Wealden Times | WT200 | October 2018 | Kitchen & Bathroom supplement inside

Kitchen & bathroom Supplement inside

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

PRICELESS

October 2018

Designed to stand the test of time

The difference is in the detail

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart

Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES

Tel: 01732 762682

81 Calverley Road

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY

Tel: 01892 520730

www.rencraft.co.uk

14-18 London Road | Sevenoaks | TN13 1AJ

T: 01732 755555

Sevenoaks.home-design.schmidt

20 Grosvenor Road | Tunbridge Wells | TN1 2AR

T: 01892 547 132

Tunbridge-wells.home-design.schmidt

10 tips

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Top

to creating your

perfect Kitchen

Creating the perfect kitchen for you

is an exciting project. No doubt you

will have seen pictures in magazines

and online or stood in a kitchen that

has given you inspiration, but as you start

to create your own you’ll find hundreds of

options to choose from such as mixing and

matching styles to contrast or complement

the rest of your home, combining materials

with different aesthetic qualities and

deciding on colour schemes to add your

own personal touch, to name just a few.

With so much to consider, having an

experienced designer to help guide you

is invaluable. Here Schmidt Kitchens

gives their top 10 tips to guide you to

creating the perfect kitchen for you.

Plan early. If extending, having

your kitchen design ready will

help avoid having to make too

many compromises. Your architects and

structural engineer can then ensure water,

electrics and drainage are best placed.

Create a ‘golden triangle’. Keep your

sink, fridge and hob in a triangle with no

more than 2m between each if possible.

This will allow you to stand in the middle and

be a step away from everything you need

and create a much more ergonomic space.

Don’t

try to cram too much in to

a space. There is nothing more

disappointing than investing in a

kitchen and it feeling cramped. Always

leave a minimum of 900mm+ between

units to allow for doors to open and people

to move around each other easily.

Make the kitchen multifunctional.

Apart from cooking, for what will the

space be used? Would it benefit from

a breakfast bar or seated island to create a

functional, yet social area to do your cooking?

There’s nothing like a glass of wine with

a friend whilst you cook or being able to

prepare dinner whilst kids do their homework.

Invest in made to measure. Many

pre manufactured units will leave

you requiring large filler panels to

cover up gaps leaving you with wasted

potential. Made to measure will allow you

to use every millimetre to get maximum

value from your space, increase storage

and create options for more gadgets too.

smart with your storage. Why not

get a tall larder unit with drawers in

it, rather than shelves, to ensure that

the can of beans at the back of the cupboard

is not forgotten about for years to come!

Remember a rubbish bin! Imagine your

lovely kitchen has just been installed,

you’ve used up all the available space

and now you have to find somewhere to

put a big ugly bin. Get a set of integrated

bins tucked away in a unit out of sight.

Small things can make a big difference.

Make sure that cleaning the dishes

is a breeze. Locate your dishwasher

underneath your sink drainer as this will

allow you to quickly rinse and place anything

into the dishwasher in one swift movement.

Safety

first. Ovens above the height

of a child, boiling tap that can’t be

turned on easily or knocked on by

accident, and induction hobs that have a

much cooler residual surface temperature

designed to make our kitchen a safer place.

Design what is right for you. Don’t

need a dishwasher? Don’t get one.

Want a gas hob? Get a gas hob.

Want to store enough wine to party in style?

Get a wine cooler that can hold 20+ bottles.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

SHOWROOM OPEN DAY

THE KITCHEN PLANNING EVENT!

To find out more about planning the perfect

kitchen come to our open event on Saturday

20 th October where you can bring your plans,

meet the team and learn all the best kitchen

planning practices. See and feel 11 kitchen

and home living displays and get inspired in

our creative zone where you can see all of

our colours and finishes. There will be live

demonstrations from our team including

cooking in Siemens and Bora appliances!

Contact info@Schmidt-TunbridgeWells.

com to confirm your attendance. Cant

make it? Call us on 01892 547 132 and

arrange a meeting at a time to suit you.

RECENTLY NOMINATED

FOR THE SEVENOAKS NEW

BUSINESS AWARD.

Come and visit our wonderful new showroom,

meet the team and discuss your

forthcoming kitchen and interior solution

projects. During the month of October

we have special offers available in store.

20 Grosvenor Road | Tunbridge Wells | TN1 2AR

T: 01892 547 132

We look forward to meeting you.

Janice and Adrian Tobitt

Tunbridge-wells.home-design.schmidt

DANISH DESIGN SINCE 1952 | BOCONCEPT.COM

BOCONCEPT CANTERBURY . 4-5 ORANGE STREET . CANTERBURY . CT1 2JA . 01227 455585 CANTERBURY@BOCONCEPT.CO.UK

FROM DENMARK.

TO THE WORLD.

NEW

COLLECTION IN

STORE NOW.

Explore the new 2019 furniture

and accessory collection at BoConcept

Canterbury and remember to ask about our

Free Interior Design Service in store.

UK distributor of Decking, Cladding

& Flooring Products by Thermory ®

UK Distributor

of OOD Houses

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

Join us at the Benenden Hospital

Open Day on Sunday 7 October 2018

FREE

physio chats

Tour the

new hospital

FREE health checks

(Blood pressure, BMI,

blood glucose,

cholesterol)

FREE eye

health checks

Self-pay

services

FREE

parking

Why wait to feel great?

Join us at the Benenden Hospital Open

Day and find a new you. Pop in between

11am and 4pm to chat to our expert team

about our range of self-pay services, have

a free health and eye check and take a tour

of our new hospital – no booking is required

to join us at the event.

Call us on 01580 857 450

benendenhospital.org/openday

For full terms and conditions please visit benendenhospital.org.uk/openday

Tonbridge

11am–4pm on Sunday 7 October

Benenden Hospital

Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden,

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AX

A228

Pembury

A21

Maidstone

A229

A262

Cranbrook

to Hastings

B2163

Headcorn

A274

Benenden

Hospital

Benenden

A262

M20

Biddenden

Tenterden

Ashford

A28

VIEW THE NEW COLLECTION

IN GALLERIES OR ONLINE

“It’s almost like a visual arts

version of a time capsule,

preserving moments to be enjoyed

long after we’re all gone.”

Stuart McAlpine Miller

Artwork: Katharine Hepburn: Taking Centre Stage

5 High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3EB

01580 715144

Email: kld@kingsfords.net www.kingsfords-solicitors.com

We offer an excellent, swift and friendly service.

Conveyancing - Wills & Estates - Commercial Law -

Matrimonial Law - Prenuptial Agreements - Litigation -

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Conveyancing Services from £550.00+VAT

Wills from £215.00+VAT / Mirror Wills from £295.00+VAT

Lasting Power Of Attorney (LPA's) from £250.00+VAT

(Initial fixed-fee appointments also available at our Cranbrook offices)

Litigation Solicitor from £200.00+VAT

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We will always try and match any quotation

Kingsfords Solicitors Limited registered office address 2 Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD

Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority 621466

8 luxury family homes set in the countryside close to Ashford, Kent - NOW RESERVING

KingsfordSolicitorsWT186.indd 1 24/07/2017 16:55

COSY UP AT CHEQUERS GREEN

4 and 5 bed homes £699,000 - £749,000

Image by Neptune*

info@jarvisnewhomes.co.uk

For further information call:

01233 630999

SHADOXHURST • KENT • TN26 1LD

www.chequersgreen.com

jarvisnewhomes.co.uk

*Our show home will be furnished by Neptune and opening soon

wealdentimes.co.uk

JarvisNewHomesWT200.indd 1 14/09/2018 12:02

Contents

October 2018

OLD STYLE CHARM

Maggie Alderson peeks inside this

month’s most desirable properties

136

120

32B OR NOT 32B?

We talk to one of Fenwick’s

experts about bra fittings

163

146

TALKING THE TALK

Two schools discuss the benefits

of learning a second language

OCTOBER NOTEBOOK

Events to make note of

HIGH GLOSS

Gloss and glamour galore in

Lauren Atkins’ Oxshott home

139

143

SOAK IT UP

Josephine Fairley finds your

beautiful bathroom must-haves

A YEAR OF WELLNESS

Eminé Rushton’s sleep solutions

167

173

WHY STEM SUBJECTS NEED

SOME ART TO MAKE STEAM

The importance of arts in our schools

ON GOOD TERMS

How to keep kids enjoying school

116

120

GET THE LOOK

Gorgeous objects to imitate

the high gloss look

BED TIME

The best of bed trends

HOME ON THE FARM

Look inside a quintessentially

Wealden farmhouse

GET THE LOOK

Imitate the Home Farm look

LIFE’S RICH TAPESTRY

Kate Watts styles this season’s

most luscious fashion trends

144

146

153

159

NATURAL WISDOM

Wellbeing guidance

from the co-founder of

The Remedy Retreats

ONE POT WONDERS

Deliciously easy midweek

marvels

HARVEST HOME

Jo Arnell’s celebration of the

autumn harvest

A PRICKLY SUBJECT

Sue Whigham on cactus that will

thrive in future summer heatwaves

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

necessarily those of JPS Media Ltd.

175

183

184

WHAT’S ON

All the best things to do this month

COMPETITION

Win a £500 gift voucher from

GANT clothing

FABLES FROM THE FARM

Jane Howard marks the start of the

farming year

KITCHEN &

BATHROOM

SUPPLEMENT

32 pages of trends,

designer tips, and

desirable products

After page 118.

Kitchen&

Bathroom

A Wealden Times Supplement

Elite kitchen designer tips

● Kitchen sinks ● Heated towel rails ● Bathroom lighting

lambertandfoster.co.uk

HIGHAM, ROCHESTER, KENT GUIDE PRICE £1,300,000

A substantial Grade II listed detached barn conversion providing versatile accommodation with up to four double bedrooms and benefiting from the addition of a

detached one bedroom/one reception room annex. Set within just under three quarters of an acre of grounds with a further detached cart lodge garage. Located in a

semi-rural yet not isolated hamlet surrounded by open countryside with major transport links only a short drive away. An internal viewing is strongly recommended to

appreciate exactly what is on offer. No forward chain.

• PADDOCK WOOD OFFICE 01892 832 325

MARDEN, KENT GUIDE PRICE £895,000

A well presented and versatile four bedroom detached Grade II listed converted barn with a wealth of character and charm throughout. Benefiting from four reception

rooms with a separate cloakroom and utility with the addition of an en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom. Set within three quarters of an acre of grounds comprising

formal gardens and a small paddock with a southerly aspect backing onto open farmland. Located on the semi-rural outskirts of the popular Wealden village of Marden and

only a short drive or cycle ride to the mainline railway station and high street. Cranbrook School catchment area an. No forward chain.

• PADDOCK WOOD OFFICE 01892 832 325

PADDOCK WOOD

01892 832 325

MAYFIELD

01435 873 999

CRANBROOK

01580 712 888

See our properties on

BLOOMSBURY

G A R D E N S

SALES / LETTINGS / MANAGEMENT

VISIT US AT HUNTERS.COM

HERE TO GET you THERE

APPLEDORE £635,000 BETHERSDEN £535,000

A superb three/four-bedroom detached family home presented

to a high standard with oak joinery throughout, featuring an

impressive 31ft kitchen/dining room and electric gates with

intercom, situated on the edge of the popular village of Appledore.

EPC RATING C

A well presented four bedroom detached family home with three

reception rooms and southerly aspect rear garden, situated in a

quiet cul de sac in the popular village of Bethersden and within

walking distance to the local primary school.

EPC RATING TBC

HEADCORN

01303 261 557

Over 150 independently owned branches across the UK.

FOLKESTONE

01303 210 335

Priced £795,000–£1.1m

SHOW HOME OPEN SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS FROM 10am till 5pm BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Nestled within the beautiful countryside village of Headcorn, Weavers Park offers an exceptional range of 4 & 5 bedroom

luxury homes. The charming village offers an abundance of local amenities and primary school. Weavers Park is just a

short drive from the M20 and Headcorn station with regular trains into London.

weaverspark@hunters.com and 03301 200 750

HERE TO GET you THERE

TENTERDEN

01580 763 278

ASHFORD

01233 613 613

HYTHE

MEET YOUR LOCAL Tenterden Team!

Jake, Andrew & Laura

Over 200 independently owned branches across the UK.

‘Our Focus Determines Your Reality’

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM

HAWKHURST £1,500,000

ATTRACTIVE DETACHED FAMILY HOUSE

Entrance hall · Three reception rooms · Conservatory

· Kitchen · Utility room · Cloakroom · Five bedrooms

(two en-suite) · Gardens approximately 2 acres · Tennis

court · Garaging · EPC: E

Cranbrook School Catchment

BENENDEN £1,295,000

CONVERTED OAST AND ANNEXE

Two reception rooms · Entrance hall · Kitchen/dining

room · Four double bedrooms (two en-suite) · Detached

two bedroom annexe · Grounds approximately 4.5 acres

· Tennis court · Outbuilding · EPC: C

Cranbrook School Catchment

BENENDEN £1,200,000

SUBSTANTIAL DETACHED FAMILY HOME

Two receptions rooms · Conservatory · Kitchen/

breakfast room · Utility room · Cloakroom ·

Five bedrooms (one en-suite) · Charming garden

approximately 0.6 acres · Garaging · EPC: F

Cranbrook School Catchment

RURAL STAPLEHURST £1,195,000

SUBSTANTIAL LISTED FARMHOUSE

Four reception rooms · Kitchen/breakfast room ·

Five bedrooms · Two bathrooms and shower room ·

Approximately 1.2 acres · Garaging and outbuildings

with scope to convert subject to planning · EPC: n/a

Cranbrook School Catchment

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 Sara Debbie Clare Jane A Debbie S Caroline Dianne Caroline J

Connecting people

& property, perfectly.

Biddenden TN27

6 3

Hawkhurst TN18

8 3

First time on the market - a detached

Georgian style property.

An elegant Grade II listed farmhouse within

Cranbrook School Catchment Area.

• Outstanding views

• Detached coach house

• Double garage with office

• In all about 70.2 acres

• Sought-after position

• Wonderful views

• Many period features

• In all about 3.5 acres

OIEO £2,000,000

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310700

Guide price £1,250,000

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310700

Etchingham TN19

6 4

High Halden TN26

4 3

A beautiful period barn conversion.

A Grade II listed Georgian farmhouse.

3 2

• Annexe potential

• Detached office

• Rural position

• Just over 1 acre

• Conveniently located

• Period features

• Summer house

• Outbuilding

Guide price £1,295,000

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310700

Guide price £895,000

simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 310700

THE BEST POSITIONS FOR

AN UNBEATABLE LIFESTYLE

ONE THREE THREE

HIGH STREET, TONBRIDGE TN9 1DH

OPEN DAY SATURDAY

6 TH OCTOBER 10 PM -2 PM

A stunning collection of fourteen 1 & 2 bedroom

apartments. Residents benefit from; excellent transport

links, leisure facilities, wine bars and tempting eateries –

all just a walk away.

Prices from £225,000

subject to scheme rules

COMING

SOON

INCENTIVES AVAILABLE * . PRICES FROM £235,000

A fantastic development of one

bedroom apartments, just a stones

throw from the station and Pantiles.

Call today to find out more.

IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT

MOVING, SO ARE WE!

ALDON LANE OFFHAM – two 3 & 4

bedroom chalet houses in delightful rural

position. Ready for occupation summer 2019.

We also have upcoming schemes in; Plaxtol,

Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, East

Grinstead, Crowborough, Plumstead

Ewshott, Paddock Wood and Cranbrook.

info@regalpoint.co.uk

*Subject to scheme rules.

TRADITIONAL VALUES, MODERN HOMES

01732 450184 | REGALPOINT HOMES,THE STUDIO, 149A HIGH STREET, SEVENOAKS, KENT TN13 1XJ | REGALPOINT.CO.UK

StapleHurSt Guide price £1,250,000

Circa 5,000 sqft inc 6 beds · Outbuildings · CSCA · No Onward Chain · EPC D

Marden Guide price £995,000

Outbuildings · 3 Receptions · 5 Bedrooms · Tennis Court · Listed

GOudHurSt OieO £895,000

Village Location · 3 Beds · Annexe · Circa 0.7 Acres · CSCA · EPC E

lintOn OieO £895,000

Glorious views · 6 beds · 2 Recs · 2 Baths · Dble gge · Circa 0.87 acres · EPC E

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

For Lettings call Ella Krzos or Sales call Rupert Newcomb

SiSSinGHurSt Guide price £775,000

New Build in Village · 5 Beds · 3 Recs · 3 Baths · Double Garage · CSCA · EPC TBC

Frittenden OieO £625,000

Period Village House · 3 Receptions · 4 Bedrooms · CSCA · EPC E

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

Beckley, East Sussex - £795,000

Grade II Listed detached cottage in approx. 1.2 acres.

Living room, study, kitchen, garden room, dining room,

3 bedrooms and 4th bedroom guest suite on secondary

stairs. Double garage. Gardens, paddock and orchard.

Appledore, East Sussex - £695,000

A detached cottage with stunning views across farmland

yet convenient for Appledore station and connection

to London. Living/dining room, kitchen, family room,

utility 2 double bedrooms. Gardens to side and rear.

Outbuildings. EPC E

Icklesham, East Sussex - £965,000

An attached Grade II Listed Georgian property in the lee

of the church. Drawing room, dining area, conservatory,

kitchen, breakfast room, utility, home office, cellar, 6 double

bedrooms with 3 en-suite facilities. Garden. Parking

Broad Oak, East Sussex - £699,950

A modern detached house with flexible accommodation.

Living room, vaulted kitchen/dining/family room, ground

floor bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms. Detached

home office and playroom. Garden. Parking. EPC C

Appledore, Kent - £895,000

An exclusive development of five bespoke detached houses.

Exclusive main open plan kitchen/dining area with day room

off, living room, study, utility, 5 bedrooms. Integral double

garage. Gardens. Predicted EPC B

Battle, East Sussex - £399,950

Attached period cottage in convenient location a short walk

from town. Living room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast

room, garden room, 2 bedrooms. Front and rear gardens

Garage. EPC F

RYE OFFICE 01797 227338

MAYFAIR OFFICE 0870 112 7099

phillipsandstubbs.co.uk

01732 757158 | Homes www.fernham-homes.co.uk

NEW RELEASE

Launch Weekend 29 th & 30 th September 10 am - 4 pm

Computer generated image

MARKET PLACE

GOUDHURST, KENT TN17 1HA

The Paddock - £1,195,000

A stunning 5 bedroom detached home at this gated collection of seven 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes

Prices from £550,000 | Show Home Open Weekends 10 am - 4 pm | Book your appointment today

Visit our website to find out more

New developments in Westerham, Borough Green, Orpington, Boughton Monchelsea & Greenhithe

Fernham Homes – Built For Life

www.elliottreid.co.uk

Space?

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…

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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

More space, more light, more Wow!

“Do you dream of having extra space at home to enjoy quality time with

family, entertain guests in style or relax in a tranquil environment?”

Our bespoke seasoned oak conservatory, orangery and garden room designs can transform your home with a

stunning and inspiring new living space for all seasons and occasions. Our vision is to help you create yours.

33100% customer satisfaction in 2017

33Listed property & planning specialists

Experienced design team 33

Full 10-year guarantee

Quality bespoke craftsmanship

Climate control all year round

Call us now on 08456 442257 or 01323 442255 to arrange a design consultation

Or download our brochure for inspiration

www.oakconservatories.co.uk

STAMP

DUTY PAID*

Contributions from £9,375

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Beautiful character homes that feature the

very best of town and country living.

AVAILABLE NOW

High specification homes surrounded by beautiful

green open spaces and excellent local amenities just

400 metres from Tenterden’s boutique High Street.

Church View offers an enviable lifestyle that features

the very best of town and country living.

3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes available from £575,000

Show homes open daily 10am to 5pm

01580 854076 | churchview-tenterden.co.uk

STAMP DUTY PAID* and HELP TO BUY available

Prices correct at time of print. * Contribution to stamp duty payment only available to owner occupiers and applied to selected homes. Payable on legal completion. Subject to contract. Limited period offer only.

Discretion is is the Better Part of Valour

The property market has changed astronomically

At SJD we work to source the right developers for

in the past few decades, bringing in a new era

your site - all of our sales are made confidentially

of off-market and private sales.

thus protecting both your identity and your

individual interests.

Unlike conventional methods, we we offer offer discrete

marketing where details of your site are not

openly marketed. Private sales generate a sense

of exclusivity, boosting the likelihood of a quick

and hassle-free transaction.

If If you If you have have a development

a opportunity that that you you would like like to to sell sell off-market,

please contact us us for for a free a free appraisal.

Contact Stephen Donnelly on

07739 514350 or or or 0845 456 8969

Web: sjd-projects.com

email: steve@sjd-projects.com

SJDprojectsWT196.indd 1 23/05/2018 16:17

Regain the use of this valuable space and

start enjoying your conservatory again by

contaccng us today for a free,

no obligacon quotacon.

wealdentimes.co.uk

IconConservatoryRoofsWT198.indd 1 23/07/2018 11:11

WHERE IT’S ALL

ABOUT WHERE THE IT’S JOURNEY ALL

ABOUT

NOT JUST

THE

THE DESTINATION

JOURNEY

Trust Humberts to guide you every step of the way

NOT JUST THE DESTINATION

We now have local experts in your area to support you on your property

journey. Trust Humberts to guide you every step of the way.

