ally had to be 

very creative. 

“The first thing I do is always a floor plan. I draw every 


66

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Above left: Ally has used the same curtain fabric upstairs in a different colourway. The chair is a Dunelm find, with one of Ally’s 

signature cushions covered in fabric from an old grain sack. Ally urged Jo to buy the beautiful armoire to give the room a focal point. 

Above right: In one of the children’s bedrooms, Ally had the headboard upholstered in the grain sack fabric, to set off the mixed 

prints of the cushions 

room, to scale with a pencil and ruler – I don’t use a computer 

program – then I measure all the furniture you are going to 

keep and cut it out with graph paper to see how it all fits. 

Then I use one colour of PostIt notes on the existing furniture 

and another to indicate pieces which need to be sourced. 

“You keep a record of those measurements in a notebook, 

then if you wake up in the morning and want to go and do 

a little impulse buy, you know what sizes will fit and you can 

shop with confidence.” 

Another of Ally’s techniques is to bring furniture into the 

body of the room. A common mistake ‘civilians’ make is 

to push it all against the walls to maximise the space in the 

centre, whereas in fact, if you articulate it with furniture a 

room will actually look bigger – and more appealing. 

The two sofas in the snug, which Jo already had, were 

recovered and restored with new seat cushions. 

“Channelled feather cushions,” says Ally firmly, “it is 

essential they’re channelled, or you are constantly heaving the 

cushions out to plump them up.” 

One sofa was re-covered in taupe devoré velvet, the other 

in wool blanket plaid in complimentary tones. Both sit away 

from the wall, the velvet one in front of what appears to be a 

bespoke shelving unit. 

“It’s IKEA,” says Ali, grinning. “I had the carpenter build a 

plinth to raise it up, so it appears to be built in.” 

Probably the simplest change Ally made and one of the most 

transforming, was in the dining area. She turned the table 

around, so it is now sitting alongside the French window, 


Above left: A chair in a spare bedroom recovered with a patchwork quilt made by Jo’s mother. Above right: Ally had bookshelves 

built in the guest cloakroom and papered the walls with Jane Churchill’s March Hare wallpaper in the stone colourway 

not pointing out into it and back into the snug. 

You can see immediately what a difference this would 

have made to the flow of energy, with the length of the table 

stretching out appealingly from the vantage point of the 

kitchen and just inviting you to sit down. 

The biggest makeover was to the sitting room, in its almost 

separate wing, which had become one of those dumping 

ground rooms you can close the door on and forget about. 

Jo’s extensive collection of was scattered around the house 

in “random stand-alone bookshelves” as she puts it, so Ally 

commissioned some shelves as the focal point on the far wall 

of the room, framing the piano which all the family play. 

“I wanted to make this the special room,” she says. “As it’s 

at the other end of the house from the high traffic rooms I 

thought we could have a little bit of fun with a big pop of 

colour, although it is still a calm haven, opening onto the 

garden.” 

The result is an elegant room, with a great sense of occasion 

conveyed by her choice of Farrow & Ball’s marvellous peacock 

green Vardo. And you’d never guess that all the furniture in 

there, apart from the antique sideboard, which Ally pinched 

from the kitchen (replacing it with a bespoke dresser) is 


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Above: This chair was a wedding present to Jo’s parents. “It was very comfortable but not very cool,” she says. “Ally had it painted 

white and covered in African fabric – transformed!” 

 


“I spent two hours with each of Jo’s children so I could understand what 

they liked and wanted, so they would each have an individual space” 

from Furnitureland – and on sale too. 

“Saving money on the furniture paid for the bookshelves 

and to decorate the whole room,” she says. 

Upstairs, Ally concentrated on giving each of the children 

the room they really wanted. 

“I spent two hours with each of them, so I could understand 

what they liked and wanted, so they would each have an 

individual space.” 

The result is three very individual rooms, all featuring 

elements of the African fabrics and combinations of cheap 

and cheerful shelves and wardrobes, raised up on Ally’s clever 

plinths so they reach up to the ceiling and appear built in. 

Like the rest of the house the bedrooms are a combination 

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SkinnersWT193.indd 1 13/02/2018 14:45

SPRING BED LINEN 

DESIGNS FROM HARLEQUIN 

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season ahead; a time to cast away the old and bring in the NEW. What better place to start than the 

bedroom. The bedroom is your sanctuary, where you can find peace and tranquillity after the stresses 

of the day. A room that can both calm the mood and lift your spirits. 

Whether you are looking for cool and contemporary designs or something more vibrant, full of colour 

and pattern with a fun and playful twist, Fenwick has it all! And we have great delight in introducing 

to you the latest designs from Harlequin for spring. Come and see the beautiful selection of bed linen 

with co-ordinating cushions and throws to make your bedroom complete. 

We are here to inspire you! 

HARLEQUIN | POSTELIA 

Exhibiting an exotic mix of 

sea-plants swaying over the 

fabric, the all-over duvet cover 

design combines line drawings 

with whimsical watercolour plant 

designs with a plain reverse on 

100% cotton sateen. Accessorise 

the look with the velvet cushion in 

lagoon blue with an embroidered 

feather motif. 

DOUBLE DUVET COVER £105 

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £120 

OXFORD PILLOWCASE £25 

CUSHION 40x60cm £50 

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COLLECTION | MAKRANA 

Makrana features an all-over 

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highlights with a moonstonecoloured 

plain on the reverse. 

The co-ordinating cushion is 

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DOUBLE DUVET COVER £95 

KINGSIZE DUVET COVER £110 

CUSHION 40x50cm £50 

THROW 170x220cm £195 

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HOME ACCESSORIES 

Discover what’s NEW on the 1st Floor at Fenwick Tunbridge Wells. This season we are introducing 

a range of contemporary furniture pieces that will complement your home; from console tables, coffee 

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The spring season is looking bright at Fenwick! 

LEAF PRINT | CHAIR £230 

BALLOON | HANGING SHADE 

This balloon shape and sprayed 

fabric strands ensure a soft shadow 

is cascaded around the room £39 

LEAF PRINT | STOOL £40 

CROSS | FLOOR LAMP 

A beautiful and statuesque 

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hardwood, great for rooms 

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H162 W40 D40cm £135 

ENSO | MIRROR 

Injecting a touch of zen-like 

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H87 W60cm £195 

TENBY | CONSOLE TABLE 

The perfect proportions of the console will make 

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TOTEM | HALL STAND 

Stylish and practical, the stand has 

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The stand shown has additional 

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An alternative shaped coffee table with 

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Leaf print chair from Kaemingk, all other products from pr home. 

ROYAL VICTORIA PLACE TUNBRIDGE WELLS KENT TN1 2SR | 01892 516716 | WWW.FENWICK.CO.UK

Coastal 

haven 

This old coastguard’s cottage is gloriously 

free of all those corny seaside decor 

clichés thanks to interior architect Marta 

Nowicka’s sophisticated vision 

Words:: Kathryn Flett 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Styling: Helen Bratby 


92


1978 | CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS | 2018 

London . Tunbridge Wells . Oxshott 

0333 011 3333

Previous page: The dining table is medieval. It was given to 

Marta’s father, an architect by a client in lieu of fees. Marta 

deliberately exposed the brickwork around the fireplace to reveal 

the building’s fabric. The mirror is from McCully & Crane in 

Rye This page: the kitchen has an industrial feel with stainless 

steel appliances. The drawer unit is from IKEA 

Occasionally, even the most stylish seaside holiday 

rentals succumb to coastal clichés. If it’s not wallto-wall 

tongue-and-groove it will be the pots 

of beach stones and assorted weather-beaten flotsam and 

jetsam by the front door—just below the storm lantern. 

There may also be jaunty blue-and-white striped roman 

blinds and a porthole mirror in the bathroom. Then, of 

course, there will be more pictures of boats than you can poke 

an oar at.... Oh, and while we’re at it, a pair of old oars above 

a fireplace festooned with old fishing nets is pretty much 

seaside interiors’ answer to the country pub’s horse brasses. 

Rest assured, as a seaside dweller of thirteen years standing I 

have been guilty of more than a few of these decorating clichés 

but now I’m also a qualified interior designer I recognise 

that the trick is to successfully acknowledge a building’s 

sense of place — and allow it to retain its integrity — 


Savouring the architectural 

quirks of a family home that was 

built primarily for the business 

of coastal defence, not pleasure, 

Marta retained as many of the 

original features as possible

15 

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LilyMatthewsWT189.indd 1 10/10/2017 12:57 

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Previous page: The clock in the 

sitting room was found in South 

Kensington on one of Marta’s 

father’s sites This page left: The 

salvaged shutters are French. 

Marta put them in to suggest a 

window where there isn’t one. She 

also wanted to have French things 

in the house to reflect Rye’s status 

as a Cinque Port Below: Marta 

left the patina of old paint on the 

main staircase, as part of the story 

of the house 

without letting that dictate the terms of engagement. 

It’s a balance which is pulled off quite beautifully by 

the interior architect Marta Nowicka at her holiday-let 

coastguard’s cottage at Jury’s Gap — a weather-swept 

stretch of coastline between Camber and the MOD 

shooting range at Lydd, close to Romney Marsh. This, of 

course, isn’t the tastefully manicured seaside of counties 

further west; it’s a thoroughly no-nonsense and in-yourface 

variety of seaside and as such it isn’t for everyone. 

Marta, a Londoner, fell in love with the area by accident, 

finding her way to the East Sussex and Kent coastal borders 

via friends who had property there. Alerted to the existence 

of the striking row of four-storey Victorian coastguard’s 

cottages inhabited by similarly creative owner-occupiers, she 

bought the one at the end, closest to the sea, in 2009 with 

a legacy from her late father, and renovated it with love, 

before moving in with her young son, now a teenager. 

“Obviously he never visited, but many of my father’s 


This page: Fresh paint on the chimney breast in the westfacing 

single bedroom sets off the untreated walls on either side. The 

window looks out onto Rye Harbour. The curtain fabric is from 

Vintage Bird in Hastings 

objects are here, so I feel the house is very much of him. 

These days all the coastguard’s cottages here are holiday 

lets, however at that time, just a few years ago, there was 

still a resident community of mostly artists and writers. 

My son was at school in Ashford and so we basically 

just battened down the hatches here. It was magical.” 

It was also, one may say, quite brave. Though glorious 

from spring through to autumn, in winter it will come 

as no surprise to learn that this stretch of coast can be, 

at best, bracing. I live 30 minutes to the west along 

the same coast, in Hastings and St Leonards, and I’m 

used to what we call the “Lid-On” months, when 

the weather hits the shoreline with a vengeance. 

There’s a romance to it, for sure — and the ozone blast 

of seaside living is wonderfully cobweb-busting—however, 

when I visit Marta’s house on a bleak, nearly spring 

morning, I’m struck by the bravery of being a newly-single 

mother living here with a young child. However, after 

even a few minutes in her company you are struck by the 

sense that Marta is a woman who makes things work and, 

as she says, “it worked very well for us, for a while.” 

It’s not hard to see why. Savouring the architectural 

quirks of a family home that was built primarily for the 

business of coastal defence, not pleasure, Marta retained 

 


100

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102 

KarensFoamStoreWT191.indd 1 14/02/2018 16:11

This page: The staircase from the ground floor up to the 

first floor. The rope handrail is a subtle nod to the maritime 

connection of the cottage 

as many of the original features as possible, including 

the coastguard’s gun cabinet by the front door; these 

shores, after all, have long been a smuggler’s beat and 

the coastguards would often have had their work cut out 

dealing with looters in the aftermath of shipwrecks. 

Indeed, the entire area is one of dramatic extremes and 

stark contrasts; from the dunes and romantic white sands at 

Camber you are just a few minutes’ drive from the isolated 

weather-beaten bluff of Dungeness — which is not only one 

of the largest shingle landscapes in the world but one of the 

few nature reserves graced by a hulking power station (not to 

mention blessed with very fine fish and chips, at The Pilot). 

Inland, the 100 square miles of Romney Marsh — all big 

skies and brooding landscapes, embracing woodland, wetland, 

sand and shingle and thirteen beautiful medieval churches — 

is no less intensely atmospheric. This is, in short, a corner of 

the country that attracts escapists, from near and far, opening 

its arms to visitors now as easily as it once put up defences 

— nearby, there are numerous frontline relics of conflicts 

ranging from the Napoleonic wars to the Battle of Britain. 

Perhaps the most enduring metaphor for the contrasts of 

this fascinating area is the 28-mile Royal Military Canal which 

was built as a defence against Napoleon in the early 1800s, 

scything through the landscape from Hythe to Rye which, 

these days, is an important nature reserve for migratory birds. 

Though Marta fell in love with the romance of all this 

immediately — ‘it seemed to attract so many of my kind of 

people’ — her architect’s eye also meant that pretty should 

occasionally outweigh pragmatic. The empty house was 

in a desperately unloved state bordering on the derelict. 

“It had been vandalized and there was graffiti 

everywhere. The bathroom had been smashed to pieces 

and radiators pulled off the walls…” which would have 

been sufficient to put off most people. Luckily, Marta 

not only had a vision of what it could become but could 

see that the ‘bones’ of the building were strong. 

“There is a vernacular Victorian ‘coastguard’s 

cottage’ design you will find all over the country, 

as though there was a government blueprint.” 

All it would take to bring the house back to life, she 

surmised, would be… a total refurb and a lot of visual TLC. 

Having studied interior architecture at Kingston 

University, Marta founded her own successful practice 

in 2004, after a period in partnership at another firm 

and as a course leader in interior architecture at 

 


This page: The house had been vandalised before Marta bought it, the bathroom smashed to pieces, so she had to put an entirely new 

one in. She panelled it with horizontal tongue and groove to make it feel warmer and put in a freestanding bath as that is what would 

have been there before 


104

See potential. 

Realise the vision. 

Open Morning 

Come and see the difference 

Thursday 3rd May 

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Contact our Registrar for details: 

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dulwichprepcranbrook.org 

ENSOR 

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106 

CPGlassWT194.indd 1 08/03/2018 17:01

The cottage’s warm 

homeliness – squidgy leather 

armchairs in front of roughand-ready 

open fireplaces 

– combines with touches 

of genuine glamour 

This page: In the East facing double bedroom, Marta stripped 

off the old wallpaper and liked the distressed plaster beneath it so 

much she decided to keep it. She has had the 1950s wicker chair 

for many years. The French painter’s ladder was found at Wish 

Barn Antiques in Rye 

London Metropolitan University. She fast became a go-to 

architect for the generation of artists known as the YBAs, 

designing projects for Gavin Turk, Gillian Wearing and the 

contemporary art dealer Karsten Schubert, among others. 

Originally, at Jury’s Gap, there was no view from the 

single-storey ground floor kitchen extension in order to 

protect the building from the full force of the weather — 

that is, until Marta created a big picture window above the 

stainless-steel work surfaces, sink and the large range. 

“And there’s no extractor, though there probably 

‘should’ be,” she shrugs, smiling. However, this really isn’t 

a ‘should’ kind of house… “so we just open the door.” 

Next to the kitchen, Marta added a spacious wetroom 

and downstairs loo. The coastguards may not have 

bothered, however modern weekenders “want to be able 

to shower off the sand and the salt straight away.” 

Surprisingly, even on the day I visit — alluring skies 

and biting winds over the desolate landscape — the 

house is filled with light. You can easily imagine freerange 

kids and barbeques against the backdrop of sun 

 


This page: Looking from the East facing bedroom onto the landing with the ladder steps going up to the attic bedroom 

and sea and… an MOD firing range (note to would-be 

guests: if the proximity of barbed wire and the occasional 

rat-a-tat of working firearms scares you more than it 

thrills you then this may not be your kind of place). 

The cottage’s central staircase leaves walls free for the 

windows and many of the rooms are double aspect. 

Even with the predominantly white palette, it’s still a 

surprisingly warm and welcoming space, even in winter. 

There are five spacious bedrooms which sleep eleven when 

the house is full, making it affordable for big groups of 

friends or families at a rate starting from £300 per night. 

Two of the bedrooms are on the lower ground floor 

and are, again, surprisingly light with, I note, windows 

perfectly positioned for smaller guests to clamber in 

and out of very easily during games of hide-and-seek 

— “I suspect there is a lot of that,” agrees Marta. 

There are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom 

on the first floor, while the bedroom for which I imagine 

 


108

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ADVERTISING FEATURE 

The Benefits of Bespoke… 

Rencraft has been designing and making kitchens in Kent for over 37 years. 

Here’s why they believe the difference is in the detail… 

John Stephens, Managing Director 

of Rencraft, explains “We make 

all our kitchens and furniture in our 

workshop just outside Sevenoaks 

and we take great pride in the care and 

attention to detail that we put in to every 

single design we do. The craftsmanship 

we offer can’t be recreated on a factory 

production line. Here, every cabinet is 

built by hand, every solid wood cutlery 

insert is made to order and every larder 

cupboard is kitted out in a way that is 

personal to you. The end result is a 

kitchen that is functional, beautiful and 

built to stand the test of time.” 

While Rencraft takes great pride in 

offering a more traditional approach to 

manufacturing, its designs are far from 

old-fashioned. 

John adds “We’ve invested in the latest 

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provide our clients with an insight in to 

what their finished kitchen will look like. 

Our designers focus on layout, interiors 

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everything from worktops to appliances 

and storage solutions.” 

The team are delighted to have had their 

efforts recognised by others within the 

industry, with one of John’s designs being 

announced as a finalist in the prestigious 

2018 KBB Retail & Design Awards. 

“To have one of our designs recognised 

in this way is a great achievement,” 

says John “but nothing compares to the 

great feedback we get from our clients. I 

know people who have had our kitchens 

for upwards of 20 years, and they are 

still happy with them. That’s the real 

compliment, that’s the buzz, and that’s 

why we’ll never compromise on the quality 

of what we do.” 

To fully appreciate what Rencraft can do 

for you, simply visit their website 

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appointment at one of their showrooms. 

