Surrey Homes | SH87 | April 2022

GARDEN SUPPLEMENT inside 

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes 

PRICELESS 

APRIL 2022

Visit us to discover our premium range of luxury gazebos: 

Squire’s Garden Centre, Shepperton, TW17 8SG

Express your 

EXTRAORDINARY 

SPRING SALE STARTS APRIL 7 TH 

BoConcept Guildford | 89 Woodbridge Road GU1 4QD | 01483 565027 

BoConcept Kingston | Bentalls Department Store, 2nd Floor, Wood Street KT1 1TX | 020 8546 6050

Now is the perfect time to discover our statement furniture and accessories—get 15% off a large selection of 

the collection in-store from April 7th to April 24th. Customise our collection with the help of our interior 

designers and find the perfect match for your style. Change the size, colours, finishes, configurations and 

more. Call us today to book your free interior design consultation in-store or in the comfort of your own 

home. For further inspiration, explore our 2022 lookbook online. 

IN-STORE AND AT BOCONCEPT.COM

Swimming Pool Design & Construction in Surrey, London, Berkshire 

Contemporary, reliable and expertly crafted. These are the core values to which 

Lagoon Pools adheres to on every construction, design and maintenance project undertaken. 

If you are looking to add a new swimming pool feature to your home, please call us today on 

01932 569569 to speak to a member of our team or email us at info@lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk. 

229 Chertsey Road Addlestone Surrey KT15 2EW 

01932 569 569 info@lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk lagoonpools.co.uk

Contents 

April 2022 

10 

60 

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 

Damien Pestell’s pick of beautiful 

houses on the market right now 

79 

86 

LET’S GO OUTSIDE 

Kate Watts shops in 

spring safari style 

107 

34 

MEET THE HEAD 

We chat to Emma Károlyi, 

Head of Junior King’s 

25 

34 

51 

53 

60 

77 

NOTEBOOK 

All the best of April events 

DRESSED TO THRILL 

Explore wedding dress 

designer Louise Hamlin- 

Wright’s joyful home 

GET THE LOOK 

Shop pattern, pattern, 

pattern for a unique home 

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH 

Beautiful artworks 

for every budget 

KITCHEN DRAMA 

A period cottage that 

packs a tonal punch 

GET THE LOOK 

Be inspired by Ben Stokes’ 

worldly interior 

86 

95 

101 

103 

105 

NUTRITION TO 

NURTURE 

Adam Shaw cooks up 

a healthy storm 

ALL ABOUT SPOTS 

Josephine Fairley 

battles breakouts 

IN THE HOOP 

Sarah Maxwell tries 

out weighted power 

hooping – and loves it! 

NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Charlotte Lau’s tips for a 

stress-free morning routine 

BUILDING FUTURES 

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook 

has some exciting news to share! 

Published by Priceless Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, 

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF | Call 01580 714705 | Email info@priceless-group.com 

Visit priceless-group.com Copyright © 2022 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the 

advertisers & contributors are not necessarily those of Priceless Media Ltd. 

109 

111 

114 

PERFECT PARTNERS 

Find out about The New Beacon’s 

merger with Tonbridge School 

WHAT’S ON 

This month’s diary dates 

FARM FABLES 

Jane Howard’s recent news 

from Coopers Farm 

GARDEN 

SUPPLEMENT 

30 pages of ideas 

and expert advice 

for a blooming 

marvellous space. 

After page 84 

Gardens 

5

NOW 

OPEN ON 

SATURDAYS 

9am - 1pm 

NOW 

OPEN ON 

SATURDAYS 

9am - 1pm 

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 

Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ 

www.distinctivelightinguk.com | Tel: 01420 590510 

Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ 

www.distinctivelightinguk.com Open 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday | Tel: 01420 - Friday, 590510 

9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday 

Open 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday, 

9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday

Editor’s 

Letter 

We open this issue with possibly the most 

pattern-filled house we’ve ever photographed! 

It was an absolute pleasure to visit designer 

Louise Hamlin-Wright’s vibrant home, where pretty much 

everything has been made bespoke by Louise, or specially 

commissioned from talented artists she’s admired over the 

years. With a back story just as fascinating as her interior, 

find out about Louise’s wonderfully successful career as a 

wedding dress designer and how she now uses her enviable 

eye for detail to create intricate mixed media artworks. 

From one designer to another for our second house 

feature. This time Ben Stokes, who has transferred his 

unique style from his shop Kagu in Tenterden, Kent, to 

his own home that he shares with his wife and young 

daughter. Ben proves that smaller spaces can carry off 

deep, dark colours in a cool and sophisticated way. 

Take a spring style safari with Kate Liz Watts’ fashion 

picks and try your hand at Adam Shaw’s take on inspiring 

family meals that are safe and nutritious in pregnancy. 

Our Garden Supplement is a go-to read if you’re planning 

to tackle a project now the winter chill is easing and the 

garden is bursting into life. We’ve compiled plenty of expert 

advice and lots of inspiring imagery to help you along. 

If you struggle with skin breakouts, then Jo Fairley 

is on hand with soothing product recommendations, 

whilst Sarah Maxwell and Charlotte Lau take a closer 

look at weighted hoop training and morning routines 

to keep your body and mind in tip-top condition. 

Thomas 

Mansfield 

The Family Law Solicitors 

WILL YOUR DIVORCE COST 

YOU EVERYTHING? 

When it comes to the breakdown of a 

relationship, seeking specialist advice on 

the financial arrangements is crucial. 

At Thomas Mansfield, we have a team of 

experienced lawyers ready to help you 

achieve the right outcome. 

Finances Children Collaborative Mediation Court 

We are with you every step of the way 

Enjoy your Surrey Homes! 

Wealden Times & Surrey Homes Team 

Editor ............................................................................................ Lucy Fleming 

News & Features Editor ...............................................................Rebecca Cuffe 

Design Director ..........................................................................Anthony Boxall 

Design Assistant...........................................................................Phoebe O’Leary 

Sales Managers ..............................................................................Rachel Norrie 

Lisa Gordon-Hughes 

Senior Account Managers ................................................................... Tina Evans 

Sally Varney 

Maria Hurley 

Sub Editor/Features Writer/Social Media ..........................................Emily Pavey 

Wealden Times Show Director ....................................................... Flo Simpson 

Events Manager .............................................................................. Liz Copping 

Senior Account Manager, Events ....................................................... Jude Brown 

Call us today on 

01483 610499 679332 

For more information visit our website: 

www.tmfamilylaw.co.uk 

GUILDFORD WOKING WEYBRIDGE ESHER EATHERHEAD FARNHAM BASINGSTOKE 

Managing Director .............................................................. Vivien Cotterill-Lee 

Executive Chairman ...................................................................... Julie Simpson 

7 priceless-magazines.com 

ThomasMansfieldWT235- SURREY (Family Law).indd 1 27/10/2021 15:35

GermanMade 

kitchens | wardrobes | home furniture 

krieder.com | info@krieder.com | 01892 619721

Find your copy 

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of Wealden Times or 

Surrey Homes or to get free copies delivered for a year for just £25 postage 

Our magazines are available in selected railway stations, Cook, Waterstones, 

Tesco, M&S and Sainsbury’s stores, as well as these local hot spots. 

Please check priceless-group.com/wealden-times-distribution and 

priceless-group.com/surrey-homes-distribution for a current list of distribution points. 

WEALDEN TIMES 

Alfriston 

• Emmett & 

White Antiques 

& Interiors 

Ashford 

• Eastwell Manor 

• Hunters 

• Kingsfords Solicitors 

• Northwood 

• Perry Court Farm 

• Secret Garden, Kent 

• Waterstones 

• The Wife of Bath 

Battle 

• British Design 

British Made 

• Jempson’s 

Benenden 

• Village Shop 

Bexhill 

• Sivyers Antique 

Emporium 

• Wards 

Biddenden 

• The Bakehouse 

• Bloomsburys 

• Costcutter 

Boughton 

Monchelsea 

• The Cock Inn 

Bromley 

• The Glades 

Burwash 

• Londis 

Canterbury 

• Benton Kitchens 

• The Duke William 

• Fenwick 

• Gibson’s 

Farm Shop 

• The Goods Shed 

• Whitefriars 

Charing 

• Post Office 

Chiddingstone 

• Chiddingstone 

Castle 

Chilham 

• Bagham Barn 

Antiques 

Cranbrook 

• Ashwal Garage 

• Hartley Coffee 

House 

• Hartley Dyke 

Farmshop 

• The Hive 

• Kingsfords Solicitors 

• Pages 

• The Wendy House 

Crowborough 

• Costa Coffee 

Eastbourne 


Eridge 

• Fuller’s Farm Shop 

Faversham 

• Macknade 

Fine Foods 

Flimwell 

• The Weald Smokery 

Folkestone 

• Hunters 

• Loaf 

• Moda 

• Quarterhouse 

• Rocksalt 

• Steep Street 

Coffee House 

Goudhurst 

• Burfields 

House Wealth 

Management Ltd 

• Goudhurst Inn 

• Goudhurst 

Newsagents 

• Furnish & Feather 

Greenhithe 

• John Lewis 

Food Hall 

Hastings 

• Judges Bakery 

• Respire Living 

• Wellington Centre 

Hawkhurst 

• Kino Cinema 

• Park Farm Butchers 

• Two Chicks 

Headcorn 

• Foodie’s Emporium 

Heathfield 

• Cuculo Deli 

• The Stores 

Horsham 

• Cook 


Hurst Green 

• Eggs to Apples 

• Merriments 

Hythe 

• The Chair Lady 

• The Flower Shop 

• Halcyon Days 

• Hunters 

• Hythe Bay Seafood 

Restaurant 

• Hythe Imperial 

Health Club & Spa 

• Hythe Imperial 

Hotel 

• Nutmeg Café 

• Oaks Hair & 

Beauty Retreat 

Ickham 

• The Duke William 

Kings Hill 

• Costa 

Lenham 

• Corner House 

Antiques 

Lewes 

• Middle Farm 

• Riverside 

Shopping Hall 

Maidstone 

• House of Fraser 

• Leeds Castle 


Marden 

• Marden Village 

Store 

Mayfield 

• The Pink Cabbage 

Produce Co. 

Northiam 

• Country Property 

Group 

• Jempson’s Local 

• Will’s Bakery 

and Café 

Nutley 

• Nutley Antiques 

Otford 

• Hall & Co 

Peasmarsh 


Pluckley 

• Pluckley Farm Shop 

Robertsbridge 

• Vinehall School 

Rolvenden 

• KM & JM 

Linklater 

Rushlake Green 

• The Stores 

Rye 

• Adams of Rye 


• Kino Cinema 

• Phillips & Stubbs 

• The Rye Retreat 

• The White House 

Sandhurst 

• Johnson’s of 

Sandhurst 

Sedlescombe 

• Sedlescombe Post 

Office and Stores 

Sellindge 

• Hobbs & Hearts 

Sevenoaks 

• Cook 

• County Clothes 

Sheffield Green 

• Trading Boundaries 

Sissinghurst 

• TN17 Food 

& Wine 

Smarden 

• West End House 

Gallery 

St. Leonards-on-Sea 

• Shop 

• Who’s Wearing 

What 

Staplehurst 

• Frankie’s Farm Shop 

Stone Cross 

• Sharnfold Farm 

& Shop 

Tenterden 


• Hunters Estate 

Agents 

• London Beach 

Hotel 

• Tenterden House 

Interiors 

• Warner Gray 


• Webbs of Tenterden 

• White Lion 

• Woodcocks 

Ticehurst 

• Dale Hill Golf Club 

• Londis 

Tonbridge 

• Cook 

Tunbridge Wells 

• Fenwick 

• Hoopers 

• Maddisons 

Residential 

• Notcutts 

• Poggenpohl 

• Truffle 

Wadhurst 


• Wadhurst Castle 

• Wealden 

Wholefoods 

West Malling 

• The Swan 

Westerham 

• Costa 

• Nisa 

Whitstable 

• Hotel Continental 

• Tea & Times 

• The Whiting Post 

Winchelsea 

• Winchelsea 

Farm Kitchen 

Wye 

• The Wife of Bath 

SURREY HOMES 

Ashtead 

• Patrick Gardner 

Bagshott 

• Howlands 

Estate Agents 

• Longacres Nursery 

Banstead 

• King of Cotton 

Betchworth 

• Buckland Deli 

• The Community 

Shop 

Bookham 


Bramley 

• Bramley Beds 

Buckland 

• Buckland Nurseries 

Camberley 

• Romans 

Cheam 

• Cook 

Chelsham 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Chobham 

• Melita 

• Pasha 

Claygate 

• Trew Art 

Cobham 

• Cobham Furniture 

• Fego Café 

• Oh So Coco 

Cranleigh 

• Notcutts 

• Roger Coupe 

Dorking 

• Dorking Travel 


• Princess Alice 

Hospice 

Epsom 

• Mayfield Lavender 

Nursery & Shop 

Esher 

• Sandown Park 

Racecourse 

Farnham 

• Cook 

• ME Estate Agents 


Felbridge 

• Doves Barn Nursery 

Forest Green 

• Butchers Hall 

& Country Grocer 

Godalming 

• Cook 

• Sarah Louise Dix 


Godstone 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Guildford 

• BoConcept 

• Elm Nursery 

Farm Shop 

• Loaf 

• Neptune 

• Nuffield Gym 

Haslemere 

• Lythe Hill 

Hotel & Spa 

Leatherhead 


• Robert Leech 

& Partners 

Lingfield 


Lyne 

• The Farm 

Shop Lyne 

Milford 

• Secretts 

Old Oxted 

• Fish Plaice & Grill 

Oxted 

• Cook 

• Jackson-Stops 

& Staff 

• Limpsfield Stores 


Oxshott 

• The Bear 

Redhill 

• Priory Farm 

Reigate 



• RDO Kitchens 

Ripley 

• Ripley Nurseries 

Farm Shop 

• The Talbot 

Walton on Thames 


Warlingham 

• Botley Hill 

Farmhouse 

• Rayners Estate 

Agents 

West Byfleet 

• Roman Tiles 

Woldingham 

• Fine & Country 

BLIND AND CURTAIN 

SHOWROOM 

Refresh your home with new curtains 

and blinds made from a wonderful 

collection of fabrics, including designers 

Sanderson, Harlequin, Romo and more. 

• Bespoke Luxaflex blinds 

including SmartHome integration 

Browse and Buy our gifts online at 

www.curtain-call.co.uk 

Please call for Showroom appointments 

Opening Hours: 

Tues-Sat 10am to 5pm 

52 Friars Stile Road, 

Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 

020 8332 6250 • www.curtain-call.co.uk 

info@curtain-call.co.uk 


CurtainCallWT238.indd 1 17/02/2022 10:44

House 

Month 

of the 

£5,950,000 

Damien Pestell picks his favourite homes 

on the market in Surrey this month 

Leatherhead 

The dream: This stunning 

home is set around a central 

courtyard and comes with 

almost 9000 sq feet of luxury 

accommodation including 

separate annexe, indoor pool 

complex with jacuzzi and 

sauna, and grass tennis courts. 

All set in 1 acre of grounds in 

an exclusive private estate. 

Where: On the fringes of 

the Surrey Hills AONB, just 

two miles from the sought 

after town of Oxshott. 

Setting: Set in an acre of 

private grounds with easy access 

to a picturesque fishing lake, 

stunning woodland walks and 

Leatherhead Golf Course. 

Beds: 7 Baths: 6 

Special features: The elegantly 

crafted open plan kitchen 

opens out to the delightful sun 

room, pool house and garden. 