WHETHER BUYING OR SELLING WE ARE COMMITTED

TO HELPING YOU ON YOUR PROPERTY JOURNEY.

WHETHER For trusted advice BUYING from experienced OR SELLING professionals WE ARE contact COMMITTED us today.

TO HELPING YOU ON YOUR PROPERTY JOURNEY.

For trusted advice from experienced professionals contact us today.

humberts.com

MOVING YOU SINCE 1842

humberts.com

MOVING YOU SINCE 1842

T 01732 741212 | E kentsussex@humberts.com

House

Month

of the

£1,000,000

Old style charm

Maggie Alderson selects three heavenly houses currently on the market

Chillies Granary

The dream: As the name suggests,

Chillies Granary was created from a

former granary and its agricultural

origins can be seen in the beautiful

exposed golden stone walls on the

lower half of the exterior and in the

hall. The original beams have been

set off to their best advantage by the

creation of a two-storey entrance

hall, galleried on the first floor.

The upper half of the outer walls

are black weatherboard giving it a

sophisticated appearance.

Where: Just outside the village

of High Hurstwood, under three

miles from Crowborough, ten from

Tunbridge Wells.

Setting: An elevated position with

far-reaching rural views, close to

Ashdown Forest.

Beds: 5, two en suite Baths: 3 in all.

Special features: Two-storey galleried

hall and landing.

Pleasing details: A detached bar/

studio in the garden.

Outside: Established gardens – partwalled

- and grounds.

Time to town: An hour and ten

minutes to London Bridge from

Crowborough.

Price: Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Agent: Hamptons International,

Tunbridge Wells 01892 640013

hamptons.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

Stilebridge

£995,000

The dream: The full tile-hung 17th

Century Wealden hall house dream,

with every key detail: mellow oak

beams, inglenooks, oak floorboards

and latch doors. There is a particularly

nice, spacious entrance hall with stoneflagged

floors.

Where: Two miles from the thriving

village of Marden, 15 minutes drive to

Maidstone.

Setting: Rural, among open farmland.

Beds: 5 Baths: 2, one en suite

Special features: A Grade II listed

barn, with enormous potential for

conversion to a granny flat, party barn,

or Airbnb space, subject to planning.

Pleasing details: A pond with a jetty.

Outside: Landscaped gardens and

grounds with mature trees, a lovely

stone-flagged terrace and original

outbuildings.

Time to town: Just over an hour from

Marden.

Price: £995,000

Agent: Jackson-Stops, Cranbrook.

01580 720000 jackson-stops.co.uk

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31 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Notebook

Sophie Ellis-Bexter

Canterbury Festival

Canterbury’s annual arts bonanza boasts over two

hundred events including shows, workshops, talks

and walks from Saturday 20 October to Saturday 3

November. Famous names (The Feeling, Sophie Ellis-

Bextor, The Shires) and world-class performers will sit

alongside young, emerging talent from Kent schools.

The Foundation Bursary concert has a prize of up to

£2000. And the theatre line-up includes the acrobatics

of Barely Methodical Troupe and the saucy Lady Luck

Cabaret. Tickets on sale at canterburyfestival.co.uk or

Marlowe Theatre box office at 01227 787787.

Pure art

Now in its 9th year, the Pure Autumn

Art Fair will take place from Saturday

6 to Sunday 14 October from 11am to

6pm at the PowderMills Hotel in Battle.

Showcasing the brightest international

talent, featuring work across all fine art

media. A full list of exhibiting artists can

be seen at pureartsgroup.co.uk

Notebook

Exhibitions

Lucy Worsley

events near you

this month

Deeds and words

Deeds and Words Tonbridge is a new

Festival of Women’s Voices celebrating

100 years of women making themselves

heard. From Friday 5 to Sunday

7 October at the EM Forster Theatre

in Tonbridge, Lucy Worsley, Helen

Pankhurst and Rosie Duffield, will be

brought together alongside local writers.

There will be debates, workshops,

performances, talks, poetry readings and

an exhibition of suffragette material.

deedsandwordstonbridge.com

Walkies

On Sunday 14 October, Leeds

Castle will be hosting The Big Dog

Walk. Guide dogs return for a 2.5

mile walk around the castle’s upper

parkland. Entry is free, but all dogs are

encouraged to raise £35 to help cover

the cost of a guide dog harness.

leeds-castle.com

Spidey Saturday

Spider experts from the British

Tarantula Society will be displaying

some of their most commonly feared

animals in Drusillas’ Discovery Centre

on Saturday 13 October. The aim

of the day is for visitors to overcome

phobias, as well as to be fun and

informative. drusillas.co.uk

Heverween

Prepare to be spooked this Halloween

at Hever Castle & Gardens, with ghostly

tales in the Ghost Catcher’s Lair, a

pumpkin trail, creepy craft workshops,

costume prizes, and a chance to learn

about the Castle’s ghosts. Plus grown-ups

can enjoy a scary tour, three-course feast

and stay overnight. hevercastle.co.uk

41 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Welcome to our

200th issue

Wealden Times’ founder Julie Simpson celebrates 16 years of the

magazine she created to champion our very special part of England

can’t believe we are publishing the 200th issue of Wealden

Times. It’s been 16 years since we started and to have

reached this stage feels like it deserves a moment of quiet

contemplation and a look back to where it all started.

Wealden Times was, and still is, a fanzine for the Weald

and surrounding areas, a love letter to the countryside,

houses, food producers and communities which lured my

growing family from London over 30 years ago with the

promise of more space, a proper garden and good schools.

But there was a price to pay and my husband – and most

of our friends – spent long hours commuting up to London

every day. The Wealden Times was to be a monthly reminder

of all the reasons why they’d made the move in the first place.

The idea of creating a glossy homes and gardens magazine

celebrating life in the Weald had been in my

mind from the moment we landed here, but it

wasn’t until the spring of 2002 when Wealden

Times, then a small local magazine, ceased

trading that we finally got our act together.

Although our vision was nothing like the

original mag, which focused on stories about

local business, we bought their name and a list

of advertisers because it gave us the impetus to get started.

Everyone who joins the company is shown the first

issue of Wealden Times we published in November 2002.

It’s just 32 pages and lacks the polish of later issues, but

in many ways is just the same: It has a house feature

(designer Kaffe Fassett’s gorgeous Hastings home), plus

fashion, garden and food features all photographed

in glorious colour by David Merewether. It also has

what is still one of my favourite front covers.

“A love letter to

the countryside

which lured my

growing family...”

Importantly, those dedicated commuters who originally

inspired the magazine were the first people to see it

with five of us (the entire staff back then) turning out

at 6am to hand out copies at local train stations.

Sixteen years and 200 issues later there are 23 of us

working on two magazines (Wealden Times now has a

younger sister Surrey Homes) and two very popular events,

the Wealden Times Midsummer and Midwinter Fairs,

which have become ‘must do’ biannual fixtures for many

people in this area and beyond. We have loyal attendees

who come from Belgium and Holland every year and a

couple of ladies made the trip specially from Australia!

Like that first magazine, the fairs started very small, but

while the company has got bigger at heart it remains very

much the same: We are proud to work with

all the fabulous businesses who advertise in

the magazine every month and exhibit at

our fairs. We are incredibly grateful for their

continuing support without which we would

not be able to be ‘priceless’ to our readers.

We are also indebted to all the lovely

people who have let us photograph

their homes to create the house features which are

the backb one of the magazine. Also our wonderful

contributors, all eminent in their own fields.

And my final words must be to say an enormous thank

you to you, dear readers, for picking up Wealden Times

each month and reading it. We love your feedback and we

love meeting you at our events. We hope to meet lots of

you at the Midwinter Fair in November – please come and

find us at the magazine stand. Here’s to the next 200!

From left to right: May 2010, June 2013, November 2002 (Julie’s first cover, still a favourite), June 2018, October 2011

47 wealdentimes.co.uk

Come and meet

our experts.

Free Events at Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital

& Fitness & Wellbeing Gym

Wednesday 10th October

Considering cosmetic surgery?

Talk to us about breast surgery

7-9pm with Mr Marc Pacifico, Consultant Plastic and

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Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4UL.

Monday 15th October

Children and Young Persons Orthopaedic

open consultation morning

9am -12pm with Mrs Rantimi Ayodele and Miss Jo Dartnell,

Consultant Orthopaedic Paediatric Surgeons

Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Gym,

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Editor’s

Letter

It has seemed particularly appropriate to be putting together

our Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement for this issue as we’ve

just had a lovely new kitchen put in at our offices.

Shiny and white, with lovely soft close drawers, a huge integral

fridge and everything neatly stashed away – we even have a

groovy boiling water tap - it makes every tea run feel like a mini

Zen moment. I return to my desk, mug in hand, feeling mentally

refreshed, so I know first-hand what a difference a well-designed

kitchen can make.

We’ve made the practical aspects of kitchen planning the focus

of this supplement and I’ve learned so much chatting to six

expert kitchen designers, to glean their priceless insights.

Another exciting thing to plan at this time of year is your new

season autumn wardrobe and I’m sure you’ll find inspiration in

our fashion feature, shot in the very special location of the Battle

Abbey School library.

Our houses this month are a wonderful contrast of the

ultimate modern glamour in Oxshott and elegant country style

in a Kent farmhouse. With our regular mix of wonderful gardens,

wellbeing, beauty and brilliant quick and easy mid-week one-pot

suppers, I hope you will enjoy reading your Wealden Times, as

much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

Enjoy your Wealden Times!

FREE MATTRESS PROTECTOR

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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

Freya Bruce

Ryan Huggins

Tanya Goldsmith

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

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

Sales Manager ................................................................................... Jen Shearer

Media Sales.................................................................................Sarah Norwood

Cinnamon Lacey

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

Wealden Times Events Team

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

Jude Brown

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

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49 wealdentimes.co.uk

LenleysWT200.indd 1 07/09/2018 16:51

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Where to find your copy of

LYRIC PIECES

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of

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51 wealdentimes.co.uk

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McAllisterThomasFineArtWT200.indd 1 12/09/2018 10:53

McAllister Thomas Half Page - Wealden Times.indd 1 11/09/2018 11:05

The Art of Chris Rivers

Chris’s big, dramatic and dynamic oil paintings have flashes of

Impressionistic, Renaissance and Rococo styles fused

together with a surrealistic approach.

“I enjoy playing around with the idea that not everything is what it first seems,

something that can tell one story from a distance can tell a different story

when you get closer. It’s the things you don’t notice at first, a darker side to

innocence or the other way around. I’m always looking to find contrast in my

work with the colours and story.

I want to experiment as much as possible with how to give a twist to something

that might seem normal.

I’m not looking to follow any trends or fit in, I like to keep things simple and

just paint what I love or what inspires me at that moment in time”

Find out more today (Original oil paintings and Limited edition

prints)

www.chrisriversart.com

info@chrisriversart.com

@chrisriversart

wealdentimes.co.uk

High gloss

Space, light, contemporary art, designer furniture, with

lashings of gold and sumptuous textures, Lauren Atkins’

Oxshott home is the very definition of modern glamour

Words: Jo Arnell Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Kimberley Watson

55 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Previous page: It was the height and space in the house that

convinced Lauren it was the one for her – when she first saw the

plans Above: The kitchen is by KCA, the chairs are by Tom Faulkner

and Lauren sourced the original Saarinen table

First impressions count, but as the huge and imposing

double doors of Lauren Atkins’ spacious family

home in Oxshott open, they don’t just count, they

slide whooping down the Hollywood-style stairs, across a

white ocean of highly polished porcelain and cause a gasp

of awe. This is an entrance that makes an entrance.

The whole space is painted in white and pale grey throughout,

with small touches, such as the curvaceous blue sofa tucked

under the sweep of the curving staircase and gold legged furniture

that hint at the colours scheme carried throughout the house.

It has an appealing art gallery feel too, with artworks

sprinkled liberally through the hall: a chair that is

moulded to the shape of someone sitting in it, a Jeff Koons

style balloon dog, and a huge sculpture on the wall

57 wealdentimes.co.uk

“I never follow fashion and won’t be pigeon holed, which keeps things fresh”

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OlsonTimberBuildingsWT198.indd 1 11/07/2018 17:08

Previous page: In the dining room, the chairs are by Koket and Lauren found the dining table in a shop on the King’s

Road. The sculpture is by her friend Maria Bassett and is made out of concrete Top: The sofas are by Two is Company.

Lauren designed the ottoman Above: Lauren buys some artworks from The Affordable Art Fair

depicting ice lollies in various states of being eaten.

“Big pieces work in here,” says Lauren: “I really want a giant

balloon sculpture going right up to the roof by the stairs.”

It is certainly the perfect space for a statement.

Lauren follows my gaze up towards the soaring double

height ceiling in the entrance hall. “It was the height,

the space, the light, that I liked,” she explains.

This sounds like a fair comment – but takes on greater

significance when you know she was imagining the

height and space when she made that decision, because

she bought the house off plan – before it was built

two and a half years ago. A brave step for most, but as

a property developer of some standing, Lauren has a

special gift for visualizing spaces from floor plans.

Property development was not something that she had

originally intended to do. Lauren’s training and background

61 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: In the study the white, gold and blue theme continues, with

the emphasis switched to the darker colour

is in corporate IT, but when she had her daughter, Bella, almost

ten years ago, she decided to go into the family business.

The Malins Group was founded by her father Malcom

Atkins back in the early 1970s. Back then – and really

until very recently – the industry was very much run by

men. Lauren’s first job was to sell – and make a profit

on – some properties that were proving hard to move.

Building a workforce of mainly part-time working mothers,

she managed to turn the project around and they sold them all.

“At the time it was very unusual to offer part-time flexible office

hours,” she explains. “And there were very few women in the

industry. I make sure that everyone has a part to play and it’s

very fluid, so the whole team gets involved at certain times.”

Lauren’s enlightened approach in this very fast-moving sector

has paid off. She is now the managing director of the company

– and a finalist in the Businesswoman of the Year awards. In

keeping with her philosophy of supporting and encouraging

women in business, she is also a patron of Aurora New Dawn,

a charity dedicated to ending violence against women.

Under her care, the company is fostering a unique and

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ThorndaleFurnishersWT196.indd 1 15/05/2018 12:14

This page: The blue-dominant scheme continues in the

media room. The oversized brass lamp is by Graham

& Green, the sofa bespoke – designed by Lauren. The

beautiful gold side table is Kamen. The coffee table is

bespoke – made by Lauren

interesting approach with the projects they take

on these days: “We specialise in the conversion of

buildings with an interesting history or provenance,

including period properties, mews schemes,

warehouses and industrial units. Our developments

draw on the history of a building, creating a brand

and preserving the integrity of the space.”

An example of this is an apartment development

the group have recently finished in Clapham;

an old metal works, rich in architectural and

industrial details: “These are period features of the

future,” she says, explaining how such features were

preserved and celebrated in the refurbishment.

It is these details that make the schemes stand

out from the rest. Still called the Metal Works,

the apartments were sold within two weeks.

“I work with a historian who helps me research

the background of the property,” she explains.

“We also have a fantastic CGI designer in Serbia.

He uses real pieces of what will actually be in the

space. We make big blow-ups of them and the

guys working on site can see what the properties

are going to look like as they are building them.”

This way several months of marketing can be done

in advance, which also means that the building

65 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The very light and spacious bedrooms are all furnished with calming

neutrals. The oversized headboard is designed and made by Lauren and the

lamps are Flos Left: A lamp by Julian Chichester in a corner of the bedroom

is launched – and sold – as early as possible. “We do the show flat just

before the launch and it’s amazing how it looks identical to the CGIs.”

When it came to purchasing her own home two and a half

years ago, Lauren was very well placed to put her experience and

talents into practice and collaborated closely with the developers

to ensure that she got the look and feel exactly right.

“I worked with them to choose the flooring, the carpets, the doors – I

wanted a high gloss finish, not wooden doors and I knew just which

carpets I wanted because we had used them in one of our developments.”

The interior finishes were just as she wanted prior to moving

in – except that she had nothing to move in with. Looking

around, it is hard to imagine that she arrived with only a few

sticks of furniture and some bags of clothes. Lauren smiles: “I’ve

never had a modern house before. I had come from a Georgian

property. It was so different I decided to start from scratch.”

For Lauren, furnishing the house has been an evolutionary process

and one that is still in progress. “I did three phases of furnishing

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Below left: The bedside tables are Graham & Green and the lamps are Vaughan Designs Right: A quiet seating area on the very

spacious landing Bottom: In the second guest bedroom a sideboard by MFUK, the ‘photobooth’ photos were found in Camden

and tackled it in stages,” she explains. “You get interior

fatigue if you try to do it all at once. I think it’s important

to have a break and then come back in with fresh

ideas once you’ve lived in the space for a while.”

The walls in all the rooms are white, or pale neutrals,

which emphasises the airy spaciousness of the house.

There’s just one wall in the kitchen that has been

wallpapered. “In my last house I used a ton of wallpaper,

but it was a very different house, the rooms were much

smaller and more detailed. Smaller spaces suit wallpaper.

In a bigger space it’s easier to just do feature walls.

Phase one was the kitchen and the main bedrooms:

“The lived in spaces that we use every day.” The kitchen

was installed by the developer, so Lauren’s scope was

more limited in here, but she has plans to update it. “At

some point I’ll have the kitchen cupboards wrapped in

a mix of concrete and then accessorise with something

metal – a burnt gold colour would work.”

69 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The bed is by Conran and the ottoman is bespoke by

Lauren. The lamps are from West Elm Left: A chest of drawers

by West Elm and a mirror by Graham & Green

She has used gold throughout the house, but as an

underscoring accent colour, which, together with shades of

blue in the soft furnishings, pulls the whole of the interior

together. The occasional and side tables around the house, for

example, have all come from separate places and were chosen

at different times, but they are united by their golden legs and

all are in a similar style. The repetition of just a few colours

and shapes in this way anchors and unifies the scheme.

There are two smaller rooms on the ground floor at

the front of the house – a study room and a cosy media

room – which are both painted dark blue. “Smaller rooms

take dark colours well. It makes them more intimate.”

These rooms keep to the same colour scheme as the

rest of the house, but very effectively reverse it, so that

white and pale grey become the accent colours.

The dining room was tackled in phase two and, next

to the entrance hall, is the focal point on the ground

floor with views directly onto the garden. Lauren has

continued the white, gold and blue theme in this room,

but there’s an emphasis on opulence in here and gold

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Above: With a four-poster bed from Maisons du Monde Lauren’s daughter’s bedroom is fit for a princess.

The light fitting is by Smallable

accents dominate. She bought the dining chairs at Koket,

but the table was bought separately in the King’s Road.

A delicate looking sculpture on the dining room

table forms a centrepiece. “It’s actually made from

concrete, so not as delicate as it looks,” smiles Lauren.

“It is by a friend of mine called Maria Bassett.”

Lauren explains how she chooses furniture, both for

clients’ schemes and for this house with her strong and

individual sense of style. “I never follow fashion and

won’t be pigeon holed, which keeps everything fresh.”

Many of the lamps and objects in the house are

bespoke, made by up and coming, and often completely

unknown artists and designers. Expensive originals mingle

with purchases from art.com and 1stdibs. “My father is

a ‘proper’ modern art collector,” Lauren says. “I have a

few pieces, but if I don’t love them it doesn’t matter how

much they’re worth. I get quite a few things from the

Affordable Art Fair.” She adds firmly; “I like what I like.”

“To me, furniture is a kind of art – and I’m looking

at the piece itself, not the labels,” she says. “It can be a

challenge to find exactly the right piece for the space. The

sofas in the sitting room came from France and the rug

is on loan, while the company make the bigger one to

go there. Rugs are always a difficult one; there’s not the

breadth of choice unless you spend a lot of money.”

Lauren has found an ingenious way around some of her

sourcing issues, however. She has begun to design and make

many of the interior items: “We draw them up with the

CGI. It’s so useful if we can’t find something in the right

colour or size and it’s a great advantage to have the right

maker contacts. I wanted a geometric ottoman – the one

in the lounge is the first one that I made. We may well

have a section on the website for bespoke pieces soon.”

The company is keen to expand the interiors side of

73 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: In the master bedroom, the headboard is bespoke by Lauren

Right: The yin and yang ottoman is also bespoke by Lauren. The brass

flying ducks are an antique find

the business. “Furnishing a house is never a chore. I can have a

good eye, but also good business acumen,” she says. “Everyone

has a budget and it is a sign of bad planning when the budget is

exceeded. I’ll often look at TK Maxx for items like blankets and bits

and bobs – they are good value and good quality and there was that

big trend for lots of cushions, but they’re not used so much now.”

Upstairs the feeling of light and space continues. The

bedrooms are furnished with neutrals and monochromes,

with the epitome of this the huge bathroom that serves

the master bedroom. It is in the middle of the house,

with the bath situated in the centre of the room.

“I like to sit in the bath and just look straight through to

the garden,” Lauren says wistfully. This is where she thinks

up ideas and plans for future projects. She has been debating

whether to install a swimming pool or a gym here… “But

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Above: The master bathroom is tiled throughout and the bath and basin

are by Victoria + Albert Baths

after this summer it’s going to be a pool,” she laughs.