Rencraft can be found at 

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart, 

Sevenoaks TN15 0ES 

Tel: 01732 762682 or at 

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Tel: 01892 520730

This page: Marta created a new double bedroom 

in the eaves of the house, large and airy with 

light pouring through Velux windows, accessed 

by this ship-like ladder 

dice need to be rolled, or straws drawn, 

is the large Velux-windowed airy-yetcosy 

double tucked up in the eaves. 

Marta created the room from scratch 

(“there was a lot of insulation and glazing; 

this is a house which may look ‘easy going’ 

but because of its position also needs a 

lot of maintenance”) and it is reached by 

a ship-like wooden staircase that makes it 

unsuitable for the very small or elderly. 

Here, floor to ceiling tongue-and-groove 

cladding creates a genuinely romantic whiteon-white 

den; seaside escapism as it should 

be played. Never mind Camber, up here you 

can squint and imagine yourself pretty much 

anywhere from Corfu to Cape Cod. No 

wonder that in 2014 the house was voted No7 

in The Guardian’s Top 100 seaside rentals. 

Elsewhere, the cottage’s warm homeliness 

— squidgy leather armchairs in front of 

rough-and-ready open fireplaces, beds 

made for bouncing as well as dream-filled 

sleeping — combines with touches of 

genuine glamour… Yes, that is a Bridget 

Riley print in the dining room, which 

also boasts a chandelier the likes of which 

Victorian coastguards could only dream. 

If, however, your idea of the perfect coast 

is to be found in Cornwall or California, it’s 

unlikely that this little spot — geographically, 

it’s ‘Camberness’ — will also be your idea 

of fun. However, for those of us who both 

love and live in the area the more subtle 

attractions are precisely what appeal. 

Marta also remains passionate about the 

spot where Kent collides with East Sussex; 

her recent redevelopment of a 1950s St 

John’s Ambulance station situated in the 

centre of historic Rye attracted a great deal 

of interest, with TV appearances and features 

in Grand Designs magazine and is also 


Never mind Camber, up here you can squint and imagine 

yourself pretty much anywhere from Corfu to Cape Cod 

available as a holiday let among the portfolio of properties 

designed or selected by Marta at domstayandlive.com — 

dom being the Polish for ‘home’, referencing her roots. 

“It’s a go-to website for people wanting to rent unusual 

and contemporary spaces to live or holiday in, or even buy.” 

Meanwhile, the coastguard’s cottage at Jury’s Gap is 

today pretty much exactly as it was when Marta and her 

son were in situ. However, this is far from being a house set 

in aspic. In fact, this sense of a home having been curated 

for others to enjoy is precisely the reason the space doesn’t 

come across as yet another cool-but-soulless holiday let. 

Instead, this quirky and authentic seaside cottage wears 

its heart on its sleeve, feeling as warm and welcoming 

(yes, even in January) as any loved and lived-in family 

home. And that’s precisely where the cliché ends. 

Read more about Kathryn Flett’s interior practice at 

luxeforlife.com 

Address Book: 

To rent the cottage contact DOM Stay and Live 

marta@domstayandlive.com 07949 564550 

domstayandlive.com 

Mccully & Crane 27 Cinque Ports Street, Rye 

mccullyandcrane.com 

Pale and Interesting 21 Mermaid Street, Rye 

paleandinteresting.com 

Vintage Bird 48 High Street, Hastings 

Wish Barn Antiques Wish Street, Rye 


112

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35 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1LS 01892 517986 

www.edneyandedney.com

Rudyard table lamp £118 

Dar Lighting darlighting.co.uk 

Swoonworthy wood effect tiles 

£18.95/m 2 Walls and Floors 

Ltd wallsandfloors.co.uk 

5 Hook antique rack £33.99 

Ian Snow iansnow.com 

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Black and gold moving gears 

clock £115 Alexander & Pearl 

alexanderandpearl.co.uk 

Large distressed blossom 

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thefarthing.co.uk 

Rustic metal bar stool, £74.50 

The Farthing thefarthing.co.uk 

Burghley chair £1519 

Darlings of Chelsea 

darlingsofchelsea.co.uk 

Aged zinc florist’s vase £10.50 

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Reclaimed wood chest of 

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Oak towel rail £94 Lime 

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Mogg Zio Tom sideboard 

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Vincent Sheppard garden 

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2 

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4 

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Floor plans 

All kinds of wooden floors, encaustic tiles and neutral coir-style 

carpeting are still gorgeous and desirable flooring choices, but 

there are lots of fun new trends for covering the ground beneath 

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contemporary interiors 

5 

7 

Herringbone 

8 

9 

All kinds of surfaces, from wood to ceramic and 

vinyl tiles look fresh laid in this jazzy pattern 

1. Goodrich Espresso Oak £79.95/m 2 Woodpecker Flooring 

woodpeckerflooring.co.uk, 2. Lexington Bianco £55+VAT/ m 2 The Stone 

Tile Warehouse thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk 3. Amtico Herringbone 

flooring from £50/m 2 Dewitt Floors dewittfloors.co.uk, 4. Reclaimed 

wood effect floor tiles £19.95/m 2 Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk 

5. Haven wood tiles £32.95/m 2 Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk 

6. Paintwash white tiles £3.17/tile Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk 

7. Little wood blend tiles £25.99/m 2 Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk 

8. Herringbone marble polished brick tiles £9.95/sheet Walls and 

Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk 9. Tavola tiles £10.99/m 2 Tile Mountain 

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Natural Stone, Encaustics, Porcelain 

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Rug shown Farrago Gold 

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OrlestoneOakWT167.indd 1 02/12/2015 11:42

Terrazzo 

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Showroom: The Barn, Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6EE 

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visit our website: www.dbwf.co.uk 

5 7 

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Mulberry Flooring Ltd 

DavidBrownWT194.indd 1 20/03/2018 15:11 

An independent family run business. 

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8 9 

1. Ofelia rustic porcelain floor tile £28.99 Tile Mountain tilemountain.co.uk 2. Lime terrazzo 

approx. £54.50+VAT/m 2 In Opera in-opera.co.uk 3. Kaleo terrazzo cement tile from £75.44/ 

m 2 Terrazzo Tiles terrazzo-tiles.co.uk 4. Verde Alpi approx. £54.50+VAT/m 2 In Opera in-opera. 

co.uk 5. Francesca terrazzo cement £72.11/m 2 Terrazzo Tiles, terrazzo-tiles.co.uk 6. TE007 

Diespeker £85/m 2 diespeker.co.uk 7. GV terrazzo cement approx. £54.50+VAT/m 2 In Opera 

in-opera.co.uk 8. Alameda cement tile £75.44/m 2 Terrazzo Tiles terrazzo-tiles.co.uk 9. Snow 

field £85+VAT/m 2 The Stone Tile Warehouse thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk 

 

Visit our lovely showroom at 

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MulberryFlooringWT193.indd 1 07/03/2018 14:24

Perfectly patterned 

2 

We’re used to pattern in rugs, but now it’s looking good again in fitted 

carpet - geometric, floral, stripe, or plaid (like at Balmoral) 

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3 4 

5 

6 7 

1. Bloomsbury Summer Breeze RRP £59/m 2 Ulster Carpets ulstercarpets.com 2. Crucial Trading 100% wool 

Biscayne carpet £65/m2 Dewitt Floors dewittfloors.co.uk 3. Braeburn Myrtle RRP £74/m 2 Ulster Carpets 

ulstercarpets.com 4. Blue baroque carpet £39.99 Carpetright carpetright.co.uk 5. Beaumont Turtle Dove RRP 

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7. Colombus Greek Key carpet £29.99 Carpetright carpetright.co.uk 


120

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FREELANDS TILES 

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CobanrugsWT194.indd 1 13/03/2018 FreelandsTilesWT194.indd 16:27 

1 19/03/2018 12:26 

New showroom 

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DewittFlooringUKLtdWT194.indd 1 19/03/2018 10:38

SPRING EDIT 

The spring/summer collections at Fenwick have landed with an array of uplifting and joyful 

colours, from sugared almond pastels to all the colours of a rainbow. Yellow mania continues, but 

now with a warmer softer tone. Millennial Pink looks like it here to stay but this season it has a rival, 

Lilac; a light purple with a twist. Crinkle silks and linen mixes will create light and shade, and 

shape will come in the form of opposites; from soft ethereal layering to strong clean lines with sharp 

detailing. Our buyers have travelled far and wide to find product that is quite unique, to inspire our 

customers and offer a point of difference, beautiful designs not found everywhere on the high street. 

Here is our spring edit, pop into store to discover so much more! 

©2018 EILEEN FISHER INC. 

FENWICK | CANTERBURY 01227 766866 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS 01892 516716

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STORE FOR AVAILABILITY | WWW.FENWICK.CO.UK

Rain or shine 

With wet weather gear the choice used to be stay dry – or stay stylish, but high tech 

fabrics and a new generation of labels have combined the two. Bring on the rain! 

We would like to thank the team at Hastings Pier for allowing us to 

photograph at this iconic location. For more information on the history 

of the pier or upcoming events visit hastingspier.org.uk 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Styling: Kate Watts 

Model: Ella Parsons 

Make Up: Natasha Valerie Makeup natashavaleriemakeup.com 


124


Ilse Jacobsen raincoat, £230, Travelling 

Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com; denim jacket, 

£38.49, Gap at Ashford Designer Outlet 

ashforddesigneroutlet.com; printed jumpsuit, 

£165, Bod & Ted, bodandted.co.uk; 

rust leather clogs, £119, Kitty Clogs 

Sweden kittyclogssweden.co.uk

First Page: Soft trench, £99, French Connection at Ashford Designer Outlet, metallic biker jacket, £59, Guess at 

Ashford Designer Outlet, frayed hem jeans, £27.99, Gap at Ashford Designer Outlet, leather bag, £89, Jaeger at Ashford 

Designer Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com; longline shirt, £110, Bod & Ted, bodandted.co.uk; garnet leather clogs, £125, 

Kitty Clogs Sweden kittyclogssweden.co.uk. This page: Trench, £149, Jaeger at Ashford Designer Outlet, high waist 

trousers, £20.99, Gap at Ashford Designer Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com; embroidered hooded sweatshirt, £85, Odyl 

odyldesign.com; leather trainers, £90, Travelling Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com 


Left: Ilse Jacobsen raincoat, £115, Travelling Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com; silk drop waist dress, £215, Bod & Ted, bodandted.co.uk; 

D&G sunglasses, £140, Sunglasses Hut at Ashford Designer Outlet, transparent bag, £23, Fiorelli at Ashford Designer Outlet 

ashforddesigneroutlet.com. Right: Packmack, £79, Fenwick Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk; Ray Ban sunglasses, £127, Sunglasses Hut at 

Ashford Designer Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com 


128

cashmere and silk knitwear 

Ladies Shopping Event 

Wednesday 25 th April 

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Enjoy champagne 

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Complimentary 

gift bag with every 

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23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ 

Telephone 01580 761222 Shop online at www.cashara.co.uk 

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 

Come to Charing for White Vanilla 

CasharaWT194.indd 1 12/03/2018 CordeliaJamesWT193.indd 16:30 

1 06/02/2018 17:10 

Our new range of White Vanilla styles plus our core 

fashions in cotton, linen and silk have arrived. We’ve 

added great accessories to complete the look. 

While you’re here, explore the rest of Charing and have tea at 

Mulberry’s, choose some great cards and gifts from our friendly 

Post Office, or hop along to the butchers for a juicy steak. 

44 

Opening Hours: Tuesday—Friday 10.30am—5pm 

Saturday 10.30am—3.30pm 

44 High Street, Charing, Kent TN27 0HX 01233 714689 

LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS 

FACEBOOK.COM/LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS 

WWW.LINDAPOPEOPTICIAN.CO.UK 

RYE ROAD • HAWKHURST 

TELEPHONE 01580 753744 


Elizabeth44WT194.indd 1 16/03/2018 LindapopeWT194.indd 10:14 

1 15/03/2018 12:58

Over 45 years experience 

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Untitled-3 1 13/02/2018 OdylWT194.indd 16:30 1 12/03/2018 16:57 

THE GORGEOUS NEW 

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www.littlepoppets.co Telephone: 01732 456497 

142 St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3PF 


130 

LittlePoppetsWT193.indd 1 19/02/2018 14:45

Ilse Jacobsen raincoat, £160, Travelling 

Bazaar travelling-bazaar.com; star print 

neck scarf, £4.50, cross body bag, £19, 

M&S at Ashford Designer Outlet, 

patchwork denim dress, £75, French 

Connection at Ashford Designer 

Outlet ashforddesigneroutlet.com

Insane in the Rain jacket, £95, 

American Vintage t-shirt, £45, 

Paige Hoxton jeans, £275, Fenwick 

Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk; 

garnet leather clogs, £125, Kitty 

Clogs Sweden kittyclogssweden.co.uk; 

backpack, £40, French Connection 

at Ashford Designer Outlet 

ashforddesigneroutlet.com 


132

STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET 

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Telephone 01825 791792 

theamazinglavendersisters.com 

The Courtyard, Trading Boundaries, 

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Open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri 

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ManukaShoesWT194.indd 1 20/03/2018 AmazingLavenderSistersWT194.indd 11:37 

1 20/03/2018 18:36 


No37-WT194.indd 1 09/03/2018 14:17

Raincoat, £95, Cashara, 

cashara.co.uk; cashmere 

slogan jumper, £195, stripe 

trousers £115, Bod & Ted, 

bodandted.co.uk

Entre Nous Lingerie 

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Open 10–5 Mon–Sat 

Ranges include: 

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Beauty 

Soap stars 

Josephine Fairley washes her hands of liquid soap in those 

environment-wrecking plastic bottles and goes back to the 

good old bar variety 

I’m all for life’s small pleasures. A delicious 

cappuccino, enjoyed while gazing at a beautiful 

view. Dancing around the kitchen, cooking dinner 

to a favourite Madeleine Peyroux album. Or a new 

bar of soap: fresh, fragrant, the beauty equivalent of 

a brand new notebook, or crisp clean sheets. 

And you know? I absolutely never take it for granted. 

A couple of decades ago I went to Romania with The 

Body Shop’s Anita Roddick, to visit the orphanages she 

was sponsoring. One night, we drove around the nearby 

villages giving away bars of soap from the back of a Body 

Shop truck – almost triggering a stampede, because 

it turned out: there’d been no soap in that part of the 

country for 10 whole years. Gulp. 

So I’m delighted that proper bar soap, 

eclipsed for virtually a generation by hand 

and body washes in pump-action plastic 

bottles, is making a comeback. 

Banho citron 

verbena soap £14 

Liberty London 

libertylondon.com 

And those bottles are one 

of the main reasons I’m 

glad about this shift. 

Increasingly (thanks largely 

to David Attenborough…) 

we are all starting to think 

about the catastrophic 

environmental impact 

of single-use plastics - 

and the bottles which 

hand and body washes 

come in are some of 

the worst offenders. 

The components in 

them can feature 

several different 

types of plastic 

and sometimes a 

metal spring, as 

Chypre cedar 

poinsettia soap £14 

Liberty London 

libertylondon.com 

“We are all starting 

to think about 

the catastrophic 

impact of singleuse 

plastic bottles” 

well, which 

makes them 

Luxury Soap 

Collection £40 Floris 

florislondon.com 

challenging to recycle. In landfill, these hard 

plastics will take thousands of years to break 

down, so switching to a product where the only 

packaging is a piece of paper or simple cardboard is a very 

simple step to take to cut down on plastic wastage in your life. 

Another reason to shift back to the kind of soap 

our grannies used – and which has been traced back 

as far as ancient Babylon 5000 years ago – is that it 

doesn’t contain any of the increasingly controversial 

ingredients which are found in the liquid kind. 

Liquid soaps contain sulfate foaming agents, triclosan and 

formaldehyde, all of which have been linked to health issues – 

too complex to go into here, but very much worth Googling. 

And I have another personal reason for 

loving old-fashioned bars of beautifully 

fragrant soap: I like to store them in drawers 

where they make my underwear, knits and 

bed linen smell pretty. Another advantage 

of this is that if you keep them for a while 

they harden off and will last longer, rather 

than turning to pulp in your soap dish. 

Which is something you may need 

to invest in again – or possibly for the first time – if 

you’ve been using liquid soap. I like to hunt out pieces 

of vintage china and moulded glass to keep my soap in, 

but I’ve noticed Zara Home do particularly good soap 

dishes, a nice new accessory for your bathroom. 

There are countless fabulous soaps, out there, but I 

thought I’d share my favourites. So if you’re in the mood 

for a new bar, after this, get in a lather over these. 

Little Soap Company Natural Olive Oil Bar Soap, £2.95 

(littlesoapcompany.co.uk). Little Soap Company create 

artisan-style soaps in the Cotswolds, literally - the business 

began on the founder Emma Heathcote-James’s kitchen 

table. This one uses organic extra virgin olive oil, as 

simple, but effective, as soap gets and the olive oil ensures 

it’s not drying. Ideal for the touchiest skins. (I find that 

some artisan hand-made soaps go squishy very quickly, 

but Little Soap Company’s are more resilient.) 


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Beauty 

Fox Trot violet 

soap £9.50 

Fragrence Direct 

fragrancedirect.co.uk 

of cedarwood), zesty citrusverbena 

Banho, or – when 

I can find it – the powdery, 

violet-scented Fox Trot. 

Liberty carries a wide selection, 

including some amazing gift sets. 

Fragonard Le Jardin de Fragonard Perle 

de Thé Soap, £7.95 (Marks & Spencer 

beauty departments and on-line). I’m 

crazy in love with Fragonard soaps, 

Claus Porto Soaps, from around 

£15. These are fabulously packaged, 

with eye-catching vintage designs 

– and smell equally ravishing. 