Pleasing details: The majestic 

drawing room is finely finished 

with polished timber cabinets 

and ornamental fireplace. 

Outside: Perfectly manicured 

lawns and majestic trees 

accompany a floodlit 

tennis court, outhouses 

and a sweeping drive which 

leads to a triple garage. 

Time to town: From 

Ashtead train station 2 

miles away to London 

Waterloo in 45 minutes. 

Agent: Savills 01932 586200 

savills.com 

priceless-magazines.com 

10

Horley 

£2,000,000 

The dream: A beautifully converted 

17th century barn rarely available and 

on the market for the first time in 

60 years. Designed by the renowned 

Arts & Crafts architect Blunden 

Shadbo, it exudes rural charm and is 

beautifully renovated throughout. 

Where: 5 miles south of Reigate. 

Setting: A semi-rural location, surrounded 

by local farmland with far-reaching 

views over the local countryside. 


Special features: A self contained onebedroom 

apartment with private entrance. 

Pleasing details: The parquet flooring 

in the dining room allegedly came 

from No.10 Downing Street. 

Outside: Over 3 acres of grounds 

including a terraced garden, 

ornamental patio and even a paddock 

area with accompanying stables. 

Time to town: From Salfords 

station (1 mile away) to London 

Bridge in just 40 minutes. 

Agent: Hound & Porter 01737 371880 

houndandporter.co.uk 

£1,750,000 

Sandwich Fetcham 

The Dream: stunning Grade ll Listed 15th 

The dream: A spacious 1920s family home 

century home, believed to have been relocated 

which has been thoughtfully remodelled 

to this tucked away position in the 1920s. 

and extended by the current owners to 

Boasting a wealth of character features. 

create an abode with modern living and 

Where: Centrally located in the 

easy going charm in abundance. 

Medieval town of Sandwich. 

Where: The leafy village of Fetcham a stone’s 

Setting: Within the walls of the charming 

throw from Leatherhead town and its amenities. 

old town, just minutes walk from the 

Setting: The property is set back with a smart 

station, town centre and marina. 

frontage including a lit gravel driveway and 


shaped lawn bordered with mature hedging. 

Special Features: The property boasts a 


convenient detached annexe, ideal for an 

Special features: The master bedroom 

older relative or perhaps even an Airbnb. 

features an impressive en suite and 

Pleasing Details: The ground floor wet 

balcony overlooking the rear gardens. 

room with walk in shower brings the best 

Pleasing details: A recently built 

of modern living to this historic home. 

open barn garage provides a large 

Outside: The private rear courtyard 

amount of outdoor storage. 

style garden is a real treat offering 

Outside: The large patio is flanked by a mature 

ample outdoor privacy. 

shrubbery providing a focal point for gatherings 

Time to Town: From Sandwich station 

with a large garden that just keeps on going. 

(just minutes walk away) to London 

Time to town: From Leatherhead station 

St Pancras in 1 hour 30 minutes. 

to London Waterloo in 45 minutes. 

Agent: Rafferty and Pickard 01732 

Agent: Patrick Gardner 01372 360078 

905499 raffertyandpickard.co.uk 

patrickgardner.com 

11 priceless-magazines.com

Because we 

understand that 

it’s so much 

more than bricks 

and mortar 

+44 (0) 1580 713825 | fionapenny.com 

Property Search in Kent and East Sussex 

BHF Wealden Times (New brand) (BHF/017) FV.indd 1 12/06/2016 20:18 

FionaPennyWT173.indd 1 15/06/2016 11:01 

PLOT OR 

NOT? 

If you think your land or property 

has development potential. Why not 

give us a call without obligation 

and in confidence. 

We are always on 

the lookout for land and 

property with development 

potential. 

Commercial buildings for residential conversion, former 

public houses, redundant buildings for redevelopment, buildings 

for conversion or replacement, houses for improvement, large 

sites on the edge of town, barn conversions, large gardens in 

residential areas and major regeneration projects. 

Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of 

cases, pay our fees saving property owners significant costs. 

For more information contact Stephen Donnelly on: 

07739 514350 

01892 579937 

sjd-projects.com 

steve@sjd-projects.com 


12 

SJDprojectsWT231.indd 1 28/06/2021 16:49

RENT FREE IN 2022 

IF YOU COMPLETE 

BEFORE 30 JUNE* 

Come and view our beautiful show apartment at 

Pegasus Cobham Bowers, for those aged sixty and 

over, available to Buy, Rent or Rent to buy; the choice 

is completely up to you. 

Luxury specification throughout 

Guest room for family members to stay 

Communal landscaped garden, residents’ lounge 

and bar 

Allocated car parking spaces 

10 minutes’ walk to Cobham Village 

No Exit fees 

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY 

01932 321 028 | Lifestory.group/CobhamBowers 

74 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1HY 

RENT FROM £2,595** PCM OR BUY FROM £485,000 

Lifestory terms and conditions apply. *We’ll pay your rent until 31st December 2022 

and is dependent on rentals completing before the 30 June 2022.**Rental figure is 

inclusive of service charge, and will both be reviewed annually. Offer is available on 

selected apartments only on an assured tenancy issued for a minimum of a 3 year 

period. Please speak to our Sales Advisors for more information. We reserve the 

right to extend, reintroduce or amend any such offer as we see fit at any time. Prices 

correct at time of print. April 2022.

NEW HOMES READY TO MOVE INTO 

AT HOME X, PART OF BRIGHTON'S 

PRESTON BARRACKS REGENERATION 

STUDIOS FROM £244,000 / 1 BEDS FROM £295,000 

2 BEDS FROM £381,000 

Indoor & outdoor social spaces, amenities and 

a concierge on site, plus convenient transport 

links into THE CITY CENTRE and the coast, 

by bus, train, bike or foot. 

HOME-X.CO.UK / 0333 210 0551 

MARKETING SUITE OPEN: THURSDAY - MONDAY, 10AM - 5:30PM 

Prices and information correct at time of publication. Photography from the Home X show apartment. 

Computer Generated Image is indicative only.

BUY ANY NEW BUILD APARTMENT 

AND WE’LL PAY YOUR SERVICE 

CHARGE FOR TWO YEARS 

“ I DON’T KNOW 

WHY THEY CALL IT A 

RETIREMENT VILLAGE, I’M 

busier 

” 

THAN EVER! 

From exercise classes in the pool to arts and 

crafts in the Handy Room, regular socials, 

clubs, committees and themed evenings in 

the restaurant, not to mention trips out and 

about on the private minibus, there’s always 

a lot going on at Lynwood Village. 

If you like getting involved and want to 

enjoy an active and fulfilling retirement, 

try the Lynwood Village life. 

DON’T MISS OUT! 

CALL US TODAY FOR MORE DETAILS. 

Independent living made easy for the over 65s 

SUNNINGHILL | ASCOT | BERKSHIRE 

Owned and operated by Ben 

Ben – Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. Lynwood Court, Lynwood Village, Rise Road, Ascot, 

SL5 0FG. A charity registered in England and Wales (no.297877) and Scotland (no.SC039842). A 

company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (no.02163894). Registered with the 

Homes and Communities Agency (no. LH 3766). 

To arrange a visit, please call: 01344 797830 

visit: lynwoodvillage.co.uk or 

email: sales@lynwoodvillage.co.uk

F OR CUSTOMER SATISFA CTION

Queensgate 

Apartments 

Sidcup 

Woodbank 

Apartments 

Woking 

Self-contained Retirement Apartments 

with 24hr Concierge, on-site Brasserie, Wellness Suite & more… 

Lower Mill 

Apartments 

Ewell Register Now 

A world of 

possibilities... 

Many in later life are taking 

advantage of the flexibility 

and benefits renting in 

retirement offers. 

For many, renting provides the exact 

mix of community, support, flexibility 

and lifestyle they are looking for. 

At Birchgrove, you have your own 

apartment within a community where 

every single element has been deeply 

considered and future-designed to 

help you age well and stay healthier, 

happier and stronger for longer. So… 

Could renting 

be practically perfect 

for you? 

Market 

Leaders 

in retirement 

rental living 

Find out more: 

020 3929 5599 

www.birchgrove.life

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

How a home visit 

transformed my life 

Assisted living has been a 

popular lifestyle choice for 

many years, and it’s not 

hard to see why. Security, 

freedom, new friends and 

a fresh start are all enticing reasons to 

make the move. Although it can be a little 

daunting, there are numerous reasons why 

living in a self-contained assisted living 

apartment is such a positive experience for 

so many. 

Not as mobile as he once had been, 

Bill was delighted when one of the 

Birchgrove retirement advisors took 

Birchgrove to him… 

“I was living alone in Kingston during 

the lockdown and only one neighbour 

offered me any help. She was a lovely 

person with two kids, but she was the only 

one. And I’d been living there 38 years. 

“I saw an article in my local paper, 

so I emailed to find out more. When the 

sales lady got in touch, we had a chat, and 

she offered to visit me at home to make 

things easier for me. The visit was a great 

way to help me find out more about living 

in a retirement community whilst in the 

comfort of my own home. While chatting, 

she sensed I was keen, so she offered to 

pick me up and take me to Sidcup to have 

a look around Queensgate Apartments in 

person, which was great. They even gave 

me lunch, and I sat with the team and got 

to meet some of the other residents. I find 

the people here so very lovely. Everyone is 

so welcoming and helpful. 

“I moved in on 11th November and I 

haven’t looked back since. It’s great living 

here. I’ve got fewer worries. Where I was, 

I couldn’t keep on top of the upkeep of 

the house or garden; it was all getting 

overgrown. Here I don’t have to worry 

about anything anymore – paying for gas, 

electricity, water, or any of that. 

“It’s a strange thing if you think 

about it. You don’t realise how isolated 

and lonely you have become and how 

much difference it makes to see and be 

around people until you come here. It’s 

taken me time to get used to it, but I am 

easing in gently. Yes, moving here has 

helped me regain my independence but 

what I am really touched by, are the social 

opportunities that have given me a whole 

new lease of life.” 

Birchgrove’s high quality selfcontained 

apartments are beautifully 

designed for people in later life. They 

are smart, comfortable, light and secure. 

Great for socialising in, but just as good 

for relaxing in too. 

Because our apartments are not for 

sale, you’ll find our retirement advisors 

are not trying to sell you anything, rather 

they are there to help you consider your 

options. Our intention is to act as a guide 

for you whilst you’re making your own 

choices about how and where you want 

to live. Often this is best done by coming 

to visit you at home to listen to what is 

important to you, instead of showing you 

what we think you need. 

There’s a Birchgrove retirement 

community at Queensgate Apartments, 

Sidcup, Woodbank Apartments, Woking 

and Lower Mill Apartments, Ewell which 

opens in the spring. 

To find out more, please 

contact the team on 020 3929 5599 

or visit www.birchgrove.life

Design & Planning 

Restoration 

New Build 

Barn Conversions 

Extensions 

Joinery 

COX 

Developments 

(Charing) Limited 

Barn Conversions | Extensions | Joinery www.coxrestorations.co.uk 

| Restoration | New Build 

before 

An early Georgian house beautifully restored by our highly skilled craftsmen 

a ft e r 

www.coxrestorations.co.uk 

Design & Planning 

Restoration 

New Build 

Barn Conversions 

Extensions 

Joinery 


COX 

Developments 

(Charing) Limited 

www.coxdevelopmentscharing.co.uk 

NATIONAL AWARD WINNER COX DEVELOPMENTS 

(CHARING) LIMITED – BEST SMALL DEVELOPMENT 

For a free consultation please contact: 01233 714950 


Established 1986 

CoxRestorationWT187.indd 1 21/08/ 

New Houses built by Cox Developments, using a mix of contemporary and vernacular design 

Award winning builder 

www.coxdevelopmentscharing.co.uk 

For a free consultation please contact: 01233 714950 

Established 1986

2017 12:14 

Monthly rent for a 2-bed 

long-term let: £2,500. 

Monthly rent for a 2-bed 

Smarter Rent let: £4,500.” 

Source: Rightmove, February 2022. For details, see our website. 

Start earning higher rental yields from your buy-to-let properties. 

Get in touch with our team of experts – and learn how to make 

your investment work Smarter, not harder. 

Hello@SmarterRent.co 01628 633 893 

Find out more at SmarterRent.co

*BOOK IN ADVANCE 

AND SAVE 

Hever Offer* 

£12 

using Code 

CRAFT22* 

28 April – 2 May 

RHS Garden 

Wisley 

Surrey, GU23 6QB 

9am – 6pm Thursday to Sunday; 9am – 5pm Monday 

Free entry for RHS Members and Family Guest 

12 – 15 May 

Hever Castle 

& Gardens 

Kent TN8 7NG 

9.30am – 5.30pm Daily 

*Offer code valid for adults on dates of craft fair only 

See website for full details and admission costs 

Purchase direct from the 

very best makers in the UK 

Craft Fair entry included in normal Garden admission charges 

joint-wisley-hever-22-130x185.indd 1 11/03/2022 09:50 

CraftInFocusWT239.indd 1 11/03/2022 10:58 

DISCOVER CHÂTEAU LOU CASTEOU 

Set in the beautiful French Cote d’Azur countryside, minutes from the sea. These Luxurious Retreats provides the perfect balance of gourmet 

meals, pampered luxury, energetic fitness classes, Latin dance sessions and outdoor activities including coastal treks, tennis, boxercise, 

aqua-gym, circuit training, yoga, sea kayaking and beach workouts, to help guests improve their fitness level or kick start a regime. 

Retreats include 5 days of luxury accommodation in the chateau in en-suite bedrooms with sea or mountain views. 

Meals are fabulous, nutritious and elegant 3 course dinners, quality open bar and evening parties and entertainment. 

Please contact Morag@Loucasteou.com with questions and for reservations. www.loucasteou.com 


22 

MMBaxterWT235.indd 1 17/11/2021 09:30

Illustrations: istockphoto.com/Ekaterina Skorik 

Notebook 

What to do and see near you this month 

Walk 

on the 

wild side 

Calling all sculpture culture vultures. For art lovers, 

collectors, sculptors, photographers and nature enthusiasts 

- The Sculpture Park in Churt is a hidden gem. Head 

into the 10-acre site, nestled in the heart of the Surrey 

Hills, and find yourself transported into a magical world 

of water gardens, woodlands and incredible sculptures. 

A vast eclectic mix of sculptures from national and 

international artists are on display. From up and coming 

local sculptors, to well established globally recognised 

names, artists come from far and wide to display their 

work in this picturesque outdoor gallery. You’ll be amazed 

at the sheer number, size and diversity of the works, there 

really is something for every taste, style and budget. 

During the spring, the park welcomes Biggie Chikodzi, 

Zimbabwean sculptor who will spend the summer 

as resident artist. Biggie brings the largest UK 

exhibition of Shona sculpture, which can be enjoyed 

and purchased by visitors throughout the year. 

This helps to support the artists back in Africa who 

usually rely on the tourist trade for their income. 