Lauren is not one for resting on her laurels and the property

market never stands still. Aside from expanding into interiors, they

are actively looking for acquisitions. “We are always looking for more

boutique and unique sites and investment opportunities, and have

requirements for interesting office blocks and commercial sites.”

So, if you are sitting wondering what to do with that

beautiful old warehouse you’ve inherited, The Malins

Group might be just the people to talk to.

Address Book:

The Malins Group malinsgroup.co.uk

Lauren’s property company, The Malins Group, are

currently looking for sites – valued between £2-15 million -

to buy in the South East. They are interested in a wide range

of sites, including residential conversions of buildings with

an interesting provenance – both historical and change of

use, such as offices - as well as newbuild sites and existing

developments. See more in the advertisement opposite.

Contact Lauren on 01932 356 043 or email info@malinsgroup.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

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Lauren’s company, The Malins Group, are high

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hours for the right opportunities. They have significant experience of

acquiring both development and investment properties.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR SITES in the South East,

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To contact Lauren at The Malins Group call 01932 356 043 or

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3 Pentlow in stain resistant crushed velvet bed £1,605 Sofas and Stuff sofasandstuff.com

4 Attica upholstered bed £770 Living It Up livingitup.co.uk 5 Black lacquer four poster £2,995

Orchid Furniture orchidfurniture.co.uk 6 Arthur padded bed £989 Living It Up livingitup.co.uk

7 Langtry bed £1,995 Soho Home sohohome.com 8 Arles £995 Sofas and Stuff sofasandstuff.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

GOODNESTONE PARK

WEDDINGS, PARTIES AND CORPORATE EVENTS

GOODNESTONE PARK

WEDDINGS, PARTIES GOODNESTONE AND CORPORATE PARK EVENTS

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OPEN DAY 21ST OCTOBER 2018

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Wardrobes

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To attend, register for free at www.goodnestone.com.

Email enquiries@goodnestone.com for further information.

Visit our showroom

01622 718 987 | www.sliderobes.co.uk

3C Deacon Trading Estate, Aylesford, ME20 7SP

FitzpatrickWT200.indd 1 19/09/2018 PassionMediaWT199.indd 14:07

1 26/07/2018 17:25

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/tozerchairs

OPEN DAY 21ST OCTOBER 2018

11am-5pm

Derroll Tozer’s

Fine UpholsTery

127 Camden rd

Tunbridge Wells

Kent, Tn1 2Qy

01892 614 122

www.derrolltozerfineupholstery.com

83 wealdentimes.co.uk

Chairs&UpholsteryShopWT190.indd 1 20/11/2017 16:32

Theart oftree care

Tel +44 (0)1959 524 623 | www.downtoearthtrees.co.uk

Simply the bed

Nothing says classic luxury better than fresh and simple bedsheets, add

cushions and throws for a personal style twist on the chic hotel look

See

Ragged

Rose and Little

Leaf Organic at

the Wealden Times

Midwinter Fair

1 Mohair melange throw £70 Colony Interiors colony-interiors.com 2 Ticking stripe duvet cover £65 Harriet

Hare harriethare.com 3 Indra throw £40 FatFace fatface.com 4 John Rocha duvet set £85 Debenhams

debenhams.com 5 Microfibre/ cotton down feel pillows £14.90 ea. King of Cotton kingofcotton.com 6 Arabella

petrol blue velvet pom pom cushion £28 Ragged Rose raggedrose.com 7 Clarice quilted bedspread £99 Daisy

Park daisypark.co.uk 8 Woven Edna cushion £108 Anthropologie anthropologie.com 9 White duvet cover set

from £10 Very very.co.uk 10 Standard white sateen pillowcase £14 LittleLeaf Organic littleleaforganic.com

85 wealdentimes.co.uk

Midwinter Fair

Sponsored by

harpers and hurlingham

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Ticket Hotline: 01580 236071

wealdentimes.co.uk/events

hOMe & GArDen

Inside five heated marquees you’ll find everything

you need for the perfect Christmas. Browse

amongst hand-picked stalls selling contemporary

and vintage goodies for the home, plus a fine

selection of gifts, fashion and jewellery.

Pre-book

discounted

tickets online

now!

Using this code

WT1

15th, 16th & 17th

November 2018

THE HOP FARM, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY

& fOOD Drink

Eat a delicious lunch in our Street Food Café, enjoy

tea, a slice of cake or a light lunch in our Café

Bakery or sip on something a bit special in our Café

Bar. Foodies will also love the independent, artisan

producers on show in our food hall.

Turn over the page for a sneak peek at

some of the exhibitors we have at this year’s

Wealden Times Midwinter Fair...

Please note our model is wearing fake fur.

Midwinter Fair

As well as some old favourites we’ve got a great selection of brand

new exhibitors selling everything from food to fabulous fashion!

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

NEW

EXHIBITOR

NEW

EXHIBITOR

NEW

EXHIBITOR

symankaye.art

snowfinel.co.uk

rosieodette.com

smartstart-toys.co.uk

NEW

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onyourbed.co.uk

mintrainbow.co.uk

roseandbows.co.uk

plooms.co.uk

leonorahammond.co.uk

Wealden Times Midwinter Fair 15th, 16th & 17th Nov 2018

NEW

EXHIBITOR

NEW

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lovefromkate.co.uk

oliviaandpearl.com

realrulerco.com

littleleaforganic.com

pj-s.co.uk

thiswildhouse.com

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sw19london.com

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knitone.uk.com

gabrielleparker.com

wini-tapp.com

wildplanetproducts.com

fairydusk.co.uk

2littleboys.co.uk

Tickets on sale now 01580 236071 wealdentimes.co.uk/events

THE ANNO RANGE OF AWARD WINNING S PIRI T S

ARE A FUSION OF ALCHEMY AND NATURE. HAND

CRAFTED IN SMALL BATCHES TO PRODUCE

EXCEPTIONALLY SMOOTH SPIRITS BY OBSESSED

SCIENTISTS, FOR YOUR DRINKING PLEASURE.

TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT

THE SPIRIT OF ALCHEMY VISIT

VISIT US AT WEALDEN TIMES MIDWINTER FAIR

Midwinter Fair

Tickets

To keep up to date with the latest fair info, sign up to the

newsletter online and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and

Instagram @wealdentimes

PRE SHOW ON THE GATE

Adult £9.00 £10.00

Child (age 5-15) £4.00 £4.00

Child (under age 5) free free

Venue

Th eWealden Times Midwinter Fair is at The Hop Farm,

Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6PY.

TICKETS ON

SALE NOW:

01580 236071

wealdentimes.

co.uk/events

Entertainment

Visit the Street Food Café to take

in the twinkling lights and fir trees

whilst listening to:

Thursday 15th November

1.30pm Dulwich Prep Cranbrook

Choir

Friday 16th November

1.30pm Marlborough House

School Choir

Dates & Opening times 15th, 16th & 17th November 9.00am - 4.30pm

Diary of a Divorce Lawyer

Monday

My first client today is a lady whose divorce I am finalising. Her

soon to be ex-husband runs a string of successful nightclubs in

London but claims that they are barely making a profit; a story I have

heard countless times before. I had the business valued by a forensic

accountant. The accountant has proved that my client was right in that

the business is a goldmine! The husband’s lawyer has made a good

offer to settle where my lady keeps the house and the holiday home.

Tuesday

I am preparing a case where I am representing dad. His teenage

daughter has decided she wants to live with him. Her mum isn’t

happy and is opposing the decision. Given the child’s age, her wishes

are going to prevail.

Wednesday

I take a call from a mum. She is hoping to relocate to New

York with her young son as she has been offered a new job

in the States. She is divorcing her husband. Her estranged

husband understandably does not want his son across the

pond. We need to make a Court application for permission

to relocate the child, otherwise it will be child abduction.

Thursday

I receive a call from the police. My client who is dissolving his

Civil Partnership has spent the night in the cells following an

argument with his partner. They had consumed too much alcohol,

argued over who was keeping what and it came to blows. Their

Civil Partnership is long standing as it took place in the US long

before we had same sex marriages or Civil Partnerships in the UK.

One of them should move out whilst we sort everything out.

Friday

I see a bride-to-be who is getting married in 5 months.

Her parents want her to have a prenup as she is an

only child and even though they are very fond of their

soon to be son-in-law, they know the statistics.

Juliette Peters is a founding member of

Peters May LLP, a boutique divorce and

family law practice based in London

with consultations available in Kent and

East Sussex.

• Juliette.peters@petersmay.com

• www.petersmay.com

*The above should not be taken

as legal advice and each case

is dependent on its own facts.

Home on

the farm

A beautiful Grade II listed farmhouse

has been expertly nurtured into a perfect

balance of cosiness and sophistication

wealdentimes.co.uk

Words: Jennifer Stuart-Smith

Photographs: David Merewether

Styling: Holly Levett

95 wealdentimes.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Key considerations for

dealing with cross-border estates

Many UK residents are living

the dream of owning a holiday

home abroad or moving overseas

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this can mean huge complications

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from law firm Cripps outlines

some of the major problems.

Negotiating a completely different

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Under Spanish law the beneficiaries of

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In order to accept their inheritance,

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Cripps has a team of dedicated private

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international Marcalliance network, can

refer matters to lawyers abroad where

necessary, in order to streamline the

process of administering the estate.

If you would like more information

on this, please contact Kate Arnold at

kate.arnold@cripps.co.uk

or on 01892 506 337.

www.cripps.co.uk @crippslaw This article gives examples and is intended for general guidance only

Previous page: Evernden Interiors sourced the antique kitchen table. The kitchen is

by Plain English This page: The book-lined study leads into the kitchen. The blind

fabric was designed by Lindsay Alker

It’s often said, by the owners of very

grand houses, that they are not so

much the owners of a property but

more its custodians. For those of us of a

romantic nature, the same could be said for

any historic property, where a house and

its land have evolved and changed with the

centuries. There’s a certain affection and

respect one hopes will arrive with the new

owners, along with a desire to preserve the

essence and ‘soul’ of the place, though at

the same time adapting it to their needs and

taste. Nobody wants to live in a museum...

Few homes demonstrate this better than

Home Farm, a Grade-II listed farmhouse

and outbuildings tucked into a valley on

the North Downs near Charing. Once part

of a large country estate, the farmhouse

was last lived in by a tenant farmer and

his family – though it’s easy to imagine

the generations who would have lived here

over the years, since the 16th century. As

with many houses in the area, the older

part of the house dates from the 16th

97 wealdentimes.co.uk

and 17th centuries, while a Georgian facade was added later.

Fortunately for Home Farm, its current residents were

adamant that they wanted to maintain a farmhouse feel and

employ the best craftsmen and designers to help them do this.

The couple, who had already worked with Cox Restorations

and Evernden Interiors on a nearby property, were keen to

employ both companies again. The results speak for themselves.

“I remember coming to the house when our clients

had just bought it,” says Belinda Benton from Evernden

Interiors. “I thought it would be lovely to walk in the

front door and be able to look straight through the house.”

So a wall that had previously butted into the hallway,

creating a dog-leg, was subsequently repositioned. This

instantly opened up the hallway and created a tantalizing

view through the house and into open countryside.

As with any decent farmhouse, the kitchen is at the

This page: The snug – formerly the kitchen – is painted in

Btwn Dog & Wolf by Paint and Paper Library. The sofa and

ottoman were commissioned by Evernden Interiors. The lamps

are Willow from Porta Romana. The fireside chairs are antique

Welsh farmhouse chairs

wealdentimes.co.uk

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Authorised service centre for

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74 High Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3DE

wealdentimes.co.uk

100

DavidCarpenterWT200.indd 1 12/09/2018 12:02

Fortunately for Home Farm its current residents were

adamant they wanted to retain a farmhouse feel

101 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: More bookshelves in the drawing room. The

oversized ottoman is upholstered in a William Yerwood jute

stripe. The patterned cushions are a Nina Campbell linen. The

brass lamp is by Porto Romana. The painting client’s own

heart of the building, and reached via the widened

hallway. A stunning Plain English kitchen, including

a fully wired-in central island, looks perfectly at home

alongside an antique refectory table... though one

can’t help notice the absence of mud and mess.

“Our client was very clear that she wanted us to bear in

mind that this was always a farmhouse and not to veer too

far from that, and to keep a relaxed feel,” says Belinda.

The clever trick is that the kitchen feels as if it’s developed

organically, over the years, when in fact it’s completely new.

“This room used to be the garage, with a hay loft

above,” says Belinda. “It always had a brick floor,

though sadly this isn’t the original brick, as there

wasn’t enough... but we wanted to retain the look and

also put in underfloor heating. We dug up the bricks

from here and used them in the utility room.”

Quirky Elizabeth Blackadder prints dot the

walls, while contemporary pendant lamps

are a break from the traditional.

Next to the kitchen is an impressive study lined

with books. “My client’s husband is very much

a man of books. We were very keen to avoid the

study just being an extension of the kitchen and to

include as much built-in storage as possible.”

wealdentimes.co.uk

102

monarchoak

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1 09/03/2018 14:23

Heavenly

outdoor spaces

With over 50 years of experience, we are the garden design and landscaping

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Quality garden design and landscaping since 1963

Call: 01580 850394 Or Visit: www.kibblewhitegardens.co.uk

103 wealdentimes.co.uk

KibblewhiteWT167.indd 6 27/11/2015 12:46

Unit 8-9 Wheel Lane Business Park,Westfield, East Sussex, TN35 4SE.

Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pm

Saturday / Sunday: Closed

01424 751 775

ironworksltd.co.uk

Specialists in traditional timber, aluminium

& composite windows & doors

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CALL 01959 565343

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Quality glass

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wealdentimes.co.uk

104

CPGlassWT196.indd 1 11/05/2018 12:51

Above: The wheatsheaf chandelier over the dining room is from Phoenix Antiques. The antique-style radiators are from the Old

Radiator Company. The chairs are covered in a Colefax & Fowler linen and the table lamps are Ecco trading with Porta Romana

silk lampshades. Looking through the hall to the drawing room

105 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: Looking from the hall into the kitchen. The antique settle (client purchase) cushion is covered in Colefax &

Fowler grey and natural check fabric, the glass lamp Porta Romana. The ceiling pendant in the kitchen Olive & Fox,

Tunbridge Wells

The bookshelves have been painted in a very

dark blue/almost black. “We took the plunge and

painted the shelves in this very dark palette. It’s

fab, exactly the effect we wanted,” says Belinda.

An oak-framed, leaded window – in what was

once an exterior wall – allows light to flood in

through the study and into the kitchen. “Cox’s

took out the leaded window, restored it and

put it back, replicating the style on either side,

and framing it with oak,” says Belinda.

The oak shelf under the leaded window holds

a collection of medieval artifacts while the blind

overhead, featuring block-printed stags, has a medieval

look. “Our client spotted that fabric which, given her

husband’s love of the medieval period and the colour

red, was spot on.” The fabric is a design by Lindsay

Alker, who is based in Hastings. A staircase leads up to

the ‘gentleman’s suite’ of dressing room and bedroom.

Our tour continues into the next room – now the

snug and formerly the kitchen. “You could say that

wealdentimes.co.uk

106

SPATA Contractor of the Year 2018 & 2015

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107 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Stone Street • Cranbrook • TN17 3HF

ConceptsWT195.indd 1 25/04/2018 EverndenInteriorsWT200.indd 14:54

1 12/09/2018 13:03

wealdentimes.co.uk

108

EnsorInteriorDesignWT197.indd 1 07/06/2018 15:58

This page: A bedroom in the extension features a very rare five-pane

sash window. The architect, Charles Baine-Smith, works as the building

advisor to the National Trust in the South East. The bed is from

Nordic Style Left: The chest of drawers is client’s own and the chairs

are covered in William Yeoward stripe

it lacked inspiration…” says Belinda. “There was an old Aga, a

cork floor, a central heating boiler behind a false wall and formica

everywhere.” Much to everyone’s delight, the false wall not only hid

the boiler but also a wonderful old brick fireplace. Now the owners’

favourite room, it is painted in a moody French blue by Paint and

Paper Library, with the wonderful name ‘Btwn Dog & Wolf’.

“The starting point for this room, was this fabric,” says

Belinda, gesturing to the curtains. “Our client absolutely loves

this ANTA plaid fabric and we debated where to use it. Not

only is it lovely and cosy but it’s great with this wall colour.”

The sofa and footstool were made bespoke, while the

antique farmhouse furniture came from the owners’

previous home. Gilt-framed Victorian paintings hang over

the fireplace while a cluster of smaller paintings decorate a

corner. The overall effect is calm, cosy and uncluttered.

As we go back out into the hallway and towards the

Georgian front of the house, the rooms immediately

109 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The Swedish neo-classical style bed is from Nordic Style. The bench on the side wall is an antique

take on a more classic feel, both in dimensions and

decor. To the right as you come in the front door is the

drawing room and to the left is the dining room.

“Cox’s found the most incredible, single piece of slate, but

it came out further than we expected,” says Belinda. “We

decided to replace the two armchairs – which were too big

for the space – and also had a bit of a re-think on colours,

injecting a touch of mauve and ochre to ‘zing it up’ a bit.”

A sisal carpet by Tiger’s Eye, in Titanium adds a relaxed

farmhouse feel while demi-lune tables from Phoenix Antiques

add a classic touch. Understated linen curtains with an

amazing Samuel & Son’s ‘onion fringing’ are a playful twist

and, as Belinda adds, “Probably my favourite curtains ever!”

Across the hallway, the dining room is a ‘work in progress’

though key features are already there including a vast sash

window, open fireplace and high ceilings. “The wheatsheaf

chandelier is from Phoenix Antiques, and seemed rather

appropriate given the farmhouse setting,” says Belinda.

A glance out of the window reveals a stunning thatched

barn, bought as a frame and reconstructed by Cox

Restoration. Beyond that is a tithe barn, roofed in Kent

pegs, and home to the owners’ three horses. The views

from every room are unspoilt; lawns, horse paddocks

and the farmyard. Upstairs, the views are even better.

As with the downstairs, it’s easy to see where

the old finishes and the new begins – if Georgian

constitutes ‘new’. The upstairs has been divided

into ‘his and hers’ suites as well as a guest suite and

another study. All lead off a wide, central landing.

“We’re going to put alcove bookshelves on either side of the

bed,” says Belinda of the gentleman’s bedroom. “Our client’s

husband has more than 40 suits for work, so the dressing

room will need to have as much wardrobe space as possible.”

A huge sash window overlooks a sand school and the

valley beyond. According to the architect who worked on

plans for the house, sash windows such as these, which are

five-panes wide, are extremely rare. Despite being in the

old part of the house, the room is lovely and light.

wealdentimes.co.uk

110

2018

ALL CHANGE

Reflections and Refractions in history

Shoreham Wordfest’s 2018 festival

1st September – 20th October

Kate Adie • Jenni Murray • Ian McMillan

Peter Owen-Jones • Creative Writing

Children’s events • Talks • Poetry • Drama

www.shorehamwordfest.com

ShorehamWordfestWT200.indd 1 19/09/2018 RuralCraftWT200.indd 16:47

1 06/09/2018 12:05

Quality, value building

& repair services

For domestic and commercial properties

of any age. Specialists in conservation and

restoration of period & listed buildings, with a

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solid, reliable and successful company of today.

Tunbridge Wells 01892 574571

Hastings 01424 238139

enquiries@westoaksbuilders.co.uk

www.westoaksbuilders.co.uk

111 wealdentimes.co.uk

WestoaksBuildersWT199.indd 1 21/08/2018 15:14

PURE AUTUMN ART FAIR 2018

Exhibition - Workshops - Talks - Events

Sat 6 - Sun 14 October 2018

Open daily 11am - 6pm

PowderMills Hotel, PowderMill Lane, Battle TN33 0SP

pureartsgroup.co.uk | powdermillshotel.com | battlefestival.co.uk

PART OF THE BATTLE FESTIVAL OF ARTS & MUSIC

PureArtsGroupWT200.indd 1 14/09/2018 09:56

5 th Year Anniversary

KARENS FOAM STORE

AND BESPOKE SEWING SHOP

Upholstery tools

Tacks, Cotton, Felt, Hessian

Webbing

Polyester

Calico fabric

Foam cut to size

Replacement sofa cushions

Car park opposite store

Upholstery supplier

Bespoke cushion making

Outdoor seating/cushions

Camper van/caravan

139 CAMDEN ROAD

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN1 2RA

T: 01892 530003 / 07479 538286

E: Karensfoam@outlook.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

112

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

Left: The slipper bath, from Tenterden

Bathroom Shop, has views through the sash

window over the horse paddocks. Wooden

panelling was added on lower walls to give a

classical feel. Below: The wall sconces over the

basin are by Heathfield & Co

At the end of the landing, at the front of the house

and overlooking the paddocks and barns, is another

suite of bedroom, bathroom and dressing room.

Strikingly Scandinavian, the bedroom is the only

room in the house that has been wallpapered:

“The wallpaper is by Cole & Son, the curtains are

lined with fabric by Veere Grenney and the trim is

by Samuel & Son,” says Belinda. Painted furniture

completes the Scandinavian neo-classical styling.