They’re made in Porto, the 

Claus is actually the name of the 

German founders, who started 

the company in 1887. There are 

dozens of soaps in the range, any 

of which I’d gladly receive as a gift, 

but if pushed to choose favourites, 

I’ll opt for Chypre, (a stunningly 

sophisticated fragrance, with whispers 

which you can watch being made, 

if you visit the classic perfume 

house’s museum, in Grasse. The 

soaps look like porcelain treasures, 

embossed with different designs, 

in this case, an Indian-inspired 

Paisley design on a soap that’s gloriously 

jasmine-scented. They do another range 

that you can only buy in their stores (I 

always stock up in Paris), which look 

like exquisite cameos. Great gifts, these. 

Chanel No.5 The Bath Soap, £22. 

What can I say? The ultimate luxury. My 

bar of this scented my underwear gloriously for 

Le Jardin de 

Fragonard Perle de 

Thé Soap £7.95 

Fragonard 

www-uk.fragonard. 

com 

months before I finally began to use it; the trail of Chanel 

No.5 that it leaves on the skin is really quite impressive. 

Bamford Mini Pebble Soap Set, £32. A fab gift (um, to 

yourself?), this brings together all three soaps from the 

Oxfordshire-based natural beauty brand of which I’m 

becoming an ever-more-ardent fan. The scents are rose, 

geranium and jasmine, and the very pleasing, hand-friendly 

shape is taken from a heart-shaped pebble found on the beach. 

L’Occitane Bonne Mère Honey Soap, 

Natural olive 

oil bar soap, £2.95 

Little Soap Company 

littlesoapcompany. 

co.uk 

£5.50. Many of L’Occitane’s 

divine soaps are made 

using the traditional 

Marseilles soap method. 

For a mega-swoon, check 

out the soaps in their new 

Regent Street flagship 

store. A must-visit destination 

for your next beauty pilgrimage to London 

Geranium & 

– although this particular choice is a webonly 

option, fabulously scented with honey, 

rhubarb soap £9 

Soap Co 

which also has a skin-softening action. 

thesoapco.org 

Soap Co. Geranium & Rhubarb, £9. Last 

autumn I visited the Soap 

Co. factory in Walthamstow, 

and have been giving their products to 

friends ever since. Soap Co. is a new 

and very chic venture within a longestablished 

charity project offering 

employment to blind and otherwise 

disabled people and those with mental 

health challenges. It’s as heart-warming 

as beauty gets, frankly, but the reasons to 

buy their soaps (and the rest of the range) 

go beyond philanthropy; the range offers 

great smells and textures. Here, a coldpressed 

soap hand-made from olive oil, 

organic cocoa butter, borage and calendula, 

and with the loveliest of fragrances. 

Floris Luxury Soap Collection, £40. 

The soap-lover’s ultimate dream: a beribboned 

gift box showcasing six of the 

long-established Jermyn Street perfumery’s 

most-loved soaps, including White Rose, 

Stephanotis, citrusy Cefiro, Lily of the Valley, 

Edwardian Bouquet and Rose Geranium – a 

movingly nostalgic fragrance, for me, as it was 

the scent of my father’s shaving soap, and one which has 

been known to make me cry. Yup, that. From a soap. 

For daily health and beauty updates from Josephine Fairley, 

visit beautybible.com and for all the latest in the fabulous 

world of perfume look at perfumesociety.org 

“Another reason to shift 

back to the kind of soap our 

grannies used is that it doesn’t 

contain any of the increasingly 

controversial ingredients 

found in the liquid kind” 


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140 

StonerockDentalPracticeWT194.indd 1 16/03/2018 13:00

Beauty 

Spring into 

summer 

Start getting your body holiday 

ready now with non-invasive beauty 

treatments to leave you smooth, slim 

and sleek – strictly no scalpels! 

Alevere weight loss system – Health and Aesthetics, Godalming 

If you find before and after weight loss pictures fascinating 

– take a look at the ones on the Health and Aesthetics 

website. Men and women of various ages who have lost up to 

ten stone each on the Alevere system in a matter of months, 

not only look astonishingly better, in much nicer clothes – 

they all seem so much happier. It’s really inspiring. 

But while the aesthetic side of things is great, what’s more 

important is that this is a medically based weight loss system, 

with very significant health benefits. It’s not just about inches 

lost; clients shed that very hard to shift visceral fat, around the 

organs, which is so damaging to health, putting you at much 

greater risk of getting cancer, among other serious conditions. 

The medically supervised weight loss system is based on a 

guided protein-rich food programme designed to stablilise 

blood sugar so the body achieves and then stays in the crucial 

fat-burning ‘ketosis’ state, with weekly health checks and 

blood tests to ensure safety. 

Clients also have regular Medi Contour ultrasound 

treatments, to break down that really dangerous organ fat, 

plus Body Analysis, which gives a detailed picture of body 

composition. Seeing fat percentages turning steadily into 

muscle is very encouraging. 

Hannah Betts - Practice Manager and Aesthetics Therapist 

What is the nicest things clients say to you after reaching 

their goal weight? “They feel like their life has completely 

changed. When they tell you that previously they couldn’t 

play with their children and now they can keep up with 

them, it does make you gulp a little bit ...” 

Why do you think the system achieves such amazing 

results? “It’s the combination of all the different elements, 

but really it’s about attitude. They think they’ve tried 

everything and then this starts to work and they feel so 

proud of themselves. They also say how helpful all the 

encouragement at the clinic is.” 

What would you say was the most common amount of 

weight people come to you to lose? And how long does it 

take? Some are dangerously overweight, but even people who 

only want to lose a stone can do it, as long as it’s to get down 

to a healthy BMI. A woman on average loses a stone a month 

and a man on average a stone and a half. 

Are there any other therapies you suggest having to 

complement the Alevere system? CoolSculpting is excellent 

for removing those stubborn subcutaneous fat bulges which 

stay even after a client has lost the visceral fat and reached 

their target weight. 

Find out more about the Alevere weight loss system, 

CoolSculpting and Body Analysis from Health and Aesthetics 

in Godalming. They are having a CoolSculpting Event on 

20th April with live demonstration, personalised treatment 

plans and amazing discounts on the day. 01252 933133 

healthandaesthetics.co.uk 

 


CoolSculpting – Illuminate Skin Clinic, Kings Hill 

Never again do you need to be tempted to look at those 

weird online ads which promise to tell you ‘Seven foods 

never to eat to lose belly fat…’. 

Now you can get rid of those maddening pockets of 

flubber that just won’t shift no matter how much you diet 

and exercise by having them - literally – melted away by the 

CoolSculpting procedure. While lying down. No wonder 

CoolSculpting is the world’s number one non-invasive, nonsurgical 

fat-reduction procedure. No scalpels, no sucking 

tubes and no revolting tanks of extracted fat… 

The system was invented by two scientists at Harvard 

University who observed that some children got dimples in 

their cheeks after eating ice lollies. They investigated and 

developed the process of freezing and eliminating small 

pockets of fat cells into a safe and effective fat-zapping 

treatment, approved by America’s very strict FDA. 

Faye Taylor: Medical Aesthetician 

How does it work? “It uses a process called Cryolipolysis 

to apply targeted cold to small areas of unwanted fat via a 

handheld device applied by the therapist. The controlled cold 

temperature freezes and damages the fat cells, causing the fat 

to be expelled through the body’s lymphatic system.” 

How long does each treatment take – and how long does 

the effect last? “Depending on how many cycles you have, 

each cycle carried out is 60 minutes. The overall result from 

the treatment is permanent.” 

How many treatments does it take to remove, for example, 

a double chin? “Everyone is different with their body shape 

so we take this into consideration in a consultation. On 

average it is normally one treatment per area.” 

What parts of the body can it be used on? “The abdomen, 

flanks – sides of body between the hips and ribs - outer 

thighs, inner thighs, bra fat, back fat, banana roll (underneath 

the buttocks), arms and under the chin.” 

Are there any pre-existing conditions that make it 

unsuitable to be used? “If there has been any recent surgery 

or there is scar tissue it would be necessary to wait six months 

before treatment. Any patients with chronic pain, sensitivity 

to cold, or anxiety disorder can still be treated, however they 

may experience more discomfort during the treatment. We 

also don’t treat pregnant woman, because there hasn’t been 

any research yet to show it will not harm the baby.” 

Does it hurt? And do you have to rest after? “When 

the applicator is applied to the skin you may feel slight 

discomfort due to the vacuum suction, where we are drawing 

the fat cells into the applicator, and the first 10 minutes of 

freezing. The next 50 minutes of the treatment is relaxing. 

Afterwards, you can carry on with your everyday routine 

including going to the gym.” 

Does the fat area come back if you put weight on? “Once 

the fat cells are removed from the treated area they will not 

return - and if you put weight on it will go to another part of 

the body. However, if you returned to having a poor diet with 

lack of exercise, then remaining fat cells in the treated area 

may multiply.” 

Illuminate Skin Clinic 01732 647007 

illuminateskinclinic.co.uk 

IPL laser hair removal – Purenique, Hawkhurst 

Shaving, waxing, threading, those terrible smelling 

creams…? Forget them all. Superfluous body hair 

and all its associated inconvenience can become a distant 

memory. 

All it takes is an obligation-free complimentary 

consultation to make sure you have a sufficient contrast 

between body hair colour and skin tone (most people 

do) for the treatment to work and to assess the area to be 

treated – then you’re off. And so is that maddening hair. 

Kimberley Brook – salon owner 

What kind of laser do you use? We use the Lynton 

Lumina system, medically graded laser equipment, as used 

by the NHS, with a gold standard treatment protocol. 

How long do the results of laser hair removal last? The 

results vary, but permanent reductions in hair growth are 

seen in the majority of people. The more treatments you 

have, the greater the chances of you achieving longer hairfree 

periods. Treated follicles may re-grow hair though 

and repeat sessions will likely be needed in the future to 

maintain hair free results. 

How many treatments does it take for a really good 

result and can everybody have it? It varies, but typically 

six or more treatments are needed. Most people are suitable 

for treatment, although best results are achieved with 

clients who have fair skin and dark hair, as dark hair has 

a high concentration of melanin. Grey/white hair has no 

melanin so is not suitable for treatment. 

Does it hurt as much as waxing? Treatment sensation 

varies but is often described as “a flick of an elastic band”. 

Typically no anaesthesia is required and most clients 

describe the discomfort as moderate and tolerable. 

Are you doing any pre-summer packages? We are offering 

a Summer Body permanent hair removal package, with a 

course of six treatments for underarm, bikini line and half 

leg (lower or upper) for £1500, which is over £600 cheaper 

than getting them done separately. 

Find out more from Purenique, Hawkhurst 01580 

753383. Book your Free consultation online at. 

purenique.co.uk 


142

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In June 2017, Paul even completed 

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Paul Bowman has always lived an 

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become a real problem, and about 

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The scan revealed two compressed 

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spine. “Back then, I was just 

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Things steadily got worse, and 

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Because of the severe nature of 

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Wellbeing 

A Year of Wellness 

The last thing our bodies need when it’s still cool and damp is a 

brutal detox with raw food that is hard to digest, much better work in 

harmony with your body and the season says Eminé Rushton 

April: A gentle cleanse 

Detoxes are big business. Pills, 

oils, scrubs, masks, juices... 

add the word ‘detox’ to the Dlabel and you have people clamouring 

to purchase the promise of ‘purifying’ 

their bodies and shifting weight, while 

clearing skin and boosting energy levels 

in the process. 

As a holistic therapist and student 

of Ayurveda, I don’t believe that any 

one of us needs to actively detox. We’re 

in possession of some hugely effective 

in-built detoxification organs and 

mechanisms, from our small intestine 

and liver, to our kidneys and 

skin and what best benefits 

our bodies (and minds and 

spirits while we’re at it), is 

a gentle, seasonal, bodysupporting 

cleanse. 

As spring arrives 

many of us feel the 

shift quite naturally, 

as the mood lightens, the body 

feels more vital and the urge for 

fresh, vibrant green foods takes 

hold. This is the ideal time to 

work with your body, to help clear 

winter’s ‘leftovers’. 

In Ayurvedic terms, there is often a 

build up of damp, cold energy in the 

body after winter and it is helpful to get 

things moving, before the spring cough 

and cold can take hold (which is simply 

nature’s way of getting excess mucous 

out of the system). 

I begin with Weleda Birch Juice, 

£10.95 (weleda.co.uk), an allnatural 

age-old tonic that 

supports the body’s inbuilt 

cleansing processes, taking it 

with warm water, in 

the morning. 

“Steer away 

from raw juice 

and foods until 

the weather is 

properly warm” 

Dry body brushing is also very helpful 

at getting the lymph moving, flushing 

out any small pockets of toxicity, which 

can build up in the adipose tissue. Begin 

with the soles of the feet, then work up 

the calves, thighs and buttocks before 

going down the arms, back and gently 

over the chest and tummy. 

A generous dousing of oil on the skin 

should follow. In Ayurveda, organic 

sesame oil is considered wonderful for 

heating a system, while organic coldpressed 

sunflower oil is good for all body 

types and conditions. Massage in well. 

Given that spring 

in England is still cool 

(and often wet), make 

daily food decisions that 

support the body, based 

upon the weather, mood 

and appetite – and steer 

away from raw juice and 

foods until the weather 

is properly warm. It takes a fair bit 

of digestive energy to break down 

uncooked roughage and fibre and if 

the immune system is flagging, you can 

actually deplete yourself further. 

Cold mornings are amply warmed 

with steaming porridge, served with 

seasonal stewed fruit and cinnamon. 

Cook some linseed into the oatmeal to 

get the bowels spring-cleaned 

too. Warmer days can support 

raw, live yoghurt eaten at room 

temperature, delicious with 

homemade granola. 

If it’s cold outside, cook up 

the season’s first spring greens 

with cinnamon, ginger and 

garlic for stews and warm 

salads, or whizz into a soup 

that will warm up the innards. 

Eminé Rushton is Wellbeing Director-at-Large at Psychologies magazine, and 

co-founder of the conscious living blog, The Balance Plan, balanceplan.co.uk 

As our bodies start 

to shift into spring, it’s 

also important to support the 

process with at least eight glasses of 

warm, filtered water daily. Herbal teas 

count toward your intake. Naturally 

detoxifying nettle, burdock, elderflower 

and fennel, are just the ticket. 

And fennel being perfectly in season 

in spring, is also an ideal cleansing 

veg. Try baking it with fish, for lunch 

or dinner, too. Great spring herbs 

that support the inner cleanse include 

chervil, tarragon, rosemary and mint. 

Bake, cook, garnish with them and 

you’re getting extra flavour, with 

antioxidants to boot. 

And no spring awakening would be 

complete without a thought for the 

quality of our breath. Lungs can take 

a bit of a battering over winter, with 

perpetual central heating inside, and 

gale-force winds out, so work to open 

them up with breath-led yoga. And 

in this glorious season of renewal, just 

get outside a bit more, for brisk walks 

and gentle jogs, through parks and 

woodland. 

Feed your soul 

In Grow, Cook, Nourish bestselling cookbook 

author and legendary cook Darina Alllen draws 

on more than 30 years’ experience gardening 

at her Irish home Ballymaloe to explain not 

only how to grow and cultivate, but to cook 

inventively and excitingly with home-grown 

produce – great if you have a glut. 

With over 500 recipes, this enormous 

book will likely stay in our family 

for generations. An instant classic. 

Grow, Cook, Nourish Kyle Books 

£30. Read more about Darina 

Allen at ballymaloe.ie 

Credit: Evans Amos, Freeimages.com/Karl Mooney, John Evans, Sarah Williams, Jozef Szoke

FROM 

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Welbeing’s Telecare service provides 

affordable 24-hr support you can trust. 

It’s precious peace of mind for everyone. 

For more details call 

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www.welbeing.org.uk

Wellbeing 

Natural wisdom 

Nutritional therapist Henrietta Norton, of Wild Nutrition 

supplements, shares the practices and resources that support her in 

her busy life as a mother and businesswoman 

Henrietta Norton is the co-founder 

of the trailblazing supplements 

brand, Wild Nutrition, which uses 

a special ‘Food-Grown’ process that 

guarantees maximum beneft. Having 

suffered with chronic and debilitating 

endometriosis throughout her 20s, 

she was told she would never have 

children. Determined to overcome her 

condition, she sought out a nutritional 

therapist who specialised in female 

health, before going on to train herself. 

Now, as a mother of three, product 

formulator and practising therapist, she 

is dedicated to helping other women 

turn their health around too. 

What one piece of seasonal wisdom 

helps you in April? 

“Walking in nature. This helps me all 

year round, in a different way each 

season. In April, I find it immensely 

uplifting and cleansing.” 

Which area of self-care do you never 

skimp on? 

“The quality of my food. As a society 

we have to take more responsibility 

and be aware of the way our food is 

produced and grown, on a nutritional, 

environmental and spiritual level. 

A great inspiration for this is Satish 

Kumar’s book Soil, Soul and Society. 

We are lucky to have great local meat, 

veg and fruit suppliers. For cupboard 

staples I use my local health food store 

Charlotte’s Cupboard. This is a brilliant 

packaging-free food delivery service. You 

provide your own containers and pay by 

weight.” charlottescupboard.com 

What’s cooking in your kitchen this 

month? “I am getting very creative with 

vegetables. Spring greens, chard and 

courgettes are being lightly fried with 

fresh herbs (whatever is in the garden), 

garlic, lots of lemon juice and zest, 

generous portions of virgin olive oil, 

cracked pepper and rock salt. This is 

either a wonderful meal in itself or as 

an accompaniment to pasta, rice or 

fresh fish.” 

Is there one book that taught you 

something amazing about life – and 

made you better at living it? 

“Without doubt Limitless Sky by 

David Charles Manners (who, 

coincidentally, happens to be a 

Wealden dweller) which describes the 

true story of a young man who on 

a chance meeting in Nepal, begins 

an inspiring, enlightening personal 

journey facilitated by a Nepalese 

Shaman in the Himalayas.” 

What always makes you smile? 

“My children. They bring a lot of 

other faces too....but without fail, 

many smiles each and every day.” 

wildnutrition.com 

Give your skin a treat 

Are you starting to think about that spring clean yet? Not just the 

house, it’s also the perfect time to spring clean our skin with a face 

mask. Taking an extra 10 minutes, even once a week, can give skin 

time to renew and regenerate, revealing your spring glow. 