The sculpture park is open all year round, every day from 

10am until 5pm. Four-legged friends are welcome but 

must be kept on short leads. Tickets must be pre-booked. 

thesculpturepark.com 

Fun at Firle 

A day spent at The Garden Show 

at Firle Place is sure to put a spring 

in your step. Set in the beautiful 

surroundings of Firle Estate, in the 

heart of the South Downs National 

Park, you’ll find specialist growers, 

garden related goods, artisan 

designs, homeware products, fashion 

accessories and tasty foods. All in 

support of the fantastic Hands of 

Hope charity, which works to support 

people by connecting them with 

nature. The Garden Show will 

be open from 15th to 17th 

April, 10am until 5pm. There 

will be daily talks, expert 

advice and a variety of 

music and entertainment, 

plus plenty to keep 

the kids happy too with 

bouncy fun, face paining, 

Easter egg treasure hunts 

and lots more. firle.com 

Sleepy Beds 

Ever wanted to try one of th 

world’s most exclusive beds for you 

Head to the Horsham Bedding Centre 

or 9th April from 9am to 6pm for the 

Experience Day. A master craftsmen from Sw 

demonstrating the side-stitching used to cre 

Hastens mattresses. Plus shamanic yogi, Ka 

demonstrating how sound healing can enh 

Swedish snacks will also be available, w 

jone 


Notebook 

and... 

breathe 

This month sees Jojo at Yoga Creative 

launch Menopause Yoga classes 

following her training with Petra 

Coveney, the creator of the world’s 

first dedicated Menopause Yoga 

Teacher Training programme. This 

will be a safe and supportive space for 

all women at all stages of menopause. 

Grounded in evidence-based research 

that combines modern Western 

medical science with the wisdom 

of Eastern wellbeing, the intention 

is to help you feel empowered to 

positively manage your menopause 

journey towards better health. 

bookwhen.com/yoga-creative 

‘Appy Days 

It’s always good to hear about a new way 

to support local business. TN Card, the 

reward scheme for Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge 

and Sevenoaks has recently launched an app 

making it even easier for members to claim 

their rewards and discounts from the 540 

independents who are part of the scheme. 

10% of sales are donated to West Kent 

Mind with £10,000 given during the 

first two years. Find out more at 

thetncard.com 

Perfect pairing 

Gusbourne’s gastronomic pop ups originally launched in 

2018, and have since featured a number of meticulously 

selected partners to reflect the estate’s quest for perfection 

with dining experiences that perfectly complement the 

estate wines. Kicking off the 2022 chef series on 29 April 

will be The Hand and Flowers, Tom Kerridge’s Marlow 

pub, which is the only UK pub to hold two Michelin 

stars. The Hand and Flowers places the utmost importance 

on seasonal ingredients and outstanding quality dishes, 

made in a highly measured process which is reflective of 

Gusbourne’s approach to winemaking. gusbourne.com 

Get the goss 

Two of the nation’s best-loved 

broadcasters, Bob Harris and Danny 

Baker are heading out on tour to 

spill the beans on their unparalleled 

experiences of hanging out with 

the greats of modern music. 

They’ve been backstage, front 

stage, at home and on-theroad 

with virtually every legend in 

the business. They promise funny 

stories and lots of scandal from their 

lives in rock ‘n’ roll. Catch Harris 

and Baker’s Backstage Pass at GLive in 

Guildford on Friday 29th April 

0343 310 0055 glive.co.uk 

Food of love 

The wonderful Mayfield Festival, incorporating the 

Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, 

takes place from 23 April to 8 May in the beautiful 

village of Mayfield, with over twenty events, primarily 

focused on classical music. Featured artists include 

Joe Stilgoe, the renowned pianist Joanna MacGregor 

and the Oxford Camerata (performing Spem in 

Alium by Thomas Tallis). mayfieldfestival.co.uk 

HELPING HANDS 

We’ve all appreciated seeing so many people in our 

communities pulling together in support of those fleeing the 

horrifying situation in Ukraine. We’d like to give a shout out to 

everyone who has donated, fund-raised and volunteered their 

time. Refugease, a Kent-based charity who help those fleeing 

conflicts around the world, have set up an efficient system so 

that you can purchase aid items to be delivered directly 

to refugees on the Ukraine border. They are also 

working to help evacuate unaccompanied 

children safely. refugease.org/how-to-help-ukraine 

istockphoto.com/Andrii Zorii 


24

Sponsored by 

1 9 6 1 - 2 0 2 1 

FOREVER YOUNG 

THE 

ROYAL WINDSOR 

STEAM EXPRESS 

the 

John Rutter’s 

GIFT LIFE 

of 

Fares 

from £39 

JOHN RUTTER will conduct 

Guildford Cathedral Choir singing 

the Gift of Life. 

They will also sing, Veni Creator Spiritus 

by Phillip Moore a piece specially 

commissioned for the Choir. 

SATURDAY 21 MAY 7.30pm 

TICKETS 

Audience with John Rutter 

and concert: £35 

Concert only: £5 • £15 • £22.50 

INFORMATION AND BOX OFFICE 

www.guildford-cathedral.org 

ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 

AD794 

DEPARTS LONDON VICTORIA AT 0900 AND 1220 

10TH MAY – 23RD AUGUST 

TRAVEL TO ONE OF THE UK’S BEST LOVED DESTINATIONS 

IN STYLE BY STEAM TRAIN LEAVING FROM 

LONDON VICTORIA ON TUESDAYS DURING THE SUMMER 

VISIT 

royalwindsorsteamexpress.co.uk 

. . . 

CALL 

01483 209888 

GuildfordCathedralWT239.indd 1 16/03/2022 SteamDreamsRailWT239.indd 10:45 

1 15/03/2022 09:15 

GREAT SHOPPING DELICIOUS FOOD WORKSHOPS FAMILY FUN 

T’s & C’s apply 

Discover delightfully crafted products & gifts from over 150 independent stalls 

SAVE £2 

(book via our website before 24/04/22) 

with online 

Early Bird 

tickets! 

30 April - 2 May 2022 

Penshurst Place, Tonbridge 

www.thecraftshows.co.uk 

Open 

10am ‘til 

5pm 


ICHF-WealdofKentShowWT239-Surrey.indd 1 07/03/2022 14:54

Surrey, Sussex 

& Hampshire’s 

Premier Oak 

Framed Specialist 

Surrey Oak Barns is a specialist 

oak frame contractor offering a 

complete and seamless multitrade 

service, from simple garages 

and garden rooms to fully finished 

buildings, all tailored to meet our 

client’s specific requirements. 

We offer a complete service from 

design, planning and construction 

through to completion, ensuring 

our clients achieve their aspirations 

for oak buildings from a single source. 

Surrey Oak Barns is the only oak 

framed contractor to be awarded 

Chartered Building Company 

status which identifies those 

businesses that are committed 

to quality of product and service, 

integrity of conduct and concern 

for client’s needs. 

01483 420 258 

info@surreyoakbarns.co.uk 

www.surreyoakbarns.co.uk

Build your dreams...enhance your home 

The gallery of images are of recent work we have undertaken. 

These include oak garages, buildings, conservatories and extensions.

traditional handmade 

furniture 

Woodworkkitchens.co.uk 

Kitchens 

Bedrooms 

Studies 

01892 533273 

WoodworkWT238.indd 1 04/02/2022 12:15 

RUG STORE specialise in a wide selection of new, old and Antique Persian, Turkish, Caucasian 

and Turkmen Carpets. Various antique, old and new Kilims are available. 

We offer a professional hand-cleaning and restoration service. We buy old and 

antique carpets - even damaged rugs. Part exchange and evaluations. 

312 UPPER RICHMOND ROAD WEST, EAST SHEEN, RICHMOND, LONDON, SW14 7JN. 

TEL / FAX: 020 8876 0070 

INFO@RUGSTOREONLINE.CO.UK WWW.RUGSTOREONLINE.CO.UK 


28 

RugStoreWT238.indd 1 11/02/2022 16:14

GermanMade 

kitchens | wardrobes | home furniture 

krieder.com | info@krieder.com | 01892 619721

cccaaaaaaaasssstttttt iiiiiirrrrrrrrooooonn 

hheeeerrrrrrrriiiiiittttttaaaaaaaaggeeee 

rrrrrrrraaaaaaaaddiiiiiiaaaaaaaattttttooooorrrrrrrrssss 

CHRISTIAN BROWNE BATHROOMS 



Luxury Bath Ware Products - Traditional Towel Radiators 

REPRESENTING OVER TWENTY Luxury YEARS Bath Ware OF EXPERIENCE Products - Traditional OVERSEEING Towel THE Radiators SYMPATHETIC RESTORATION OF 

BRITAIN’S HERITAGE. EXCLUSIVE 

Free Standing 

Free LUXURY Standing BATHWARE 

Copper Baths 

Copper Baths PRODUCTS, 

-Toilet Systems 

-Toilet Systems MARBLE VANITY UNITS, COPPER AND 

CAST IRON BATHS AND TRADITIONAL Beautiful 

Beautiful 

TOWEL Showers 

Showers 

RADIATORS & Taps 

Taps 

BESPOKE TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS. 

Marble Vanity Units 

Luxury Bath 

Marble 

Ware 

Vanity 

Products 

Units 

- Traditional Towel Radiators 

Luxury Bath Ware Products - Traditional Towel Radiators 

CHRISTIAN Free BROWNE Standing Copper Baths BATHROOMS 

-Toilet wwwwwwwww..hheeeerrrrrrrriiiiiittttttaaaaaaaaggeeeecccaaaaaaaassssttttttiiiiiirrrrrrrrooooonnrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaddiiiiiiaaaaaaaattttttooooorrrrrrrrssss..cccooooom 

Systems 

Free Standing Copper Baths -Toilet Systems 

Heritage Beautiful Showers & Taps 

Heritage Cast Cast Iron Iron Radiators, Radiators, Barretts Barretts Beautiful Park Park Farm, Showers Farm, Sandy & Cross Taps Lane, Old Heathfield, East East Sussex Sussex TN21 TN21 0DE 0DE , 01435 , 01435 868289 868289 

Marble Vanity UnitsMarble Vanity Units 

Heritage Cast Iron Radiators, Heritage Barretts Cast Iron Park Radiators, Farm, Sandy Barretts Cross Lane, Park Farm, Old Heathfield, Sandy Cross East Lane, Sussex Old TN21 Heathfield, 0DE , 01435 East 868289 Sussex TN21 0DE , 01435 868289 

HeritageGroupWT227-RADIATORS.indd 1 09/03/2021 15:14 

wwwwwwwww..hheeeerrrrrrrriiiiiittttttaaaaaaaaggeeeecccaaaaaaaassssttttttiiiiiirrrrrrrrooooonnrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaddiiiiiiaaaaaaaattttttooooorrrrrrrrssss..cccooooom 


Photo Credit: Louisa Grace Interiors 

Your Dream, 


Specialists in the supply & installation of contemporary bespoke aluminium 

glazing systems. Our showroom & offices are based in a historical boatyard 

Luxury Bath Ware Products overlooking - Traditional the River Thames Towel in Hampton. Radiators 

Our Vision Free Standing Copper Specified Baths by Architects, -Toilet recommended Systems by Contractors, referred by Clients. 

Beautiful Showers & Taps 

Marble Vanity Units 

Urban & Grey Ltd Telephone: 020 8979 6367 Sliding Doors • Bifold Doors • Flush Casement Windows 

Constable’s Boatyard info@urbanandgrey.co.uk 

Steel Replacement Doors, Screens & Windows 

5-9 Thames Street 

www.urbanandgrey.co.uk 

Frameless Glazing • Frameless Fixed Rooflights 

Hampton Heritage Cast Iron Radiators, Barretts Park Farm, Sandy Cross Venting, Lane, Lantern Old Heathfield, & Walk-on Rooflights East Sussex TN21 0DE , 01435 868289 

TW12 2EW 

Front Doors, Pivot Doors, Glazed Garden Rooms & Verandas 


30 

Urban&GreyWT237.indd 1 04/01/2022 10:07

So many electrifying reasons to come and see the global 

sensation... 

50+ LIVE SESSIONS IN 2 THEATRES • 200+ CLEAN ENERGY & ELECTRIC VEHICLE EXHIBITORS 

THOUSANDS OF ELECTRIC TEST DRIVES • HOME ENERGY ADVICE TEAM 

FUTURE OF FLIGHT ZONE • PRE-LOVED ELECTRIC VEHICLE ZONE • CONVERTED CLASSIC ZONE 

TWO WHEEL TEST TRAIL • MICRO-MOBILITY TEST TRACK • FAMILY FUN ZONE 

ELECTRIC PICNIC • FULLY CHARGED BUSINESS • COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ZONE 

ROBERT LLEWELLYN’S 

FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL 

29TH-30TH APRIL & 1ST MAY 

GET YOUR TICKETS TO SEE THE GLOBAL 

VISIT WWW.FULLYCHARGED.LIVE 

TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 

THE U 

USE THE CODE SURREYHOMES TO GET 10% OFF TICKETS

Dressed to Thrill 

Words: Jo Arnell Photographs: David Merewether 

Artist and designer Louise Hamlin-Wright’s 

vibrant home is a wonderful riot 

of colour, pattern and craft 


Be bold. Be brave. Be bespoke. Beautifully hand-crafted kitchens. 

Old Surrenden Manor, Bethersden 

www.collinsbespoke.com

This page & previous page: Louise has commissioned 

many of the pieces that are displayed throughout the house 

in honour of her English bull terriers, including the tea set 

on the top shelf (above), by ceramicist Francesca Kaye, and 

needlepoint cushions designed and made by Louise 

Right & previous pages: A floral arrangement by Louise’s friend, 

Sue Exell, takes centre stage in this colourful sitting area 

I 

drive straight past Louise and John’s house. I think 

I’m looking for a larger or more outlandish building. 

Turning around, I see that someone has come out from 

the front door of the unprepossessing row of houses that I’ve 

just passed. Louise Hamlin-Wright, in a billowing dress, like 

a colourful flag in this morning’s wind, is waving at me. 

As she leads me inside to meet her husband John, friend Sue 

and miniature bull terriers Dorcas and Maxim, Louise explains 

that “all the treasures lie within”. I smile, and then gasp, not 

prepared for the kind of ‘within’ – and just how much treasure. 

Once inside, the building expands out in all directions, 

like an interior explosion. You could say that this house 

is Tardis-like, but it’s more than that. The ordinary front 

door, that you might pass without a second glance, 

has become a portal into a Wonderland. One that 

stopped off at the V&A to load up with collectibles. 

Louise and Sue lead me into the dining area, where in true 

Wonderland style, the table is set for tea, except that this is an 

exquisitely laid out table, bedecked with delicate china, tiny 

sandwiches and French fondant fancies (all the way from 


Above: Louise’s intricate dresses were featured in a 

number of magazines Left: A beautiful design realised 

in miniature, from one of Louise’s sketch books 

Betty’s of Harrogate, no less). There’s certainly no room 

for a dormouse in the slim, Art Deco Limoges teapot. 

Before we venture around the interior, I sit at the 

tempting tea table and learn a little about Louise 

and John and the history of their house. It comes as 

no surprise to find that John and Louise were at art 

school in the Sixties, studying textiles at The Central 

School of Arts & Crafts (now known as Central St 

Martins) and then going on to teach at art schools, 

while developing their own printing process. 

“We bought this house in 1970 with help from John’s 

father,” says Louise, referring to the original two up, two 

down modest cottage – which is how the building still 

appears from the outside. “It cost £7,000,” she smiles. That 

was in the early days when they were both still teaching. 

They were also printing fabric and, as word spread, the 

couple began printing for designers and fashion houses. 

Louise reels off a staggering list of names that they printed 

silk for – Christian Dior, Bruce Oldfield, Jean Muir, 

Hardy Amies, the Duchess of Argyll, to name but a few. 

They even did some private work for Elizabeth Taylor. 

At the very beginning, once things had started to

ASHLEY FLOORING LTD 

monarchoak 

Oak Frame Buildings 

Over 50 years’ experience making oak frame buildings 

• Garages 

• Garden Rooms 

• Complexes 

• Gazebos 

• Bespoke Buildings 

01323 765410 Quality in its finest form 

www.monarchoak.co.uk 

Warehouse Prices with a Local Service 

CARPET, VINYL & WOOD FLOORING SPECIALISTS 

Based in Surrey, our family-run business 

stocks, supplies, and fits every type of 

flooring and floor covering you could need. 