All three rooms at this end of the house have retained

the original floorboards: “Cox’s stripped and restored

them. I’m really glad we did it,” says Belinda. The

light colouring and rustic charm of the ancient boards

hits just the right note; contemporary and ‘clean’ in

their simplicity yet hinting at the building’s past.

Next to the bedroom is a stunning, classic bathroom

with slipper bath, wood panelling and a marble-topped

vanity unit. “I often recommend that my clients go and lie

in the bath they are going to buy,” laughs Belinda. “You

need to know if it’s comfortable, as well as looking right.”

In this case, her client was happy to oblige and is thrilled by

the fact that this classic cast-iron bath is not only supremely

comfortable but also looks out over the horse paddocks. The

marble basin-surround was chosen specifically by the client

and, as we know, few things add a sense of luxury like marble.

The dressing room is as light as the bedroom and bathroom,

with a huge mirror to maximise on the natural light. A

beautifully designed fitted cupboard holds shoes and clothing,

although more wardrobe space is planned, in the more

traditional form of a free-standing wardrobe and drawers.

Back in the older part of the house is a cosy guest suite with

a view out across the back garden. Heavy fabrics and blankets

add to the sense of warmth, while colours are muted and

furniture painted in a pale grey, again to make the most of

the light. The adjoining bathroom feels a little more ‘country’

and less grand, though marble surfaces keep things luxurious.

“The contemporary brick effect tiles are from

Marlborough Tiles and are ‘offset’ so that they don’t

look too institutional,” says Belinda. It certainly works,

though it takes a while to notice why they look

113 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The bed is from Nordic Style. Below: The lamps

on the landing console table are from Porta Romana and the

painting client’s own

different. The wooden panelling is tongue and groove,

for a rustic feel, and there is a simple narrow mirror

above the basin, rather than anything too ornate.

The last room to be completed is a study in

what was once the hay loft. Its former incarnation

is a charming reminder of the building’s history

and hopefully one that the owner of the house

will enjoy while poring over their paperwork.

“It was a fantastic brief, a lovely house... and easy working

with my client who was clear as to what she liked and

didn’t like,” says Belinda. “Whilst the architect designed

the building, my client was very keen that we understood

and achieved her requirements for how the interior

should feel, as the person who is going to live inside.”

It sounds as if a very happy new chapter is about to begin.

Address Book:

Cox Restoration 01233 714950 coxrestorations.co.uk

Phoenix Antiques 01892 549099 phoenixantiques.co.uk

The Tenterden Bathroom Shop 01580 763207

the-bathroomshop.co.uk

Evernden Interiors Ltd Cranbrook 01580 713778

info@everndeninteriors.co.uk

Like to see more?

Discover countless beautiful homes

wealdentimes.co.uk/interiors

wealdentimes.co.uk

114

Tenterden Roofing Co.

Established roofing in Kent and Sussex

• Kent Peg Tiling • Clay & Concrete Plain Tiling • Interlocking Concrete Tiling

• Slating • Cedar Shingles • Roofing Windows • Guttering • Leadwork

• Fascia, Soffits & Bargeboards • Storm Damage & Insurance Work

email: tenterdenroofingcompany@gmail.com

call: 01580 241000 / 01233 860301 • mobile: 07921 509 564

www.tenterdenroofing.co.uk

Local solicitors

for all your

personal and

business needs

TenterdenRoofingWT187.indd 1 14/08/2017 12:23

SPECIALIST PLANNING ADVICE

Residential Development

and Extensions

Listed Buildings

Equestrian

Planning Appeals

Permitted Development

Agri Business

Renewable Energy

Certificate of Lawfulness

Rural Buildings

Objections

Local Plan Submission

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

www.therpp.co.uk

CRANBROOK

01580 201888

office@therpp.co.uk

CIRENCESTER

01285 323200

Buss Murton Law LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership No OC345994

and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

115 wealdentimes.co.uk

RuralPlanningPracticeWT190.indd 1 13/11/2017 BussMurtonWT188.indd 12:37

1 11/09/2017 14:30

2 3

Get the

LOOK

1 Lantern light £485 Neptune neptune.com 2 Palm leaf light £250 Laura Ashley lauraashley.com

3 BTWN Dog & Wolf paint from £23.75 Paint & Paper Library paintandpaperlibrary.com 4 Eichholtz

lamp £355 Sweetpea & Willow sweetpeaandwillow.com 5 Duck printed canvas £10 Wallpaper Direct

wallpaperdirect.com 6 Resin swan £39 Gisela Graham London giselagraham.co.uk 7 Double ended

bath from £2630 The Albion Bath Company albionbathco.com 8 Bronzed rhino £22.95 Melody

Maison melodymaison.co.uk 9 Check throw £95 Soho House & Co sohohome.com 10 Bedroom

bench £295 The French Bedroom Co frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 11 Falco Rug £495 Kelly Hoppen

kellyhoppen.com 12 Duchess armchair £1395 Content by Terence Conran contentbyterenceconran.com

the original

TOP

that fits on

TOP

TIRED OF YOUR OLD KITCHEN?

DON’T START OVER, DO A MAKEOVER.

K I T C H E N & B A T H R O O M M A K E O V E

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Call 0330 127 3482 for a free consultation or visit our showrooms

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Kitchen&

Bathroom

A Wealden Times Supplement

Elite kitchen designer tips ● Kitchen sinks ● Heated towel rails ● Bathroom lighting

MINTERIORS

JFine hand crafted kitchens and bespoke furniture

01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk Biddenden Showroom

Design, innovation

and craftsmanship

in every detail

Our philosophy is simple; having furniture custom built

should be a joy from start to finish. Furniture designed

around your life. Every project regardless of scale, be it

one room or an entire house is welcomed and afforded

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The Old Timber Yard, London Road, Halstead, Kent, TN14 7DZ

Showroom open Monday–Friday 9–5:30pm, Saturday 9–3pm

chamberfurniture.co.uk | 01959 532553

Contents

KITCHENS

FOR REAL COOKS

6 RECIPE FOR YOUR

PERFECT

KITCHEN

Expert kitchen

designers give the

practical advice you’ve

always needed

19 SINK IN

Kitchen sink style

inspiration

23 OFF THE RAILS

Heated towel rails to

warm up to this autumn

24 HIDE AWAYS

The best of bathroom

storage options

27 LITTLE THINGS

A few of our favourite

little bathroom

accessories

29 BATHED IN LIGHT

We shine a light

on the mysteries of

bathroom lighting

It’s time for the kitchen you’ve always wanted

www.hammertons.co.uk

01435 868611

Sunset Farm • Heathfield Road

Cross in Hand • TN21 0UJ

HammertonsWT198.indd 2 29/06/2018 10:33

Joseph M c Carthy

Mirror & Frame makers

Bespoke Mirrors

designed · created · installed

- visit our showroom -

The Pantiles Coach House,

London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5BF

info@josephmccarthy.co.uk

www.josephmccarthy.co.uk

01892 527528

5 wealdentimes.co.uk

JosephMcCarthyWT200.indd 1 17/09/2018 09:09

WealdenTimes_AD_DEC18-V2.indd 1 25/08/2018 12:25

Recipe for your

perfect kitchen

Putting in a new

kitchen is very

exciting – but with

so many choices

to make, it can be

daunting. So we’ve

asked expert kitchen

designers for

practical advice on

how to ensure you

make the very most

of your space

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement

Rencraft

John Stephens

Managing Director

A good kitchen design is a

balance between the style and the

practicality. It might look brilliant

but if it doesn’t work, it’s no good.

I can start designing a kitchen

before an extension is built, from the

architect’s drawings, but first clients

have to make certain key decisions.

What sort of fridge do you want -

hidden, or visible, or do you want

a big American fridge? What kind

of cooker? A range, separate ovens,

induction… If you entertain a lot

you might want two dishwashers.

Do you want a larder? Once all

that has been decided we can start

designing.

Our office and workshop are

attached to the showroom and I’ll

walk the client round the showroom

to show them the details, different

drawers, larders, all that, then I’ll

take them out to the workshop and

they might see something there.

It’s nice for them to see where

their kitchen will be made. We

manufacture everything here, exactly

for the space.

We are doing a lot of storage

drawers now, they are a very good

practical option. There has been

a strong move away from wall

cupboards. I don’t mind them – I

just wouldn’t fill all the walls up with

them, that’s lazy. We would rather

do a mixture of wall cupboards and

chunky shelves, less of a fitted feel.

We are seeing a high demand for

Quooker boiling water taps. I do

think they’re worth having, they

are simple and stylish. People used

to say ‘that’s a lot of money for a

kettle’, but now they are on wishlists

when clients come in.

Sevenoaks, Kent 01732 762682

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

01892 520730

rencraft.co.uk

7 wealdentimes.co.uk

The test of time

That’s what thoughtful design means to us. Furniture that will

always look good, that will wear well, that will endure.

Furniture that will stand the test of time.

Neptune Tonbridge, 01732 351866

Neptune Canterbury, 01227 209300

neptune.com/adifferentperspective

JM Interiors

James Mundy, Managing Director,

and Amy Biddle, Marketing

Manager

JM Interiors is a family business,

started by our father, so we have

both grown up with it. James has

worked in all aspects of building

kitchens and has a lot of experience

working with classic old Wealden

buildings which don’t have any

straight walls.

When new clients come in we

ask a lot of questions. The first

two meetings are info gathering,

listening to what they want to

get out of a kitchen. We can pick

up a great vibe for what they like

from what makes them excited in

the showroom. That’s why it’s so

important to come in.

Once people have had a play

about and tried our deep and

wide pan drawers, they go on

the list. They might not have

experienced them before. Another

idea they pick up on is having a big

cupboard as an ‘appliance garage’

with plugs inside. A working

coffee area inside a cupboard and

cold shelves in larders for pastry

making. It’s all about hiding

things that traditionally sat on

the worktop and getting rid of

clutter.

If people arrive with lots of

images of enormous islands for

what is really quite a small space,

we can explain ‘The dishwasher

isn’t going to open…’ and we can

show them with a tape measure.

This kitchen was the second we

built for the same client. They

moved house and wanted to take

their old kitchen with them, but

since the first one they’d added

two children to the mix.

It’s in a traditional Kentish

farmhouse. For this version we

added a Belfast sink, an Everhot

range cooker, lots of touches of

warm solid oak and changed

from black granite to lighter

quartz for the worktop which

helped to lighten the kitchen.

JM Interiors, Biddenden, Kent.

01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk

Collins BESPOKE

Nick Collins, owner and lead designer

This kitchen was built in a new rear extension – if

you’ve got the space, this is what people want. It has

four different elements. There is a tall wall larder, then

there is a working wall with double ovens, a double

fridge, coffee machines, warming drawers and all the

functional items, which I put into tall cabinetry on the

side of the space with less natural light.

The third element is the elevation with the range

cooker and beautiful overmantel and the final piece is

the feature island with an oak breakfast bar.

And on top of all that, there also is the separate blue

dresser, with glazed doors.

All of them could be kitchens in their own right, so

the challenge is to bring it all together, which we did

by using two distinct palettes. The dark shade is Farrow

& Ball Railings, one of the most popular colours at the

moment, but all dark can be a bit oppressive, so in the

areas with less light, we used a pale shade, Farrow & Ball

Ammonite. We also used a light colour worktop on the

island.

This is the dream, smaller kitchens are harder to

design. My advice to people with smaller spaces is to

work out what the fundamentals are you really need in

your kitchen. Once you’ve decided what’s essential to

you and put that in the space, you can add the luxury

items and get your own reduced version of this.

Collins Bespoke, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent.

01233 822595 collinsbespoke.com

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement

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

COLLINS BESPOKE

BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS

www.collinsbespoke.com

T. 01233 822595 E. info@collinsbespoke.com

A. Unit 40 Old Surrenden Manor, Bethersden, TN26 3DL

symes INTERIORS

Richard Vassallo, Managing Director

We start with a full survey of the room to make

sure that what the client wants can be fitted in the

space and that the drainage position isn’t too far

away from where the sink is going, or there are

obstructions in the way.

Then we look at practical requirements for the

kind of cooking they do. We go through what kit

they have, how many pots and pans, how much

crockery, because it varies considerably between

clients. Some people have a dinner set from their

wedding they want to expose with glass doors,

other people want everything put away.

Gadgets are key nowadays. Some appliances work

on wifi and people are very tech savvy. Baking is a

big trend and making bread and pasta, so people

have big mixing machines and need more storage

and work space. People love entertaining and need

a big island space for people to sit around.

Larders are a great way to get the most out of

a space. Because we are bespoke, manufacturing

everything ourselves, it doesn’t matter what the

space is, we can always build one. Spice racks inside

larder doors are very popular.

It’s important that people are realistic about

budgets. There are expensive options, but you get

better value for money with a bespoke kitchen,

because we can make the most of any space.

Symes Interiors, Alton, Surrey 01386 841060

symesinteriors.co.uk

ScHmidt

Leigh Colbran, Design Consultant

When new clients come in we give them a tour of the showroom, talk about the

project they have in mind and show them the quality of our product – a lot of

what’s good about Schmidt is behind the doors.

To demonstrate this, we stand in our drawers and then let them soft close.

It makes an impression, because they know it’s being done every day and the

drawers are still good.

In our kitchens, everything has been thought about. There’s a great movement

towards pull out units, making everything accessible, so you don’t have to get on

your knees to try and reach that abyss at the back of the cupboard, where things

get lost and you end up rebuying things you already had.

Because we have a home living range as well, in a run of tall housing, we can

add in bespoke book casing, bifold doors and pop out shelves, that you can use

to tuck a coffee machine away, making a dead corner useful and pretty.

We’ve got over 1000 door front choices and 24 carcass interior colours, so you

can create a bespoke combination. People usually have some idea and we can

guide them through a process of elimination in the showroom.

We also have our own laminates, which are water resistant, they don’t peel.

Our plinths are also water resistant, with a rubber seal that is embedded into the

base of the plinth so no moisture can get underneath. They are also bracketed so

they are fixed, there are no wonky kickboards.

Schmidt Tunbridge Wells, Kent 01892 547132,

Sevenoaks, Kent 01732 755555 home-design.schmidt/en-gb

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement

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

Upper High Street

Heathfield

East Sussex, TN21 8NB

01435 866435

info@jonesbritain.co.uk

jonesbritain.co.uk

Symes Interiors

• Shop around and check previous

jobs.

Jones Britain

• Work out a practical footprint

between appliances within the

kitchen. You don’t want to have to

travel miles between appliances.

Rencraft

• Do be comfortable with your

designer, it’s a long journey and

it should be enjoyable. It’s a

collaboration, starting with how

you work in a kitchen, it’s a

question of both sides listening.

• Do be aware of space – you might

need more than you think.

Collins Bespoke

• Go and see a kitchen designer

before you start planning the

extension.

• Make sure your ideas work for

your space.

• Always invest in a good quality

handle. It makes such a visual

impact, it can transform a kitchen.

JM Interiors

• Do some research into the style of

cooking you want to do and the

appliances you want for it. With

built in, steam, ranges, there are so

many choices and it’s the starting

point for a design.

• Understand how much your

appliances are going to cost,

because it can really cut into your

budget.

• Take some time to decide what

your priorities are.

• Go to showrooms and play around

to see what you like.

Schmidt

• Do allow enough time for the

installation – don’t ever leave

choices last minute.

• Plan your kitchen before you go to

the architect, then you will already

have underfloor ducting, electrics

and plumbing in the right places

and you won’t have to pay your

architect to change the plans for

the kitchen design.

• Factor in installation charges,

which can vary widely between

companies. You want to invest in

the quality of the kitchen first and

foremost.

Jones BRITAIN

Dan Stronge, Owner and head designer

We do kitchens across the whole spectrum from highly modern to exceptionally

traditional. Two years ago everyone wanted mid-grey, now it’s moving to dark blue

and very dark greys. Often it’s an island in the darker colour, with lighter units

around the outside.

Everyone wants an island, but sometimes the space just isn’t big enough, then I

would suggest a peninsula, where a row of units turns the corner, then turns back

again. This will give the effect of an island with as many units and more work space

and can be achieved in a smaller space.

With appliances, steam ovens are more and more popular and now 95% of our

kitchens have a boiling hot water tap. The buzzword that has just started to kick in

is home automation. Talking to Alexa or Google to turn the oven on, or turn the

lights up. Very handy if you have hands covered in flour!

When it comes to working out how much storage a client needs, when we do a site

survey, we can see how much storage they currently have. We need to see all their

current items – sometimes there is stuff stored in other rooms – so we can see how

we could best fit them. We always try to give them more storage in the new kitchen.

Jones Britain, Heathfield, East Sussex 01435 866435

or Freephone 0800 8600 435 jonesbritain.co.uk

Don’t

Rencraft

• Don’t take the first design you’re given.

Explore different companies before

committing.

• Don’t put the dishwasher somewhere

you can’t get round it with the door

open.

Collins Bespoke

• Don’t rush it – understand it’s an

evolving process, it takes time to get

the perfect kitchen.

JM Interiors

• Don’t put big islands in small kitchens.

It’s really important to work with your

proportions, or you can make the space

feel smaller.

Jones Britain

• Don’t leave a gap any smaller than

1metre around an island.

Symes Interiors

• Don’t go cheap, it won’t last.

Schmidt

• Don’t go with the first company

you look at. Check out a few

showrooms before you decide.

• If it’s a long-term purchase, it needs

to be functional first, rather than

pretty or trendy. It’s a lot of money

to spend to find you haven’t got

everything you need.

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KitchenDoctorS48.indd 1 14/09/2018 FreelandsTilesWT194.indd 16:29

1 19/03/2018 12:26

traditional handmade

furniture

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Kitchens

Bedrooms

Studies

01892 533273

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement 18

WoodworkWT196.indd 1 21/05/2018 14:59

Sink in

From glorious modern takes on the traditional Belfast to

sleek and stylish black, these inspirational kitchen sinks

have more than a drop of style

1 K700 undermount sink £610 and Eurocube professional

tap £622 Grohe grohe.co.uk 2 True stainless steel sink from

£349 Kohler kohler.co.uk 3 Solo corner sink from £754

Villeroy & Boch villeroy-boch.co.uk 4 Wooden double

Belfast sink William Garvey £800 williamgarvey.co.uk

5 K800 stainless steel sink £1438.80 Grohe grohe.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

1 Shaws of Darwen butler kitchen sink £352.33 and Perrin and Rowe tap both Sinkstaps

sinks-taps.com 2 Round matte black mixer tap £249 Meir Black meirblack.co.uk

3 Subway sink from £696 Villeroy & Boch villeroy-boch.co.uk 4 Valle Elsa black glass sink

£279.97 Kitchen Sync kitchensync.co.uk 5 Free standing empire Belfast sink cupboard £1024

Scumble Goosie scumblegoosie.com 6 Siluet sink from £697 Villeroy & Boch villeroy-boch.co.uk

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement

LIVING SPACES MADE BEAUTIFUL

INSPIRING DESIGNS

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0333 011 3333

OFF THE RAILS

Take a luxurious, colourful towel, hang it on a heated towel rail and get that spa feeling at home

Toasty

Towels

6 7

1 Strand Radiator £399 Pure Bathroom Collection purebathroomcollection.co.uk

2 Magazine towel rail £1192 West One Bathrooms westonebathrooms.com 3 Gold electric

heated towel pole £134.10 Victoria Plum victoriaplum.com 4 Wall mounted towel rail

from £1,300 Catchpole and Rye catchpoleandrye.com 5 Scaletta £931 West One Bathrooms

westonebathrooms.com 6 Anthracite heated towel rail £138.60 Victoria Plum victoriaplum.com

7 Archibald towel rail Towns Heating and Plumbing Solutions townsmerchant.co.uk

Top to bottom: Diamond fringe

towel from £19/ pair JD Williams

Home jdwilliams.co.uk Set of three

pompom towels £9.99 Zara Home

zarahome.com Tile towel from £6

M&S marksandspencer.com Hammam

towel £35 Soho Home sohohome.com

23 wealdentimes.co.uk

Hide

aways

Keep the bathroom gubbins stashed

in these stylish storage solutions

Top row: Bow fronted washstand £449 Scumble Goosie scumblegoosie.co.uk Reclaimed pine and steel bar trolley

£249 Swoon Editions swooneditions.com Greenwich vintage chest £649 Atkin and Thyme atkinandthyme.co.uk

Second row: First aid wall cabinet £55 Garden Trading gardentrading.co.uk Inside Out cabinet £315 Red Candy

redcandy.co.uk Third row: Rustic oak wall hung vanity unit £279.97 Bathroom Takeaway bathroomtakeaway.co.uk

Wall mirror and storage unit £80 Hurn & Hurn hurnandhurn.com Cane magazine rack £85 The Old Cinema

theoldcinema.co.uk Fourth row: Urban cupboard £269 Wooden Furniture Store wooden-furniture-store.co.uk Alibaba blue

baskets large £118.75 medium £106.50 Artisanne artisanne.co.uk VonHaus under basin cabinet £54.99 Domu domu.co.uk

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement

www.STONEWRIGHTUK.com

Durable, Desirable, Affordable

Natural Stone For Your Home

STONE FLOORING SPECIALISTS

Our comprehensive range of wall and floor tiles

are especially sourced to offer excellent value.