To achieve this, we tried Freyaluna’s Bright & Beautiful 

Brightening Face Mask, full of natural ingredients designed to 

reduce inflammation, hydrate and improve circulation to the skin 

surface. The active combination of rosehip, coffee and turmeric 

feed the skin with vitamin C, stimulate and heal. The powder 

formation is great as you can tailor this mask to suit your skin 

type, mixing with aloe vera gel for spot-prone skin, or a few drops 

of a facial oil for an extra moisture boost. 

Relax with the mask on for 10 minutes and remove in 

circular motions with warm water and a muslin cloth, 

to add gentle exfoliation. 

Freyaluna Bright & Beautiful Brightening Face 

Mask costs £8 for 10g packet or £25 for a 40g jar. 

freyaluna.co.uk (review by Kate Watts) 

Eminé says: 

Try this in April 

Practising yoga has become the 

healthy, spiritual foundation of 

my week. When I can’t get to my 

regular classes at the brilliant 

Kingdom Yoga in Penshurst, 

I turn to my online teachers, 

at Movement for Modern 

Life. Via their videos, I 

practise yin yoga, yoga 

nidra and hatha 

yoga, dependent 

on my needs of the 

day all in the comfort 

of my bedroom while my children sleep. 

Bliss ! movementformodernlife.com 

147

From an 

English 

garden 

Vegetable gardener and cook at Great Dixter, 

Aaron Bertelsen has written a cookbook which 

celebrates the link between the plot and kitchen 

so precious to the garden’s iconic creator, the late 

Christopher Lloyd 

Words: Aaron Bertelsen Photographs: Andrew Montgomery

Food 

Beet top and feta tart 

Serves 8 Prep time: 15. Cooking time: 50-60 mins 

Beetroot tops are often ready in the spring before the spinach 

and chard, which is what gave me the inspiration for this tart. 

They have a nutty, earthy flavour and are also good eaten on 

their own as a steamed or boiled vegetable. I love this tart so 

much that I cook and freeze the leaves for use all year. 

Rhubarb tart 

Serves 8 Prep time: 15 mins plus chilling Cooking time: 45-50 mins 

Spring rhubarb is wonderfully pink and tender, so you can 

dispense with the poaching step and put it straight into a pastry 

case, with a little brown sugar before putting it in the oven. The 

sugar caramelizes to give an almost toffee-like flavour. Eat hot or 

cold. Either way, it goes well with cream, custard or ice-cream. 

• Oil or butter, for greasing 

• 1 quantity chilled 

shortcrust pastry 

• flour, for dusting 

• beet tops (greens) from 

8 plants, rinsed and 

chopped 

• 175 g/6 oz feta cheese, 

diced or crumbled 

• 300 ml/10 oz 

(1¼ cups) crème fraîche 

• 3 eggs 

• 100 ml/3½ fl oz 

(scant ½ cup) milk 

• salt and pepper 

1Preheat the oven to 

180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 

4, placing an oven rack in 

the lower part of it. Grease 

a 30-cm/12-inch loosebottom 

tart pan. Roll out 

the pastry (dough) on a 

lightly floured work surface 

until it is large enough to 

line your tart pan. 

Put the beet tops 

2 (greens) into a pan with 

just the water that clings to 

them after washing. Cover 

with a lid, cook over low 

heat for about 5 minutes 

until wilted. Let cool, then 

drain and spread over the 

bottom of the pastry case 

(shell). Sprinkle with the 

feta. 

3Put the crème fraîche, 

eggs and milk into a 

bowl and beat together. 

Pour this mixture into the 

pastry case and season with 

salt and pepper. Place on a 

baking sheet and bake for 

40–45 minutes until just set. 

Take the tart out of the 

4 oven and carefully slip 

off the outer ring, leaving 

the tart sitting on the base. 

Return to the oven on 

5 the baking sheet for 

another 5–10 minutes so 

that the sides get really crisp. 

• Butter, for greasing 

• 1 quantity chilled sweet 

shortcrust pastry 

• flour, for dusting 

• 1 kg/2¼ lb rhubarb, 

chopped into 5-cm/2-inch 

pieces 

• 2 tablespoons demerara 

(turbinado) sugar 

• 120 g/4 oz (½ cup) caster 

sugar, plus extra for 

sprinkling (optional) 


190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 

5, placing an oven rack in 

the lower part of it. Butter a 

25-cm/10-inch loose-bottom 

tart pan. 

2Roll out the pastry 

(dough) thinly on a 

lightly floured work surface 

and use to line the prepared 

pan. If using spring rhubarb, 

arrange it in the pastry case 

(shell) and sprinkle with the 

demerara (turbinado) sugar. 

If not using spring rhubarb, 

put the caster (superfine) 

sugar and 200 ml/ 

7 fl oz (¾ cup) water into 

a pan and stir together over 

medium heat until the sugar 

dissolves. Bring to a gentle 

boil, then add the chopped 

rhubarb and simmer for 1 

minute – you don’t 

want it to lose its shape. 

Drain the rhubarb, then 

arrange inside the pastry case. 

3Place the filled case on 

a baking sheet and bake 

on a low oven rack for 40 

minutes. Take the tart out of 

the oven and carefully slip 

off the outer ring, leaving the 

tart sitting on the base. 

4Return to the oven on the 

baking sheet for another 

5–10 minutes so that the sides 

get really crisp. 

Slide the tart onto a plate and 

sprinkle with caster sugar, 

if desired. Let cool to room 

temperature before serving. 


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150 

FizzOnFootS41.indd 1 28/02/2018 14:14

Frozen pea and mint pesto 

Makes 3 small jars Prep time: 10 mins. Cooking time: 5 mins 

An excellent item for your storecupboard (pantry), pesto is great 

for using up gluts of produce. This recipe is perfect 

for using up any forgotten peas in the freezer, and it is a real 

taste of summer, which I hanker for in the winter. It is 

delicious with pasta, adding a real depth of flavour. 

• 250 g/9 oz (about 2 cups) 

shelled fresh or frozen 

peas (about 900 g/2 lb in 

their pods) 

• 2 fat cloves garlic, finely 

chopped 

• 50 g/2 oz (about ⅓ cup) 

pine nuts, toasted 

• 50 g/2 oz Parmesan 

cheese, chopped into 

small chunks 

• good handful mint leaves 

• 6 tablespoons extra virgin 

olive oil 

1Cook the peas in a pan 

of boiling water for 2–3 

minutes, until just tender, then 

drain and refresh in cold water. 

Drain again and pat dry. 

2Tip the peas into a blender 

or food processor and add 

the remaining ingredients. 

Pulse very briefly, until 

everything is roughly chopped. 

Don’t overdo it – the mixture 

should still have some texture. 

3To store, put into a tightly 

lidded container, cover the 

surface with a little more olive 

oil and store in the refrigerator 

for 1 week, or freeze in plastic 

food bags for up to 1 month. 

 


26 Maytham Road • Rolvenden Layne • Kent TN17 4NP 

Telephone 01580 241837 • www.eweandlamb.co.uk 

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All wines are available by the glass and with 

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152 

ParkFarmWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 18:22

Food 

Beetroot chutney 

Makes 5kg/11lb Prep time: 30mins. Cooking time: 1 ¼ hours 

Chutney is a great way of using up gluts of produce – we often 

have lots of beetroot in the garden at Great Dixter. This recipe 

is courtesy of Mary Coward, mother of Tom Coward, head 

gardener at Gravetye Manor. 

• 1 kg/2¼ lb Bramley 

(Cortland or Granny 

Smith) apples, peeled, 

cored and sliced weight 

• 2 kg/4½ lb raw beetroot 

(beet), peeled and 

roughly chopped 

• 1 kg/2¼ lb (about 6 

cups) soft light brown 

sugar 

• 450 g/1 lb (3 cups) 

sultanas or golden raisins 

• 3½ tablespoons salt 

• 1 tablespoon ground 

ginger 

• 1 small onion, finely 

chopped 

• 500 ml/18 fl oz (2 cups) 

malt vinegar 

1Put the apples into a 

heavy pan with a little 

water, cover and 

cook gently for about 10 

minutes until soft but not 

mushy. 

2Add all the remaining 

ingredients to the pan 

and boil for 1 hour or more, 

until the mixture thickens 

and erupts in small craters, 

like lava in a volcano. 

Spoon into warm, 

3 sterilized jars, cover with 

a double layer 

of greaseproof (wax) paper, 

then seal tightly, label and 

date. 

The chutney can be eaten 

immediately, although I 

think it’s best stored in a 

cool place and enjoyed after 

a year. 

Pickled pears 

Makes 3 x 450g/1lb jars Prep time: 15mins. Cooking time: 20mins 

It was my friend Tom Coward, head gardener at Gravetye 

Manor, who first introduced me to this lovely preserve. There 

are lots of recipes for pickled pears, but some take up to a week 

to prepare. This version can be made in an evening, and I have 

found the results to be just as good, though they are best left for 

a month before eating so that the flavours can really penetrate the 

fruit. Use pears that still have some bite, but not so much that 

you cannot get your teeth into them, and make sure you reduce 

the liquid well to intensify the flavour. The pears go really well 

with blue cheese. 

• 900 g/2lb pears, peeled, 

cored and sliced 

• 425 ml/14½ fl oz (1¾ 

cups) apple cider vinegar 

• 450 g/1 lb (2 cups) caster 

sugar 

• 1 cinnamon stick 

• 10 cloves 

• thumb-size piece of stem 

ginger, sliced 

1Put all the ingredients into 

a pan with 850 ml/1½ 

pints (3½ cups) water and 

cook slowly until the pears 

start to soften, but only just 

(about 10 minutes). You want 

them to retain a bit of bite. 

Using a slotted spoon, transfer 

the pears to a colander and set 

aside to drain. 

2Meanwhile, increase the 

heat under the syrup left 

in the pan and boil rapidly 

for 15 minutes, or until it has 

reduced by about a third and 

thickened slightly. 

3Pack the fruit into warm, 

sterilized jars and pour in 

enough hot syrup to cover. 

Seal immediately and store for 

a month before eating. 


Brewery Tours 

FAvershAm Kent 

01795 542016 

WWW.SHEPHERDNEAME.CO.UK

Makes 30-40 slices Prep time: 20 mins. 

Cooking time: 2 ½ hours 

This is my grandmother’s recipe, so very special to me. The cake 

is intensely fruity and moist. I sometimes make it in the evening, 

turning the oven off after two and a half hours and leaving it in 

the oven overnight so it has time to settle. In an airtight container, 

wrapped in greaseproof paper, it will keep for months. 

• 1 kg/2¼ lb (10 cups) 

mixed dried fruit, plus an 

extra 50 g/2 oz 

• (½ cup) each of sultanas 

or golden raisins and 

currants 

• 12 pitted prunes, chopped 

• 1 x 400-g/14-oz can 

sweetened condensed milk 

• 225 g/8 oz (2 sticks) 

butter 

• 1 tablespoon black treacle 

Nana’s fruit cake 

(molasses) 

• 1 tablespoon golden syrup 

or corn syrup 

• dash vanilla extract 

• dash brandy 

• 350 ml/12 fl oz (1½ cups) 

water 

• 50 g/2 oz (½ cup) flaked 

(slivered) almonds 

• 1 slightly heaped teaspoon 

bicarbonate of soda 

(baking soda) 

• 1 teaspoon mixed 

(apple pie) spice 

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

• 300 g/11 oz 

(scant 2½ cups) plain 

(all-purpose) flour 

• 1 slightly heaped teaspoon 

baking powder 


140°C/275°F/Gas Mark 1. 

Line a 23-cm/ 9-inch square 

cake pan with parchment 

(baking) paper. Put the dried 

fruit, prunes, condensed milk, 

butter, treacle (molasses), 

syrup, vanilla and brandy 

into a pan. Add the water 

and bring to a simmer for 5 

minutes. 

2Let cool slightly before 

stirring in the almonds, 

bicarbonate 

of soda (baking soda) and 

spices. Finally, incorporate 

the flour and baking powder 

a bit at a time, stirring well 

between each addition. 

3Pour the mixture into the 

prepared pan and bake 

for 2½ hours. Turn off the 

oven and leave the cake in 

there to settle – I usually do 

this overnight. The 

following day, turn 

it out and store it 

as described in the 

introduction. 

The Great Dixter Cookbook is published by Phaidon £24.95. Wealden Times readers can buy it with a 30% discount 

and free UK shipping, using the code DX30 at phaidon.com/dixter offer open until 25 June. Aaron Bertelsen is 

appearing at The Garden Hub at the Midsummer Fair, see page 22 in the Garden Supplement. 

 

155

At Your Service 

Extraordinary food and a 

warm welcome guaranteed 

Book a table: thebellinticehurst.com or 01580 200300 

www.thebellinticehurst.com 

BellinTicehurstWT194.indd 1 12/03/2018 BullAtBenendenWT194.indd 17:07 

1 19/03/2018 12:30 

The George Inn 

High Street, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5AW 

01580 880315 www.thegeorgerobertsbridge.co.uk 

Delicious freshly 

cooked local food 

Bar, Restaurant 

& Rooms 

Come and spoil your 

loved ones with us 

Easter Weekend 

Sunday 1 st April 

Forthcoming Events 

Live Music 

Sunday 29 th April 

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Saturday 19 th May 


156 

GeorgeInnRobertsbridgeWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 15:17

Food 

Spice it up 

Chef Oscar Fonseca Volknar is adding South American 

flair to the food at a classic British venue 

The most British of institutions, a 

country inn, in a perfect English 

village –- The Bell in Ticehurst, 

may not be the place where you would 

expect to find dishes influenced by the 

cuisine of the ancient Inca empire. 

But without changing the core values 

of this much-loved venue, Colombianborn 

head chef Oscar Fonseca Volkmar 

has introduced a sprinkling of South 

American spice, taking traditional 

British dishes and reinventing them with 

the influence of his own heritage cuisine. 

The chorizo Scotch eggs recipe below 

has become a classic on the Bell menu. 

Other dishes with Oscar’s southern 

hemisphere touch include ribeye steak 

served with chimichurri, a sauce of finely 

chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive 

oil, oregano, and red wine vinegar. 

Calves’ liver is marinated and cooked 

using the traditional anticuchos method 

of grilled skewered meat, which can 

be traced back to the Inca empire. 

At pudding time there is caramelised 

banana, served with banana ice cream, 

almond and coconut crumble and 

dulce de leche. So Scotch eggs to 

start, steak, then crumble… a classic 

British menu, with a cheeky touch of 

South American flair. Estupendo! 

Chorizo scotch quail eggs 

with guacamole 

Makes 12 portions 

For the scotch eggs 

• 250g cooking Spanish chorizo 

• 100g Cumberland sausage meat 

• 12 quail eggs 

• 2 eggs lightly beaten 

• 100g plain flour 

• 100g panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) 

• Vegetable oil for deep frying 

For the guacamole 

• 4 large ripe avocado 

• 4tbs chopped fresh coriander 

• 3tbs chopped jalapeño chillies (seeds 

and membranes removed) 

• 4tbs chopped red onion 

• 4tbs cored, seeded, and finely 

chopped plum tomato 

• 4tbs lime juice 

• Drizzle of rape seed oil 

• Salt & pepper to season 

Scotch eggs 

To make the chorizo and sausage 

1 meat casing, chop and dice the 

cooking chorizo really fine. Meanwhile 

heat a little bit of oil in a heavy based 

pan over a medium heat and sauté 

the chorizo until the oil and fat from 

the chorizo starts to render making 

sure it does not start to caramelise. 

Take off the heat and allow to cool. 

Place the sausage meat in a food 

2 processor (if you don’t have one you 

can do this with your hands, in a bowl) 

with the cooled chorizo and pulse until 

the two meats are well combined. Place 

in a container and put it in the fridge. 

the quail eggs, pierce the base 

3For of each egg with a pin (this makes 

the eggs easier to peel later on). Bring 1 

litre of water with a dash of vinegar to 

the boil over a medium heat. Add the 

eggs and cook for 2 minutes and 20-25 

seconds, depending on the size. Remove 

and refresh in ice water for 10 minutes. 

Carefully peel the eggs, place in 

a container and refrigerate. 

Pre-heat the oven to 180c. 

4Split the chorizo and sausage mixture 

into 25g balls and flatten each 

ball between the palms of your hands 

into a ½ cm thick round patty. Place a 

quail’s egg in the centre of a patty and 

carefully wrap the meat mix around the 

egg to enclose completely. Repeat the 

process with all the remaining eggs. 

3Arrange 3 bowls in a row, 

to separately hold the flour, 

beaten egg and panko. 

Roll the scotch eggs in flour, then 

dip in the beaten egg and then roll 

in the panko breadcrumbs. Repeat 

the process till all the eggs are 

completely covered in breadcrumbs. 

Fill a large heavy-based saucepan or deep 

fryer with oil and heat up to 180c. 

Deep fry the scotch eggs in batches 

till golden brown, drain on a paper 

towel and place in the oven for 4 

minutes. Take out of the oven, cut 

in half and sprinkle with sea salt. 

Guacamole 

mash the avocados in a 

1Gently bowl until chunky but smooth 

then drizzle over the rape seed oil. 

Fold the coriander, onion, jalapeño 

and tomato into the mixture. Stir in 

the lime juice and adjust the seasoning 

with salt and pepper to taste. 

In the restaurant we serve these 

on deep-fried tostadas (see 

photo), but they are also delicious 

served with warmed tortillas. 