Call Now or Visit Us in-Store 

Walton on Thames 

KT12 1RJ 

01932 252600 

Addlestone 

KT15 1TN 

01932 856887 

15% off 

EASTER SALE 

Quote EASTER15. Offer valid until 30/04/22 

MonarchOakWT147.indd 1 26/07/2018 AshleyFlooringWT239.indd 12:30 

1 04/03/2022 10:24 

Antique Persian Farhan Rug 

Antique Persian Heriz Rug 

Vintage Qom Silk Rug 

New Afghan Kazak Rug 

Hakiemie Rug Gallery 

• Professional cleaning • Professional repairs 

• Valuations • Buying & selling of a variety of 

handmade rugs, carpets, textiles & flat-weaves 

Free collection & delivery 

Free home visit 

07450 208 261 

01932 551475 

130 Oatlands Drive, Weybridge, 

Surrey, KT13 9E 

@hakiemieruggallery 

nasim@hakiemieruggallery.com 

www.hakiemieruggallery.com 


HakiemieRugWT239.indd 1 11/03/2022 12:40

Above left & right: Upstairs, a series of sitting ‘nooks’ make 

up the first floor. Louise has chosen a blue theme for the 

area that leads to her studio, with wall units housing her 

collections of curios and artworks that she has created displayed 

on the walls Right: This guest room is reserved for Louise 

and John’s language students when they come to stay 

take off, they bought part of the field that lay behind the 

house, which meant that John was able to build a printing 

works on site. This also allowed them to build a large 

extension on the back of the property. “Then one day we 

had a front cover on The Sunday Times Magazine,” says 

Louise. Their silk printing business took off, but the process 

is labour intensive and the printing is done by hand. 

“I nearly did myself serious damage printing silk,” Louise says, 

remembering the acres of fabric that had to be carefully laid 

out and handled, “so I started doing short lengths for wedding 

dresses.” This was an enormous undertaking too, but a lucrative 

one. The work was done to a very high specification and these 

weren’t just any wedding dresses, but exquisite, one-off gowns 

that Louise sold to an exclusive market (Mandy Smith wore a 

Louise Hamlin-Wright dress when she married Bill Wyman). 

“We were making wedding dress after wedding dress. At one 

stage we had fifteen outworkers making dresses for us.” 

They created both pigment printed and the more technically 

demanding dye printed silk in their print works. John worked 

out a method for incorporating crushed mother of pearl into 

the process, enabling them to create a unique finish to 


This page: The downstairs 

sitting room is John’s domain, 

with a more monochrome 

theme and components of his 

impressive sound system 

“I nearly did myself 

serios damage printing 

silk, so I started doing 

short lengths for 

wedding dresses.” The 

work was done to a 

very high specification 

and these weren’t just 

any wedding dresses, 

but exquisite, one off 

gowns that Louise sold 

to an exclusive market 

(Mandy Smith wore 

a Louise Hamlin- 

Wright dress when she 

married Bill Wyman) 

the fabric. Their hard work paid off 

and they have even had some of their 

material in the V&A Museum. Business 

boomed and each time a substantial 

sum was paid for some dresses, they 

were able to extend the house further. 

“Every Middle Eastern wedding paid 

for an extension,” remembers Louise. 

“Then the man next door sadly died 

whilst on a trip to Germany, so we 

bought his house too.” Before long 

the couple had expanded into a fivebedroomed, 

double-fronted house. “We 

even had a library at one point!” Louise 

was busier than ever, her catchphrase 

‘say yes to the dress’ keeping her going 

while she travelled to New York and into 

London on a regular basis, working with 

people like the Emmanuels, Kleinfeld 

of New York, once even making a dress 

for every single window in Harrods, 

even branching out beyond the bridal 

to the next stage – babies’ cradles. 

“And then suddenly everything was 

cancelled,” says Louise, describing how 

events surrounding the 9/11 terrorist 

attacks in America directly affected 

their business. “A lot of our clients 

were too frightened to come here. 

The market just dropped dead.” 

Almost overnight their whole way 

of life changed, the print shed became 

obsolete and the couple had to think 

of another way to make a living. 

Ingeniously, they managed to put their 

now substantial house to good use. “We 

started to teach English to international 

students,” Louise explains. They began 

to provide accommodation and language 

lessons, mainly to Chinese students. 

It was very successful. “At one point 

we had ten students in the house – 

and had to do two sittings for meals. 

It was great fun and many of them 

still come for holidays.” Sadly, since 

the pandemic, there have been fewer 

opportunities for student travel from 

China. Not one to be easily thwarted, 

Louise has turned her talents back to 

something she has always enjoyed – 

painting. Her artworks, just like the 

silks and dresses she made, are quite 

beautiful. Each one is a minute tapestry 

of exquisite texture and detail – silk, 

lace, pearls and delicately applied paint. 

Louise’s painterly and pattern making 

skills can be seen all over their home 

– the walls in nearly every room have 

become like canvases themselves, nearly 

every surface is covered in an array 

of fine china, print, fabric and paint. 

In lesser hands, the results could be 

disastrous, but Louise has carefully 

blended colours and textures into a 

fabulous coherence. There is no need 

to ask what colour the walls are 


40

SHOWROOM IN WALTON on THAMES NOW OPEN 

121 NEW ZEALAND AVENUE WALTON on THAMES KT12 1QD 

BEAUTIFUL GERMAN AND BESPOKE KITCHENS 

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT 

020 8191 7955 | enquiries@ligneouskitchens.com | www.ligneouskitchens.com

Louise’s artworks, 

just like the silks and 

dresses she made, 

are quite beautiful. 

Each one is a 

minute tapestry of 

exquisite texture and 

detail – silk, lace, 

pearls and delicately 

applied paint 

 


42

01306 877994 

www.thefigtreedorking.co.uk 

4-5, Old King's Head Court, 

Dorking, RH4 1AR 

AtHomeByDesignWT238 1 08/02/2022 TheFigTreeWT239.indd 10:18 

1 09/03/2022 16:47 

For all your 

roofing needs - 

Assured Roofing 

has it covered 

MOSS 

REMOVAL 

FROM £325 

We do not use 

pressure washers 

New Roofs • Roof Repairs • Flat Roofs • Gutters & Fascias • Chimneys 

LEAK FIND 

& REPAIR 

FROM £380 

Your home is 

our priority 

Whatever roofing work you require, our team of qualified, 

experienced roofers work to the highest standards every time. 

EMERGENCY 

CALL OUTS 

www.assuredroofingltd.co.uk Office 01483 01903 910135 399204 Mob 07961609811 

24/7 


AssuredRoofingWT239.indd 1 21/03/2022 16:43

In true Wonderland 

style, the table is set for 

tea, except that this is 

an exquisitely laid out 

table, bedecked with 

delicate china, tiny 

sandwiches and French 

fondant fancies (all 

the way from Betty’s of 

Harrogate, no less) 

Above: The kitchen is a riot of colour and pattern with china taking centre stage 

painted in this house, because, as Louise 

says – “you can’t get to the walls.” 

It is upstairs where the Tardis effect is 

most noticeable. As we go up the steep 

narrow staircase of the original cottage, 

the landing opens out dramatically 

into a sort of huge drawing room. 

This area becomes the central point 

of the second storey, with small sitting 

rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms 

leading off in various directions. Clever 

use of mirrors adds to the effect and 

makes the space seem even larger. 

Sue’s fantastic flower arrangements, 

placed on elegant jardinieres, 

enhance the overall look, with the 

colours of fabrics on the sofas and 

cushions carefully picked out and 

translated into flower form. 

Collections of exquisite china swim 

before my eyes in every room – jugs, 

teapots, plates and cups sing out from 

the walls, artfully arranged on bespoke 

shelves. Some, like the cleverly recessed 

units in one of the smaller bedrooms, 

have been made by John, who has 

added carpentry to his many skills. 

Much of the furniture has been 

handmade too, designed by John, but 

made by a cabinetmaker called Merlin 

– and painted in dazzling turquoise. 

Louise points to a chaise longue, which 

magically pulls out into a full sized bed. 

At the back of the house is a double 

width room, its large windows looking 

out over the fields and filling it with 

light, making this an ideal studio 

for Louise. Some of her work is on 

view in here, together with magazine 

covers and articles showing a few 

of her many bridal collections. 

Louise’s more recent works – the 

intricate collages often featuring girls 

in fabulous appliquéd ball gowns, 

beaded and bejewelled in finery, 

many set into gilded backgrounds 

and mounted within golden frames, 

can be spotted all around the house, 

bringing another rich layer to walls 

that are already splendidly crowded. 

As we duck past an ornate chandelier 

– padded at the base “so that tall 

people don’t bump their heads,” it’s 

clear that Louise is an avid collector 

with eclectic tastes. Perched around 

and in front of some of the shelves are 

vintage toys. One cabinet is alive with 

tiny toy monkeys. “I love monkeys,” 

she says, but maybe not quite as much 

as she loves her bull terriers. These 

have been immortalised in one form 

or another throughout the interior. 

There is one room that doesn’t fit the 

overriding theme though – and that is 

the large ground floor room at the 


44

EMBRACE CHAOS® 

Imagine waking up, feeling ready for 

everything life has in store for you. 

Hästens manufactures world-class handcrafted beds. What you feel 

when springs, horsetail hair, wool fibers, cotton, flax and wooden joints 

cooperate is, in fact, the fruit of nearly 170 years of relentless work. 

Because that’s what it takes to build a platform for a better day. 

The Hästens experience is like receiving a comforting embrace. 

Order our eye-opening catalog at hastens.com. 

See our Hästens Studio in-store at Horsham Bedding Centre, 

Central House, Medwin Walk, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1AG 

T. 01403 274222 ❘ hello@jonesandtomlin.co.uk ❘ jonesandtomlin.co.uk

carlton 

alto 

marina 

aged brass 

kast concrete 

axis

ack of the house in the first extension 

that the couple built. This expansive 

space is John’s domain. A counterpoint 

to Louise’s feminine and colourful tastes, 

it is predominantly monochrome. “I 

would have it full of chintz,” Louise 

chuckles, but “John likes black and 

plastic.” The furniture is masculine and 

chunky, but this space has also been 

designed from an acoustic point of 

view. John has even constructed some 

huge speakers to provide surround 

sound for his impressive sound system. 

There has been a small invasion into 

this area – a single chair is covered in 

leopard print, and artworks are now 

lining the walls, mainly in sculptural 

form – some commissioned and made 

by the sculptor Marie Prett, many in 

celebration of the dogs they have owned. 

Back in the kitchen (and please 

excuse me, I did have to give into 

temptation and eat a fondant fancy), 

Louise points at the old Victorian 

meat plate that started her extensive 

collection of china, explaining that she 

has even used the design as inspiration 

for one of her own, and that she is 

always looking at colour and pattern. 

Above: English bull terrier Maxim poses for 

a photo in a guest bedroom 

Left: Louise has built up a huge collection 

of Marie Prett sculptures on display 

throughout the house, some of which 

are pictured to the left on the top shelf 

Inspiration comes in many forms 

and it’s clear that there is no shortage 

of objects to choose from here. This 

home is packed to the rafters with 

a wealth of amazing collections 

and beautiful treasures, each one 

a reflection of their charming and 

characterful owner, the magnificently 

inspirational Louise Hamlin–Wright. 

Address Book: 

Louise can be contacted about her artworks 

on 07973 162473 or see her Etsy store 

etsy.com/uk/shop/LouiseHamlinWright 

Sue Exell (floral arrangements) 

01233 840385 

Ceramicist Francesca Kaye 

francescakaye.com 

Ceramicist Marie Prett 

marieprettceramics.com 


cuckoo corner 

Cuckoo Corner is a special temple of beautiful gifts and uniquely individual 

touches that you can make to your home. You’ll find a dazzling range of 

handcrafted jewellery pieces, winter accessories and children’s gifts with a 

wide selection of cards and wraps to accompany them. For the home, there 

are exquisite pieces of statement furniture as well as many lovely clocks, 

mirrors and twinkling lanterns. 

Middle Street, Shere, GU5 9HF 01483 229100 

mandyelizabethjohns@hotmail.com 

CuckooCornerWT239.indd 1 14/03/2022 15:48 

April 24, May 29, June 26, 

Sept 25, Oct 30 and Nov 27 

Electro Studios, Seaside Rd., St Leonards on Sea TN38 0AL 

T 07769 800321 


48 

DoveHouseAntiqueFairWT239.indd 1 28/02/2022 CobanRugsWt239 15:04 

1 17/03/2022 09:07

1 Stencil effect floral wallpaper £62 Bobbi Beck bobbibeck.com 2 Rouen faience serving dish £200 Rustique 

rustique.uk 3 Peony porcelain table lamp base with hand finished floral motif £105 där lighting darlighting.co.uk 

4 Isla floral velvet cushion £16.95 Rhoom rhoom.com 5 Maluku cushion £75 Arley House arleyhouse.com 

6 Peacock and poppies velvet cushion £35 One Hundred Stars onehundredstars.co.uk 7 Spring splendour velvet 

cushion £45 The French Bedroom Co frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 8 Adam Lippes roseraie tea cup and saucer 

£55 OKA oka.com 9 Marie Antoinette cream coffee table on wheels £220 The Grey Works thegreyworks.com 

10 Stockbridge sofa from £2,171 Sofas & Stuff sofasandstuff.com 11 Flores Farah rug £99 Shimu shimu.co.uk 


PARKER 

FINE ART AUCTIONS 

Fine Art 

Pop Art 

Picture Framing 

Investment Art 

Sculptures 

From inspiration to creation, 

define your space with 

ART 

11 The Parade, Claygate, Surrey, KT10 0PD • WWW.TREWART.COM • PH 44 (0)1372 470997 

C AROL GILLAN ART 

TrewArtWT239.indd 1 17/03/2022 09:22 

OUNTRIES 

CC OASTLINES, C ONTINENTS, C OUNTRIES 

OUNTRIES 

Picture Valuation Day 

Free - no appointment needed 

Thursday 28 th April 

10am – 4pm 

Hawthorn House 

East Street 

Farnham GU9 7TB 

E NQUIRIES: carolgillanart@gmail.com 

E 

W 

NQUIRIES: 

EBSITE: https://www.carolgillan.com 

carolgillanart@gmail.com 

Get Get Wfocused EBSITE: & positive positive https://www.carolgillan.com 

each each day, day, feel feel happy, happy, energised 

& connected – all all without without words. words. 

Get focused & positive each day, feel happy, energised 


& connected – all without words. 

50 

info@parkerfineartauctions.com 

01252 20 30 20 

parkerfineartauctions.com 

CarolGillanArtWT239.indd 2 21/03/2022 ParkerFineArtAuctionsWT239.indd 12:25 

1 11/03/2022 15:28

1 

2 

3 

Under £250 

6 

5 

For what it’s 

worth 

No matter your budget there are all sorts of 

wonderful artworks available and so many local 

artists and galleries to get excited about! 