Natural Stone, Encaustics, Porcelain

and Mosaic ranges on display

Expert advice and installation service available

• Natural Stone Floor Tiles • Fire Hearths •

• Kitchen Worktops • Bathroom Tops •

• Product Consultation Service •

• Granite • Quartz • Marble •

• Slate • Limestone •

Instant estimate available at www.stonewrightuk.com

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 8.00am - 5.00pm; Friday 8.00am - 4.00pm

Saturday by appointment only

Unit 1, Ninn Farm, Ninn Lane, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent TN23 3DA

Tel: 01233 650944 E: info@stonewrightuk.com

StonewrightUKWT200.indd 1 13/09/2018 12:20

Don’t be left

in the dark

ILLUMINATIONS

37-41 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2PS

01892 533 454

146-7 Queens Rd, Hastings TN34 1RP

01424 722 147

THE STONE TILE WAREHOUSE

Visit our Warehouse-Showroom Unit 10, Integra ME,

Bircholt Road, Parkwood, Maidstone,

Kent, ME15 9GQ

01622 679157

www.thestonetilewarehouse.co.uk

thestonetilewarehouse

stonetileware

@stonetilewarehouse

25 wealdentimes.co.uk

IlluminationsWT188.indd 1 19/09/2017 SouthernAdhesivesWT200.indd 17:25

3 14/09/2018 12:11

CATCHPOLE & RYE

KENT ENGLAND

EXCLUSIVE LUXURY BATHROOMS

LONDON • TUNBRIDGE WELLS • ASHFORD

T. 01892 526 996 www.catchpoleandrye.com

The Pyrford Double Vanity Unit with Slate Countertop - Painted Midnight Sky

Little things

8 9

1 Copper plated toilet brush £16 Made made.com 2 Bella Freud candle £48 Amara amara.com 3 Glass jar

£12 Sainsbury’s Home sainsburyshome.co.uk 4 Julia Knight soap dish £37 Amara amara.com 5 Potus Cale

diffuser £40 The French Bedroom Co. frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 6 Textured glass soap dispenser £11.50

Amara amara.com 7 Soap dispenser £10 Debenhams debenhams.com 8 Geometric ceramic dispenser £15.99

Zara Home zarahome.com 9 The flower lady luxury scented candle £32 Chase and Wonder chaseandwonder.com

10 Round black tissue box £28 Kelly Hoppen kellyhoppen.com 11 Elephant ceramic ring dish £9.50

Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 12 Stacking mixed marble trinket pots £24 Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com

27 wealdentimes.co.uk

HAND

CRAFTED IN

TBF

ENGLAND

●TRADITIONAL

EST 2003

●

RB ES P O K E F U RN IT U

KITCHENS

BEDROOMS

BATHROOMS

01892 723083

www.traditionalbespokefurniture.co.uk

The Old STableS, CryalS rOad, brenChley, Tn12 7aW

In the

zone

We are demystifying bathroom

lighting with the help of Chris Jordan,

Managing Director at Christopher

Wray (christopherwray.com). Turns out,

bathroom lighting can be broken down

into three simple zones, each with its

own rules. It’s as easy as 0,1,2...

Bathed

Zone 0

Inside the shower or inside the bath.

Any light fitting in these areas must be

a minimum rating of IP67 (which is

completely immersion proof) and must

be low voltage.

Bathroom lighting can seem so complicated that we often end up

with the same old boring circular ceiling fixtures. No more.

Shop our top picks of lights that will make

your bathroom shine

...1

“IP stands for

“Ingress Protection”.

It basically tells you how

resistant each light is to water.

The higher the rating the more

protection. Always aim for the

highest IP rating in bathrooms.”

– Nicky Taha

victoriaplum.com

Directly above the bath or shower.

Any lighting fitting here must be

a minimum rating of IP65. This

means that they are dust-tight and are

protected from low pressure jets and

that no water can seep into the fitting

itself.

...2

1 Boutique chandelier £175 Frontline Bathrooms frontlinebathrooms.co.uk 2 Bulkhead

copper sconce wall light £289 Industville industville.co.uk 3 Antique brass wall bracket

£63 Dar lighting darlighting.co.uk 4 Horizontal light with pineapple finials £635

Besselink & Jones besselink.com 5 Round pleated chiffon light £210 Pure Bathroom

Collection purebathroomcollection.co.uk 6 Hollywood wall bar £85 Frontline Bathrooms

frontlinebathrooms.co.uk 7 Shipyard wall light £545 Davey Lighting uk.originalbtc.com

8 Polished chrome pendant £134.40 Dar Lighting darlighting.co.uk

Either side of the bath or shower

or a radius of 60cm from the basin.

Any lighting fitting here must be a

minimum rating of at least IP44 which

will protect from splashes of water.

29 wealdentimes.co.uk

“Central pendants are

not only a great design

feature, but create an

ultimate wow factor in

a larger space. ”

– Simon Wallis-Smith

Lighting Designer

Expert

advice

“Bathroom lighting is

not all about function.

Layering the lighting to

provide task, ambient and

accent points are crucial

in creating a calming

space.”

– Peter Legg, Lead Designer,

Dar Lighting

“Consider the kind of overall

look you’re hoping to create

– a contemporary design may

call for modern spotlights or

flush ceiling lights, whilst a

more traditional or boutique

hotel-inspired scheme could be

complemented by a decorative

IP44 rated bathroom chandelier

or retro-glamour wall light.”

– Michael Sammon, Sales and

Marketing Director, Frontline

5 6

“Measure the height and width

of the room in question. Then

select a lighting fixture that

matches that same number in

inches. This simple trick will

give you the right proportions

every time.”

– Demi Stanley, Home Improvement

Specialist, Fantastic Services

1 Bronze beaufort £95 Garden Trading gardentrading.co.uk 2 Pendant light £250 Fritz Fryer fritzfryer.co.uk

3 Hereford swan neck wall light Fritz Fryer fritzfryer.co.uk 4 Brass bulkhead in polished brass £185 Davey Lighting

uk.originalbtc.com 5 Weathered brass narrow box wall light £449 Davey Lighting uk.originalbtc.com 6 Double

curved arm light £817 Besselink & Jones besselink.com 7 Sisma floor lamp £1,332 Karman karmanitalia.it/en

8 Oxygen illuminated mirror £89.99 MY Furniture my-furniture.co.uk

WT Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement

Offering a complete service

from consultation to installation

T: 01732 350911

Unit 4 Orchard Business Centre, Sanderson Way, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1QG

showroom@townsbathrooms.co.uk www.townsmerchant.co.uk

OPENING TIMES

Monday to Friday | 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturdays | 9.00am – 4.00pm Sundays | Closed

A D V E R T I S E M E N T F E AT U R E

Ouch!

I think I’ve slipped a disc…

Is back pain or neck pain ruling your life? Are you stuck on a merry-go-round

of painkillers, physiotherapy treatments and GP visits?

Spinal expert James Pickering

treats a range of back and neck

conditions with gentle, noninvasive

techniques. Here, he

shines a light on disc-related conditions.

What causes back and neck pain?

Many back and neck pain issues are caused

by our own bad habits. Sitting, standing,

bending or lifting for long periods,

slouching over PCs and tablets, or poor

driving or sleeping posture can lead to

back and neck pain niggles - which if left

unchecked can turn into more serious issues.

What is ‘chronic’ pain?

‘Chronic’ means pain which has persisted for

three months or more. For many sufferers,

it’s due to some damage or degeneration of

the spinal discs or surrounding nerves.

The discs are the protective pads of

connective tissue dividing the bones of

the spine. They act as ‘shock absorbers’

protecting the spine when we move around.

How do discs become damaged?

If we’re on our feet all day, sitting at

workstations or lifting heavy objects, the

spine can weaken, causing discs to stretch

and bulge. Bulging discs are harmless for

most people - BUT if the outer wall of the

disc tears (herniates), the inner part can leak

out on to surrounding nerves.

When discs are dehydrated, they can leave

the vertebral bones rubbing against each

other: very painful indeed!

What are the signs of a herniated

or ‘slipped’ disc?

Typically, you’ll experience episodes of pain

which become more frequent over time. You

may also suffer nerve pain in the arms or

legs (sciatica) or headaches. You’ll probably

need daily painkillers; physiotherapy and/or

spinal injections may not help.

What is sciatica?

When a disc herniates, the gel-like nucleus

can leak out, irritating or compressing

the surrounding nerves. In lower back

patients, the sciatic nerve is affected

with a shooting pain travelling from the

buttock down the leg. Sometimes the pain

is accompanied by tingling, numbness

or weakness in the legs and feet.

In neck pain sufferers, nerve pain affects the

shoulders, arms and hands.

Most nerve pain resolves with over the

counter anti-inflammatory drugs. Also, go

about your normal daily activities if you

can. However, if you’re still in pain after six

weeks, you should seek advice from one of

our specialists: our first-choice treatment is

IDD Therapy.

How can IDD Therapy help?

IDD Therapy uses safe and gentle pulling

forces to draw apart specific spinal segments

where discs are damaged, removing pressure

and irritation from any trapped nerves.

Patients receive a structured programme of

regular sessions, progressively relieving pain

and improving mobility for the long-term.

IDD Therapy is changing the lives of

slipped disc and sciatica suffers.

Sue’s IDD Therapy Experience

Sue James suffered for 16 years with back

pain and sciatica:

“The pain started in my right leg; I

couldn’t sit for more than half an hour.

Going out for a meal or to the cinema

became impossible.

My GP prescribed strong painkillers, but

the side-effects were too severe; I tried

chiropractic and nerve block injections, but

nothing helped.

My consultant suggested surgery, but I

didn’t want to have an operation with the

recovery time and possible risks.

After a programme of IDD Therapy, I’m

enjoying an active life again, competing in

athletics events pain-free.”

About the

Expert

Osteopath James

Pickering works with

patients across the

Kent community. He

specialises in spinal

disc conditions and

associated nerve

pain. His practice

is an approved IDD

Therapy Disc Clinic.

Call Wealden Osteopaths and Spine Centre on 01580 212833 or go to wealdenosteopaths.co.uk

Cards Collective Ltd

Cards for Every Occasion – Gifts for everyone

Specialist Stationery and Postal Services

- FREE RANGE MEATS & POULTRY

- LOCAL SEASONAL GAME

- SPECIALITY SAUSAGES

- RANGE OF FINE FOODS

- DELI & LOCAL CHEESES

- HOMEMADE PASTRIES

- LOCAL BAKED GOODS

- FRESHLY MADE ROLLS

BBQ EVENT CATERING WITH A RANGE OF MENU OPTIONS.

GREAT FOR PRIVATE PARTIES, WEDDINGS & BUSINESS

EVENTS.

Autumn styles are now here with the

accessories to match including the latest

from ADINI

C h ar m i n g

C h ar i n g

Charing Post Office

48 High Street

Charing, Kent

TN27 0HX

01233 712584

Cards.collective@yahoo.com

Take a fresh look at Adini and

Wear Something Beautiful

Tea Room

— and catering & styling for —

Weddings & Events

Opening Hours:

Tuesday - Friday 10.30 - 5pm

Sats 10.00 - 3pm

High Street, Charing, TN17 0HX

Tel. 01233 714689

We cater for and style events of all occasions,

including weddings, birthdays and corporate

functions.

42 The High Street, Charing,

Ashford, Kent, TN27 0HX

www.mulberrys.co

ElizabethWT200Q.indd 1 18/09/2018 18:14

Life’s rich

tapestry

Tweeds, plaids, satins and leopard print – this autumn’s

styles are a lush mix of texture and pattern

wealdentimes.co.uk

120

Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Kate Watts

Location: Battle Abbey School Model: Georgia Dispenza, Fresh Agents

Make Up: Amy Deakin, Truffle Tunbridge Wells, truffleonsea.com/tunbridgewells 01892 557722

Hair: Amie Coombes, instagram @amieadellhair

121 wealdentimes.co.uk

dressing undeniable beauty

www.odyl.co.uk

01580 714907

Previous page: Dress £99, Capsule @capsulehastings

on Instagram 07772 056945; velvet ankle boots £295,

L.K.Bennett Bluewater 01322 427178, lkbennett.com;

Simon Harrison Amphitrite ring £150 and

Amphitrite earrings £150, Jason Charles Jewellery

jasoncharlesjewellery.co.uk; headscarf, stylist’s own

Above: Dress £75, belt £35, from a selection at Hawk

and Dove Vintage, Hastings Old Town Instagram

@hawkanddovevintage; velvet ankle boots £295,

L.K.Bennett Bluewater 01322 427178 lkbennett.com;

glasses, model’s own Left: Silk blouse £194, Peter

Hahn peterhahn.co.uk; Simon Harrison Amphitrite ring

£150, Jason Charles Jewellery jasoncharlesjewellery.co.uk;

bag £225, The Vintage Lions thevintagelions.co.uk

123 wealdentimes.co.uk

Cord blazer £285, GANT

Bluewater 01322 422640 gant.co.uk;

shirt £225, L.K.Bennett Bluewater

01322 427178 lkbennett.com; skirt £98,

trainers £98, Jigsaw Bluewater 01322

387316 jigsaw-online.com; hat £15, from

a selection at Hawk and Dove Vintage;

ruby coral ring £150, Simon Harrison,

simonharrison.com

Over 45 years experience

specialising in coats of arms

With over 10,000 coats of arms, crests &

monograms seal engraved since 1970

18 carat

signet ring

seal engraved

Sizzling

Autumn

collections

9 carat white

gold cuff link,

3D engraved

coat of arms

Swattenden Lane | Cranbrook | TN17 3PS

01580 713189

www.charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk

Rodney J Rigby F.I.P.G

Goldsmith & Designer

Hand & seal engraver

Handmade signet rings, cuff links

& bespoke 3D blazer buttons

in gold, silver & platinum

T: 01892 724951 www.rodneyjrigby.com

info@rodneyjrigby.com

STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET

CharityFarmWT200.indd 1 12/09/2018 RJRigbyLtdWT195.indd 10:46

1 03/04/2018 12:50

STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET

125 wealdentimes.co.uk

ManukaShoesWT200.indd 1 19/09/2018 15:59

www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk

Welcome back,

Bruno Saint Hilaire

This season we are pleased to announce that we have

a familiar face joining us at County Clothes. We

celebrate the return of Bruno Saint Hilaire into the

UK with the arrival of jackets and trousers

that channel the sophistication of French style

and provide comfort for the modern gentleman.

19 St Margaret’s Street

Canterbury

Kent, CT1 2TH

“The brand’s unique properties guarantee all-day

neatness and, combined with classic French styling, the

collection is unrivalled for creating timeless menswear

that fits into modern-day lifestyles.”

2 East Cross

Tenterden

Kent, TN30 6AD

01580 765159

County Clothes Menswear

Quality & Personal Service

Canterbury Tenterden Reigate Sevenoaks

velvet finesse

Find the new Autumn/Winter ranges in store now.

6 High Street

Reigate

Surrey, RH2 9AY

Cosy

Scarves

14 Bank Street

Sevenoaks

Kent, TN13 1UW

01227 765294 01737 249224 01732 454068

@countyclothescanterbury @countyclothestenterden @countyclothesreigate @countyclothessevenoaks

CountyClothesWT200.indd 1 13/09/2018 16:38

The go-to address for Striking pieces

to complement your unique style

Fine, vintage & costume jewellery | Designer vintage clothing

Vintage collectables | Seasonal specials | Unique gifts

Christmas Markets

at the Bull House

8 th –11 th November

6 th –9 th December

10am–6pm

www.smashing-things.co.uk

Telephone 01435 813 320 info@smashing-things.co.uk

Now at the Bull House Studio,

Lake Street, Mayfield,

East Sussex TN20 6PR

wealdentimes.co.uk

126

VintageLionsWT199.indd 1 21/08/2018 11:51

Faux fur stole £108,

British Design British

Made 01424 777711

britishdesignbritishmade.com;

Chloris bangle £395, Simon

Harrison simonharrison.com;

velvet top £250, L.K.Bennett

Bluewater 01322

427178 lkbennett.com; wide

leg cropped trousers £98,

Jigsaw Bluewater 01322

387316 jigsaw-online.com

127 wealdentimes.co.uk

Faux fur jacket £369, British

Design British Made 01424 777711

britishdesignbritishmade.com;

cashmere lambswool jumper £155

GANT Bluewater 01322 422640

gant.co.uk; trousers £209, Peter

Hahn peterhahn.co.uk; trainers

£98, Jigsaw Bluewater 01322

387316 jigsaw-online.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

128

25% OFF colour

Monday & Tuesday

20% OFF

your first visit

20% DISCOUNT

for emergency services

(T&Cs apply)

• Aveda

• Paul Mitchell

• HD Brows

• Olaplex

• Nano Keratin

• GHD

• Beauty

Hawkhurst-No6 The Colonnade 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

Book online

www.keithfrancishair.co.uk

01233 503630 Ashford salon

01580 762538 Tenterden salon

CordeliaJamesWT200.indd 1 14/09/2018 KeithFrancisWT200.indd 10:59

1 19/09/2018 14:21

be sure to

to your

TUNBRIDGE WELLS STORE

and enjoy £20 OFF

offer code: UKJN0104

38 HIGH STREET, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN1 1XF

PURECOLLECTION.COM

TERMS & CONDITIONS: Offer valid on full priced items on a purchase over £70 until 1st December 2018

in Tunbridge Wells Store only. This offer is one time use only. Offer is not valid on sale items, cashmere care

products or services; it is non- transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with another offer. No adjustments

may be made to prior purchases. Offer cannot be used in Pure Collection department store concessions or on

their websites. Pure Collection reserves the right to amend/withdraw this offer at any time. For full terms and

conditions visit our website.

129 wealdentimes.co.uk

AW18111 PURE Wealdon Times_OCT_ISSUE_130x185mm_39L_R1.indd 1 19/09/2018 10:57

PureCollectionWT200.indd 1 19/09/2018 16:52

The One Stop Shop for Ladies Fashion in Surrey

www.melitaboutique.co.uk

57 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AF

Tel: 01276 856308

17 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UT

MelitaOfChobhamWT198.indd 1 24/07/2018 DrChristineWT195.indd 15:34

1 13/03/2018 12:02

Concept

Hair

salon

LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS

FACEBOOK.COM/LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS

WWW.LINDAPOPEOPTICIAN.CO.UK

RYE ROAD • HAWKHURST

TELEPHONE 01580 753744

50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564

Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk

or through our facebook page

wealdentimes.co.uk

130

LindapopeWT200.indd 1 14/09/2018 WilliamCharlesWT200.indd 12:04

1 10/09/2018 12:13

Check blazer £275, GANT Bluewater 01322 422640 gant.co.uk; shirt £265,

White and White whiteandwhite.co.uk; pocket square £45, Geoff Stocker

geoffstocker.com; lion brooch £85, The Vintage Lions thevintagelions.co.uk

131 wealdentimes.co.uk

Faux fur coat £239, Peter

Hahn peterhahn.co.uk;

sleeveless polo

£64, Capsule

on Instagram @

capsulehastings 07772

056945; jeans £90, Jigsaw

Bluewater 01322 387316

jigsaw-online.com; suede

boots £130, GANT

Bluewater 01322 422640

gant.co.uk; cheetah brooch

£35,The Vintage Lions

thevintagelions.co.uk;

ring £30, Karen Millen

Bluewater 01322

384676 karenmillen.com

A huge thank you to Battle Abbey School for allowing us

to shoot in their historic library, a very special venue to

experience. For more information about visiting Battle Abbey

School or holding an event at this unique venue please visit

battleabbeyschool.com or email info@battleabbeyschool.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

132

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Oaks Hair and Beauty Retreat was established

in 1990 by Christine and Neil Bacon joined later

on by their son Alexander. We simply fell in love

with this amazing 14th century property starting

renovation immediately throughout all 3 floors.

Having both worked in the hairdressing industry

for many years putting on fashion shows ,

training many students , been nominees of

the British Hairdressers of the year South East

Awards and having managed a reasonable size

team of 22 -24 employees we thought Hythe

would be a much slower pace for us , little

did we realise how busy we would be here on

Hythe’s wonderful High Street full of lots of

independent shops.

We have an exceptionally highly experienced

talented team here who bring a wealth of

experience to the salon with a very loyal

clientele, some having been with us from the

beginning. As a team we are highly motivated to

give a 5* service to all our guests.

We often hold open day/evening events for our

guests showcasing our work and offering advice

on treatments and styling. Here at Oaks we have

our Hero treatments that we choose to work

with and bring only the best products

into our salon.

HERO PRODUCT

MOROCCANOIL

We have been advocates for this product range

and fortunate to have been with Moroccanoil

from the beginning, with Moroccanoil now

celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year and

we are so pleased to have a wealth of 10 years

with this truly amazing product in our salon

here at Oaks. We have worked with Moroccanoil

at many events:

London Fashion Week at Horse Guards Parade

Salon International Excel London

Bloomsbury Ballroom London

At these events we have worked alongside:

Kristian Aadnevik fashion designer

Alice Temperley fashion designer

Errol Douglas and several other top hair stylists

OLAPLEX

The Olaplex hair treatment is one of the biggest

advances in hair technology for years. It’s a

real game changer for our hair colourists with

it maximising the strength and integrity of your

hair during both hair colouring treatments and

what we call stand alone hair treatments.