The Bell, Ticehurst TN5 7AS 

01580 200300 thebellinticehurst.com 


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WT Garden Supplement 

Contents 

Chick, chick, 

chick, chicken 

page 21 

6 In full bloom 

Jennifer Stuart-Smith’s tips for planting 

your own cutting garden 

11 Outside living 

Great furniture for the great outdoors 

12 Inside out 

Gorgeous garden buildings 

15 Cool veg for warmer days 

Jo Arnell’s guide to getting ahead 

18 Pretty practical 

Lovely things for garden life 

21 Chick, chick, chick, chicken 

Martin Gurdon’s life with feathery friends 

22 Everything in the Garden Hub is lovely 

The thrilling speakers at the 

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 

25 Animal Magic 

Water in your garden attracts fauna and 

flora says Sue Whigham 

29 How does your garden grow? 

Expert horticulturalists on the joys of brand new 

hedges, bespoke garden tonics and landscape design 

33 Grass roots 

When it comes to lawns – don’t do it yourself 

Pretty practical 

page 18 

3 


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1 09/01/2018 15:39


Editor’s letter 

Animal Magic 

page 25 

Welcome to our Garden Supplement. I’m currently 

in the process of renovating a house and 

the front garden is in a very sorry state, to the 

point I’m worried that my lovely neighbours might stage 

an intervention. So I fell on all the information in these 

articles as they landed in my inbox from our brilliant contributors, 

looking for inspiration, but more importantly – 

for expert advice. 

If anyone can teach me to grow a decent crop of courgettes, 

it’s Jo Arnell, and Sue Whigham has convinced me 

that I must have a water source of some kind in my finished 

garden to encourage wildlife into it. 

But while I am excited at the prospect of getting my own 

hands into the soil (perhaps with a Great Crested Newt for 

company...) talking to landscape designers, mature hedge 

and tree specialists, and lawn masters has reminded me of 

the enormous benefits of calling in the professionals. 

For now I’m dreaming of a time when my vegetable plot 

is brusting with produce in a professionally designed and 

planted garden, with at least one lovely tree – and the gorgeous 

outdoor furniture I will be admiring it all from. 

Happy gardening. 


PetalsForPlantsWT194.indd 1 09/03/2018 10:15


In full bloom 

Jennifer 

Stuart-Smith of 

Blooming Green shares her 

expert knowledge on how 

to start your own cutting 

garden and fill your house 

with flowers 

Nothing gives a house a lift like 

vases of fresh flowers – there’s 

a reason interiors stylists 

always arrive at shoots with armloads 

of them – but until quite recently 

most people only had cut flowers as an 

occasional treat on special occasions, 

or if in the summer months, they had 

a garden from which they could snip a 

few blooms without spoiling the display. 

Dedicated cutting gardens for a 

constant source of fresh flowers were 

mostly the preserve of stately homes, 

with walled gardens, a team of gardeners 

to tend the banks of peonies and 

housekeepers to trim and arrange them. 

Things have changed now that 

supermarkets stock banks of very cheap 

cut flowers – but the almost painfully 

bright colours of them and how 

unnaturally long they last gives a hint 

of how they are produced and gradually, 

people have become more aware of 

where their flowers come from. 

With that understanding, rather 

like the organic produce and veg 

box schemes, people are now more 

appreciative of seasonality, variety and, 

in the case of flowers, scent. People 

drive miles to pick their own flowers 

at our cutting gardens in Kent and our 

wedding customers in particular, go 

wild for the ‘just picked’ wild-flower 

look. 

The idea for setting up our business 

came about well over a decade ago, 

when I was working on a newspaper 

and kept on seeing articles about the 

unpleasant side of the global floristry 

industry; poor working conditions, the 

use of unpleasant chemicals and masses 

of plastic packaging. 

My cousin Rebekah, 

who has a background in 

environmental biology 

and horticulture, was 

considering new avenues 

alongside raising a family, 

so together we hatched the 

idea of setting up an ecofriendly 

‘green’ floristry business. 

Our flowers are grown on two sites, 

in the countryside south of Maidstone, 

on what were once orchards. We grow 

at least 500 varieties of flowers and 

foliage, so that we have something 

to suit every taste, from April right 

through to October, and we cultivate 

“You don’t have 

to have a large 

garden to grow 

your own cutting 

flowers ” 

them using an organic ‘no-dig’ method 

that improves productivity, soil health 

and saves our backs too. 

But you don’t have to have a field, or 

even a large garden to grow your own 

cutting flowers. By planning ahead, 

choosing your plants carefully and using 

every bit of available space you can have 

a steady supply of blooms for the house, 

or for friends, in spring, summer and 

autumn. 

And once you get into having – truly 

– fresh flowers and foliage 

in your home, it can 

be hard to live without 

them, and even in winter 

you can find interesting 

things in the hedgerow 

or cut stems of winterflowering 

shrubs such as 

forsythia. 

When it comes to deciding where 

to plant your cutting flowers, there are 

many options. You don’t even need a 

dedicated cutting patch – simply dot 

plants in your herbaceous borders, plant 

them amongst your vegetables, potagerstyle, 

or grow some in containers 

outside the back door. 


6


Finding great varieties of cut flowers 

to grow is also easier these days, as seed 

merchants, nurseries and garden centres 

have cottoned on to the demand for 

home-grown flowers and have developed 

wonderful new varieties, perfect for 

cutting. 

Always check labels and descriptions 

for the ‘scissors symbol’ or any reference 

to stem length and suitability for 

cutting. In order to have a good variety 

of blooms and foliage, it’s a good idea 

to plant a mixture of annuals (seed to 

flower in one year), biennials (seed to 

leaves in the first year, then to flowers in 

the second), herbaceous perennials (grow 

and flower for more than two years) and 

shrubs (perennials with woody, rather 

than sappy stems). 

To get you started here are a few of 

our favourite cutting flowers arranged, 

roughly, by when they are ready for 

cutting – although this will of course 

depend on factors such as when you sow 

and what the weather chooses to do. 

Sweet rocket Frothy sweetly scented 

flowers in purple or white or pale pink 

when there is not much else around 

(May/June). Biennial (flowers in its 

second year) 

Sweet William Clusters of flowers 

smelling lovely in a range from white 

pink and red and purple an absolute 

classic. Flower June-September. Biennial 

Ammi visnaga A white cow-parsleylike 

flower, that’s great as a filler and 

more robust than its cousin Ammi 

majus. Flowers June-September. 


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Hardy annual easy to grow from seed 

and readily self-seeds. 

Mint A great foliage and also a 

wonderful flower in purple or white 

which insects go crazy over. Flowers 

throughout the summer, though we 

tend to use it for foliage. Just the job 

for Pimms. Perennial which spreads 

by roots; will go mad left to its own 

devices. 

Dill Big umbels of lime green flowers, 

edible, great for bees and an awesome 

filler. Hardy annual, easy to grow from 

seed and self-seeds readily. Use the seed 

heads decoratively, from June until the 

autumn. 

Cosmos Large flowers from red to 

pink and white, can grow lovely and 

big. Blooms from June, all summer. 

Half-hardy annual very easy to grow 

from seed. 

Achillea Small plates of tiny 

flowers in all shades of yellow, orange, 

red, pink and white, from June to 

September. Very dreamy and meadowlike. 

Short-lived perennial really easy 

to grow from seed. 

Sunflower (Soraya or Valentine) 

These sunflowers produce many 

heads and are great for cutting. Soraya 

is orange yellow and Valentine is a 

delicate pale lemon, flowering from 

midsummer to autumn. Half-hardy 

annual. 

Agastache Spikes of flowers in 

white, blue pink and orange. Smells 

delicious and the minty flowers and 

foliage are edible. Perennial, easy to 

grow from seed and flowers from July 

to September. 

Verbena bonariensis Small clusters 

of luminous purple flowers are held 

above the rest of the flower bed on 

long straight stalks, flowering from 

July to November. Butterflies adore 

them. Perennial easy to grow from 

seed and self-seeds very readily. 

Jen Stuart-Smith & Bek Bibby are 

co-founders of Blooming Green, an 

eco-friendly floristry business based 

at Linton, near Maidstone, where in 

summer months you can pick-yourown 

fresh flowers to fill your house 

with blooms. 

If you would like to learn how to 

grow your own cut flowers, need 

flowers while your garden grows – or 

have a wedding coming up - visit 

bloominggreenflowers.co.uk 

How to keep 

your cut 

flowers fresh 

for longer 

Strip any leaves from stems so 

that they don’t sit below the 

water level in your vase 

Always use a clean vase and 

replace the water regularly as 

bacteria can build up and reduce 

the life of your cut flowers 

Add a splash of lemonade to 

the water. The carbon dioxide 

inhibits bacterial growth while 

the sugar will make your flowers 

last longer 

Position your vase carefully. The 

vase life of your flowers will 

be reduced if they are placed 

somewhere warm or in direct 

sunlight 

Keep cut flowers away from fruit 

bowls as fruit produces ethylene 

which causes cut flowers to die 


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14 

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SEE JO ARNELL 

AT THE 

WEALDEN TIMES 

MIDSUMMER FAIR 

ON THURSDAY 

7 JUNE 

Cool veg for 

warmer days 

It’s the moment Jo Arnell has been waiting for since 

October – time to get going in the veggie patch 

It’s all about to take off in the vegetable garden and the 

first of the summer harvests are just around the corner. 

The weather and soil are warming, the light has come 

back and the garden is properly waking up. April is the 

perfect month for sowing quick to mature crops that will 

be ready in a few weeks time and also for starting off tender 

crops under cover to plant out when the frosts have gone. 

Some of us have been waiting since October for this 

moment.That same some of us (we know who we are) have 

also, in previous years, ended up with an enormous glut of 

crops; either too much of one thing, or a single glorious 

harvest of everything in late summer - and nothing before or 

after. The beginning of the season is an exciting place to be, 

but it is just the beginning and we must plan before we plant 

- and keep our cool. 

Direct sowing 

You can tell when it’s time to start sowing crops directly 

outside if you look at a patch of bare earth in the garden. 

Tiny weedlings will be popping up, eager to conquer the 

world. Weeds have learned to be cunning and are always 

ahead of our pampered plants, but we can use them as coal 

miners once used canaries, as a sign that it’s safe to sow some 

seeds of our own. 

In newly cultivated soil you will often see a great rash of 

weeds appear, brought up to the surface through cultivation - 

and mingling disastrously with precious seedlings. It is worth 

preparing the soil a few weeks before you sow; then you can 

hoe off the weedlings prior to sowing or planting the crops. 

Sow in rows, because this makes it easier to spot your crop 

when it emerges - weeds are wayward outlaws and don’t care 

for straight lines. You can avoid most of the direct sowing 

pitfalls by growing crops in pots and planting them out once 

they’ve grown a few leaves. You can buy them at this stage 

too. It is not cheating, but it does mean you don’t get a huge 

choice of cultivar. 

Some like it hot 

Vegetables like French and runner beans, courgettes, 

tomatoes, squash and sweetcorn are not frost hardy, so cannot 

be safely grown outside until at least the middle of May. The 

problem is that in order to get a reliable harvest, many of 

them need to be started off before this. Sow seeds under cover 

- on a window sill or in a greenhouse and then gradually 

harden them off before planting outside. 

These crops (like some of us) need lots of hot summer days 

for best results, so find a warm sheltered place for them. They 

can be thirsty too, especially those that form fruits or juicy 

pods, so they may need extra watering if the weather does 

become hot and dry. 

 


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My soil dries out quickly, so I usually dig something called 

a ‘bean trench’, which involves making a trench in the bed 

about 50-70cm deep and filling it with a combination of 

kitchen waste and compost. You can use anything organic 

that will help to hold in the moisture; I have used newspaper, 

cardboard, old woollen jumpers, even an old hat. Then pile 

on some soil and plant the crop. The compost layer will act 

as a reservoir later in the season and keep the roots cool and 

damp in dry weather. 

Some like it cooler 

A few vegetables respond to warmer weather by getting 

overexcited and running to seed almost as soon as you’ve sown 

them. These cool weather crops do not like hot dry weather, 

so grow things like spinach, rocket, coriander and oriental 

greens in early spring or late summer and avoid growing them 

at the height of the summer. 

The quickest summer harvests 

If you are impatient to see results, there are vegetables that 

will spring into action and be ready for harvest in as little 

as 3-4 weeks. The fastest maturing crops are probably leafy 

salads; look for seed packets of ‘speedy’ salad mixes. Radishes 

are also quick to grow, and kohlrabi is also speedy. There are 

other leafy crops, like rocket (the name gives a clue), some 

mustards, spinach and oriental greens. Be careful when you 

sow these, though, as they are prone to bolting (running to 

seed and turning bitter). 

Keep on cropping 

Growing in succession is the ideal way to avoid a glut, but it 

doesn’t work with all vegetables. The idea is to sow a small 

quantity at regular intervals, ensuring that you spread the 

harvest. I have done this successfully with peas, French beans, 

salads such as loose leaved lettuce and rocket and other fast 

growing vegetables. The problem comes when the weather 

starts to warm up and speeds up the rate of growth, so that 

later sown crops quickly catch up with the earlier ones. 

Spave-saving summer crops 

Even if your plot is tiny there are ways of growing crops - 

climbing plants like beans and small pumpkins make use of 

the vertical growing area (i.e. the sky) and there are dwarf, 

but bountiful versions of many crops that can be grown in 

containers or squeezed into corners. 

I have talked before about growing three different 

vegetables together in one space; the ancient native Indian 

technique called the three sisters involves squash, climbing 

beans and sweetcorn all grown together and using each other 

for support and nutrients. 

Beans climb the sweetcorn and feed the soil with nitrogen, 

sprawling squash plants provide shade and suppress weeds, 

but (as often happens when three sisters are grown together) 

the result can be a bit chaotic. 

Too much of a good thing 

Even if courgettes are the mainstay of your diet, I promise 

that you will only need two plants. You may only need one, 

but for pollination purposes it will help to have more than 

one plant. Do not plant a whole row. 

Fortunately, there are 101 delicious recipes for courgettes, 

less for monstrous marrows, which is what they turn into 

when you’re not looking. Beans and tomatoes can also be 

overwhelming. If you can’t help growing in quantity, make 

space in the freezer, or cultivate some new friends to offload 

your surplus onto. 

Permanent crops 

If you have a dedicated place to grow your vegetables, then 

it is well worth growing a permanent crop - asparagus and 

artichokes are top of my list. They do take a few years to 

establish, but will then go on to provide regular harvests for 

many years to come. Asparagus beds just need to be kept 

weed free and supplied with an organic mulch in spring or 

autumn. Artichokes form impressive, architectural clumps and 

look just as good in the borders as in the vegetable garden. 

The mad spring rush is hard to resist, but with just a little 

planning, we will be able to sow the right thing, in the right 

quantity at the right time - in theory at least. Let’s get out 

there. 

For details of Jo’s vegetable growing course visit 

hornbrookmanor.co.uk or phone 01233 861149 

Cut and come again 

This works well with salad leaves, as you can harvest the outer 

leaves, let the plants recover, then cut again. I find that after 

two or three cuts it is best to sow a new lot, but it is possible 

to make one row of salad last a whole summer. 



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Martin & Priscilla 


SEE MARTIN 

GURDON AT THE 

WEALDEN TIMES 

MIDSUMMER 

FAIR ON FRIDAY 

8 JUNE 

Chick, chick, chick, 

chick, chicken… 

They wreck the lawn, eat freshly planted bulbs and hardly ever lay an egg, but 

Martin Gurdon couldn’t be without his hens (and one psychotic duck) 

We were living in a clapboard cottage in Frittenden 

with a long, narrow garden and we thought a flock 

of chickens would add a pretty, bucolic touch, and 

they did, until they turned the lawn into a desert. 

Two bantams and a pair of full-sized birds, brought colour 

and movement to it, but they also brought avian power 

struggles, flowerbed robbery, lawn scarification, and endless 

quantities of acidic guano. 

Gentle reader, if sparrow dung can leave its unwanted mark 

on your car’s paintwork, then hen doings have the power to 

rot through the metalwork. Grass on a small lawn has no 

chance at all. Eventually we moved to a house in 

Woodchurch with a bigger garden that has a sort 

of lattice Berlin Wall so that our current flock is 

unable to trash my wife Jane’s flowerbeds. This 

doesn’t stop them trying. 

If I leave the gate open for a moment there 

will be an avian raiding party, and I’ll see a 

trio of rapidly receding feathery bottoms as 

their owners make an ungainly charge for the 

promised land of milk, honey and flower bulbs. 

The birds in question are called Slasher, Priscilla and 

Hadron. Slasher might lay three eggs every other year and 

is in charge of everybody else. She’s an Araucana; neat, fleet 

footed, with a floppy red comb and luxuriant tail feathers. 

She’s also ten years old – which is ancient for a chicken – and 

recently suffered a suspected stroke. I found her lying outside 

the hutch with a back to front head and unable to stand. 

Two days R&R in a cage in my home office soon had her 

mobile, and other than holding her head at a slightly quizzical 

angle you’d never know there had been a problem. My wife, 

Slasher 

“Priscilla is a 

gentle, lumbering 

serial parent 

with a basso 

profundo cluck” 

Wonky & Hestletina 

who did not welcome our stinky houseguest, has conceded 

that in animal husbandry terms, the pong was worthwhile. 

Hadron is a heavy chicken who is remarkably light on her 

feet and oddly elegant. Think Dawn French with feathers. 

Priscilla is a gentle, lumbering serial parent with a basso 

profundo cluck, who has brought up several generations of 

chickens and ducks, as our garden is also graced with a small 

flock of Indian Runner ducks. 

These include a drake called Bombay, who is as old as 

Slasher and has some rheumatic issues. These have meant 

making senior duck mobility aids to assist egress from the 

pond. In his younger days (think last year) the 

summer months would see Bombay develop 

unhealthy and rather confused lusts for one of 

the chickens, if it happened to be blond. 

Priscilla is light brown, but that hasn’t 

deterred Bombay from chasing her, so at this 

time of year we keep them separate. When 

we didn’t, Bombay dragged one of Priscilla’s 

predecessors into the pond for reasons that 

we won’t go into, and it was fortunate that I heard the 

commotion and hauled the poor bird out. 