4 

7 

9 

1 Shane Wheatcroft’s Happy For You hand cut collage (27.2x31.6cm) £225 

Artfinder artfinder.com 2 Hannah Bruce’s Goldfinch on Teasel acrylic on linen 

canvas (30x60cm) £230 Artfinder artfinder.com 3 Jill Ann Harper’s Golden 

Gate Bridge II oil on canvas (30.48x40.64cm) £240 Artfinder artfinder.com 

4 David Mayne’s Fox & Silver Birches oxidised steel and wood (31x18cm) 

£140 West End House Gallery westendhousegallery.co.uk 5 Nichola Campbell’s 

After all the storm ink framescape (23.5x28.5cm) £245 nicholacampbell.art 

6 Sophie Wardle’s Devil’s Chimney £59.99 framed print (16”x12”) Art Rabble 

art-rabble.org 7 Reconstructed “Fashion Pageant” vintage poster c.1923 

(50x71cm) £550 Red Door Posters reddoorposters.com 8 Jude Askey-Brown’s 

Tulips and Clementines oil on board £750 Greenfinch greenfinchshop.co.uk 

9 Henry d’Arcy Hart’s Anemones oil on canvas (30x23cm) Estimate £200- 

£300 (to be auctioned 7 April) Parker Fine Auctions parkerfineartauctions.com 

10 Jean Claude Picard’s Provence (90x80cm) £975 Trew Art trewart.com 

11 Annie Waring’s Pink Rose in Striped Vase oil on board (30x36cm) £700 

West End House Gallery westendhousegallery.co.uk 12 Guy Pickford’s 

Transpire oil on wood (21x55cm) £350 guypickford.com 13 Graham Clarke’s 

Zut Alors! limited edition etching (60x50cm) £600 grahamclarke.co.uk 

14 Lou Newsholme’s Neon Parrot Petals lounewsholme.co.uk 

8 

12 

£250 – £1,000 

11 

10 

13 

14

Exhibiting an amazing selection of Artwork from across the UK 

www.theweygallery.com 

44 Bridge Street,Godalming,Surrey,GU7 1HL Tel:01483 418013 info@theweygallery.com 

WeyGalleryWT239.indd 1 21/03/2022 09:18 

Pre-Raphaelite 

Treasures 

Drawings and 

Watercolours from the 

Ashmolean Museum 

8 March - 12 June 

wattsgallery.org.uk 

Edward Burne-Jones, Study of a Woman’s Head, turned to the left, 1868, Red and 

black chalk on textured paper, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford 


52 

WattsGalleryWT238.indd 1 14/02/2022 14:15

1 

2 

3 

4 

Four Figures 

6 

5 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

1 Mark Harrison’s Castello garden £1,000 oil on panel board/mdf (47x47cm) Artfinder artfinder.com 2 Pablo 

Picasso’s Le Chardonneret signed lithograph £9,500 Belgravia Gallery belgraviagallery.com 3 Iaysha’s Angel 

Warrior acrylic and spray paint on gesso board (100x70cm) £4,200 iaysha-art.com 4 Reconstructed “Sinalco” 

vintage poster c.1928 (58×88cm) £1,200 Red Door Posters reddoorposters.com 5 Iaysha’s Those Inspirational 

Thoughts oil on canvas (60x91cm) £3,400 iaysha-art.com 6 Lucy Marks’ Summer Sun oil painting £2,750 

lucymarks.co.uk 7 Tracy Nors’ After Lockdown acrylic on canvas £1,500 Greenfinch greenfinchshop.co.uk 

8 Guy Pickford’s harness a balance oil on canvas (100x100cm) £1,500 guypickford.com 9 Chrissy Guest’s Night 

sea £3,100 oil on canvas (100x120cm) Artfinder artfinder.com 10 Karl Tery’s A Bend in the River, Summer oil 

on board £2,980 Greenfinch greenfinchshop.co.uk 11 Lilia Orlova-Holmes’ Nympheas. Memories of summer in 

Giverny £5,000 in oil on canvas (150x120cm) Artfinder artfinder.com 12 Libbi Gooch’s Reliable Bloomers, in oil 

on board (70x70cm) £1,150 West End House Gallery westendhousegallery.co.uk 


Cherishing all that is special 

about the Great British seaside 

offer the finest collection of holiday homes in West Wittering and the surrounding area. 

Start making plans for your next family holiday. www.welliesandwindbreaks.co.uk 

Wellies&WindbreaksWT238.indd 1 14/02/2022 15:02 

FITTED 

IN TIME 

FOR SUMMER! 

SPECIALISTS IN HIGH IN HIGH QUALITY QUALITY TIMBER 

ALUMINIUM & ALUMINIUM & TIMBER WINDOWS WINDOWS AND AND DOORS DOORS 

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATION 

01959 565343 

WWW.THEWINDOWSANCTUARY.COM 

S THE 

WINDOW 

ANCTUARY 


54 

WindowSanctuaryWT238.indd 1 15/02/2022 10:16

Wealden Times 

Midsummer 

Fa i r 

9-11 JUNE 2022 

TICKETS 

ON SALE 

NOW! 

Wealden Times 

Midsummer Fair 

9th, 10th, 11th June 2022 

Hole Park, Rolvenden TN17 4JB 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 

Book early to ensure your favourite entry time & day. 

Purchase online at wealdentimes-fair.co.uk

Wealden Times 

Midsummer 

Fa i r 

9-11 JUNE 2022 

Pictures taken in 2019 

The Perfect 

Summer Setting 

Maybe it’s the tents festooned with bunting 

or the celebratory, uplifting atmosphere. 

Or it could be the beautiful garden setting. 

Whatever it is, there’s something about our 

Midsummer Fair that reminds us of The 

Great British Bake Off. 

Deck Chair Zone sponsored 

by Pennywood Tours 

3 DAY 

EVENT 

Thurs 9 - Sat 11 June 

9.00am - 4.30pm 

Foodie Heaven 

It could of course be the delicious 

street food, barista-brewed coffee 

or the dozens of artisan producers, 

bakers and brewers who will bring 

you cuisine from around the world 

and fresh produce grown right here 

in Kent. Join us in the Deck Chair 

Zone, generously sponsored by 

Pennywood Tours, for breakfast, 

lunch, or afternoon tea. Or celebrate 

your new finds and very pleasing 

purchases with a glass of fizz. 

Entry to Hole Park Gardens 

included in your ticket price

Shopping Extravaganza 

Inside four large marquees and 

within the grounds you’ll discover 

more than 200 hand-picked 

independent retailers selling 

contemporary and vintage home 

and garden wares, plus fashion, 

gifts and jewellery. Outside our 

tents, you’ll find products and 

plants to enhance your garden. 

And for those seeking further 

inspiration or just a moment to 

relax, be sure to stroll through the 

beautiful gardens of Hole Park 

itself, included in your ticket price. 

PRE-BOOK 

TICKETS 

ONLINE 

Book your time slot at 

wealdentimes-fair.co.uk 

Exhibitors 

Outdoor Loving 

If you cherish the time you spend at 

one with nature – be it nurturing your 

garden, long country walks or an al 

fresco G&T with friends around a 

fire – then you’re going to really enjoy 

the garden, country clothing and 

outdoor home furnishing specialists that 

we’ve gathered for this year’s fair. They 

are all here, so that you can live your 

best outdoor life. 

Country Clobber, The New Eden, Rosie Dalia, 

Alicemae Vintage, Doodling Lucy, Outdoorsy Living, 

Freddie’s Flowers, Merriments Garden, Fires and 

More, Emma Keating Jewellery 

For more information and a full list of our exhibitors 

to date, visit wealdentimes-fair.co.uk

Kitchen Drama 

Words: Giselle Numark Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Holly Levett 


58

Interior designer Ben Stokes’ family 

cottage, painted in deep, rich shades 

and accessorised with natural woods and 

sumptuous textiles, is a wonderful example 

of the bold transformation of a small space 


Bespoke Flooring 

LONG & WIDE . PRODUCED IN KENT . FINISHED BY HAND 

JOINERY 

OAK FRAMED BUILDINGS DECKING CLADDING 

For more information on pricing or fitting, or to place an order 

CALL 01233 732179 

VISIT orlestoneoak.co.uk

Previous pages & above: A bright orange Anthony Burrill print and handcrafted ‘mud’ lampshade – both available from 

Kagu – hang above the bespoke wooden slab table. A nest of blown ostrich eggs nestles in a burr wood bowl 

There’s no introduction to this 

three storey cottage. No hallway 

to lead you through – we are 

entering from the street straight into 

the front room here, plunged from the 

morning into a velvety twilight. Most 

of us would paint a small interior in 

pale colours, to increase the feeling of 

light and space and make the area seem 

larger. This is a centre terrace too, and 

all the more reason to lighten up the 

colour scheme you might think. Ben 

Stokes, founder and owner of Kagu 

Interiors in Tenterden, would beg to 

differ. The walls in here are dark, but 

not oppressive, bold and strong, but 

in no way overwhelming. “Our flat 

was light and airy and painted in pale 

colours,” Ben says, “but I wanted to try 

something a little bit different here.” 

The previous owner had lived 

in the house for fifteen years and 

although there was no structural work 

to be done, it was all looking tired 

and dated – pale and uninteresting, 

if you like – and in need of a total 

update. A daunting task for many, a 

breeze for Ben, who, apart from being 

able to design stunning interiors, 

can furnish them with bespoke 


Above left & right: The front room has been divided into an entrance area and sitting room. A huge mirror on the ‘hall’ 

table helps frame one section, whilst the fireplace and alcoves provide the focus for the ‘sitting’ part of the room 

items from the Kagu shop. Once 

baby Margot was on the way, there 

was a deadline for finishing too. 

Starting from scratch two years 

ago the couple managed to complete 

everything but the bathroom before 

daughter Margot was born. “We 

did the lounge and the upstairs 

bedroom first,” says Ben, adding, 

“from our Instagram it gave the 

impression that the whole house was 

finished, but walk into the kitchen 

and there was just a microwave.” 

You might expect the kitchen to be 

the place that is lightest in colour, but 

here it is the darkest room in the house. 

There’s not an actor in sight in this 

kitchen drama – the room speaks for 

itself. The panelled walls are painted in 

Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green, a perfect 

contrast to the exposed brick on the 

opposite wall and the pop of orange 

from an Anthony Burrill print. Luckily 

already in place when they moved in, 

the panelling brings depth and texture 

– a sort of chiaroscuro, to an otherwise 

flat space. “I really like the effect, 

the light and dark of it,” says Ben. 

Light and dark – this time horizontal, 

is embodied by dark wooden blinds 

on the kitchen window, which let a 

surprising amount of light into the 

room. Dark wood is also picked out in 

the beams of the ceiling and the lintel 

above the fireplace alcove where a smart 

Smeg range cooker has been installed. 

The layout of the kitchen is similar 

to that of the previous owner, “except 

that they had an enormous table in 

here that nearly filled the room,” says 

Ben. Tired old kitchen units have been 

updated with new cupboards from 

Howdens, because “most units are 

much the same,” he says, but – and 

here’s a neat trick – painted in the 

same colour as the walls and smartened 

up with door handles from Buster 

+ Punch. Ben made the counter top 

from polished cast concrete. Treated 

this way, standard kitchen units can be 

transformed into something bespoke. 

The focal point in the room 

is the kitchen table – a one-off 

piece made by Kagu from 

 


62

Above: A squashy velvet sofa offers an inviting place to sink into 

Left: The landing is painted in Farrow & Ball’s 

Old White with contrasting dark teal skirting 

a fabulously huge slab of wood. A giant nest of 

ostrich eggs, “yes, they are real,” Ben smiles, are 

piled up and gleaming in the centre of the table. 

Ben has cleverly balanced the darkness of the walls 

with a pale ceiling and floor, which subtly lighten 

up the room without diminishing the drama on 

the walls. The floor tiles look like ancient limestone 

flags, but are made by a flooring company in the 

Netherlands called Castle Stones, where they hand 

make special replica stone tiles. They look just like the 

real thing, but are a lot lighter in weight and easier to 

handle. Kagu is the UK’s agent for Castle Stones. 

Hanging over the kitchen table is a handcrafted ‘mud 

lamp’ and on the wall (and all around the house) there are 

iconic prints by Anthony Burrill, all from the Kagu shop. 

Above, spun out across the beams there are hanging 

lamps from Buster + Punch. It’s clear when you look 

around that Ben has thought carefully about lighting 

throughout the house and that a key part of the overall 

design is down to the lighting. This is the reason that 

(admittedly helped by the property’s large windows) the 

rooms don’t feel oppressive or gloomy. “Lighting is 


64

FIFTY 

FOUR 

DEGREES 

CELSIUS 

The perfect medium rare 

New York Strip is cooked 

at fifty four degrees Celsius. 

A single millimetre is all that 

is needed for a flawless 

slice of Jamón Ibérico. 

Sixty four degree water 

gives the most rich, 

velvety poached eggs 

you’ve ever imagined. 

When you’re in the kitchen, 

perfection and joy come 

from precision. And it’s the 

same when we’re in the 

kitchen too — because we 

love what we do. 

This is German Enjoyneering. 

Kutchenhaus Farnborough 

70 Kingsmead, The Meads 

Shopping Centre, Farnborough 

GU14 7SL 

Tel : 01252 239051

Kitchen Studio 

THE LARGEST 

KITCHEN SHOWROOM 

IN REIGATE 

FREE 

Quooker Flex Boiling 

Water Tap with your 

new kitchen* 

*T&C’s available on request. 

DESIGN • SUPPLY • MANAGE 

• INSTALL 

Bancroft Road, Reigate RH2 7RP 

01737 240403 www.rdokitchenstudio.co.uk rdokitchenstudio

Above: A verdigris and copper bath is the focal point of the contemporary bathroom, which is home to more Anthony 

Burrill prints. Suspended from the ceiling is a sculptural octagon light. A stone basin perches on a slice of burr oak 

important in interior projects,” 

he says, explaining that it works 

in three stages – top, which is 

the overhead, blanketing light 

– middle the wall lights, which 

also bring in some elegance – and 

then bottom, which is the table 

or floor lamps. When all three 

layers are employed, a range 

of effects is created – features 

can be highlighted, shadows 

deepen within the grooves in 

panelling and cool, dark colours 

become warmer and softer 

when gently and subtly lit. 

Plants also help to bring 

a room to life, “especially 

architectural plants – don’t 

 


Above: A stone basin perches on a slice of 

burr oak Right: Soft pinks and pale ochres 

combine in the decor of a guest bedroom 

be afraid to go big,” says Ben. “A 

large-leafed plant always makes a 

statement and can become a great 

focal point.” I’m wondering whether 

it’s a little dark for some houseplants, 

but Ben assures me that if they start 

looking a little unhappy, he gives 

them a holiday in the garden. 

The hall and landing are painted in 

Farrow & Ball’s Old White, and this 

brings a lightness to the heart of the 

house – and practicality, as the stairs 

are narrow and steep, going up two 

storeys, with a tiny landing. Even this 

small space manages to make room for 

a focal-point pot and some pictures. 

Through the open door of the 

bathroom your eye is immediately 

drawn to the elegant bath in the 

corner – deep, dark and coppery 

within, verdigris on the outside – the 

sort of bath a mermaid might choose. 

Suspended from the ceiling is a 

sculptural octagon light, each tentacled 

arm holding a small globe that can 

be individually positioned. A stone 

basin perches on a slice of burr oak, 

looking rustic and effortlessly chic. 

The focus is on comfort in the 

master bedroom. The dark colour 

– Farrow & Ball’s Bancha – works 

especially well in here, and the 

careful choice of accent lighting 

brings glamour, depth and a restful 

ambience. The windows have both 

blinds and curtains to help with 

sound as well as light blocking. 

Margot’s room on the top floor 

is a total joy, wallpapered with a 

design by illustrator Katie Scott from 

Swedish firm Ferm Living, who 

also made the giant pineapple rug. 