Once again Oaks was invited to be first to

market with Olaplex, working with it for over

3 years. Olaplex is an in salon treatment with

us using stages 1 & 2. OLAPLEX Number 3 is

your turn; it’s an at home treatment that you

use once a week , quick and easy to use at

home. Our clients really rave about this product

with reviews of great results and easy to use

OLAPLEX No 3 is available at Oaks Hair and

Beauty Retreat.

BEAUTY

We introduced beauty treatments to Oaks

3 years ago employing only the top level

therapists in beauty , Level 3 or above with the

therapists continually training and keeping up

to date with their knowledge ever growing. This

side of the business is in a real growth pattern

so we are delighted to be offering beauty

treatments to our clients who often refer to

it as ‘stepping out of the real world for a few

pampering hours’, finishing with a luxury blow

dry with one of our top stylists.

BEAUTY HERO PRODUCT

DERMALOGICA

With our very own therapists having reached

their SKIN EXPERT STATUS with Dermalogica

training we can tailor every facial treatment to

you as an individual. When others talk about

pampering , beauty or fancy packaging we

deliver results by using Dermalogica to achieve

your best skin ever! Dermalogica is:

CRUELTY FREE

No artificial fragrances/colours

Paraben free

Vegan

Gluten free

BEAUTY HERO PRODUCT

CACI

Non - Surgical Face Lift with pioneering S.P.E.D

DUAL ACTION TECHNOLOGY delivers LED

LIGHT THERAPY SKIN REJUVENATION and

MICROCURRENT FACIAL TONING at the same

time. Clients experience a tightening and lifting

of their facial muscles whilst also experiencing a

dramatic improvement to their complexion.

FELLOWSHIP OF BRITISH HAIRDRESSING

For the last 6 years as a salon we have enjoyed

being Members of the Fellowship of British

Hairdressing which was such an honour to

be invited as it’s only the elite of salons that

are in this group of salons. We often attend

demonstrations and shows put on by the best

in our industry. We are constantly training and

learning to bring the best to you here at Oaks.

OUR FUTURE

The salon for the future is growing strongly in

this ever changing industry and market place.

High Streets and client patterns are changing

and we are changing with them by growing

in strength with both the hair and beauty

treatments that we offer here at Oaks.

Go to Oaks Hair & Beauty

Retreat, 120 High Street,

Hythe, Kent CT21 5LE or call 01303 261944,

www.oakshairandbeautyretreat.com

No time to be ill?

See a GP today.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Can’t see a doctor when you need?

Have to wait for a doctor to call you back when its urgent?

Can’t get a routine appointment with your GP for three weeks?

H&B Medical provide quick access to friendly and experienced

GPs from our private GP practice in Kent. With waiting times

to see your GP getting longer, why not telephone or book an appointment

online to see a private GP, at a time that suits you?

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32B or not 32B?

that is the question

Whether your cup runneth over or there’s room for more in there, you’re probably

wearing the wrong bra size. Expert fitter and Triumph consultant Carol Wales, of Fenwick,

Tunbridge Wells, explains why you need professional guidance

What Carol Wales doesn’t

know about bras isn’t worth

knowing. She’s been a

consultant for Triumph for over 30 years

and was an experienced fitter before that,

having trained at a specialised lingerie

fitting school in London.

But what may surprise you is that

there is one thing she never uses while

fitting bras for grateful customers (many

of whom come to see on her word-ofmouth

recommendation) at Fenwick,

Tunbridge Wells: a tape measure.

“You do it by eye,” she says.

And there’s something else surprising,

that you may be relieved to hear – you

don’t even need to take all your clothes

off for Carol to fit you.

“Once you’re trained, you can get a

rough idea of the frame just by looking

at a woman. You can’t measure with any

accuracy with a tape, it’s much better to

do it by eye. I look at a woman in her

own bra and I can see what’s going right,

wrong, or otherwise.”

Once Carol has assessed the basic size,

she has to call on another area of her

expert knowledge, being familiar with

multiple ranges and styles of bra.

“Just like clothing, sizes vary a lot

between brands and even within a brand,

depending on the style, some come up a

bit tighter, so you have to allow for that.”

But even with all that knowledge, the

only way to be sure a bra is the right fit

is to try it on and have it checked on you

by an expert fitter. “I can’t look at a bra

and know if it will fit me – I have to try

it on. This is why it’s very difficult to buy

them online.”

One of the reasons so many of us wear

the wrong size, Carol says, is because

we’ve got stuck on the idea that 34B is

the ‘average’ size and work from that as

a starting point.

“Women’s perception of bra sizes

is wrong. If they haven’t been

professionally measured mostly

they get the back too big and the

cup too small. They come in

wearing a 38 or 40 B cup and

once we’ve fitted them, they

might be in a 34DD or E.”

And with that new bra

size comes a whole new,

neater, slimmer look,

says Carol.

“Once you get your

Above: Triumph Amourette bra and briefs in teal. Bra £36, briefs £22

breasts in the right place it changes the

length of your body and makes your

figure look completely different. We have

that all the time in the changing room.

You see how it changes a client’s figure

and gives their confidence such a boost.

I’ve had women cry because they are so

grateful I’ve sorted them out.”

Trained bra fitters are always available

in the lingerie department at Fenwick

Tunbridge Wells, no appointment

necessary.

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online at breastcancernow.org

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Beauty

Soak it up

Jo Malone

London

Lime Basil &

Mandarin

£32 for 250ml

Josephine Fairley wallows blissfully in bath

products which look as good as they smell

love a bathroom. The one room in a home where you

can legitimately lock the door without someone thinking

you’re throwing a strop (even if you are). Turn your back

on a frantic world and a busy day and reclaim some time for

yourself. I love designing bathrooms (I’ve done quite a few in

my time...), but the final touch, I always think, is the products

that you indulge in, within that space. Ideally, they’ll look as

good on the bathroom shelf as they make you feel – but just

because something isn’t presented in glam packaging, doesn’t

mean it won’t have a feelgood factor.

What I tend to do with baths is to create what Dayle

Haddon – a supermodel who’s now seventysomething and

looking fabber than ever – calls her ‘Magic Bath’. That means

blending a bit of this, a handful of that, a slurp of something

else, to come up with a custom bath prescription that differs

pretty much every time.

I tend to start with a large dollop of salts – salt and

magnesium flakes. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin

and helps induce relaxation, aiding sleep.

Tickled Pink

Yuzu, Pink Beets

and Watermelon

Body Scrub,

£20 for 250g

My newest bath salt love is Dead Sea Spa

MagikRSalted Activated Charcoal Salts, which is

perfect for the impending cold and flu season,

with its potent, nose-clearing, sense-awakening

blend of rosemary and eucalyptus.

This comes in seriously workaday packaging

– a shiny big sachet. So, while always being

aware that bathrooms and broken glass don’t go together

well, I like to decant less-than-gorgeous-looking products

like this into pressed and cut glass jars and bottles, which

I acquire in charity shops. If you’ve got a hardtiled

floor, that might not be sensible, but

mine is vinyl-that-looks-like-sisal and if I do

drop something, glass bottles almost bounce

off it. Although I still always keep the glass

containers away from the bath area itself.

Herbivore’s packaging, by contrast, is pure

mimimalist chic. They’re

a US brand which is a

huge cult success with

‘millennials’, now to be

found on this side of the

Atlantic at Space NK.

I’m a huge fan of

their Calm Bath

Salts, £16 for

Wild Rose

Body Salt Scrub,

£20 for 250g

“Restore your getup-and-go

when

it’s got-up-andwent”

227g at SpaceNK, featuring

an incredibly cocooning

and calming blend of ylang

ylang and vanilla, blended

into Himalayan pink salt crystals. They also offer

Herbivore Detox Bath Salts, featuring lavender and

eucalyptus alongside Cambrian blue clay, which will

help draw out impurities from skin.

On the oil front, I’ve some fab new finds. A long-term fan

of Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils, these have been

joined next to my bath by two tall green bottles from Gaia

Spa (located at Boringdon Hall’s eco-spa, on the fringes of

Dartmoor).

If I’m frazzled, there’s the Calming Bath Oil option:

lavender, chamomile and orange blossom. But I also absolutely

adore the Awakening Bath Oil, which features Gaia Spa’s

signature blend of geranium, tangerine, petitgrain, grapefruit

and rosemary – one to restore your get-up-and-go when it’s

got-up-and-went. Both have matching body

products, for fragrant layering.

Another current wake-up-call-of-choice on

increasingly darker (*sob*) mornings is Le

Labo Mandarin Shower Oil, £22 for 250ml,

a fabulously uplifting blend of mandarin

and geranium. If you’re not sure what a

shower oil is, here’s the deal: you massage

into skin, and it transforms into a milky lather that

cleanses, but at the same time, nourishes the body (in

this case with a beautiful blend of coconut, argan and

sunflower oils).

If you’re a fan of Jo Malone London Lime

Basil & Mandarin, you’ll want to know that

this is now available as a Shower Oil, too;

utterly luxurious, giving a beautifully skinsoftening,

satiny lather. Shower oils are also

absolutely fabulous for leg shaving.

While soaking in that bath, meanwhile, is the

best possible time to do a little skin buffing and the

following products will also further infuse the water

with essential oils, adding to the fragrant magic.

An exciting new brand discovery for me is the Natural

Spa Factory, who offer a really impressively wide range

of salty, sandy, rice, coconut and bamboo scrub options, in

resealable pouches. I’m particularly taken with the Tickled Pink

Yuzu, Pink Beets and Watermelon Body Scrub, £20 for 250g

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Beauty

(naturalspafactory.com), which

buffs skin with grainy chunks of

Dead Sea salt to help exfoliation,

AromaWorks

in a nourishing grapeseed oil

AromaBombs

base. And a can’t-fail choice (and

Quad Box

a great gift) is their Wild Rose

£29.99

Body Salt Scrub, £20 for 250g,

which smells just heavenly and features real rose

petals in the oil-based salt scrub base.

There are also some truly fun, fun, fun discoveries in The

Ritual of Holi line, which launched recently from the brand

Rituals (which has shops at Bluewater and in the new arcade

beneath London Bridge station).

Celebrating the festival in which Indians throw coloured

powders at each other and with seriously colourful packaging

that would brighten any bathroom, the collection features

many innovative textures. The Ritual of Holi Shower Jelly,

£6.50 for 100ml, for instance, foams on contact with water

and melts onto skin, veiling it in a fruity-floral fragrance,

while the Shower Foam Flower delivers up foam in the form

of – yes, a blooming flower, which you then massage into

skin. As well as these novel attractions, it has what I’d call

quite a ‘young’ fragrance and the teens and young adults I’ve

introduced to it can’t get enough.

Should your own inner teenager still hanker after a bath

bomb, I recommend you trade up to the very sophisticated

Himalayan sea salt-based AromaWorks AromaBombs which

are infused with 100% pure essential oils. The Quad Box

features a quartet of Serenity, Inspire, Nurture and Soulful

mood-shifting scents.

And I’ve one last recommendation. When the trio of

Cologne-inspired Chanel Les Eaux perfumes were launched

in the summer, I loved them so much I declared I wanted

to bathe in them – and it seems the people at Chanel were

listening: Shower Gels, £38 for 200ml, and Body Lotions, £44

for 200ml, have now been released, so I can do just that.

My favourite is crisp green Paris-Deauville, you might

prefer sunlit, warm Paris-Venise or aquatic Paris-Biarritz.

And with their striking packaging – a new, hip flaskinspired

Chanel design – has there ever been a more chicly

understated decorative finishing flourish, for a bathroom?

Just add fluffy towels and your favourite tracks, on a

Bluetooth speaker, for some well-deserved, skin-pampering,

soul-nurturing me-time.

Jo Fairley is co-founder of The Perfume Society

which offers perfume Discovery Boxes and online

VIP membership, with special events, competitions

and discounts from leading perfume websites, plus

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Wellbeing

A Year of Wellness

We are all born knowing how to do it, but can get worse at

it as we age – Eminé Rushton takes a look at the all-important

function of sleep and how to improve it

October: Pillow talk

We’ve all been there, desperate

to fall asleep, knowing that

we need to be up early for

something immensely important – yet

wholly unable to drift off. For many of

us it’s fortunately a fleeting experience,

perhaps ahead of a stressful event – but

for 30% of people in the UK, the odd

sleepless night has slipped over into

debilitating chronic insomnia.

The National Sleep Foundation has

highlighted the link between stress and

insomnia. With stress levels in this

country at an all-time high (a poll by

YouGov found that in 2018, 74% of

Britons have felt so stressed as to no

longer be able to cope with daily life),

the parity between our waking and lackof-sleep-ing

lives is crystal clear.

It is, admittedly, not a pretty or restful

picture but thankfully, when it comes to

sleep, there are several simple steps that

each of us can take to make enormously

positive differences.

Firstly, we must wake up to how

much our modern-day lives are

affecting our body’s ancient sleep-smart

programming. When once we would

have woken at sunrise and retired at

sunset, we are now able to power on

as early and late as we wish – phones,

laptops, tablets keep us plugged in

unnaturally often, and the blue light

emitted from their screens has been

shown to be one of the biggest health

concerns of our time. Blue light

suppresses melatonin

– the hormone

that takes us off

to sleep – twice

as long as other

light wavelengths

and alters

circadian rhythms by twice as much

again. This affects more than just sleep.

“Interference with the body’s circadian

rhythms can have a significant effect

on health, creating problems with

the cardiovascular, metabolic, and

immune systems, disturbing mood, and

compromising cognitive function,” says

sleep doctor Michael J Breus PhD.

I recommend setting all devices to

switch automatically to night mode

at sunset. Also stay clear of all screens

– television included – for up to two

hours before you wish to sleep.

Other sleep-supporting activities

I have found to be most successful

are linked to lowering

stress levels. Meditation

is being shown to be

something of a golden

bullet when it comes to

improving sleep issues.

I’d highly recommend

Will Williams’ brilliant

book, The Effortless

Mind, which breaks down exactly why

this practice is so effective. If a daily

studio visit is out of the question, try

movementformodernlife.com.

Professor Jim Horne of the Sleep

Research Centre at Loughborough

University advocates two simple, yet

highly effective, choices for a better

night’s sleep. Firstly, a long walk outside

in nature, which allows the brain to

‘rest’ and focus on things beyond the

internal paraphernalia, is incomparably

stress relieving. This also douses the

body with natural daylight which helps

maintain the correct day/night balance

of our internal body clock.

A seminal 2016 study in the US

found that low vitamin D levels often

“Stay clear of all

devices - television

included - for up to

two hours before you

wish to go to sleep”

resulted in insomnia, so that daily walk

with all of its natural light benefits,

wherein we get to top up our vitamin

D stores too, has yet another benefit

to herald. When the days begin to dim

significantly, do ensure you top up daily

– Wild Nutrition Food-Grown Vitamin

D, £10 (wildnutrition.com) is my

supplement of choice.

Professor Horne’s second sleep tip is

no less enjoyable: a long hot bath, taken

an hour before bedtime, which raises

the core body temperature, only to then

have it drop, rather rapidly, as we step

out of the bath and towel dry.

This drop in body temperature

perfectly mimics the

body’s own drop in

core temperature as

we begin to prepare

for sleep (ever stayed

up too late and started

to shiver?). When our

core body temperature

drops, it creates optimal

conditions for melatonin production,

promoting good healthy sleep.

Getting too hot at night is indeed one

of the chief causes of waking and fitful

sleep, so keep the bedroom cool, stick to

breathable bedclothes and PJs, and leave

the window open for as long as you

feasibly can for fresh and cooling air.

Yes, there are innumerable gadgets,

gizmos, pills and teas to try too, but in

keeping with sleep’s innate and simple

nature, I shan’t expand on them here.

The fact is, the more we can simplify

and re-naturalise our waking lives, the

more likely we are to sleep well at night.

And if that, perchance, isn’t the stuff

of the sweetest, easiest dreams, I really

don’t know what is.

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

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

Credit: Freeimages.com/Danny de Bruyne

Wellbeing

Natural wisdom

Ali Roff is co-founder of The Remedy Retreats with her husband

James Farrar. Combining Eastern yoga and mindfulness with her

degree in psychology, she aims to create a safe retreat space to rest,

de-stress and improve physical and mental wellness.

What one piece of seasonal wisdom

helps you in autumn? For me, autumn

is the perfect time to recalibrate and

reset my body clock after long summer

nights. As the clocks go back an

hour, we get the perfect opportunity

to trick our bodies into getting to bed

earlier and so waking an hour earlier,

without any great impact to our body

clock – or, in other words, our ability to

get out of bed!

Every year I use this chance to bring

my wake time an hour earlier and

spend the weeks beforehand setting a

little intention to use that hour to do

something for me before the day even

begins, such as journalling, yoga, or

meditation. Sometimes I just sit in the

garden with a cup of lemon water and

a blanket and listen to the world wake

up. As we move into winter, I’ll get cosy

with some candles and meditate in my

living room. The best hour of the day.

What one self-care ritual do you never

skimp on? I have to move every day.

Whether it’s a walk in nature, yoga or an

energetic class at the gym, or even some

simple stretches before bed (the intensity

doesn’t matter), but if I don’t move

my body each day, my mind will tell

me about it. I’ve started to incorporate

movement into my breaks at work too.

To move away from my desk and sway

Choose kindness

my arms and my hips feels great after

sitting for so long.

What’s cooking in your kitchen this

month? Pattypan squash. I even have a

little song I sing when they arrive in my

veg box. These little gemstone-shaped

squashes are so sweet, tender and easy

to chop into little wedges. I roast them

with minced garlic, pink Himalayan

salt and fresh sage or dried herbs, with a

good glug of olive oil.

Share one book that taught you

something amazing about life – and

made you better at living it?

It has to be Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny

Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and

Life from Dear Sugar. Her collection of

columns from her days writing as an

anonymous agony aunt, always seem

to speak directly to me and my life

experiences, giving advice, counsel,

compassion, and sometimes even a ‘kick

in the pants’, as Strayed says in one of

her replies to a reader in need.

But many simply offer tenderness

in reply to life events which I hope

will never touch me, from divorce to

the loss of a son. It’s a heartbreaking

book - not only the questions asked by

readers, whom she calls her ‘Sweetpeas’,

but the stirring, inspirational

and heartrending guidance offered

by Strayed herself.

I have so enjoyed reading Shahroo Izadi’s

The Kindness Method, which is focused on

going gently on yourself. Being kinder to

ourselves has been shown by Izadi to not

only help us break life-long negative habits,

but to also shift the barriers that prevent us

achieving our goals. A lovely read, or gift,

for a friend in a tough spot.

What is the best treatment you’ve

had locally? Massage is so great for

fascia and connective tissue work,

which we are learning is more and

more important, yet often neglected

in our physical health.

I work on mine a lot through my

yoga practice and often incorporate

it into my classes and retreats, but

massage is a lovely relaxing way

to include it in our holistic health

ritual and routine. The best one

I’ve had is with a very talented

masseuse called Becky Smith, who

incorporates amazing essential oils

into her treatments. She always

offers a selection to choose from,

depending on what you want to

work on, or how you’re feeling. I

tend to book in when I’m feeling

overwhelmed. You can contact her

here rmsmassagetherapy@outlook.com

Find out more about Ali at

aliroff.com

Eminé says:

Try this in

October

With nights drawing in and

daylight less abundant, I

find increasing comfort in

the moon’s silvery glow and

movements. I enjoy local

artist, Jo of The Moon Journal’s musings, art work and

#myslowerlivingmoments prompts on Instagram @

themoon_journal . Her moon journal is beautiful too.

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One pot

wonders

Delicious healthy homecooked

meals that don’t

require hours in the kitchen –

that’s what my website Anna’s

Family Kitchen is all about.

Mum to Mia, Thomas and

Finn, I am a self-taught home

cook and passionate about food.

I want to make the healthiest

possible food for my family,

but I don’t believe in faddy

eating, omitting food groups

and dieting. My philosophy is

“everything in moderation”,

focussing on fresh, seasonal,

additive-free, unprocessed

ingredients, local suppliers

where possible and minimising

refined sugars.

My aim is to empower other

busy mums and dads to cook

meals that work for all the

family and can be easily tweaked

and adapted if required for

maybe a family member who is

intolerant to a food group or,

like me, has a young vegetarian

to cook for.

Plenty of my recipes are, like

the ones here, based on ‘one-pot

cookery’ as they can be thrown

together quickly, create minimal

washing up and can often be

left in a slow cooker or low oven

until you’re ready to eat. Very

handy when you have a rugby

match, a ballet run, a dog to

walk and a lawn to mow!