You might be asking why we put up with this stuff. Well, 

we do get eggs, sometimes, but the chicken breeds we favour 

tend to live longer partly because they don’t wear themselves 

out laying all the time. Also, chickens are most productive 

egg-wise during their first year or two, and ours stick with us 

until their dotage. 

However, the answer is simple. Entertainment. Our 

hens are endlessly amusing and interesting, whether they’re 

trundling about the garden doing their birdy thing, which is 

never less than watchable, or giving us their full attention. We 

once had a chicken who would stand on my feet and give me 

a penetrating stare when she felt 

it was time to be fed. 

Our birds aren’t great 

intellectuals, but they are great 

personalities who are variously 

controlling, comic, passionate 

and inquisitive. They’ve caused 

expensive trips to the vet and 

the garden centre, but I can 

honestly say that I’ve never met 

a chicken I didn’t like. 

Martin 

is author of 

Hen & The 

Art of Chicken 

Maintenance (Fox 

Chapel), a book 

about sex, death 

and living with 

domestic 

fowl. 



Everything in the 

TICKETS 

ON SALE 

ONLINE 

wealdentimes. 

co.uk/events 

Garden Hub is lovely 

Be inspired by the speakers at the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 

The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair is a gardener’s 

delight with stalls offering plants, outdoor furniture 

and statuary to enhance your patch – and added to this 

we have some brilliant speakers to inspire your horticultural 

ambitions appearing at the Garden Hub sponsored by 

NFU Mutual. All talks are included in the ticket price. 

Tim Bentinck 

Jo Arnell 

Tim Bentinck 

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet David Archer – yes, that David 

Archer, of The Archers. Actor Tim Bentinck, who has been playing 

David A for an amazing 36 years, will be talking about his new book 

Being David Archer: And Other Unusual Ways of Earning a Living. 

Jo Arnell 

You read her every month – now come and meet our 

wonderful garden writer Jo Arnell, talking about how to have 

a colourful garden all summer. hornbrookmanor.co.uk 

Aaron Bertelsen 

The vegetable gardener and cook at Great Dixter, 

Aaron will be talking about cooking inspired by what is 

growing in the garden. (See an extract from his wonderful 

book The Great Dixter Cookbook on page 148.) 

Martin Gurdon 

There are people who keep chickens for eggs – and then there’s 

the rest of us, who start with the eggs and then fall in love with 

the chickens. Former Telegraph columnist Martin Gurdon 

will be talking about his life with ‘the feather-clad soap opera’ 

and his book Hen & The Art of Chicken Maintenance. 

Aaron Bertelsen 

Martin Gurdon 

There will be more Garden Hub speakers announced in the next 

few weeks, so keep an eye on the website for the full timetable. 

The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair Garden Hub is sponsored by NFU Mutual. 


22

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Animal magic 

Creating a pond in your garden will bring in wonderful wildlife says Sue Whigham 

The big chill of February and 

March were very unkind to my 

lovely little water lily (Pygmaea 

rubra) that has spent eight years in a 

large copper in one of my flower beds. 

Hibernating plants like that won’t survive 

a cold spell if the water freezes over 

completely. And, oh boy, it did. 

But I won’t be giving up on water 

plants and the other things that make a 

garden attractive to wildlife. To increase 

the number and variety of animal species 

around you the essentials are: trees, 

plants and shrubs that produce seed 

heads and berries, deadwood, areas of 

unstrimmed long grass and – most of 

all – water. 

It seems that one in ten British gardens 

has some sort of a pond, making about 

two million in total. They provide a vital 

network of ‘wetland habitats’ throughout 

our ever-expanding urban areas. The 

combination of what seems like frenzied 

house building on green fields and 

climate change means a significant loss of 

wildlife havens, but we can all do our bit 

to ameliorate this. 

It doesn’t even matter if we have 

limited space, as even a balcony, roof 

terrace or patio can accommodate some 

sort of water gardening. All you need 

is a watertight container which is deep 

enough to give aquatic plants some space 

and ensures that the temperature of the 

water doesn’t fluctuate too much when 

things warm up in the summer. 

Something pretty like a copper, an old 

galvanised container or ceramic pot is 

lovely, but you can also use something 

cheap and perhaps not so beautiful like 

a bin or large plastic tub and sink it into 

the ground. This has the advantage of 

keeping the water cool in summer and 

protects from freezing – with a bit of 

luck – in the winter. 

I think spring is the ideal time to 

set up a new pond and an informal 

arrangement is best for wildlife. In a 

perfect world you would choose a sunny 

site, away from overhanging trees, with 

shallow edges that allow animals easy 

access to the water. 

If your site is on the shady side 

you’ll find different inhabitants setting 

up home than if you have the pond 

somewhere brighter and warmer. The 

best ponds have gently shelving edges 



Credit: Rob Cursons 

fringed by grasses. Some of the carexes 

are perfect for this. 

I love the bright gold C. elata ‘Aurea’ 

and the stripy phragmites growing with 

the variegated leaves of Iris pseudoacorus 

‘Variegata’, perfect marginal plants for 

the damp edges of your pond. 

Once you’ve put your pond in – 

whether dug straight into the ground, or 

in a vessel – it will fill up naturally with 

rain (which is why August is not a good 

month to do it). 

Avoid topping up with tap water as 

it has high nutrient levels 

and will upset the balance 

of the pond water – and 

remember, it is normal for 

water levels to go up and 

down, benefitting different 

kinds of creatures. When 

water evaporates in summer 

damp mud is ideal territory 

for many invertebrates. 

The really marvellous thing is that 

once your pond or water container is in 

place and filled with life-giving H2O, it 

will colonise naturally. 

Small animals may well arrive 

within the hour and water beetles and 

dragonflies within a couple of days. 

Plants take their time and it may be a 

year or two before the amphibians spot 

a new residence. You may have to add 

algae-eating ramshorn snails as well as 

great pond snails, to keep algae growth 

in check (available on line). 

Plants for shallow water and ledges 

Apart from the yellow flags (irises), 

include water forget-me-not (Myosotis 

“Once your pond 

is filled with 

life-giving H2O, 

small animals 

may well arrive 

within the hour” 

scorpioides) which is a perennial 

wildflower with creeping roots. 

The flowers are rather pretty; 

blue with a pink or yellow central eye. 

water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) 

has clouds of pinky white flowers above 

rosettes of oval leaves on long stalks. It 

has two major advantages in that it self 

seeds and the seeds are highly desirable 

for wildlife. 

Floating/deep-water plants 

Hottonia palustris or water violet is an 

oxygenating perennial and is perfect once 

your pond is established. It flowers early 

with blooms rising up above its leaves in 

spikes of white and pale lilac. 

Frogbit, too, is a rather handsome 

perennial, free floating 

plant with shiny, kidney 

shaped leaves and a threepetalled 

white flower. It 

provides a good cover 

and shelter for aquatic 

creatures. Oxygenating 

plants such as this, curled 

pondweed and water 

starwort, are an important 

food source for wildlife. 

A couple of years ago we were rather 

mystified to find a great crested newt 

wandering around on the 

kitchen floor. Had we still had 

cats, it might have been easier 

to understand. However it 

seems that great crested newts 

hibernate in a variety of habitats 

depending on the time of year 

and this one was no exception. 

Common newts often 

overwinter in ponds, as do 

frogs and any tadpoles that 

didn’t emerge the summer 

before. Water snails tend to 

disappear into the deeper 

recesses of any pond in 

the winter, as do other 

creatures such as water hog 

lice, but occasionally in the 

summer you’ll see snails 

on the surface taking great 

gulps of fresh air. 

Then there are the insects. 

Dragonfly will lay its eggs on 

aquatic plants or drop them 

on to the surface of a pond in 

summer. Their nymphs then 

spend the next three or four 

years in the pond before they 

metamorphose into the 

spectacularly iridescent creatures that we 

see hovering over water in the summer. 

Common pond skaters live on the 

surface of a pond and feed off any 

smaller insect that has the misfortune 

to fall in. Then there are lesser water 

boatmen, whirligig beetles, great diving 

beetles and common backswimmers 

which fly at night and are usually one of 

the first arrivals to a new pond. It seems 

that they are predators of other water 

inhabitants. 

So with all these creatures and the 

summer visits from birds to bats how 

could you ever be bored? Finally, of 

course, your pond will provide water for 

mammals such as badgers and foxes – 

although having just had a devastating 

visit from a fox to my hen house, I’m 

finding it difficult to have good thoughts 

about them right now. 

wildaboutgardens.org.uk is a joint 

information and advice partnership 

between the Royal Horticultural Society 

and Wildlife Trusts. 

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 

07810 457948 for gardening advice 

and help in the sourcing and supply of 

interesting garden plants. 


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CAMgardensWT194.indd 1 19/03/2018 11:49


How does your 

garden grow? 

We are a nation of gardeners, but sometimes it pays to 

bring in the professionals 

A worker from Heritage Grounds Service maintaining mature gardens 

We buy the books, watch Gardeners’ World and 

avidly read the brilliant gardening writers in 

Wealden Times, but if your plot needs serious 

attention – or is even brand new - it’s really worth getting the 

expert help of qualified horticultural consultants. We asked 

three major companies to tell us what they do. 

Heritage Grounds Services and the 

Tree & Hedge Company 

Alan Jones, owner and horticultural consultant 

You have two horticultural businesses, what do they each do? 

I’ve been working in the industry for over forty years and I set 

up the Tree & Hedge Company, which specialises in putting 

in and maintaining those things. My oldest son Ben is also a 

horticulturalist and set up Heritage Grounds which improves 

and maintains larger mature gardens, including several for the 

National Trust, and private gardens. We do the grounds at 

Cliveden, for example. 

What are the main things the Tree & Hedge Company does? 

We provide a lot of hedges for quality new builds. Companies 

come back to us and say that it’s our hedging that actually sells 

the houses. Clients ask them how they managed to build the 

houses round the hedges and trees! Even the most beautiful 

new houses look hard when they’re first built, but softened 

with greenery, the appeal is instant. 

Is there a lower limit for the scale of projects you take on? 

Not at all. A client has just called wanting to buy his wife 

a copper beech hedge for her birthday. People buy trees for 

special birthdays and memorials. 

What specialist services do you offer? 

We might be called in by someone who is having a wedding 

in the garden and wants it to look its best. Our Garden Medic 

Plant Nutrient Service can do an analysis on the whole garden 

and prepare a bespoke tonic which will make it look amazing 

for two weeks. 

Is there a project you look back on with particular 

satisfaction? 

One couple really wanted a rhododendron but the soil in the 

area was much too alkaline, so I built a circular wall in local 

stone, put acidic soil inside and then planted a white flowering 

rhododendron, with lighting so it’s illuminated at night. All 

their neighbours were amazed ‘How have you got that growing 

here?’ Five years on it’s still doing very well. 

What is the tallest tree you have ever put in? 

A London plane tree 11 metres tall. They are my favourite 

trees, the beauty of them is they can be pruned very hard, so 

we use them in many ways, to create avenues of flat table top 

trees, or to create shade for outdoor eating areas. 

What is your favourite hedge? 

We do a beautiful native mixture hedge, which we use for 

wine producers and around orchards to attract bees. It’s like 

a hedgerow only better. We put special mixes together, fruits 

and nuts, hazels so there is always something interesting 

throughout the season. 

What feature do you think makes the single biggest 

difference to a garden? 

Gardens are a lifestyle now. In the summer it’s another room 

to the home and people should look at it that way. If you like 

dining outside with friends, you should create something for 

that, or if you like sunbathing, have nice colourful things to 

look at in those months. 

heritagegrounds.com 01895 438 811 

treeandhedge.com 01895 438811 or 01386 841708 



Practicality Brown 

Graeme Jenkins 

Wealden Country Landcraft 

Tim Playfoot, garden designer 

What scale of projects do you take on? We mostly build 

large country projects, but we are doing more smaller stuff 

for high-end people. Modern housing in built-up areas 

doesn’t have large gardens, but the homeowners want the 

outdoor area to the same spec as the house. So it’s not the 

size of the garden as much as the aspirations of the owners. 

What can a professional garden designer landscaper bring 

to a garden? We’ve been in business since 1998. There 

are thirteen of us and we offer a very professional service, 

bending over backwards to give our clients what they want. 

Many of our clients want something done in the garden 

but don’t know how to do it. They don’t know how to 

deal with changes of level and different materials. I’m a 

designer, so I look at it from a design perspective, but I 

also understand the practicalities and costs involved. Even 

when we are building a garden with a budget of a quarter 

of a million, that is still the budget. There’s no point in 

planning something that would cost another £50,000. 

How does the process work? There are four stages: design, 

build, plant and maintain. We can do all, or one, or any 

combination of those, but the point is that we do the whole 

shebang from designing, to building, planting, with just one 

point of contact and that’s how you get the maximum benefit. 

How do you work with the client to understand what 

they like? We have the initial consultation, to discuss 

the garden and what they think they want and need. 

I show them jobs we’ve done and we talk it through. 

They can say what they like and dislike, images are 

very powerful. Then I write the brief, giving the client 

a summary of what I think they want me to create. 

What would you say was your ‘signature’ feature or style? 

Our gardens are very strong on planting. I started my career 

in horticulture working for a landscape company, very hands 

on with plants. We do lots of hard landscaping, but until 

you put the plants in the landscape is lacking its soul. 

What is the most quirky project you’ve done? We built a really 

expensive garden last year and we could suggest all manner of 

nice finishes and materials from day one which was great fun. 

wealdencountrylandcraft.co.uk 01892 722699 

How did the name of the company come about? The 

company was started in 1981 by Alastair Beddall, who named 

it in tribute to Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the famous 18th 

century landscape designer, who created some of Britain’s 

most spectacular park landscapes at historic homes. 

Is there a lower limit for the scale of projects you take on? 

We can work on projects that are just a few trees, or 

improving 10m of mature hedging, but as Instant 

Landscape Specialists, we are able to provide a complete 

service, from suggesting semi-mature trees for specific 

situations to sourcing unusual topiary specimens 

and planting our home-grown instant hedge. 

There are some amazing before and after shots on your 

website, how long does it take you to finish a project 

like that? Our installation team are very experienced and 

can plant over 50 linear metres of hedge a day. With trees 

and topiary, more planning is needed and some projects 

can take several weeks. We do have a few large projects, 

usually involving a new house build, that have taken a 

few months, working alongside the construction. 

Do you provide all the labour, as well as the trees, shrubs 

and lawns? Yes, we provide a comprehensive service, from 

sourcing the right trees, topiary or large shrubs and using 

our instant hedges, which make a dramatic impact. 

Are you designers as well, or do you work to a design 

prepared by another company? We are experienced 

horticultural experts, rather than designers. We 

work with several award-winning garden designers 

and landscape architects on a regular basis. 

What is your favourite tree? There are so many fantastic 

trees – we have over 500 species on our website alone 

– and different ones are perfect for different situations, 

whether it’s a small garden, an avenue, a coastal area, for 

a formal situation or screening out a neighbour. We have 

‘help me choose’ guides on our website for this purpose. 

What feature do you think makes the single biggest 

difference to a garden? Almost all gardens can have a tree, 

even smaller ones, and trees can bring all sorts of focus 

whether it’s through their flowers, foliage, fruit or bark. 

pracbrown.co.uk 01753 652022 

An instant hedge and semi-mature 

trees put in by Practicality Brown 


30

Creating Beautiful Gardens 

for Brilliant Year Round Results 



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

Would you like a 

greener healthier lawn? 

Let us provide it for you. 

We care about lawns and are committed to providing a 

friendly, professional, independent service. 

Aeration, Scarification, Over Seeding, Top Dressing, 

Feed/Weed Disease Control. 

With tractor towable and manual equipment, 

we cater for lawns of all sizes. 

Contact us for free visit-advice and quotation. 

Telephone 08454 670258 

www.kentsussexlawns.com 

info@kentsussexlawns.com 

Kent & Sussex 

Lawns 

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KentSussexLawnsWT194.indd 1 13/03/2018 16:46 

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Grass roots 

It’s that time of year when you suddenly notice your lawn is not at its Wimbledon best – time for expert advice 

No matter how much you love gardening, 

there is one job you really shouldn’t try 

and do yourself: fix your lawn. 

Grant Goldfinch, of the Lawn Revival Team, tells 

us that one in five of the lawns he is called out to look 

at have been damaged by the homeowners themselves 

over fertilising using garden centre products. So we 

asked Grant, and Matthew Boatwright of Kent & Sussex 

Lawns, to share some of their lawn lore with us. 

Grant Goldfinch, Lawn Revival Team 

Has lawn care changed in the twenty 

years you’ve worked in it? 

There is a movement towards natural solutions, because 

legislation is removing a lot of the magic bullets we used to 

have in the form of chemicals. A lot of what we do is around 

good soil health - 90% of lawns can be renovated through a 

regular treatment programme, aeration, scarification (raking) 

overseeding and top dressing. Using those techniques we 

can bring them back to their former glory or better. 

Do you offer regular maintenance packages? 

We do seasonal lawn treatment programmes, 

predominantly based around weed and feed, controlling 

the moss. We conduct four or five treatments a year 

depending on the lawn and every time we treat it, we 

will inspect the lawn and if we identify a pest or disease 

issue, such as red thread, we would treat that. 

Do you give your customers advice on what they can 

do to improve their lawns themselves between visits? 

Yes, cultural control is advising customers what they can do 

to maintain the lawn in its best condition. For example, if 

you have a lot of coarse grass growing, from blown in weed 

grass seeds, you should change your mowing direction each 

time, because those grasses don’t like being mown into. Also 

avoid mowing too short because it will encourage moss and 

weeds. A lawn is all about competition between species and 

if you’re knocking back the grass too low, you’re putting it at 

a disadvantage. The optimal length is 1.25 to 1.5 inches. 

Is there an ideal time of year to start lawn care? 

All four seasons need different treatments for different 

reasons – you can start at any time of year, but we will 

be doing different things. In spring you kill weeds and 

feed grass, continuing through summer, then in autumn 

and winter it’s moss control and hardening the grass up. 