68

Tunbridge Wells . 70 Calverley Road . TN1 2UJ . 01892 548 111 

Oxshott . 1 High Street . KT22 0JN . 01372 841 730

Outstanding care within an independent Home 

Maintaining the highest 

professional standards within 

a quiet, comfortable ‘Home 

from Home’ environment 

O 

an 

Ma 

sta 

‘Ho 

• 24 hour expert Nursing Care 

by qualifi ed nurses 

• Long stay or respite care for seniors 

• Excellent home cooked menu 

• Varied range of activities 

• Comfortable and friendly atmosphere 

• Personal service with family-run values 

For further information call today on 01737 240563 

or 242647 or visit www.wray-common.co.uk 

Wray Common Road I Reigate I Surrey I RH2 0ND 

24 

Lon 

Exc 

Var 

Co 

Pe 

For further information call today on 

01737 240563 or 242647 or visit 

www.wray-common.co.uk 

Wray Common Road I Reigate 

Surrey I RH2 0ND 

WrayCommonS64A.indd 1 28/01/2020 12:25 

Cranleigh 

Tiles & Bathrooms 

Range of Tiles, Bathrooms and Showers from 

Thomas Crapper Bathrooms, Heritage Bathrooms 

and Burlington Bathrooms. 

Suppliers of Contemporary Ranges including 

Laufen, Roca, Vitra and Roper Rhodes 

15% off when you 

mention this Ad 

Open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday 

9.00am to 12.00 midday Saturday closed Sundays 

Due to covid we kindly ask for you to ring to make an 

appointment so we can be covid secure 

Cranleigh Tiles and Bathrooms 

Telephone 01483 272727 

craig@cranleighbathroomstudios.co.uk 

www.cranleighbathroomstudios.co.uk 


70 

CranleighBathroomStudiosWT236.indd 1 30/11/2021 10:47

This page: Artist Dan Hillier’s Frontiers diptych hangs 

above the upholstered master bed. The walls are painted 

in Farrow & Ball’s Bancha, and careful attention has been 

paid to the lighting to create a restful ambience 

It feels soft and calm in 

here, with accent details 

in warm beige and on 

the rosy side of neutral. 

Much of the furniture 

has been up-cycled, so 

the room has a timeless 

and characterful feel. 

Ben’s office is on the 

top floor too, organised 

to double up as a spare 

bedroom. He has had fun 

in here, playing with blocks 

of colour and geometric 

shapes and textures. The 

look is enhanced by the 

fringed lampshade, velvet 

curtains and headboard in 

pale salmon and a tactile 

and curvaceous terrazzo 

mushroom-shaped table 

– all combining to bring 

a vintage 1970’s vibe, but 

with a modern twist. 

Texture is an important 

– and often overlooked 

aspect of interior design. 

We tend to focus on 

the visual, but creating 

a liveable, comfortable 

home is as much about 

touch as it is about how 

things look. Ben has an 

ingenious – and increasingly 

fearless, eye for design 

and is now able to put his 

skills into practice more 

and more as the interiors 

side of Kagu expands. 

“The business has 

flipped,” he explains. “It 

was a shop directing people 

towards interiors, but now 

it’s the other way round – 

the shop has moved further 

down the high street, 

selling a more exclusive 

range that you can’t buy 

from anywhere else.” 

Back downstairs 


This page: On the top floor, daughter Margot’s 

room is wallpapered with a design by illustrator 

Katie Scott from Swedish firm Ferm Living 

we are in the front room where Ben has managed 

to make an entrance area and a cosy sitting room 

– no easy feat to achieve both in one small space. 

The huge mirror on the ‘hall’ table helps frame this 

section and the fireplace and alcoves provide the 

focus for the ‘sitting’ part of the room. A sumptuous 

royal blue sofa (from Kagu) completes the look. 

This is a period house with original features and 

it can be difficult to blend these with a bold and 

contemporary style – far easier to play it safe and 

lean towards classic or neutral themes, especially in a 

smaller property. Ben has shown that with the right 

treatment the use of darker hues, rich textures and 

bespoke modern furniture and artwork, this style can 

work successfully – not just to make dramatic design 

statements, but also a warm and comfortable family home. 

Address Book: 

Find out more about Ben’s interior design services and his 

shop, Kagu in Tenterden, by visiting kagu-interiors.co.uk 

Graphic artist Anthony Burrill anthonyburrill.com 

Door handles by Buster + Punch busterandpunch.com 

Floor tiles by Castle Stones castle-stones.com/en 

Wallpaper and interior accessories from 

Ferm Living fermliving.com 


72

Advertisement Feature 

Considering a Home Gym? 

Mick Rolton, owner of Gym Design & Supply, shares advice on what to consider if you’re thinking 

of investing in a gym at home, how you can make the best use of your space and the importance of 

designing a gym that you’ll not only use regularly but will help you achieve your fitness goals. 

“ 

I 

often hear clients talking about 

getting fit,” says Mick, “but as a 

sports science graduate and former 

personal trainer, I try to get a deeper 

understanding. By focusing on what 

you’d like to achieve – whether toning 

up, building muscle or strength, 

improving cardio fitness, or enjoying 

the benefit of all-round health and 

fitness later in life allowing you to stay 

active with your family – I can then 

design a gym that’s going to meet your 

particular needs. I often see home 

gyms full of equipment that isn’t being 

used because this discussion about 

fitness goals hasn’t taken place.” 

Mick suggests that thinking about 

these goals and talking them through 

with an expert gym designer will 

always ensure that your gym is 

working within your budget and 

that you’re using the available space 

for maximum benefit. You’ll also 

create a place that looks and feels so 

good that you WANT to go back to 

it all the time! Typically, he would 

recommend considering the following: 

To improve your running time/ 

technique: An indoor treadmill is a 

great option, allowing you to create and 

track specific structured programs that 

will accelerate your progress rather than 

just randomly ‘going out for a run’. 

It also means you can run whatever 

the weather. Supplementing this 

with some lower body strengthening 

work with Free Weights will help 

you take the impact off the joints as 

well as give a spring to your stride. 

To tone up: High Intensity Interval 

Training (HIIT) is a great all-rounder 

for this, firming up your muscles whilst 

burning your body fat. However, 

be careful with jumping exercises as 

although they burn calories and fat they 

can also wreck your joints, especially 

as you get older. Supplementing with 

resistance exercise offers continual 

muscle tension throughout the 

range of movement will help turn 

your muscles into effective shock 

absorbers. A combination of cardio 

and functional equipment such as a 

Treadmill or Spin Bike along with Core 

Bags, Kettlebells, Medicine Balls and 

Dumbbells would be one good solution. 

To build strength/muscle: You will 

need a greater strength element to your 

gym, so a set of Dumbbells and a Bench 

may not be enough. Allowing space for 

an Olympic Barbell and Plates and a 

Rack to use them with gives you a lot of 

muscle-building and strength options. 

For a sports-specific focus: Functional 

equipment will really help you with 

any sport including golf, tennis, 

cricket, hockey, football and rugby. 

Free Weights, Medicine Balls and 

Kettlebells are a good start but Cable 

Machines offer a greater range of 

power as the resistance tends to be 

similar through the entire range of 

movement. A quality dual adjustable 

cable machine will also allow you to 

train in similar or complimentary 

movements and can make a big 

difference to your sporting performance 

as well as minimising injuries. 

Once you’re clear about what 

you’re looking to achieve, you 

can then explore your options 

for each piece of equipment. 

Next month: Making the 

most of available space and 

what mistakes to avoid. 

Gym Design & Supply gives you 

20 years’ of experience with an 

exclusive personal service and a 

wide range of options as well as an 

online price match guarantee. 

www.gymdesignsupply.com 

07976 237907 hello@gymdesignsupply.com 

@GymDesignSupply #GymDesignSupply

Thomas 

Thomas 

Mansfield 

Wills Wills Wills & & Inheritance & Wills Inheritance & Inheritance Planning 

Planning Planning 

The complete kitchen service... 

Planning Planning for Planning for your for your your future for future your does future does not not have does not have to not to have to to 

be be costly be costly or be or complicated 

costly or or complicated 

Having Having a Will a Having Will a gives Will gives a gives you Will you control you gives control you over over control who 

over who 

who over who 

receives receives your your receives assets your assets your and, and, assets if and, you if you if have and, you have if younger 

have younger have younger 

children, children, it allows children, it it allows you you it to allows you to assign to you assign legal to legal assign legal guardians, 

guardians, legal guardians, 

should should anything should anything happen. anything happen. happen. 

If you If you If are you are intending If are you intending are to intending to leave to leave everything to leave everything to everything to your your 

to your to your 

partner partner and/or partner and/or children and/or children without children without any any without complex 

any complex any complex 

wishes, wishes, then then wishes, we then we are we are then now are now we offering now are offering now a new a offering new a Simple 

new a Simple new Simple 

Will Will service Will service Will at at an service an at affordable an affordable at an price affordable price price but but without 

but price without but without 

compromising compromising on on our our on specialist our on specialist our advice specialist advice and and advice and and 

service. 

service. service. 

...from a hinge to to a complete makeover 

100’s of Worktops l 1000’s of Doors 

door replacement l lmade to to measure service l l worktops 

appliances l sinks and taps l ldrawer replacement 

improved storage and access solutions 

door refurbishment service 

Instant hot water taps fitted 

The Kitchen Doctor's bespoke service supplies 

and The fits Kitchen comprehensive Doctor’s bespoke range service of components supplies and to 

fits a comprehensive range of components 

to 

give 

give 

your 

your 

kitchen 

kitchen 

a 

a 

new 

new 

lease 

lease 

of 

of 

life. 

life. 

01689 850000 01689 850000 

chris@thekitchendoctor.com 

chris@thekitchendoctor.com 

www.thekitchendoctor.com 

www.thekitchendoctor.com 

serving London and the South-East for 25 years 

Serving London and the South-East since 1984 

Made to measure 

cabinets now 

available 

And And we And we have we have And have now now we extended now have extended now this extended this offer this offer to offer this to Lasting 

to offer Lasting to Lasting 

Powers Powers of of Attorney Powers of Attorney of (LPA). Attorney (LPA). If your If your (LPA). If circumstances 

your If your circumstances 

are are straightforward are are straightforward and and not and not complicated, not and complicated, not complicated, we we 

we we 

can can draft can draft a draft can Simple a draft Simple LPA a LPA Simple for LPA for a fixed for a LPA fixed a fee. 

fixed for fee. a fee. fixed fee. 

Thomas Thomas Mansfield Thomas Mansfield Solicitors Mansfield Solicitors Solicitors 

Legal Legal experts Legal experts in in Inheritance experts in Inheritance in Inheritance Planning, Planning, Powers Planning, Powers of of Powers of of 

Attorney, Attorney, Wills, Attorney, Wills, Court Wills, Court of of Protection Court of Protection of and Protection and Probate. 

and Probate. and Probate. 

KitchenDoctorS52.indd 1 18/01/2019 09:58 

No more draughty, rotten, 

inefficient sash windows 

OUR OUR OUR NEW NEW OUR SERVICES 

NEW SERVICES SERVICES 

Our Our new Our new Simple new Our Simple Will new Will Service Simple Will Service Will costs costs Service costs costs 

£240 £240 plus £240 plus VAT plus £240 VAT for VAT for plus a single a for VAT a single Will for Will a single Will Will 

£310 £310 plus £310 plus VAT plus VAT £310 for VAT for plus two two for “mirror” VAT two for “mirror” Wills two Wills “mirror” Wills Wills 

Our Our new Our new Simple new Our Simple new LPA LPA Service Simple LPA Service LPA Service 

From From £365 From £365 plus £365 From plus VAT plus £365 VAT for VAT for plus a single a for VAT a single application for a single application application 

Call Call today Call today Call on on 01483 today on 01483 679333 on 01483 679333 679333 

For For more more For information more For information more and information and the and the terms terms the and of terms these of these 

of terms these of these 

offers offers please offers please please visit offers visit our visit please our website: 

our visit website: our website: 

www.tmwillsandprobate.co.uk 

www.tmwillsandprobate.co.uk 

GUILDFORD GUILDFORD WOKING GUILDFORD WOKING WEYBRIDGE WOKING WEYBRIDGE ESHER WEYBRIDGE ESHER ESHER LEATHERHEAD 

ESHER LEATHERHEAD LEATHERHEAD 

Using revolutionary 10mm thick 

double glazed units we can retro 

fit sash windows, retaining the 

original appearance but with 

the benefits of double glazing. 

Improve insulation 

Save money on heating bills 

Call 0800 772 3148 for a 

FREE site survey & quote 

sashwindowheritage.co.uk 


74 

ThomasMansfieldWT238-SURREY (Private Law).indd 1 03/02/2022 SashWindowHeritageS35.indd 19:13 

1 15/08/2017 15:20

1 Chandelier £850 Kagu kagu-interiors.co.uk 2 Animal Islands wallpaper £249 Lime Lace limelace.co.uk 3 “It is 

what it is” print £24 Rocket Jack rocketjack.co.uk 4 Pond mirror £295 Kagu kagu-interiors.co.uk 5 Her And Him 

prints by Orara Studio from £25 each Athena Art athenaart.com 6 Jesus wall art by Wonderbold £189 Lime Lace 

limelace.co.uk 7 Burnt orange velvet cushion £40 Luxe 39 luxe39.com 8 Stork orange velvet cushion £45 One 

Hundred Stars onehundredstars.co.uk 9 Big waffle bed throw £79 The Secret Linen Store secretlinenstore.com 

10 Walnut slab coffee table £995 Shimu shimu.co.uk 11 Aggy three seater velvet sofa £1,695 Flown the 

Coop flownthecoop.co.uk 12 Silver grass feathers in tall black textured vase £58.98 Dowsing and Reynolds 

dowsingandreynolds.com 13 Poseidon Baltic ecofriendly carpet £42.99 Flooring Superstore flooringsuperstore.com 


County Clothes Menswear 

Quality & Personal Service 

Canterbury Tenterden Reigate Sevenoaks Bexhill - on - Sea 

Time for a quick get away? 

www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk

Let’s go outside 

Venture out on a spring style safari 

with Kate Watts’ new season men’s and 

womenswear picks, featuring a natural 

colour palette, breathable fabrics 

and light layering 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Animal prints: istockphoto.com/Ekaterina Mutigullina 

Water repellent jacket £85, crew neck jumper £34.99, Capsule Instagram @capsulehastings; 

chino trousers £119, leather bag £95, County Clothes countyclothesmenswear.co.uk

Woven jacket £209, linen shirt 

£139, Who’s Wearing What 

whoswearingwhat-boutique.co.uk; 

bucket hat £18, Capsule 

Instagram @capsulehastings

dressing undeniable beauty 

35 High St, 

Cranbrook 

www.odyl.co.uk 

01580 714907 

Surrey’s 

Leading Occasion 

Wear Boutique 

www.melitaboutique.co.uk 

57 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AF 

Tel: 01276 856308 

OdylWT239.indd 1 18/03/2022 MelitaOfChobhamWT239.indd 11:22 

1 18/03/2022 09:31 

BLUE VELVET SHOES 

Visit Blue Velvet Shoes at 

174 Kings Road, SW3 4UP 

buy online www.bluevelvetshoes.com 


BlueVelvetWT239.indd 1 04/03/2022 12:08

For amazing designer and bespoke 

hats and fascinators as well as seasonal 

hats, umbrellas and pashminas. 

We also stock Rainbow shoes which can 

be dyed to any colour imaginable. 

Visit me at Wealden Times 

Midsummer Fair 

THE MAD HATTER 

12 Castle Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3UW 

01483 566845 

www.themadhattermillinery.com 

Silver jewellery inspired by nature. Handmade in Kent. 