Words: Anna Stanford

Photographs: David Merewether

and Anna Stanford

Chuck it all in and heat it up for blissfully easy – and

tasty – mid-week suppers

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 600g lamb neck fillet cut into 1 inch

chunks

• 2 onions roughly chopped

• 1 tsp Maldon salt

• 3 garlic cloves crushed

• 10cm piece of ginger peeled and

chopped

• 1 tbsp ras-el-hanout

• 1 tsp each cumin, coriander and

cinnamon

• 200g tomatoes (fresh or tinned)

• 400g chickpeas

• 400g butternut squash cut into 2cm

cubes

• 400ml chicken or lamb stock

• 2 preserved lemons chopped

• 30g bunch coriander, stalks chopped,

leaves reserved

Lamb tagine

Serves 4-6 Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 4-6 hours

One of my favourite one pots. It can be thrown together and then left in a low oven or

slow cooker. Just add the squash and chickpeas for the last hour of cooking and finish

with the fresh coriander, green olives and pomegranate seeds.

To finish:

• 100g green olives

• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds

• 3 tbsp coriander leaves

1Colour the onions in the oil for 5

minutes before adding the lamb. Ten

minutes later add all the other ingredients

apart from the squash and chickpeas. Add

½ tsp salt and 6 grinds of black pepper.

Cook at 140 degrees or in a slow cooker

for as long as possible – 4-6 hours is ideal.

(I leave mine in the simmering oven of my

Aga for up to 8 hours).

2Add the squash and chickpeas for the

last hour of cooking time.

3Serve the tagine sprinkled with the

pomegranate seeds, olives and fresh

coriander.

Orange, soy, honey & basil roast chicken

Serves 4-6 Prep time: 5 minutes. Cooking time: 90 minutes

Who doesn’t love roast chicken? This one tray makes for a livelier

Sunday roast. It takes 5 mins to prep and then the whole dish

(minus the mange tout and basil) gets put in the oven for 90

minutes. Stir in the mange tout (or peas if you prefer) at the end.

The hot juices from the chicken will cook them through.

• 2 whole chickens (approx

1.5kg each) or you could

use a mixture of thighs

and legs

• 2 oranges sliced

• 300g mange tout (or peas)

• 15g fresh basil leaves

• 750g new potatoes, large

ones halved

For the orange dressing:

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• juice and zest of one

orange

• 1 chilli chopped

• 3 tsp honey

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 3 garlic cloves crushed

1Line your roasting tray

with baking parchment or

greaseproof paper to stop the

sauce burning on the bottom

of the tray.

2Toss the potatoes in the

tray with the olive oil.

3Add the chickens to the

roasting tray and pour over

the dressing making sure you

spoon some inside the cavity of

the chicken.

4Season the whole dish with

salt and pepper.

5Place the orange slices

around the chicken and roast

at 180 degrees for 90 minutes. If

using thighs and legs reduce the

cooking time to 45 minutes.

6Stir in the mange tout –

the hot juices will cook

them. Sprinkle over the basil

and serve.

147 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Photo: David Merewether

Serves 4 Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 30 minutes

This is a showstopper dish but is very easy. The trick is to use

the best quality shellfish, preferably from your local fishmonger,

and part-cook the rice with saffron and turmeric so the paella

takes on the amazing colour. Both of these tips were given to

me by Sankey’s in Tunbridge Wells. If you wish to simplify the

dish you can omit the squid and/or the mussels. The prawns,

chorizo and chicken are a must!

• 1 tsp (1g) saffron

• ½ tsp ground turmeric

• 300g bomba paella rice

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 150g chorizo sliced on the

diagonal into ½cm thick

slices

• 2 chicken thighs (skin off,

bone out) sliced into 2cm

strips

• 2 onions finely chopped

• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed

• 2 tbsp smoked paprika

Cheat’s paella

• 800ml- 1l fish stock

• 200ml white wine

• 10-12 cleaned mussels

• 2 squid tubes cut into

rings, fresh or frozen

• ½ pint glass of Greenland

prawns, shell on

• ½ pint glass of Greenland

prawns shell off or king

prawns, shell off

• 100g frozen peas

• 2 lemons, quartered

1Remove any remaining

beards from the mussels

and wash them under cold

water. Tap each mussel. If it

doesn’t close, dispose of it.

2Put your rice, saffron,

turmeric and 500ml of

stock in a pan and simmer for

8 minutes. Fork through the

rice and set aside.

3Add the olive oil to a

large pan (I used a large

casserole) and add your

chicken. Colour for 5 minutes

before adding the onion and

garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes.

Push the onion and chicken

mixture to the side of the pan

and char the lemon quarters

for 5 minutes turning them

every minute or so. This

caramelises them and makes

them really sweet. Remove the

lemon wedges and set aside.

4Give the onions and

chicken a stir to make sure

they don’t catch then push

them to the side of the pan

again. Colour the chorizo for a

minute on each side. Add the

smoked paprika and the wine

and give everything a stir.

5Add your part-cooked rice

and the remaining stock.

Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add your mussels on top of the

rice, put a lid on the pan and

let the mussels steam cook for

5 minutes. Discard any mussels

that haven’t opened.

6Add the squid, prawns and

peas. Give the paella one

last stir then put the lid on the

pan for 2 more minutes. Serve

with the lemon wedges and

fresh herbs if you like.

149 wealdentimes.co.uk

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150

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Food

Photo: David Merewether

Chickpea, sweet potato

and paneer curry

Serves 4 Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 30 minutes

This is a 30 minute hearty curry. A rewarding and fairly simple

supper, it’s perfect for those meat-free days when you need

something warming and your family is chomping at the bit. You

can adjust the heat level by leaving out the chilli seeds. Natural

yoghurt on the side will also appease anyone who prefers a curry

mild. Delicious served with brown basmati rice.

• 1tbsp groundnut oil

• 1 onion finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves crushed

• 5cm fresh ginger chopped

• 1 red chilli deseeded and

chopped

• fresh coriander - stalks

chopped, leaves reserved

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• 1 tsp turmeric

• 1 tsp medium curry

powder

• salt & pepper

• 1 tsp garam masala

• 400g chickpeas

• 200g vegetable stock

• 500g sweet potatoes,

peeled & chopped into 1

inch cubes

• 400g chopped tomatoes

• 150g spinach

• 200g paneer cheese cut

into 2cm cubes

• juice of 1 lemon

1Colour the onion in the

oil for 5 minutes before

adding the ginger, garlic,

chilli, coriander stalks & the

dried spices (apart from the

garam masala).

2Stir for 5 minutes then

add the stock, chickpeas,

chopped tomatoes & sweet

potato cubes. Season, stir &

simmer for 20 minutes whilst

you cook the paneer.

3Colour the paneer in a

hot frying pan with a lug

of oil for 5 minutes. Stir the

seared paneer into the curry

then stir in the garam masala,

squeeze in the lemon, stir in

the spinach, sprinkle over the

coriander and serve.

Granola plum crumble

“Grumble”

Serves 6 Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 30-40 minutes

A quick family pudding, my Grumble uses seasonal plums but

would work equally well with pears, blackberries or apples. The

topping is a quick granola mix. You can also make a healthy

homemade breakfast granola by spreading the mix on a baking

sheet and baking for 30 minutes at 160 degrees, stirring every 10

minutes. This will store in an airtight container for a week.

For the granola mix together:-

• 300g porridge oats

• 80g mixed seeds

• 80g flaked almonds

• 80ml maple syrup

• 3 tbsp rapeseed or coconut

oil

• 3 tbsp apple juice

• ½ tsp Maldon salt

For the plums:-

• 800g ripe plums, such as

Victoria, halved and stones

removed

• ½ tsp ground all spice

• 2 tbsp runny honey

• zest of one orange

Fabulous food

More recipes to make your mouth water

wealdentimes.co.uk/recipes

1Mix together all the granola

ingredients in a bowl.

2Put the plums in an

ovenproof dish and sprinkle

over the all spice, orange zest

and squeeze over the honey.

3Spoon over the granola

mix.

4Bake in an oven at 160

degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Halfway through fork over the

top so that the nuts and seeds

don’t catch.

TIP: Double the granola

ingredients if you want extra for

breakfasts

151

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Garden

Harvest

home

Jo Arnell celebrates the traditional

early autumn festival

It’s hard to remember a time before Wilderness, Latitude,

Glastonbury etc, but not so long ago there was only

one major festival in the British year – Harvest Festival.

Once a major event in the calendar, the harvest is as packed

with rituals and symbolism as it is produce. We are lucky

these days that most of our lives do not depend on the safe

gathering in of crops, but this is still an

important – and potent time of the year.

Whether you are busy harvesting gleaming

pumpkins and earthy roots and preparing

to dance pagan-style around wheat sheaves,

or are just scratching about at the back of

the cupboard for lacklustre tins of beans

and packets of rice to take into school or

church, the fruits of the season are ripe

and ready, and deserve to be celebrated.

Let’s head out to the patch, farm shop, market or even

into the hedgerows, and gather the harvest home.

Seasonal fruitfulness

Apples and pears are the fruits of the moment and local

events celebrating orchard fruits abound during October.

Brogdale in Faversham holds the national collection and

is home to over 2,000 apple varieties and 500 pears.

If you are thinking of buying an apple tree (or two, as they

normally need a pollinating partner), then this is the best

“If you are planning

to eat pumpkins,

rather than carve

them, don’t pick a

Halloween monster”

time to get out and about and sample different varieties.

Many orchards and suppliers have their own apple festivals

this month. Apple Day itself, an event started in 1990 to

celebrate both the fruit and a part of our lives that is in

danger of disappearing, is on 21st of the month. Brogdale’s

apple weekend is slightly earlier, on 13th/14th October.

Apples harvested towards the end

of the season tend to be cookers and

robust eaters. The good news about

these is that they store well through the

winter. Flavour is key and although the

supermarkets have improved their selection

of apples, there is nothing better than

eating an apple straight from the tree.

Good late varieties include ‘Egremont

Russet’, ‘Chivers Delight’ and ‘Blenheim

Orange’, which is great for both cooking and eating.

Beyond Halloween

Pumpkins abound this month, but if you are planning to eat

them, rather than carve them, don’t pick a Halloween monster.

Smaller pumpkins and squash have much more flavour.

There are some very beautiful and romantically named

pumpkins and squash available (there’s even one called

‘Cinderella’ that looks suitably coach-like); they

all have orange flesh, but very different skins.

Top left: This season’s apples Top Right: Borlotti beans in the veg patch Right: Big pumpkins are great for carving

153 wealdentimes.co.uk

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154

PassmoresWT175.indd 1 11/04/2016 10:54

Garden

Above: Home-grown chillies are great for cooking – and look

lovely too

I often grow a variety called ‘Hooligan’ (it does what

its name suggests and romps about all over the patch,

so be warned) and there’s another small one called

‘Sweet Dumpling’ (but don’t be fooled, it’s a hooligan

in a dumpling outfit and will also run rampant). Both

grow to be a little bigger than a cricket ball and are

great roasted whole, hollowed out and stuffed with

risotto. Of the butternut squash varieties, ‘Hunter’ is

a good variety, as it has been bred to flourish in the

UK and will ripen well regardless of the weather.

Pumpkins and winter squash are easy to grow, but are

greedy, needing rich soil, sunshine and moisture to ensure

a good crop – this is why they are often grown on compost

heaps. They take a while to make their fruit and need a

fair amount of space to sprawl about in, but (if given a

good long summer like this one) should be ripe by the

time the foliage starts to die back in early autumn.

Leave them out in the sun for as long as possible, as

this will cure their skins and enable them to last longer

in storage. Bring them inside before the frosts arrive,

cutting each fruit off from the main stem, but leaving

a long stalk if you can, as this will also help prolong

their shelf life. They’ll keep for ages, providing they’re

stored in a dry place and look wonderful piled up

155 wealdentimes.co.uk

PetalsForPlantsWT200.indd 1 13/09/2018 09:56

Garden

Above left: Rose hips are great for cordials and fruit gins. Right: The taste of freshly dug potatoes is a revelation

artistically (they make great subjects for still-life paintings),

plump and gleaming in the low autumn light.

Hedgerow harvests

Satisfy the hunter gatherer urge by heading out into the

hedgerows for a foraging session. Many of us have subverted

this urge into shopping, but the dopamine hit we get from

picking fruit is the same and is free (but remember the

needs of wildlife and don’t go on too much of a splurge).

You might be lucky enough to catch the very

last of the blackberries, there may be wild apples

and even cobnuts around, but you will definitely

find rose hips, elderberries and sloes. These can be

made into cordials, or fruit gins and vodkas.

Sloe gin is simple to make – half fill a container with

sloes (pricked or frozen and then defrosted to break the

skins), add some sugar (ratio of fruit to sugar approx

2:1) and fill to the top with gin. Stir each day for a

week and then leave to mature until Christmas.

Unearthing treasures

Harvesting root crops is nearly as exciting as digging

for treasure (okay, 18 carrots might not be as valuable

as 18 carats, but there’s less danger from pirates). It’s

exciting partly because until you dig down into the

soil, you have no idea of the potential harvest.

Main crop potatoes are ready to lift once the haulm (leafy

top growth) has died back in early autumn. They can be

left in the ground and dug up when required, but if you

need the space for other crops, or suffer with keel slugs

(underground slugs that attack tubers and root crops) or

blight, it is probably better to lift and store the tubers.

Unearth potatoes carefully. Push your fork gently

into the ground a distance away from the plant to avoid

spearing or slicing through them. Spread them out to dry

in the open air for an hour or so to enable their skins to

toughen up for storing. Potatoes need to be stored in dry,

dark conditions, or they turn green and produce the toxic

chemical solanine, but don’t be tempted to put them in the

fridge, as it is too cold and will adversely affect the flavour.

Hessian sacks are ideal, allowing air to circulate,

while keeping the light out. Check occasionally

and remove any tubers that may be rotting (as with

apples, one bad one may very well spoil the whole lot,

no matter what the Jacksons said in the song).

Other roots, such as carrots, beetroot, parsnips, turnips

and swede, can be left in the ground and harvested when

needed, but to stop them being attacked by pests and if

your ground freezes too hard in the winter, it’s best to

lift them too and store in a protected environment.

Once lifted, cut off the leaves and stems to prevent

moisture being drawn out of the roots. Find an old wooden

box, or storage container and put a layer of sand, sawdust

or multi-purpose compost (kept moist, but not wet) in the

bottom, then a layer of roots, then more sand/compost

etc. Store in a shed/garage/cellar, but make sure that the

pests can’t get at them – don’t seal with a lid, though, as

this may create an airless, unhealthy environment.

If you have space outside, or have large quantities to

store, you could build a clamp, which is a traditional way

of keeping vegetables available all through the winter.

Find a flat, dry patch of ground and dig a trench around

it to ensure that it stays well drained. Put straw/gravel/

compost in the trench to stop earth filling it back up,

then put a layer of straw on the base of the clamp.

Arrange some roots on top, making sure they don’t touch,

then layer straw and root crops alternately into a pyramid

shaped mound (so that water doesn’t settle on the top). The

earth from the trench can be piled over the final layer.

Join Jo on her monthly gardening course

01233 861149 jo@hornbrookmanor.co.uk

Help and advice

For all your gardening needs

wealdentimes.co.uk/gardens

wealdentimes.co.uk

156

Garden Design & Planting Plans

Individual and bespoke garden spaces

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157 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Garden

A succulents garden in Majorca

A prickly subject

With more hot summers predicted Sue Whigham suggests we – carefully – embrace cactus

As we all know, temperatures in the UK

almost broke records this summer with

endless days of scorching heat reaching

over 35C and it looks likely to happen again.

An article I read in one of the reputable dailies quoted

research carried out by scientists from the University

of Brest which was published in the highly respected

journal Nature Communications before the heat wave,

predicting that from 2018-2022 we should expect ‘an

increased likelihood of intense to extreme temperatures’.

Well, they got that right, so we should probably believe

them about the next few years.

Gardeners amongst us had a good spring

after a hard winter but it was sad to see our

efforts crisp up as the drought lengthened

and lengthened. So perhaps what we need to

do now is to take current phenomena into

account and plant accordingly. One place to

start is to see what is looking good and what

has suffered the most from lack of water.

Thank goodness we didn’t have a

hosepipe ban otherwise things would have been pretty dire.

It certainly reminds us that a good, deep mulch on our

borders helps retain moisture as well as feeding the plants.

However, we could perhaps consider growing more

cactus and succulents which are adapted to drought

conditions and retain water in their fleshy leaves and in

some cases, their root systems. Look how good sedums

are still looking in early autumn, whilst all around them

other plants look as if they have turned up their toes.

Cactus (all cactus are succulents but not all succulents are

“They are the perfect

plants for the young,

as they require little

care and are almost

impossible to kill”

cactus) had their heyday in the 1970’s, then went completely

out of fashion but are now having a huge resurgence. I see

that Selfridges and Top Shop’s flagship store in Oxford

Street have in-store cactus shops and promotions on line.

They are the perfect plants for the young who tend

to be out a lot or perhaps live in flats without access

to gardens, as they require little care and are almost

impossible to kill. Having said that, if you do give

them attention you will soon notice the results.

They are also very enthusiastically collected, sometimes

for nostalgic reasons, by people who as children used to

nip down to Woolworths and spend

their pocket money on a cactus or

two on a Saturday morning.

Gynelle Leon is one of the people

leading this hike of interest in cactus.

She opened her shop, Prick, in uber

trendy Dalston, East London, a couple of

years ago and business is booming. She

says that whilst the younger generation

are ‘behind the boom’, she has many

people, older men particularly, whose parents used to collect

cactus and are now setting up their own collections.

Meanwhile, the cactus shop is booming at the Camden

Garden Centre, selling around 400 different varieties

of the spiny plants. They have even had cactus festivals

there with their cafe providing cactus-themed food.

And reading reviews of The Cactus Shop down in

Devon, I was taken with the lady who had left the

premises with thirty-seven new plants, a grumbling

husband and a big smile on her face!

159 wealdentimes.co.uk

Garden

This page: Cacti in the Marjorelle Garden, in Marrakech,

restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé

So what attention do these plants need? To start with they

prefer, no, must have, a well-drained soil. Bearing in mind

where many of them originate, the idea is to emulate those

conditions. I’ve recently seen huge aloes growing on rocky

screes in the north west of Majorca in what seemed impossible

growing conditions. You can buy special succulent composts.

Give the plants as much sunlight as possible. They’ll

suffer in a dark corner. A sunny windowsill is ideal. Water

them every seven to ten days in the summer and every three

weeks or so in the winter making sure that the soil is pretty

dry before you water again. Overwatering causes the plant’s

roots to rot off and its leaves to turn brown and unhealthy

looking. If you use a wooden skewer to prod into the soil,

as you would check whether a cake is cooked through,

you’ll know that it is time to water if the end is dry.

Many cactus originate from Mexico, a country rich

in biodiversity. The Sonoran desert in the north of the

country and the south west USA is home to cactus

such as the saguaro, the cardon and the organ pipe.

This arid region covers approximately 100,000 square

miles of SW Arizona and South Eastern California

as well as Baja California and the western half of the

Mexican state of Sonora. The Saguaro Cactus is the one

you spot in ‘cowboy’ films where you see nothing for

miles and miles except the cactus and the horizon.

Should you want inspiration closer to home though

take yourself off to the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech

where there is an absolutely stunning collection of

cactus and succulents. The garden was the creation of

Jacques Majorelle, a French artist who started what

was a forty-year love affair with the place in 1923.

In the centre of the garden is a Cubist building painted the

most wonderful clear cobalt blue which Majorelle patented

as Majorelle Blue. It is a fantastic backdrop to the collection

of plants there. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought

the garden in the 1980s after it had fallen into disrepair. They

restored it and continued Majorelle’s work. There is now a YSL

museum to visit if you can tear yourself away from the plants.

Prick prickldn.com The Cactus Shop cactusshop.co.uk

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810 457948 for

gardening advice and help in the sourcing and supply of

interesting garden plants.

wealdentimes.co.uk

160

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Education

Talking the talk

Being confident in another language – or two – will bring your

child multiple benefits. Two schools talk us through it

Northbourne Park School

The learning of languages in

school can bring a mixed

reaction from many people.

For some it was a great success while

others feel they never quite got to

grips with it. We all however will

agree just how useful, important and

fun it is to be able to speak a second

language. The benefits are numerous.

To be able to stand in a foreign city

and ask for directions is a simple but

quite empowering achievement while

making friends with someone in another

language is invaluable. So how do we

make language learning a success?

At Northbourne Park School we place

great emphasis on languages. Children

start French lessons in the Nursery

class and before long they are singing

French songs in their Harvest Festival

and Mother’s Day Service. Language is

given to them as a natural part of the

school day and at this age the children

pick up the new words with ease.

By starting at a young age it creates

an environment within the school

where it is the norm to speak someone

else’s language. As the children move

up through the school they also

take up Spanish so that by the time

they leave Northbourne Park they

have developed the confidence to

have a go without feeling silly.

Making mistakes is key to making

progress and as soon as the children

understand this essential

part to their learning, they

quickly make progress.

The lessons, delivered

by specialist teachers,

are engaging and

interactive, drawing

upon a wide range of

material including interactive software

to reinforce new language points.

Combine this with a community of

children from Spain and France who

board at the school and you have an

environment where friendships are

forged in not one but three languages. It

is not uncommon to hear two children

“Making

mistakes is

key to making

progress”

in the corridors of the school using all

three languages in a conversation.

Every year the school celebrates

European Day of Languages where the

children share language, culture and

international cuisine. The older pupils

also enjoy language lunches every week

where they eat with a ‘buddy’ from

another country, taking it in turns to

speak each other’s language. As for the

annual Spelling Bee, well of course it

isn’t just in English!