If you start a seasonal treatment plan in the summer 

we wouldn’t be able to start killing the moss until 

autumn – and you can’t kill weeds in winter, because 

herbicide is only effective if the plant is growing. 

Are there ever lawns that are beyond repair? 

With new build houses, the lawn tends to be thrown down 

on top of debris and compacted ground, so it looks lovely 

when you buy the house, but as soon as you have a hot 

summer, it starts to suffer. A lot of the lawns we lay are 

replacements for new houses. It’s not cost effective to keep 

repairing them, better to start again and prepare the soil, 

have the right kind of root loam and then it will last. 

Do you offer services for other parts of the garden? 

In autumn we do leaf clearance because of the damage it 

can do encouraging bugs. Most of our customers are lawn 

enthusiasts themselves and like to do the mowing themselves, 

but we do a lot of pre-season and post-season mowing, 

because you want to make sure you are removing any debris 

getting it ready for the season, or putting it to bed for winter 

and we have specialist mowers which act like vacuums 

clearing it all up. The main other thing we do is putting 

in steel edging, to create a neat edge next to flower beds. 

Lawn Revival Team, 01580 712129, 07769 705231 

lawnrevivalteam.com 

Matthew Boatright, Kent & Sussex Lawns 

What are the most common lawn 

issues people call you about? 

Moss. People call me after the winter when it’s been wet 

and there’s a lot of moss, also fungal diseases, particularly 

red thread which creates bleached patches on the lawn. 

Do you offer regular maintenance packages? 

Essentially that’s what we do. We offer regular visits, 

two or four times a year, to fertilise, do treatments, 

weed control, scarifying and aeration in the autumn 

and through the winter months. It helps with drainage 

and to allow oxygen into the root system. 

Is there a minimum lawn size you will treat? 

If I can walk on it, I can treat it. 

Are the products you use safe for 

children, pets and wildlife? 

They are rigorously tested and it’s all about applying them 

correctly, at the correct dose rate. Some you need to be 

prudent with, because they can be harmful to aquatic 

life, so you leave buffer zones if people have ponds – 

that’s why you need an expert. We also make sure our 

customers know what time we’ve finished, so they can 

keep pets and children in until enough time has passed. 

Are there ever lawns that are beyond repair? 

There are often problems with 

lawns with new build houses, but 

even with properly laid lawns, 

they have a life span like any 

plant and the time will come 

when they start to thin out and 

the moss starts to take over, so 

then you are better to relay it. 

Kent & Sussex Lawns, 

0845 467 0258, 

kentsussexlawns.com 


Gardening Courses 

Courses and workshops in design, vegetable growing and general 

gardening skills. Held in Woodchurch, Kent. No experience needed. 

Contact Jo 01233 861149 www.hornbrookmanor.co.uk 

Garden Design and Landscaping 

HornbrookManorWT194.indd 1 13/03/2018 17:05 

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StaplehurstNurseryWT194.indd 1 19/03/2018 11:08

Let the 

children 

speak 

Listening to school age kids is vital – but first you 

have to get them to talk says Hilary Wilce 

AAll All the research shows that children whose parents 

support them at school and show an interest in what 

they’re learning do better than those children whose 

parents don’t. 

And all parents know that while that sounds simple, it’s 

actually really hard. 

“What did you do today?” “Nothing.” “Who did you play 

with?” “Don’t remember.” 

“What was your best lesson?” “Don’t know.” 

Little wonder that – as a survey of 2,000 parents done last 

summer shows – we only spend about 14 minutes trying to 

have after-school conversations with our children before getting 

back to our own lives. 

But some schools are finding imaginative, new ways to foster 

home-school 00013MHSWT185x130_Layout links, like the primary 1 19/09/2017 school in Somerset 14:03 Page that 1 

sends its youngest pupils home with a bag of three pebbles, one 

shiny, one dull, and one pointy. 

These represent one special thing that happened in the day, one 

dull thing, and one difficult thing, and both parents and children 

are encouraged to use them as ways to get a conversation going. 

However, even if your child’s school is not so creative, there are 

many useful things you can do to encourage post-school chats. 

Don’t come on too strong. Children need time to transition 

from school and hate being put on the spot. Be warm and 

welcoming when you pick your child up, say you hope they had a 

good day, and leave it at that. 

Learn patience. Many children like to chat about school 

just before bed. (A good delaying tactic. Children are brilliant 

strategists.) 

Chat about things from your day, to encourage your child to 

Not too big, Not too small, Just right. 

The perfect size school to unlock the potential in every child. 

We have an enviable record of Cranbrook entry success over the past 10 years, a 100% CE pass rate 

and each year our pupils win scholarships to many leading independent senior schools. 

MARLBOROUGH 

HOUSE 

SCHOOL 

Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN18 4PY 01580 753555 


MarlboroughHouseWT188.indd 1 19/09/2017 14:17

Blackland Farm 

Outdoor Activity Centre 

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? 

01342 810493 

blackland@girlguiding.org.uk 

www.blacklandfarm.org.uk 

Blackland Farm 

Sutton Valence School 

BlacklandFarmWT138.indd 1 10/07/2013 SpringGroveSchoolWT194.indd 17:31 

1 15/03/2018 15:22 

svs.org.uk 

Open 

Mornings 

Prep School 

Friday 27th April 2018 

Senior School 

Saturday 28th April 2018 

Book online now 


162 

SuttonValenceWT194.indd 1 07/03/2018 11:44

Education 

respond. “A really funny thing happened to me at lunchtime…” 

Ask open questions. “What was the best part of your day?” not 

“Was it music today?” (Open questions can’t be answered with a 

yes or no.) 

Learn as much as you can about your child’s routine, teachers 

and friendships. Then you can ask what happened at whole-school 

assembly, or about Harry’s poorly kitten. 

Don’t feel you have to solve every problem that comes up, or 

always quiz your child about tests and homework. But when you 

do need information, don’t fish, simply ask. 

Seize useful moments. Many parents find that talking in the car 

is a brilliant time to have a conversation – no awkward eye contact! 

Other times might be at bathtime, or when sharing a chore like 

walking the dog. Whatever your family routine, always be alert to 

times when you might get a chance to talk with your child. 

But whatever you do to draw out a conversation, be aware that 

the way you respond will always either open it out or shut it down. 

Aim to be as relaxed and natural as you can – children will close 

up like clams if they feel information is being prised out of them. 

Don’t shower them with questions, and keep your responses as 

calm and non-judgmental as possible. 

Sometimes you might discover that your child is unhappy or 

unsettled about something at school in a way that you hadn’t 

realized. If that’s the case, do your best to find out more about the 

situation and try not to jump to conclusions. 

There is a world of difference between one hard-to-follow maths 

lesson and a maths teacher who is totally not up to the job, or 

between a temporary falling-out between classmates, and a case 

of systematic, ongoing bullying, and you need to be sure of the facts 

before deciding to take things further. 

It may be that your child simply wanted to offload what’s on their 

mind, and there is no need at all to take up arms on their behalf. 

But if you do sense that you need to act, explain to your child why 

you feel you must speak to their teacher, or friend’s parents, and what 

you plan to say, and let them tell you any worries or objections they 

might have. 

Whatever the age of your child, if you run roughshod over their 

confidences, ignoring anything they have to say on the matter, you 

can be one hundred per cent sure there won’t be any more. 

In this situation, as always when talking to your child, remember 

the old adage – ‘two ears, one mouth’ – and always listen twice as 

much as talking. 

Type it out and stick it on the fridge. 

What’s testing you about education? 

With an education system which seems to get ever more 

complex the whole schools experience can be bewildering 

for parents. With our annual education magazine, 

supplements and regular features we address a wide range 

of issues in the field, but we would love to know what 

your particular areas of concern are. We won’t be able to 

answer individual questions, but please email to tell us 

what you would like to read more about at education@ 


See potential. 

Realise the vision. 

Open Morning 

Come and see the difference 

Thursday 3rd May 

9.00 am – 12 noon 

Contact our Registrar for details: 

registrar@dulwichprepcranbrook.org 

dulwichprepcranbrook.org 


DulwichPrepWT194b.indd 1 06/03/2018 14:37

Easter Fun 

at the Farm! - 30 March - 15 April 

Farm Activities and Live Entertainment! 

BANK HOLIDAY 

WEEKEND 

EASTER 

EGG 

HUNTS 

EASTER 

CHICKS, 

LAMBS & 

BUNNIES 

PARK 

& FARM 

ENTRY 

ONLY £3 

PER PERSON!* 

Plus see Paw Patrol’s 

Chase & Marshall at 

intervals on 12 April 

Children’s Attractions 

HOVERMANIA LASER GAMES OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PLAY AREA 

HOPPER’S ANIMAL FARM HOPPER’S DINER & SOFT PLAY 4D CINEMA 

JUMPING PILLOWS MAGIC CASTLE GROOM A PONY INDOOR 

ENTERTAINMENT FARM ACTIVITIES HORSE & CART RIDES 

FACE PAINTING AND MUCH MORE… 

SUBJECT 

TO CHANGE 

The Hop Farm Family Park 

Maidstone Rd, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6PY 

01622 872068 

www.hopfarm.co.uk 

*INCLUDES ALL DAY INDOOR SOFT PLAY, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PLAY, CRAZY GOLF, ANIMAL FARM & FREE PARKING

Rhythm of the Night 

Thu 5 April 

RTWSO: Walton’s 

Cello Concerto 

Sun 8 April 

Rumours of 

Fleetwood Mac 

Mon 9 Apr 

Pop Divas 

Wed 11 Apr 

Walk Right Back 

Thu 12 Apr 

Alice in Wonderland 

Fri 13 to Sun 15 Apr 

Jason Manford: 

Muddle Class 

Wed 18 Apr 

Banff Mountain Film 

Festival 

Thu 19 Apr 

Yolanda Brown 

Sun 22 Apr 

RTW Choral Society 

Sun 29 Apr 

Bernstein- Chichester Psalms 

Rutter- Magnificat 

Stravinsky -Symphony of Psalms 

Box Office: 01892 530613 

assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 

/assemblyhalltheatre /ahttw assemblyHallTheatre 

RTWCS, and the Salomon Orchestra 

Conducted by Rebecca Miller 

8, 9, & 10 

June 2018 

elm wood, hawkhurst 

Off risden Lane, hawkhurst, 

KENT, TN18 5du 

AssemblyHallTheatreWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 17:17 

small, intimate & family friendly...where kids can be kids again & you 

can relax, immerse yourself in great music, fantastic food & 

drink. be together, reconnect or simply escape...if only for a weekend 

live music > 

line up to be announced 

kids activities 

including woodland 

treasure hunts, 

storytelling 

& bushcraft 

south east's finest 

STREET FOOD TRADERS 

THE BIG 

outdoor 

cinema+ 

silent disco 

woodland spa 

beautiful campsite 

+ boutique camping 

for more information and tickets go to: 

www.woodlandsfestival.co.uk 

/woodlandsfestivaluk 

woodlandsfestivaluk 

woodlandsfestuk 

in aid of 


EPM-WT194.indd 1 14/03/2018 14:43

PAINT YOUR OWN CERAMICS 

Come in & have a go… 

• PAINT YOUR OWN CERAMICS • DECOPATCH 

• MAKE A BEAR • SILVER KEEPSAKES 

• PARTIES • WORKSHOPS • GIFTS AND MORE… 

www.slapndash.com 

01580 755674 

Open times: Mon-Fri 10.00 to 5.00, Sat & Sun 10.00 to 4.00 

(Evenings by appointment) 

Disabled access • Ample Parking • Cafe on-site 

Easter 

Trail 

26th March to 6th April 2018 

10am until 4pm 

£3.00 10% OFF 

Slap ‘n’ Dash 

Easter Gift 

Child's Craft Trail Map & 

Activity Sheet 

Includes: 

HAWKHURST FISH FARM 

!subject to terms & Conditions 

SlapNDashWT169.indd SlapNDashWT194.indd 1 04/02/2016 05/03/2018 GodintonHouseWT194.indd 12:57 10:49 

1 19/03/2018 10:24 

2018 

Mayfield 

Festival 

of Music and the Arts 

28 APRIL - 13 MAY 2018 

- FEATURING - 

MENDELSSOHN 

NO 2 HYMN OF PRAISE 

SAINT-SAENS 

ORGAN SYMPHONY 

POULENC - GLORIA 

FRANK SINATRA “HIS WAY” 

TALES OF HOFFMANN 

- AND - 

STEPHEN KOVACEVICH 

THE ART TRAIL 

JAZZ WITH ONYX BRASS 

JAMES O’DONNELL 

POETRY AND CHAMBER MUSIC 

The old and the new, the unjustly obscure and the justly celebrated 

CLASSICAL • CHAMBER • JAZZ • FILM 

 

 

TULIP FESTIVAL 

— 

 

TICKETS • MAYFIELDFESTIVAL.CO.UK • 0333 666 3366 

in association with 

Mayfield School 

Beautiful 11 Acre Gardens; Café with Terrace; Gift 

Shop; Sculpture Exhibition; open from 31st March 

Ticehurst 01580 200888 

pashleymanorgardens.com 


166 

MayfieldFestivalWT194.indd 1 14/03/2018 PashleyManorWT194.indd 11:32 

1 15/03/2018 09:38

What’s On In April 

Art 

Sat 31 Mar – Sat 30 Jun 

Artichoke Gallery, Church 

Street, Ticehurst, Kent TN5 7AE 

BENEATH THE CANOPY 

An enduring fascination with 

trees: their majestic forms and 

graceful branches, the abundant 

wildlife they support. A mixed 

exhibition featuring paintings, 

sculpture, ceramics and jewellery 

inspired by our love of trees, birds 

and insects #visitTicehurst. Open 

Tuesday to Saturday 9.30-4.30. 

Info: 01580 200905 / 

artichokegallery.co.uk 

Fri 13 – Sun 15 Apr 

High Hurstwood Hall, Chillies 

Lane, High Hurstwood, 

Uckfield, Sussex TN22 4AD 

Handcrafted Arts Fair 

Over 32 different artists, designers 

and makers from the Sussex area 

gather for an amazing show. 

Entry: Free 

Info: facebook.com/ 

highhurstwoodhall 

Sat 21 Apr – June 

Portico Art Gallery, 25 London 

Road, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, 

Kent, TN13 2BU 

Jan Grasty and Robert 

Cobuz 

Explore the beautiful works of 

Jan Grasty and the intriguing and 

unexpected creations of Robert 

Cobuz. All works for sale. 

Entry: Free 

Info: porticogallery.co.uk 

Sat 21 Apr – Sun 8 Jul 

Jerwood Gallery, Rock-A-Nore 

Road, Hastings, Sussex 

TN34 3DW 

Paul Feiler: One 

Hundred Years 

This year the Paul Feiler Estate 

and The Redfern Gallery will be 

running a year-long centenary 

celebration of the life and work 

of Paul Feiler (1918-2013), one 

of the foremost figures of the 

Modern Art movement emanating 

from the South West of England, 

centred in St Ives, fascinated by 

the achitecture of space and the 

ambiguities of visual experience. 

Info: jerwoodgallery.org 

Children & Families 

Sat 7 – Sun 8 Apr 10am-4pm 

Betteshanger Park, Sandwich 

Road, Deal, Kent CT14 0BF 

Spring on the Park 

Celebrate spring with the Essex 

Dog Display team, Sky Birds of 

Prey team, Mikey’s Donkeys, dog 

grooming with Hadlow College 

and lots of stalls, crafts and local 

food and drink. 

Entry: Included with park entry 

Info: betteshanger-park.co.uk 

Thurs 12 – Sat 14 Apr 

Chiddingstone Castle, Hill 

Hoath Road, Edenbridge, Kent 

TN8 7AD 

Alice in Wonderland 

The Mad Hatter is hosting a 

fabulous tea party with all your 

favourites from Lewis Carroll’s 

classic tale hosting themed 

activities all over the castle 

grounds. The hatter will be 

awarding prizes and there will be 

certificates for all. 

Entry: £14.56 

Info: chiddingstonecastle.org.uk 

Sat 21 Apr 7pm 

United Church Hall, Croft 

Road, Crowborough TN6 1HA 

Quiz and Picnic 

Enjoy a quiz and picnic with 

tea and coffee available. Teams 

can be up to six people and 

visitors should bring their 

own picnics and drinks. 

Entry: £6pp 

Info: 01892 653596 / bureau@ 

crowboroughcab.cabnet.org.uk 

Sat 21 Apr 

Maidstone Museum, St Faith’s 

St, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LH 

St. George’s Dragon Day 

Meet Flame, the massive smokebreathing 

dragon and his smaller 

friend Bunsen the baby dragon 

this St. George’s day as Maidstone 

Museum celebrates England’s 

patron saint by also honouring the 

other countries he is also patron 

to. Follow the flag trail, make 

your own dragon and get your 

face painted in this multicultural 

special event. 

Info: museum.maidstone.gov.uk 

Mon 23 – Sun 29 Apr 

Various Locations 

Peppa Pig’s Muddy 

Puddle Walk for Save 

the Children 

This spring will see the return of 

the UK’s muddiest fundraising 

event for little ones. Whether you 

splash in puddles along a trail at 

the park or get creative and make 

your own puddles indoors from 

paper and foil – your Muddy 

Puddle Walk will be a fun day to 

spend together that littles ones 

won’t forget. 

Info: savethechildren.org.uk 

Easter 

Fri 30 March – Sun 15 Apr 

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent 

ME17 1PL 

Easter Quest 

Seek out clues hidden around the 

Castle grounds on a fun quest for 

children of all ages. Answer each 

of the questions and receive a 

chocolate treat as a reward. 

Entry: Additional £1 charge 

Info: leeds-castle.com 

Exhibitions & Tours 

Fri 9 Feb – Sat 9 June 

Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art 

Gallery, Civic Centre, Mount 

Pleasant, Royal Tunbridge Wells, 

Kent TN1 1JN 

Seasons of Change: The 

Fegans’ Story 

Fegans has been championing 

childhood and transforming 

mental health since 1870. This 

exhibition will take you through 

its story, from the work of its 

founder James Fegan, through to 

the support services the charity 

offers children and families in the 

South East today. 