07770 612903 

www.emmakeatingjewellery.co.uk 

TheMadHatterWT239.indd 1 02/03/2022 EmmaKeatingJewelleryWT239.indd 11:19 

1 02/03/2022 14:04 

GANT 

TOMMY HILFIGER 

CLAUDIO LUGLI 

SCOTCH & SODA 

Opening Hours Mon - Sat 09.30 - 17.30 

3 Oakdene Parade, Cobham, 

Surrey KT11 2LR. 

Telephone: 01932 865700 

www.jeremyhobbs.co.uk 

info@jeremyhobbs.co.uk 


80 

JeremyHobbsS53.indd 1 

JeremyHobbsWT237.indd 1 18/01/2022 15:26

Linen tunic £89, African jacquard 

scarf £95, Who’s Wearing What 

whoswearingwhat-boutique.co.uk; 

silk trousers £195, Courtyard 

courtyarduk.co.uk

Rails spring jacket £198, 360 sweater £95, Courtyard 

courtyarduk.co.uk; printed linen trousers £115, Who’s 

Wearing What whoswearingwhat-boutique.co.uk 

Shacket £95, leather slip ons £95, County Clothes 

countyclothesmenswear.co.uk; striped0 shirt £34.99, crew 

neck t-shirt £17.99, Capsule Instagram @capsulehastings 

Follow Kate 

on Instagram 

@stylistkatewatts

irdie.london 

Beautiful Merino Activewear 

Subscribe via our website to receive 10% off your first purchase

ENHANCING 

LANDSCAPES 

Whether you’re starting with a blank canvas or revamping 

an existing plot, our professional horticulturists and 

landscapers will create your dream garden, and keep 

it that way too. 

• Grounds maintenance 

• Instant Trees & Hedges 

• Landscape build & plant 

• Automatic irrigation 

We provide bespoke garden services for both private 

and corporate clients. Caring for your outdoor property 

big or small, is our passion. 

To arrange a free consultation please call 01895 438 811 

or visit our website at hortlands.co.uk

Gardens

PAINSHILL 

WHERE THE WALK IS A WORK OF ART 

• POOL MAINTENANCE 

• POOL REPAIRS 

• POOL RENOVATION 

• POOL BUILD 

Landscape Garden 

Easter Egg 

Statue Trail 

Tea Room 

www.sjpoolservices.co.uk 

Call 01932 500 421 / 07957 749482 / 07974 178220 

Email info@sjpoolservices.co.uk 

Gift Shop 

painshill.co.uk 

Bourne Buildings Ltd 

THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK WITH OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 

5,000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY 

SJPoolsS55.indd 1 01/05/2019 PainshillParkTrustWT239.indd 11:46 

1 23/03/2022 13:11 

Set in a magical landscape of water and wildlife, Bourne 

Buildings is not your typical garden buildings showsite. 

Well known for its vast selection of garden buildings and expert 

advice, Bourne Buildings offer standard, as well as made-toorder 

designs of varying qualities and styles, fit for all budgets. 

Our complete range of services include product installation, 

base laying and a re-felting service. 

Visit our showsite to see an impressive array of stone 

ornaments, including eye-catching armillary. 

On display at our showsite in Farnham, we have over: 

• 60 Sheds 

• 60 Summer houses 

• 35 Playhouses 

• 35 Greenhouses 

• 20 Garden Offices & Garden Rooms 

• 8 Garages 

Opening Hours 

Mon/Thu/Fri/Sat/9.30AM - 5PM, Sun 10AM - 4PM 

CLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAYS 

01252 718481 

sales@bournebuildings.co.uk 

www.bournebuildings.co.uk 

Bourne Buildings Ltd, 39-43 Guildford Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9PY 


2 

BourneBuildingsWT238.indd 1 03/02/2022 14:33

17 

7 Contents 

5 READY MADE 

7 

10 

We get some invaluable advice 

from expert landscapers 

7 MAGICAL METALS 

Decorate your garden with 

gorgeous metalic elements 

9 SET IN STONE 

Shop stony splendour for a 

timelessly beautiful garden 

10 GLOW IN THE DARK 

Get ready to entertain of a 

summer evening 

13 AND THE WINNER IS... 

We talk to some awardwinning 

garden companies 

17 BEST OF THE BLOOMS 

Flower experts give us 

recommendations for various 

kinds of gardens 

19 SMALL BUT MIGHTY 

Jo Arnell explains how to 

garden to maximise a 

smaller space 

9 

17 

25 

10 

Transform 

Transform 

Your 

Your 

Outdoor 

Outdoor 

Space 

Space 

17 

25 HEAVEN SCENT 

Add some sweet scents to 

your outdoor spaces with 

advice from Sue Whigham 

30 COME OUTSIDE 

Find a wonderful garden to 

visit near you this spring 

10 

7 

10 

SUPPLIERS & INSTALLERS OF 

PREMIUM ARTIFICIAL GRASS 

SUPPLIERS & INSTALLERS OF 

PREMIUM ARTIFICIAL GRASS 

DEDICATED PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

& INSTALLATION TEAMS 

DEDICATED PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

& INSTALLATION TEAMS 

0800 540 4380 

0800 07718540 3764380 

798 

07718 VIEW OUR 376 PORTFOLIO 798 

www.lovelawns.co.uk 

VIEW OUR PORTFOLIO 

www.lovelawns.co.uk 


LoveLawnsWT227.indd 1 08/03/2021 16:22

INSTANT HEDGES AND LARGE TREES 

avilble now 

Mke the most of your outdoor spce with rcticl Istt edge 

We create tree landscapes and green screening to suit every garden, from specimen trees and instant 

Practicality Brown have been installing Trees and Instant Hedges with unrivalled 

hedges to bespoke 

customer 

UK 

satisfaction 

wide projects 

for 

for 

over 

home 

35 years. 

owners, 

We 

designers, 

create tree 

architects 

landscapes 

and 

and 

property 

green 

developers. 

screening to suit every garden, from individual trees and Instant Hedges to bespoke 

Our Practical UK Instant wide Hedge projects TM for is regarded designers, by architects many as and the best property available developers. and is often used in 

award-winning RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Show gardens. 

Our Instant We Hedge offer comprehensive is regarded by supply, many as delivery the best and available planting and services. is often used in 

award-winning RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Show gardens. 

Fid more iformtio t: 

Find more information at: 

www.prcbrow.co.uk 

www.pracbrown.co.uk 

PRACTICALITY BROWN LTD 

THE T INSTANT InTanT LANDSCAPE IaIT 

SPECIALISTS 

Swan Road Iver Bucks SL0 9LA 

Tel: 01753 652022 | hedge@pracbrown.co.uk

The 

BIG 

Questions 

When taking on a landscaper, 

it’s important to know what you 

want ahead of time, so we asked 

Tim Sykes of Gardenproud for a 

list of key questions we should ask 

ourselves and have answers for 

• What are the must haves? 

Consider your main objectives – do you want 

a terrace, a lawned area, an outside office, 

new fencing, more privacy, a kitchen garden, 

a hot tub or swimming pool, for example? 

• What are the nice-to-haves? 

Are you interested in trellis screening, an 

arbour, a pergola, garden lighting? Or perhaps 

a focal point like a sculpture, fire pit area, a 

water feature, outdoor kitchen or herb garden? 

• Do you have any budget parameters in mind? 

• What sort of gardens do you like? 

Is there a style that interests you like 

contemporary, traditional, Japanese, Australian, 

English Cottage, low maintenance etc? 

• How does it need to integrate with your house? 

Is your house contemporary, period, cottage, 

Edwardian etc? Are there any additions like 

a new orangery or kitchen extension? 

• Do you especially like, or dislike any materials? 

• Are there any plants or trees you 

particularly like, or dislike? 

• Are you keen gardeners, occasional 

gardeners or not interested in gardening? 

• What sort of lifestyle do you lead? 

Do you love barbecues, like sitting 

around a fire pit, play boules? Do 

you like cooking or travel a lot? 

• What about your family? 

Do you have children? If so, how old are 

they and how do they use the garden? 

• Do you have pets, or animals in a 

country setting that the landscaper 

should be made aware of? 

For further advice or help with the design 

for your garden then speak to Tim Sykes 

at Gardenproud on 07725 173820, see 

Gardenproud's Show Garden at Corker 

Outdoor Living, Paddock Wood, or visit 

the website reallygardenproud.com 

Gardens Supplement sponsored by 

Ready Made 

Looking for more privacy, greenery or a structural 

backdrop? Transform your garden with tree and hedging 

advice from the team at Practicality Brown 

What planting do you suggest for someone wanting 

to improve privacy in their garden? 

Trees can be used to create some privacy in a garden, or to hide 

an undesirable view. Screening trees often have a clear stem to 

reach up to fence panel height of around 1.8-2m with a fullbushy 

canopy above. This type of screening is particularly useful 

if you are overlooked by neighbouring properties, would like 

to draw the eye towards a specific feature, or would like to 

retain lower level exposure i.e. of an attractive wall or area. 

What advice would you have for those who have lost 

trees or fencing during the recent storms? 

Britain is experiencing more variable weather conditions due to climate 

change, and violent winter storms are more common than they used to 

be. Practicality Brown have a range of mature specimen trees that could 

replace any that have been damaged or blown over. Similarly, if your 

fence panels have taken a battering, you could consider replacing them 

with a mature, ready grown hedge, like Practical Instant Hedge. 

Tell us about your involvement with RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021. 

RHS Shows made a welcome return last year, and we were delighted to 

work with talented garden designers at Hampton Court, Tatton Park 

and the unseasonably late Chelsea! Every year, garden designers choose 

our Instant Hedge as an integral part of their concept, forming an 

important green backdrop or as part of the structure within the design 

itself. From small concept gardens to Feature Gardens and the large 

Show Gardens, our hedges and trees have been part of many awardwinning 

gardens over the years – and we will be there again this year! 

For more information about Practicality Brown’s 

trees and hedges, see pracbrown.co.uk 


HOME 

GARDEN 

BLUEWATER 

LIMITED FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE – REGISTER NOW 

INTERIORS GARDENS SMART HOME 

SPRING HOME & GARDEN EVENT 

13-22 MAY 2022 

Scan for tickets 

Bluewater, Kent 

homeandgardenevent.com


Wood burning 

chiminea £475 Cox & 

Cox coxandcox.co.uk 

Maroc wall planter 

£40 Curated 

Living Limited 

curatedliving.co.uk 

Fumega bowl 

fire pit £140 

made.com 

Distressed iron clock 

£65 Cox & Cox 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Solis embossed 

planter £49.99 

Ivyline ivylinegb.co.uk 

Bespoke fairy garden spherical fire pit 

£1,799 LOGI Firepits 

logifirepits.com 

Steel long tailed tit 

£39.95 Yorkshire 

Wildlife Trust 

ywtshop.org.uk 

Moucharabiya arch 

gate from £575 

Screen with Envy 

screenwithenvy.co.uk 

Environmentally 

sustainable handcrafted 

zinc door canopy on 

a veranda in Regents 

Park, The Zinc and 

Copper Door Canopy 

Company zac.ltd 

Charlbury obelisk plant 

supports from £80 Garden 

Trading gardentrading.co.uk 

Antique spheres £27.95 

(set of 3) Melody Maison 

melodymaison.co.uk 

Saturn fire pit collection, £297 

FirepitsUK firepitsuk.co.uk 

Classic black freestanding apex verandahs at Old 

Kent Barn, with trumpet columns and circles arches 

by The Traditional Verandah Company ttvc.co.uk 

Viticcio bench £225 

OKA oka.com 

Barbecook ural fire pit 

£149 Pangaea Home 

pangaeahome.co.uk 

Magical Metals 

We’re taking an elemental approach to gardening this year; starting with the magic of metals! Serving us both 

functionality and decoration, metals surely deserve pride of place in your garden, especially considering some of the 

gorgeous firepits about at the moment – perfect for cosying around of a summer evening! 


• Automation and installation 

• Entry phones and access control 

• Hardwood, aluminium and metal 

gates made to order for automation 

and non-automation purposes 

• Supply-and-fit service for fully 

automated electric garage doors 

• Brick piers 

FREE SURVEYS & 

QUOTES PROVIDED 

TEL: 01483 379954 

info@harriergates.co.uk 

www.harriergates.co.uk 

Cubbit Antiques Centre 

Bagshot, Surrey 

HarrierGatesWT239.indd 1 01/03/2022 09:17 

Open 

Friday 

Saturday 

Sunday 

10:00 - 16:00 

Architectural • Garden • Interiors • Lighting • Fireplaces • Curios 

We also buy antiques 

07944 326282 

info@cubbitantiques.com 

@CubbitAntiques 

www.cubbitantiques.co.uk 

The antiques Warehouse 

Bagshot Village GU19 5AZ 

Directly next door to 

The Kings Arms 

Free Parking 


8 

CubbitAntiquesWT238.indd 1 15/02/2022 17:00


Eire cobble tiles £31.95/m 2 Tile 

Mountain tilemountain.co.uk 

Scupper concrete water bowl, 

POA, Solus solusdecor.co.uk 

Ivyline spiral LED water feature 

£499.99 John Lewis johnlewis.com 

Balustraded temple 

£7,152 with wrought iron dome 

£9,895 Haddonstone haddonstone.com 

Terracotta handled 

jar £220 Sproutl 

sproutl.com 

Folly garden, gothic 

follies and ruins at 

Capel Manor, Redwood 

Stone redwoodstone.com 

Skyline Design dancers 

sculpture £895 Lagoon 

vivalagoon.com 

Marble coasters 

£14 Monday 

mondayonline.co.uk 

Conisbrough dining table 

£3,195 OKA oka.com 

Wall mounted 

solar water feature 



Big foot concrete side table 

£439 Pepper Sq peppersq.com 

Stone candlesticks from £22 

Charles Ted charlested.com 

West lodge fountain and torus pool surround 

£954 Haddonstone haddonstone.com 

Solar ceramic 

lantern £22.99 

Festive Lights 

festive-lights.com 

Aged terracotta 

plant pot £7.95 

Idyll Home 

idyllhome.co.uk 

20th century plaster 

figure of a discus 

thrower £2,850+vat 

Cubbit Antiques 

cubbitantiques.co.uk 

Decorative Ball Plinth, £16.50 

Sophie Allport sophieallport.com 

Pebble stone decorative bowl 

£60 Lime Lace limelace.co.uk 

Small staddle stone for a Cotswold cottage 

garden, Redwood Stone redwoodstone.com 

Clasped hands sculpture, 



Set in Stone 

Wield the timeless strength of earthy elements like stone and clay to contrast plantlife with 

manmade, soft with hard, wilderness with order – not forgetting that these materials are perfect for 

introducing water into your outdoor space for some additional movement and tranquility 



Kaleido cluster 

pendant lamp 

£175 made.com 

Botanical tin plate £7 

Raj Tent Club rajtentclub.com 

Tasselled canopy £63.75 

Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk 

Floorstanding electric 

patio heater £399 John 

Lewis johnlewis.com 

Sunburst mirror 



Ascot modular sofa set £7,899 

Bridgman bridgman.co.uk 

Pulcinella cocktail 

glass £95 (for 4) 

OKA oka.com 

12 mini mushroom 

solar stake lights 

£19.99 Lights4fun 

lights4fun.co.uk 

Gothic outdoor 

mirror, £50 

Cox & Cox 


Champagne bucket with 

leather strap £88.50 Heating 

& Plumbing London 

heating-and-plumbing.com 

Missoni perseo throw £449 

Fenwick fenwick.co.uk 

Giant Zenith sculpture in stainless steel 

The Sculpture Park thesculpturepark.com 

Bees melamine plate 

£10 Sophie Allport 

sophieallport.com 

Arch window wall mirror 

£195 John Lewis johnlewis.com 

Wild fennel solar stake lights £36.95 

Sparkle Lighting sparkle.lighting 

Aikana garden sofa £2,540 

Go Modern Furniture 

gomodern.co.uk 

Glow in the dark 

Harness light itself with reflective surfaces, bright colours and charming outdoor lighting 

for dining in the dark and enchanting evening entertaining in the garden 

La Rochère bee 

wine glass £8 

Maison Cherie 

maisoncherie.shop 

Illustrations: istockphoto.com/Olga Kurbatova 


10

FEAST ON EASTER 

Be inspired by colourful essentials for Easter baking, roasting and gifting. 