All of these activities,

coupled with language

lessons, are a reminder

to the whole school

community that

there is a big world

out there ready to be

explored and people to meet.

So what does this give the

children? Naturally there’s that sense

of achievement and confidence

boost to be able to communicate

in a different language and research

shows that speaking more than one

language increases brain capacity

and memory skills. It becomes easier

the more languages you learn, as

you develop your own best ways

of learning and remembering.

So in a world where political,

economic and cultural boundaries

are shifting, the children at

Northbourne Park School have already

reached beyond these boundaries

and are embracing everything

that this world has to offer.

Come and visit us to find

out more. À bientôt.

Language lessons are engaging and interactive

Northbourne Park School,

Betteshanger, Deal, Kent CT14 0NW

01304 611 215/218

northbournepark.com

163 wealdentimes.co.uk

Education

Learning languages expands our world

Ashford School

Paola Sagastuy, Head of Languages,

Senior School

When people find out that I

teach languages, invariably,

their response goes

something like this: “Oh, I’m rubbish at

languages. I did Spanish for my GCSEs,

but I can only say, ‘Hola, me llamo

John y tengo quince años.’” [Hello, my

name is John and I’m fifteen years old.]

This, regardless of how old my

interlocutor actually is, points to

memorized phrases and expressions, but

no actual development of proficiency

in the language. It also reveals that the

main objective of this so-called language

learning is to pass an exam and move on.

Substitute ‘languages’ in the above

expression for better-regarded subjects

and you would have something

like: “Oh, I’m rubbish at English.

I did English for my GCSEs, but

the only thing I can spell is my

name.” Or: “Oh I’m rubbish at

maths. I did maths for my GCSEs,

but I can only count up to 10.”

And of course, in parents’

evening, the ever-present, “I can’t do

languages, so I expect my daughter

won’t do very well either.”

Somewhere along the line, it became

acceptable to give up on learning

languages - and this is completely

unacceptable! Asking myself why this

happened, I have come up with two

main reasons: One, while the standard

British person does come across

other languages in everyday life, it is

seldom, if ever, necessary to deviate

from English when attempting to

communicate. This is true even abroad.

Babbel Magazine claims that 20%

of the 7.5 billion

people in the world

speak English… that

is 1.5 billion people.

The perception is

that “everyone speaks

English”, so there is

no need to learn a

different language.

This would be partially true if the

only purpose of learning languages

were communicating while on

holiday. But the benefits of learning

languages are far greater than that.

There is evidence that shows

that there are significant cognitive

advantages to being bilingual. People

who speak two or more languages are

better at attention and task switching.

It also allows people to have stronger

cultural awareness of themselves and

“People who

speak two or more

languages are better

at attention and

task switching”

others, which improves social relations

between people, but also in business.

The second reason people give up on

the idea of learning a language is that

there is no magic recipe to learn one

fast. Learning languages is a process

that never truly ends. It’s one of those

subjects that you have to work at a little

every day, take every opportunity to

practise, and make many mistakes. And

you will continue to make mistakes

— fewer as you progress, naturally,

but you will always

make mistakes.

Unfortunately,

mistakes have a

bad rap, but in the

learning process —

not only of languages

— making them

is essential. It is in

mistakes that true learning takes place.

The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein

said “the limits of my language

mean the limits of my world”. And

don’t we all want to have a wider

and more interesting world?

Ashford School, East Hill, Ashford,

Kent TN24 8PB 01233 625171

ashfordschool.co.uk Ashford School is

holding open days on 11 October, 6

and 21 November and 3 December.

wealdentimes.co.uk

164

100 Years of Education, 1000 Years of History

Think different

Go further

Open Morning

Thursday 4th October,

from 9.00 am

Contact our Registrar for details:

registrar@dulwichprepcranbrook.org

dulwichprepcranbrook.org

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A first class education at Battle Abbey launches young

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Speak to us about your child’s future today.

November

SATURDAY

Battle Abbey School

Tel: 01424 772385 www.battleabbeyschool.com

Battle Abbey School 1912 - 2012

165 wealdentimes.co.uk

BattleAbbeySchoolWT200.indd 1 06/09/2018 12:41

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Education

Why STEM subjects need

some art to make STEAM

Andrew Vaughan, Head of Visual Arts, at ACS Egham International Schools

For several years now official government education

policy has focused on the study of STEM subjects

– science, technology, engineering, maths. But at

ACS International Schools, we believe that the study of

art is just as important and should in fact be combined

with them. This is why we talk about STEAM in our

schools, adding art to the well-known acronym.

Focusing on STEAM provides a better education

and preparation for the future for all our youngsters.

It can also help address the widely reported gender

imbalance in the study of science subjects.

So why is art such an important complement to

science? In its Future of Jobs report the World Economic

Forum estimates ‘two thirds of children entering

primary school today will ultimately end up working

in completely new job types that don’t yet exist’.

Traditional teaching methods where STEM subjects

are taught in ‘subject silos’ are no longer enough for

this fast-changing world. Subjects like science and

maths cannot be taught in a stand-alone way if students

are to develop the skills they need to thrive. Young

people need transferable skills they can apply to think

beyond the classroom or text-based learning.

We often invite parents and business leaders in to give talks

at school. At one such talk at ACS Egham, the CEO of a

global bank said that they are just as likely to recruit someone

who has an arts degree as one in maths, because their business

is looking for innovators; people who can come up with new

options and synthesise ideas.

Equally, a speaker from one of the top four management

accountancy firms giving a presentation at ACS Cobham

recently, told us that an analysis of staff appraisal scores and

qualifications revealed that the best performing employees

had degrees in arts subjects rather than maths or science. The

company changed its recruitment policy as a consequence.

This is not to suggest that we don’t need maths or science,

but to show that art is an essential complement to science

subjects. It can be the spark that brings these subjects to

life, at school, at university and in later working life.

The study of the arts ensures students develop life skills such

as creativity, problem solving and communication abilities

which are increasingly in demand across all industries. Art

also plays a vital role in equipping students with an innovative

mindset, needed to be successful in engineering and business.

A former pupil at ACS Cobham, Candace Rubenstein, a

lead material lab analyst at Under Armour – luxury sportswear

brand, says: “Without

exposure to arts subjects

you can become a human

calculator essentially, but by

adding an artistic lens, you

can look at STEM from a

unique angle – thus coming

up with solutions the human

calculator could never dream of.”

Her views are echoed by Gwen Musial who also went

to ACS and has just completed a Ph.D in biomedical

engineering: “In research and development, creativity is

a useful tool for thinking of unique solutions to difficult

problems. By having a balanced and well-rounded

background, a student has a broad base of experience

to draw upon when faced with challenges,” she said.

How do we inspire more of our youngsters, especially girls,

to maintain and deepen their interest in STEAM subjects?

By giving them options and choices and allowing them to

develop their creativity through studying arts subjects, while

also maintaining contact with traditional science subjects.

Art is being increasingly side-lined at many schools.

According to figures from the Education Policy Institute,

the proportion of 15 and 16-year-olds studying arts subjects

such as art, music and drama has fallen to the lowest level in a

decade as a result of government policies and education cuts.

Many schools streamline their curriculum so that children

have to make a binary choice between arts or science when

they make A level or other exam choices at age 16/17.

This is desperately sad because art can be such a balm

or counterbalance in life, and provides a different way

“The world no longer rewards people for

what they know – Google knows everything

– but for what they can do with what they

know. Global education today needs to be

much more about ways of thinking, involving

creativity, critical thinking, problem solving

and decision-making; about ways of working,

including communication and collaboration.”

Andreas Schleicher, Director for

Edcuation and Skills at OECD

Education

Where children experience a

world of opportunities

Open Morning

Saturday 6th October 2018 - 9.30am-12.30pm

Call 01304 611215 or email admissions@northbournepark.com

to request further information.

Northbourne Park School, Betteshanger, Deal, Kent, CT14 0NW

www.northbournepark.com

NorthbourneParkSchoolWT200.indd 1 06/09/2018 16:16

of learning and self-expression

which can be especially important

in the teenage years.

A study by the University

of Sydney found that active

participation in the arts

increases students’ motivation,

engagement in class, self-esteem

and improves wellbeing. There

is no limit to creativity in art,

it is an open-ended doorway

to expression. It allows us to explore and express personal

feelings and responses to the world. Art can both soothe

and energise the mind, qualities we need more than ever

before in our globally connected, fast-paced digital world.

But for art to be an effective part of STEAM it has to be more

than just a stand-alone subject. At ACS we physically bring

art into science, where an art class might work in the science

lab, and we invite the art students to express the science being

conducted using any medium they like. This shows them how

they can express scientific learning and approaches through art,

which piques the interest of students studying both subjects.

At ACS Hillingdon students use apps like Hopscotch

and Floors as an arts-based way of learning to code. This

cross-curriculum approach, combining art, technology and

computer science, nurtures logical thinking, problem-solving

and persistence, encourages collaboration and communication,

and provides the opportunity for students to develop practical,

future-focused skills, in an imaginative, fun and creative way.

We find that including art in STEAM makes all the subjects

more lively and relevant, and builds exactly the qualities

universities want, without narrowing students’ options.

Hannah Wagner, a current ACS Cobham student, who

was recently awarded a summer research programme at the

University of Surrey to study electrical engineering, commented:

“It’s widely acknowledged that fewer girls are entering

the engineering sector – so I’m proud to have been

selected for this placement. I think to get more girls into

STEM subjects we need first to remove the mentality

that we only enjoy and excel at certain subjects.”

Beyond the school years there are a wealth of statistics which

demonstrate the economic significance of the creative arts;

just think of the film industry, or the gaming industry which

between them contribute £92bn a year to the UK economy.

Given this and how much we value our business entrepreneurs

and innovators, it is astonishing how compartmentalised

the approach to art and science has become in education.

Last year, university admissions officers said the top two

reasons why students fail in their first year at university is not

being able to think and learn independently and being unable

to manage their own time. Exam cramming and narrowing

of subject choice has removed the spark and creativity from

learning. Russell Group universities have inadvertently

played their part in reducing the support for arts subjects by

specifically highlighting the value they place on ‘hard subjects’.

The STEAM approach, combining all the core

subjects, will help address this issue and develop a

generation who can express new innovative ideas and

become our future entrepreneurs and innovators.

wealdentimes.co.uk

SpringGroveSchoolWT199.indd 1 09/08/2018 12:49

168

Love Challenge

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01959 522352

Station Road, Otford,

Kent TN14 5QU

An independent

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WWW.THEPREP.ORG.UK

Challenge • Creativity • Community

169 wealdentimes.co.uk

SevenoaksPreparatoryED05.indd 1 14/05/2018 11:53

Sutton Valence

Preparatory School

svs.org.uk

New 50-week

Nursery

From January 2019, Sutton

Valence Prep School will be

offering high-quality nursery

provision for 50 weeks a year.

Wrap-around-care from 7.30am to 6.00pm

Exceptional nursery care in stunning surroundings

Morning transport service from Headcorn Station

15-hour free-entitlement sessions available

Limited number of 30-hour free-entitlement sessions

Children can join in the term they turn three

Please contact Abigail Betts for further information:

T: 01622 842117 | E: bettsa@svs.org.uk

Sutton Valence School

SuttonValenceWT200a.indd 1 13/09/2018 15:43

svs.org.uk

Open

Mornings

Senior School

Saturday 10th November 2018

Prep School

Friday 12th October 2018

Book online now

wealdentimes.co.uk

170

SuttonValenceWT200b.indd 1 13/09/2018 15:49

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Going back to work?

Perhaps you want to go back to work now you have

seen your children through their first years but do not

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parents are lucky enough to have family close at hand

to help, but however keen to look after grandchildren

or nephews and nieces, they may still be working themselves,

and life can become a tricky jigsaw of childcare and work.

At Fosse Bank we try to make life easier for working

parents. Little things help, such as holding early morning

meetings where possible, or starting evening events at

6.30 to fit with the local train service from London. This

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Last May we made the decision to run the school for fifty weeks

a year and this was our first summer with the school open

throughout the school holidays. This was a huge success with

many parents using this facility to work round family holidays

and work commitments. A great advantage, particularly for our

two-year-olds, is that they have stayed in familiar surroundings

with familiar teachers and friends. Led by Mrs Gill Palmer,

Nursery Manager, and a team of our own staff, it has been a

real pleasure for me to drop in during the holidays and see the

children so obviously happy and busy. I was often met with

just a note on the door saying ‘we are in the Yurt’, or ‘we are in

the forest, or ‘find us on the tennis courts’ and so forth. It has,

of course, been brilliant weather for investigating those distant

parts of the twenty-eight acres that make up Fosse Bank.

The holiday club also had an unexpected advantage

allowing new children to settle in and get to know

their classmates before our September start.

Wraparound care with breakfast from 7:30am and a flexible pick

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Following a fairly formal tea time, if the weather is reasonable, the

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Whatever the children are doing, after school or in the holidays,

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Miss Alison Cordingley, Headmistress

Fosse Bank School, Mountains, Noble Tree Road, Hildenborough TN11 8ND

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Education

On good terms

There’s a lot you can do at home to keep your children happy at school says Hilary Wilce

Now we are stuck into the new school year, a

time for fresh beginnings, in the great tradition

of new pencil cases and geometry sets, this

is an optimistic column about all the many things we

can do to help our children stay happy at school.

Because, although it’s not something anyone wants to

think about, there has been more news over the summer

about the shocking number of school-age children

struggling with depression, anxiety and stress.

The good news though, is that there is also a large body of

work about what helps everyone – young people

and adults alike – to maintain mental balance.

First off there are the physical things. It

increasingly seems that inflammation plays a part

in the development of anxiety and depression, so

make sure your child’s body, including their brain,

stays healthy by eating well, drinking enough

water, getting fresh air and exercise and last, but

quite definitely not least, getting the right amount

of sleep.

Then there is the social context you bring your child up

in. Good family bonds, a network of family friends and

links to a wider community all help children feel anchored,

significant and safe. Young people whose only reference

points are their friends and peers can be much more

vulnerable to worry, insecurity and unstable behaviour.

Other things to encourage in your child are the key attitudes

of optimism and hope. This might sound airy-fairy, but these are

known to foster good mental health and once you start looking

it’s possible to find lots of ways to encourage them, whether it’s

“Good family

bonds, a network

of friends and

links to a wider

community”

through modelling those attitudes yourself, or talking to your

children in a positive way about mistakes and challenges.

You can help them see that happy, outward-looking people are

popular and attractive and that happiness doesn’t come through

having lots of cool stuff, or hundreds of social media followers,

but through being comfortable in your own skin, being grateful

for what you’ve got, and making the most of your opportunities.

It also helps to have realistic and positive goals and these

can be encouraged even in very young children. I’ve been in

reception classrooms where children have decided they’d like

to be ‘the person I’d like as a friend’ or ‘not to

be so cross when I’m woken up for school’.

But vague aims don’t have much clout, so

help your child to think their goals through

to specific targets. Not just ‘do my homework

better’ but ‘make a homework timetable and

sit down, without my phone, at six o’clock

to do my work, at least three times a week’.

Older children could also be encouraged

to start developing a sense of purpose in life,

because aiming for something you want to do is said to be another

powerfully protective thing against mental health problems.

This purpose doesn’t have to be set in stone, but a young person

with something specific to aim for is less likely to run into

problems than one who only lives for short-term pleasures.

All these things will definitely help children stay strong

and stable but, of course, if things are more serious, it is

always worth seeking medical attention, and you should

talk to your doctor if you are seriously worried about your

child’s continuing low mood or worrying behaviour.

173 wealdentimes.co.uk

For boys and girls aged 2 to 13

Call us on 01825 830 234 or visit

www.skippershill.com to book

Five Ashes, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20 6HR

WealdenTimes185x130_SixthFormOct.qxp_Layout Listed in Sunday Top 1100 19/09/2018 Schools Guide 13:27 2018Page 1

OPEN MORNING

Monday 26th November

9:30am - 11:30am

SkippersHillWT200.indd 1 07/09/2018 12:47

SIXTH FORM ENTRANCE

& SCHOLARSHIP DAY

SATURDAY 10 th NOVEMBER 2018

PROSPECTIVE SIXTH FORM ENTRANTS FOR 2019

#WeAreBeechwood

Seamless learning

The Sixth Form at Beechwood Sacred Heart School provides an

important stepping stone to your future. We offer a wide range

of stimulating courses to suit the passions of our students and

provide learning in small dedicated classes.

Our Sixth Form is the perfect place to nurture individual interests

and enjoy intellectual, personal and social independence. We

provide an excellent academic environment with the aim to

produce happy students who fulfil their potential and go on to

the university of their choice.

With up to twenty three A-Levels to choose from, including

photography, psychology, drama, textiles, food technology

and music, we are proud of the opportunities we can offer

at Beechwood.

To find out more or to register your place at our forthcoming

event, please contact registrar@beechwood.org.uk

or visit www.beechwood.org.uk

WT10186

Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3QD

www.beechwood.org.uk t: 01892 532747

wealdentimes.co.uk

174

BeechwoodSacredHeartWT200.indd 1 19/09/2018 14:50

What’s On in October

Art & Antiques

Tue 9 Oct 10.30am-3.30pm

Hole Park, Rolvenden,

Kent TN17 4JA

ANTIQUEs VALUATION DAY

Bring your items for valuation

for £2.50 each (photos of

furniture accepted).

Fergus Gambon (Antiques

Roadshow), and experts Jeremy

Sparks and Patricia Law will all

be in attendance, and Gambon

and Law will both be hosting talks

(11.15am Fergus Gambon ‘If pots

could talk’ and 1.30pm Patricia

Law ‘History of Pearls’). Light

lunches, coffee and cakes available.

Tickets in advance only. In aid of

Gardening for Disabled Trust.

Entry: £25 all day with two talks,

£15 morning with one talk.

events@gardeningfordisabledtrust

.org.uk

Sat 20 Oct

Jerwood Gallery Hastings,

Rock-A-Nore Road, Hastings,

Sussex TN34 3DW

The Quick and the Dead

An exhibition of five groundbreaking

artists – each radically

different in approach – whose

lives have intersected at various

points. Maggi Hambling, Sarah

Lucas, Jurgen Teller, Julian

Simmons and Sebastian Horsely

are friends who have portrayed

each other at different moments,

and are being displayed together

for the first time this autumn.

jerwoodgallery.org

Children & Families

Sun 14 Oct 10.30am

Leeds Castle, Maidstone,

Kent ME17 1PL

The Big Dog Walk

Guide dogs return to Leeds

Castle for a 2.5 mile walk around

the castle’s upper parkland

Entry: Free, all dogs

encouraged to raise £35

01622 765400 /

nicola.darling@guidedogs.org.uk /

leeds-castle.com

Sun 23 Oct

Brogdale Collections, Brogdale

Farm, Brogdale Road,

Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ

Beastie Day

Hunt for and collect bugs in the

orchards, meet the Bug Roadshow’s

impressive collection of mega-bugs

and get creative to build your very

own bug to take home with you.

01795 536250 /

brogdalecollections.org

Fairs & Shows

Thu 4 Oct 9am-4pm

Chafford Park, Ashurst,

Tunbridge Wells TN3 9UR

Pop Up Autumn Fair

Support Hospice in the Weald

and enjoy relaxed shopping for

home, garden, interiors, brocante,

fabulous fashion and accessories, all

in a beautiful manor house setting

where you can also meet friends for

coffee, cake or a Prosecco lunch.

Instagram/Facebook

‘ourcountrymarket Pop Up’

Wed 10 Oct 10am-3.30pm

Mayfield School, The Old

Palace, Mayfield, East Sussex

TN20 6PH

The Friends of Mayfield

Michaelmas Fair

There will be a diverse range of

quality stalls along with the everpopular

Cloisters Café serving teas

and light lunches. Each year the

Fair gets bigger and better.

Entry: £3

01435 874600 / mayfieldgirls.org

Sat 13 Oct

Sprivers Mansion, Lamberhurst

Road, Tonbridge, Kent

TN12 8DR

LPM BOHEMIA OPEN DAY

LPM Bohemia invites you to view

their extensive range of beautiful

marquees and interesting tents for

weddings, parties, corporate events

and festivals. With the finest

collection of crafted structures to

hire or buy we look forward to

discussing your requirements.

01892 725489 /

sales@lpmbohemia.com

KENT PAINTERS GROUP

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

28TH ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION AND SALE

SEVENOAKS SCHOOL TN13 1HU

26th OCTOBER

6.30 — 9 pm

Opening drinks party with the artists — all welcome

27th OCTOBER &

28th OCTOBER

10 am — 4 pm

Exhibition and sale — including unframed work

Lunch and refreshments available

12th - 13th - 14th October 2018

A weekend celebrating the history and

romance of a bygone era

Special Guests!

A4 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’

and

61306 ‘Mayflower’

Don’t miss out - get your tickets

now! Visit the website for more

information and to buy tickets.

All proceeds go directly to mental health and learning-disability

charities in Kent: MENCAP, MacINTYRE & RETHINK

Wealden Times | WT200 | October 2018 | Kitchen & Bathroom supplement inside

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