Entry: Free 

Info: 01892 554171 / 

fegans.org.uk/seasonsofchange 

Thurs 5 Apr – Sun 28 Oct 

Smallhythe Place, 

Smallhythe Road, Tenterden, 

Kent TN30 7NG 

Triumphant Women 

In 2018 Smallhythe explores 

women’s history and suffrage 

through the anniversary of 

women gaining the vote. This 

new exhibition celebrates the 

women of Smallhythe in the 

Suffrage movement. ‘Edy Craig: 

Women, Suffrage and the 

Theatre’ will be on show in the 

Barn Theatre and green room, 

whilst ‘The Shakespearean 

Lectures of Ellen Terry’ will be 

exhibited in the main house. 

Info: nationaltrust.org. 

uk/smallhythe-place 

Sat 7 Apr – 28 Oct 

Historic Dockyard Chatham, 

Church Lane, Chatham, 

Kent ME4 4TE 

Call the Midwife Tours 

For those needing to fill the 

long gap between now and the 

Christmas special, the dockyard 

has an official re-worked tour 

overseen by the show’s producers 

featuring props, costumes 

and of course the much-loved 

backdrops behind many of the 

show’s most iconic scenes. 

Info: thedockyard.co.uk 

Festivals & Shows 

Tues 3 – Mon 30 Apr 

Brogdale Collections, Brogdale 

Farm, Brogdale Road, 

Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ 

Hanami Festival 

Brogdale is one of the only places 

in the UK where you can celebrate 

this Japanese festival. With over 

350 flowering cherry varieties and 

over 4000 fruit tree varieties in 

the National Fruit Collection it 

is a truly unique experience and 

beautiful spectacle. Enjoy a pretty 

spring picnic throughout April or 

visit on Saturday 14 for the full 

festival experience with cultural 

demonstrations, drumming and 

sword displays, a tea ceremony, 

bonsai, calligraphy, and origami. 

Info: brogdalecollections.org 

Sat 7 Apr 

Kent Showground, Detling, 

Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF 

Heritage Transport 

Show 

Heritage and vintage vehicles 

are driving over for another year 

at the Kent Showground as the 

Heritage Transport show aims 



for a record of 800 vehicles in its 

ninth year. You can also expect 

the South East Bus Festival, trade 

stands, autojumble, a farmer’s 

market and more. 

Info: kentshowground.co.uk/ 

heritage-transport-show 

Food & Drink 

Fri 13 Apr 

Albury Vineyard, Silent Pool, 

Shere Road, Albury GU5 9BW 

Cocktail Night 

Tattams are returning to the 

vineyard on Friday 13th April for 

an evening of cocktails and fizz. 

Get a group of friends together 

and celebrate the end of the week 

with a hand-crafted cocktail 

featuring Albury Estate sparkling 

wines and their new spirit, Attila’s 

Bite. Watch and learn how the 

cocktails are made and learn about 

the English wine scene. 

Entry: £10 including a cocktail or 

glass of bubbly on arrival 

Info: alburyvineyard.com 


Fri 16 Mar – Fri 13 Apr 

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, 

Biddenden Road, Cranbrook, 

Kent TN17 2AB 

Garden Photographer 

of the Year exhibition 

The very best of amateur and 

professional garden and landscape 

photography from across the 

world will be showcased in the 

oast house in an exhibition 

brought to life by the Sissinghurst 

gardeners using plants and flowers 

from the world-famous garden. 

Info: nationaltrust.org.uk/ 

sissinghurst-castle 

Sun 15 Apr 

Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Kent 

TN11 8DG 

Spring Stroll 

Enjoy a springtime stroll through 

the vibrant parkland that 

surrounds Penshurst Place, with 

general manager, Ben Thomas, 

and discover the history of 

Penshurst Place and the variety of 

wildlife living within the grounds. 

Your walk will be followed by a 

delicious two-course roast lunch in 

the Garden Restaurant, and tickets 

to the house and gardens. 

Entry: £30 

Info: penshurstplace.com 

Weds 18 – Fri 27 Apr 

Hever Castle, Hever Road, 

Hever, Edenbridge, Kent 

TN8 7NG 

Tulip Celebrations 

20,000 tulips will be in bloom 

in the historic castle’s stunning 

grounds this month. Indulge in 

a tour, visit the Italian Garden’s 

kaleidoscopic display by the lake, 

and venture inside the castle to 

learn about the flower’s history 

and view Pamela Brise’s striking 

floral displays. 

Info: hevercastle.co.uk 

Fri 20 Apr – Thurs 3 May 

Hole Park, Benenden Road, 

Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent 

TN17 4JA 

Bluebell Festival 

The beautiful Hole Park Gardens 

in Rolvenden, Kent will open to 

visitors every day from Sunday 

1 April, and will be updating 

the bluebell barometer regularly 

throughout the month. One of the 

Seven Wonders of the Weald, the 

colourful gardens will be blooming 

with swathes of crocus, narcissus 

and daffodils. 

Entry: Adults £7.50, Children £1 

Info: 01580 241344 / holepark.com 

Sat 21 Apr 9.30am – 12.30pm 

Godinton House & Gardens, 

Godinton Lane, Ashford, Kent. 

TN23 3BP 

The Annual Garden 

Viv Hunt, will be giving advice on 

choosing and growing annuals for 

cut flowers, pots and long-lasting 

colour in the borders throughout 

the year. 

Entry: £35 

Info: 01233 643854 / 

godintonhouse.co.uk 

Tues 24 Apr 

Pashley Manor Gardens, Pashley 

Road, Ticehurst, Wadhurst, East 

Sussex TN5 7HE 

Tulip Festival 

The Tulip Festival sees Pashley 

Manor Gardens, carpeted with 

over 40,000 tulips, creating 

stunning scenes for visitors. 

Entry: £11 

Info: 01580 200888 / 

pashleymanorgardens.com 

Health & Wellbeing 

Fri 13 Apr 2 - 4.30pm 

Blooming Green, Loddington 

Farm, Linton, Maidstone, Kent 

ME17 4AG 

Awaken your Creative 

Spirit 

Yvonne Fernando, NLP Master 

Practitioner and Life Coach 

collaborates with Blooming Green 

in this experiential workshop set 

in an enchanting, organic flower 

plot. Includes inspiring talk, 

flower arranging demo, flowerpicking 

and cake. 

Entry: £40 

Info: 01233 878474 / 

yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk 

Fri 27 April, 11am-2pm, 

Stalisfield Village Hall, 

Stalisfield Road, Faversham, 

Kent ME13 0JE 

Breathe Better 

Created by Yvonne Fernando, 

NLP Master Practitioner and Life 

Coach, this experiential workshop 

is designed to help you become 

more aware of how you breathe 

and make conscious changes 

to breathe better with tips, 

techniques, discussion and a light 

healthy snack. 

Entry: £35 

Info: 01233 878474 / 

yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk 

Music 

Sat 7 Apr 7.30pm 

Parish Church of St. Peter & St. 

Paul, Church Lane, Tonbridge, 

Kent TN9 1HD 

The Lydian Orchestra 

Spring Concert 

Join the Lydian Orchestra for a 

programme including Strauss, 

Finzi and Brahms with Alex 

Frank-Gemmill conducting and 

soloist Nelson Sinclair-Strong on 

clarinet. Tickets at the door. 

Entry: Adults £15, Students £6, 

Under 16s £1 

Info: tonbridgeparishchurch.org.uk 


Rochester Cathedral Garth 

House, Rochester, Kent 

ME1 1SX 

Gravesham Choral 

Society & Orchestra 

Alan Vincent conducts Verdi’s 

Requiem. Charlotte Richardson 

(soprano), Katarzyna Balejko 

(mezzo-soprano) Stephen Brown 

(tenor) and David Ireland (bass). 

Info: graveshamcs.co.uk 


St Peter’s Upper Church, 

Pembury, Kent TN2 4PD 

Concert for Lifeboats 

An evening of shanties and other 

nautical songs & entertainment, 

featuring established artists. All 

proceeds to the RNLI. Tickets 

from Pembury Pharmacy or 

01892 822945/823759. 

Info: esch4lh@btinternet.com 

Sun 29 Apr 3pm 

Assembly Hall Theatre, 

Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LU 

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS 

CHORAL SOCIETY 

To celebrate the centenary of 

Leonard Bernstein’s birth the 

choir will perform his Chichester 

Psalms. The concert will also 

feature Rutter’s Magnificat and 

Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. 

The choir will be joined by the 

Salomon Orchestra and the 

performance will be conducted by 

Rebecca Miller. 

Entry: from £10 

Info: 01892 527958 / 

geraldchew26@gmail.com / 01892 

530613 / assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 

Shopping 

Fri 16 Mar – Mon 9 Apr 

Fenwick Tunbridge Wells, Royal 

Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, 

Kent TN1 2SR 

Linens Event 

Give your bedroom an instant 

boost this spring with a bed linen 

update, and save up to 50% on 

selected lines during this event. 

Layer up your bed linen with 

beautiful contrasting cushions 

and throws that will tempt you at 

the end of a busy day and where 

you can languish on a relaxing 


168

DAILY MAIL 

WHAT’S ON STAGE 

The Winslow Boy 

Terence Rattigan’s classic family drama. 

TUE 15 - SAT 19 MAY 

marlowetheatre.com (bkg fee) 

01227 787787 (bkg fee)

weekend and enjoy. 

Info: 01892 516716 / fenwick.co.uk 

Sun 22 Apr 10am – 4pm 

Penshurst Village Hall, 

Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8BP 

The Penshurst 

Brocante 

Shop beautiful vintage and 

artisan products with the style, 

atmosphere and flavour of a 

French Brocante. Refreshments 

available from Dolly’s Diner 

throughout the day. 

Entry: £2 

Info: 07885 610912 / 

facebook.com/CherishVintageFairs 

/ cherishthevintage.co.uk 

Theatre 

Mon 30 Apr 7.30pm 

Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, 

Canterbury CT1 2AS 

Mozart: The Marriage 

of Figaro 

English Touring Opera’s energetic 

new production of Mozart’s 

beloved classic comedy The 

Marriage of Figaro sung in English. 

During the course of one eventful 

day, Figaro and Susanna must 

overcome every obstacle put in 

their way by Count Almaviva and 

his cronies before they can finally 

be united as man and wife. 

Entry: from £14.95 

Info: marlowetheatre.com 

Workshops 

Mon 2, Sun 15 & Sun 22 Apr 

Canterbury Baking School, 22, 

The Ness, Canterbury, Kent 

CT1 3NL 

Sourdough Made 

Simple Workshop 

At Canterbury Baking School, 

beginners and more advanced 

bakers can learn the lifelong skill 

of baking bread, sourdough, pasta, 

pizza and/or sweet-dough. At this 

Sourdough class, students will 

make two different starters and 

learn to develop, shape and adapt 

a variety of different sourdough 

breads. Lunch included. 

Entry: £165pp, £10 off for Wealden 

Times readers, quote Wealden10. 

Info: vicky@canterburybakingschool. 

com / canterburybakingschool.com. 


Fri 20 Apr 1-4pm 

Blooming Green, Loddington 

Farm, Linton, Maidstone, Kent 

ME17 4AG 

Flower crown making 

Those looking for a fairy-tale 

addition to their wedding outfits 

can learn how to make this 

‘must-have’ floral accessory using 

freshly picked flowers and foliage 

from the Blooming Green flower 

plot. Jen will show you how 

to create different looks, from 

simple flower-girl circlets to more 

abundant bridal crowns, with 

ribbon or without. All materials 

and homemade refreshments 

provided. 

Entry: £40 

Info: 01622 298676 / 

bloominggreenflowers.co.uk 

Sat 21 Apr & Sat 12 May 

Knole House, Sevenoaks, Kent 

TN15 0RP 

Beginners Patchwork & 

Quilting 

Learn how to create beautiful 

patchwork quilts by hand with 

Cowden Quilt School. Over two 

days work through every stage of 

the process to create your own 

modern family heirlooms, starting 

with a unique cushion cover. 

Entry: £150 (both dates) 

Info: 01732462100 / 

nationaltrust.org.uk/knole 

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 May issue is 13 April 2018. 

Ibbett Mosely 

AuctIoneers & VAluers 

Limited Liability Partnership 

The Auctioneer's Next Sale Will Be On 

Wednesday 4th April 2018 

Commencing at 12.30pm | Viewing 10.00am - 12.30pm 

At Ibbett Mosely Auction Rooms, Argyle Rd, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HJ 

Valuation Day - Wednesday 18th April 2018 11am to 4pm 

At 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 

IbbettMoselyWT194.indd 1 09/03/2018 16:29 

Clare Langdon 

INTERIORS 

Made to measure 

curtains & blinds 

Tracks & poles 

Measuring & fitting service 

Home consultation 

Fabrics & design advice 

Telephone 01233 850829 

clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk 

ClareLangdonWT184.indd 1 12/05/2017 16:19 

Registered Charity No. 239992. Company No. 


KentWildlifeTrustWT194.indd 1 07/03/2018 10:40

COLLINS BESPOKE 

BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS 

www.collinsbespoke.com 

T. 01233 822595 E. info@collinsbespoke.com 

A. Unit 40 Old Surrenden Manor, Bethersden, TN26 3DL

Competition 

Win a pair of 18ct white 

gold dazzle diamond 

stud earrings worth £555 

Established in London in 1991 and in Riverhead for 18 years, Dominic 

Walmsley Jewellery has earned itself a highly respected reputation. Specialising 

in bespoke, contemporary jewellery, handmade in our workshop at the back 

of our shop, the professional and welcoming team are delighted to offer guidance 

on their collections or discuss and design bespoke pieces for any special occasion. 

In recent years they have specialized in redesigning and combining 

existing jewellery to create breathtaking new pieces which retain their 

sentimental value and can be handed down through future generations. 

How to enter: For your 

chance to win a pair of 18ct 

white gold dazzle diamond 

stud earrings worth £555, 

just answer the following 

question: When was Dominic 

Walmsley established? Enter 

your answer with your 

contact details* in the online 

form at wealdentimes. 

co.uk/competition or post to: 

The Dominic Walmsley 

Competition, Wealden Times, 

21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, 

Kent TN17 3HF by 30 April. 

There is no cash alternative 

or exchanges and the prize 

must be taken before 30 April 

2019. *All entrants’ details 

will be passed on to Dominic 

Walmsley and Wealden 

Times Events. Please let us 

know if you do not wish 

your details to be passed on. 

Congratulations to Patricia Saunderson who wins our February competition for a Denbies Wine Estate Gift Experience 


Jane Howard’s 

Fables from 

the Farm 

It’s that joyous time of year for new arrivals on the farm 

and Jane has some very important dates in her diary 

Spring officially kicked off on 20th March but after that 

especially cold and snowy snap, the arrival of the real 

yet unofficial thing, whenever that happens will be 

very warmly welcomed. April usually delivers the goods and 

heralds lots of changes on the farm and all of them are a cause 

for great joy. 

Given hay and somewhere dry to shelter, our hardy native 

Sussex cows would happily outwinter, but they would churn 

all the fields into a muddy quagmire and effectively put paid 

to any expectation of a good flush of spring grass. Instead, our 

grass was only winter grazed by sheep, so once the soil reaches 

a temperature of about 10C it will turn green and start to 

grow again and will be the sweetest, freshest grass of the year. 

Having been housed since November, turnout is a cause 

for major bovine celebration. Tentative at first, the cows 

come out of the barn and suddenly realising they’re free they 

stampede off, frolicking and kicking their heels in the air in a 

complete show of joy and happiness. 

For the mums things will settle down after about three laps 

of the field but for the calves it’s a completely 

different matter. Having been born in February 

and March they’ve never really had the 

opportunity to test drive all four legs. But once 

tried there’s no stopping them. Round and 

round they go, turbo charged, until, they run 

out of muscle power and puff. 

For the bull, the advent of spring is even 

more exciting. George, our resident stock bull, 

who I’ve written about often, has now packed his bags and set 

off up the M40 to pastures new in Great Missenden. 

After three years of loyal service, his two-year-old daughters 

– now known as bulling heifers - are ready to come into the 

breeding herd so we needed a new sire. Enter Eric, who will 

arrive on the farm at the end of this month. 

But Eric won’t be the only arrival this month. The first 

swallows should come back to Coopers from south of 

the Sahara (which makes George’s journey seem a little 

insignificant) any time from 14th April. 

Last year it was the 16th and for the past 

“It’s funny how 

despite advancing 

years, the journey of 

tadpoles into frogdom 

remains fascinating” 

ten years they have only ever varied the date 

by one or two days. I know this because I 

keep a diary of events that happen on the 

farm – and have done so ever since we came 

here twenty years ago. 

In our first year a purveyor of animal 

feeds and mineral blocks gave me a swanky 

A4 desk diary, and has done so every year 

since. With no appointments or meetings to write in, it makes 

for a wonderful record of our farming year and of what’s 

going on in the natural world. This recording of the times of 

recurring natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate 

is called phenology and it’s a very addictive hobby. 

Frog spawn always appears in the ponds at the beginning of 

March and is now just hatching into a wriggling black soup 

– funny how despite advancing years, the journey of tadpoles 

into frogdom remains an absolute fascination. 

I’ve also seen our first bumble bees, butterflies, ladybirds 

and moths. But what I haven’t yet heard is the cuckoo. 

When we first came to Coopers, they were a common sound 

(anywhen from 12th April, if you’re interested) but last year I 

only heard the cuckoo once and that wasn’t here on this farm 

so it looks like they are in deep trouble. 

Is there anything we can do? Fingers crossed the 

nightingales arrive on 2nd May. 

Follow Jane Howard – and the farm – on Instagram @coopersfarm 


174

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Wealden Times | WT194 | April 2018 | Garden supplement inside

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