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU VISIT A LE CREUSET STORE • BESPOKE CUSTOMER SERVICE • EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT RANGES AND OFFERS • 

PRODUCT EXPERTISE AND AFTERCARE • FREE DELIVERY OVER £50 • LOYALTY REWARDS • FREE RECIPE CARDS 

CALL & DELIVER | PAY BY LINK | FREE UK DELIVERY WHEN YOU SPEND £50 OR MORE | CONTACT THE STORE FOR MORE DETAILS 

LE CREUSET BLUEWATER SHOPPING CENTRE | UNIT U012 UPPER ROSE 

GALLERY, BLUEWATER SHOPPING CENTRE, GREENHITHE, KENT. DA9 9ST. 

TELEPHONE: 01322 381997 • E-MAIL: BLUEWATER.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LE CREUSET GUILDFORD | 143 HIGH STREET, GUILDFORD, GU1 3AD. 

TELEPHONE: 01483 452689 • E-MAIL: GUILDFORD.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LE CREUSET WINDSOR | UNIT 45 , WINDSOR ROYAL STATION, SL4 1PJ. 

TELEPHONE: 01753 852205 • E-MAIL: WINDSOR.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LE CREUSET WIMBLEDON | 4 CHURCH RD, WIMBLEDON VILLAGE, LONDON. SW19 5DL 

TELEPHONE: 0208 9440624 • E-MAIL: WIMBLEDON.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

Celebrating 

45 years of 

Furniture Excellence 

Live Luxuriously 

Enjoy perfect moments on the finest luxury outdoor furniture, delivered in a matter of days. 

From fully waterproof favourites to innovative contemporary designs, indulge 

in carefree dining and relaxation with award-winning collections designed to 

enhance your outdoor spaces. 

Brassey House,22-24 

New Zealand Avenue, 

Walton-on-Thames, 

Surrey, KT12 1QD 

Visit our beautiful Walton-on-Thames Showroom, call 01922 242707 

or head to bridgman.co.uk to discover everything you need to refresh 

your garden just in time for summer. 

ENFIELD 

OLD AMERSHAM 

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS 

WINCHESTER 

WILMSLOW 

WALTON-ON-THAMES


And the winner is... 

Award winners only here! Let’s find out what makes them so popular with the judges 

Karen McClure 

Garden Designer 

karenmcclure.co.uk 

As Accredited Designers of BALI (British 

Association of Landscape Industries), the APL 

(Association of Professional Landscapers) 

and the SGD (Society of Garden Designers), 

Karen McClure and her team have had 

several nominations and have scooped: 

• APL National Awards Best in Category 

& Gold award for Soft Landscaping for 

a stunning ‘Urban Jungle’ garden in 

Tunbridge Wells 

• APL National Awards Silver Award for 

their design on a detailed bespoke walled 

courtyard garden in Sevenoaks (pictured) 

• APL National Awards Finalist & Gold 

award by landscaper, Esse Landscaper who 

built their lovely contemporary garden in 

Copthorne. 

• The highest merit of 5 stars from RHS 

Chelsea for their work on the Cashmere 

Caveman trade stand at the show last 

September. 

• The local Muddy Stilettos Award for 

Garden Designer Kent 

• Finalists in the Pro-landscaper 

Business Awards 2020 

What is your approach to sustainability and the environment? 

Our approach is focused on internal team education, our 

specification of materials, mindfulness of our carbon footprint, 

water conservation and repurposing / using existing site 

materials and plants wherever we can. We utilise Microsoft 

Teams and Zoom for meetings to reduce time spent driving 

around, investigate and challenge our suppliers on their ‘green’ 

credentials more rigorously and ensure that we incorporate 

more soft landscape than hardscape into our designs to help 

encourage wildlife and biodiversity. We love nothing more than 

planting trees! We are always keen to educate ourselves further 

on this topic by attending industry seminars and events too. 

What are 2022’s garden trends? 

The pandemic has most certainly boosted positive attitudes to 

our outdoor spaces, not only for functionality – more people 

working from home has meant more demand for outdoor rooms 

for offices, for example – but also from the perspective of our 

health and wellbeing. Our gardens became little sanctuaries of 

therapy. There will be a continued trend for outdoor rooms 

and there has definitely been an increased appreciation and 

financial investment in outdoor design. We also envisage the 

continued experimentation and love of growing produce, which 

was reincarnated in a big way during the various lockdowns! We 

are committed to encouraging wildlife and pollinators into our 

plant and tree schemes and we know our clients love this. 

What or who inspires your work? 

I work in a super inspiring industry and there are many other 

designers and landscapers whose work I adore – however, I 

often find a lot of inspiration directly from my own team, 

whether it be their ideas, their work ethos or professionalism. I 

am also motivated by the life journeys of other entrepreneurs 

and find people’s ‘back stories’ super interesting, too. 


Composite Armour = Lifetime Warranty 

The speed and ease of installation will impress. 

Short lead times as most models are in stock 

Composite Not Armour only the very best = looking, Lifetime but the Warranty 

Composite Armour = Lifetime Warranty 

strongest structures 

Not only 

available 

the very best 

for 

looking, 

swimming 

but the 

pool design. 

strongest Not structures only the very available best looking, for but swimming the 

Models sizes pool design. 

strongest 

- 4.6 metres 

structures 

to 12 

available 

metres, 

for 

with 

swimming 

and without 

pool 

in 

designs. 

pool safety covers. 

Models sizes - 4.6 metres to 12 metres, with and without in pool safety covers. 

Exclusive 

Models 

to the 

sizes 

Cube 

- 4.6 metres 

and 

to 

Precision 

12 metres, with 

models, 

and without 

Leisure 

in pool 

Pools 

safety covers. 

have incorporated an 

in-built overflow Exclusive to skimmer the Cube system. and Precision This allows models, the Leisure water Pools level have to be incorporated the same level an as 

in-built the Exclusive surrounding overflow to the Cube skimmer paving/patio and Precision system. models, This giving Leisure allows a Pools unique, the have water incorporated exclusive level to be an mirror the same effect level as 

in-built the overflow surrounding skimmer system. paving/patio This allows the giving water a level unique, to be the exclusive same level mirror as effect 

the surrounding paving/patio giving a unique, exclusive mirror effect. 

www.swimpools.co.uk www.swimpools.co.uk 

enquiries@swimpools.co.uk 

Phone Phone Phone for for for brochure and and prices 

01444 411411 / 01444 or or 01444 411376 

411376

Frogheath frogheath.co.uk 

Landscape Garden Design 


Frogheath Landscapes has won multiple 

awards for gardens at RHS Chelsea and 

RHS Hampton Court as well as an 

impressive collection of awards from the 

Association of Professional Landscapers 

What services do Frogheath provide? 

Frogheath Landscapes provide all aspects 

of landscaping – hard landscaping (e.g. 

brickwork and paving), planting, complete 

re-designs or garden refurbishments. We work 

with residential, new build and commercial 

properties within a 30-mile radius of our base 

in Burwash, East Sussex. 

Tell us about your work at RHS 

Chelsea and RHS Hampton Court 

We are a multi award-winning company and 

have completed many gardens for the RHS 

shows. These include ‘Donkeys Matter’ which 

won the People’s Choice Award 2019 and 

various other charity builds over the years. 

How do you encourage the next generation of 

gardeners? 

Frogheath Landscapes take on two 

apprentice landscape gardeners per year. 

We work closely with local agricultural 

colleges such as Plumpton. We often work 

in schools where the children are quite 

keen to get involved where possible. 

Tell us a bit about your process. 

Prospective customers are encouraged to contact 

us via the website, email or give us a call during 

office hours. Here we ascertain their initial 

ideas, and we book in a free site visit with the 

director, Steve. It is during this visit where we 

discuss the client’s requirements. Sometimes a 

garden designer is required – we have several 

we work with closely, including Tina Vallis, 

as we have a new design studio on site at 

Frogheath. We then make that design a reality . 

XL Pools xlpools.com 

How has swimming pool technology changed over the years? 

The biggest advancement we have found are the one piece swimming pools, 

they are installed as one shell. These are installed in a matter of days rather than 

weeks. They are typically stronger and more hygienic than regular pools. We 

have also seen an advancement in swimming pool heating – we use air source 

heat pumps, they are more cost effective than gas, oil or full electric heaters. 

What do you specialise in? 

We install high quality swimming pools – but that’s not all! 

We are with you at every step of your journey: from the 

initial concept, designing of the pool, all the way through 

to the installation and aftercare of your new pool. 

Tell us about a favourite installation. 

Our favourite installation has to be the Hawkins Project (above). The 

pool project at an already stunning home, set on a hillside with amazing 

views, provided an ideal opportunity to showcase how our years of 

expertise and adaptable and fluid approach extends to not just the pool 

design itself but the immediate and not-so-immediate surrounding areas. 

We included an additional safe and secure area for the younger members 

of the family and the landscape design, too. We really enjoyed creating 

this swimming pool. This pool is nothing like we have done before: the 

pool surround is unique and striking, with the paving set in a diamond 

shape and grass separation which was designed by our customer. 

XL Pools’ most recent awards were won at the SPATA Awards in 

January, and EUSA (European) awards in 2021. They took home: 

• 2 gold SPATA awards 

Swimming Pool Specialists 

• 1 silver SPATA award 

• 1 bronze SPATA award 

• SPATA Outstanding pool of the year award for one of their 

residential builds 

• 1 gold EUSA award for an indoor pool installation 

• EUSA contractor of the year in 2015, 2018 & 2020 


MALVERN GARDEN BUILDINGS 

Discover our premium range of garden offices, 

designed for nature-infused homeworking. 

Squire’s Garden Centre 

Halliford Road, Upper Halliford, 

Shepperton, TW17 8SG

In 


istockphoto.com/Maksims Grigorjevs istockphoto.com/Multiart istockphoto.com/Wavetop 

istockphoto.com/Remedios 

Wisteria 

Honeysuckle 

Star Jasmine 

Chris Carpenter, Plant Area Manager at 

Squire’s Milford recommends Nicotiana 

sylvestris (tall tobacco plant) as he 

says the “elegant long white tubular 

flowers have an intense fragrance 

that is released in the evening as 

the sun sets. Perfect for planting at 

the back of borders or in pots.” 

He also suggests night scented 

phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata), “a lovely 

compact plant with small fragrant 

white flowers that are pink on the back 

of the petals and are highly scented in the 

evenings.” He says that it “flowers 

during the summer and is great 

for adding to pots or even 

hanging baskets, so you can 

smell them from head height.” 

Tall 

Phlox 

tobacco plant 

the Night Garden 

Reflective or scented, these blooms 

come with recommendations from 

the experts at Squire’s 

squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Two of Jeremy Hall, Plant Buyer at 

Squire’s, favourite plants to enjoy at night are 

Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) 

which has “very fragrant white flowers that 

reflect the moonlight” and wisteria 

with its “long hanging flowers 

available in blue, pink and 

white.” He also points out 

that both are “highly fragrant 

and even stronger at night.” 

Best 

of the 

Blooms 

We’ve asked some flower 

experts to advise on the best 

blooms to plant for various 

kinds of gardens 

White flowers “show 

up well in a busy garden, 

and stand out when the light 

fades in the evening,” says Theresa Scattergood, 

Plant Area Manager at Squire’s Washington. “I love a 

white phlox as its flowers stand out in a mixed boarder in 

the day, and as night falls the scent is wonderful.” But honeysuckle 

is her “absolute favourite scented plant,” and she recommends 

Lonicera ‘Scentsation’ as “it’s very easy to grow and has a profusion 

of creamy white flowers throughout summer”. She describes its 

scent as “a deliciously sweet strong perfume” which is “particularly 

strong at dusk and will make you want to go into the garden or take 

an evening stroll every night throughout the summer!” 

Walk 

Yellow Rattle 

Bridgerton Brilliance 

Lavender 

on 

Oxeye Daisy 

Make your garden more 

‘Bridgerton’, no matter what size it 

may be, with Crown Pavilions 

crownpavilions.com 

Wisteria droops beautifully all 

over the Bridgerton family 

house, but it can be seasonally 

sensitive, so as an easier 

alternative in that signature 

purple hue, Luke 

Dejahang, CEO of 

Crown Pavilions 

says, “Lilac, lavender 

and buddleia are all 

lovely options. Also, 

crocuses and tulips 

in the early spring 

and dahlia and 

Michamas daisies 

in the autumn.” 

the Wild 

Side 

Shop wildflowers with Sow Wild, an online 

bee-friendly wildflower seed retailer based in 

Heathfield sowwild.co.uk 

According to the experts at 

Sow Wild, “Yellow Rattle 

(Rhinanthus minor) is a semiparasitic 

grassland plant that 

weakens grasses (especially 

lawn grasses) and can be the 

key to growing a successful 

mixed wildflower and grass 

meadow.” They also suggest 

Oxeye Daisies, saying that 

they are “often seen in 

wildflower meadows” 

as they are “quick to 

grow and can be sown 

in spring or autumn, 

and flower from May to 

September.” 


Lilac

s. 

RaggedRose 

01622 812897 | sales@raggedrose.com | www.raggedrose.com 

RaggedRoseWT239.indd 1 17/03/2022 16:24 

RaggedRoseWT163.indd 1 

RaggedRose_GiftwareReview1305.indd 1 

From window boxes to tree 

planters, choose from a wide range 

of stocked designs or 

custom-made to suit your space 

The Planter Specialist 

www.iotagarden.com 


18 

IOTAWT239.indd 1 22/03/2022 10:14


Alpine sink garden 

Jo preparing a sedum roof 

Salad in a trough 

Small but Mighty 

Jo Arnell makes sure mini spaces pack a productive punch 

‘ 

Give me land, lots of land under starry skies 

above…’ Well, sadly most of us do have to have 

fences and aren’t able to ride through the plains 

on a whim, but we don’t have to let the size of our plot 

dampen our dreams. For those of us lucky enough to have 

a scrap of outdoors, no matter how tiny, there are ways of 

turning it into a haven, a place of sanctuary and creative 

expression from which to view the starry skies. Even a 

window sill can be transformed into a mini paradise, 

given the right containers, plants and care. There is no 

need to scale down the planting either – large plants have 

dramatic impact in small spaces. So whether you have 

a courtyard, balcony or just a hanging basket, be bold, 

think big and make a plan to plant up a small space. 

Courtyard gardens 

These are often enclosed spaces surrounded by 

buildings or walls and so can be on the damp and 

shady side, especially in the winter. This may limit 

planting choices, but as the summer heat arrives, a 

cool and verdant oasis amid the heat and dust becomes 

wonderfully welcome – like a mini forest bath. 

The sort of plants that will like damp shade are ferns, 

dark, glossy-leaved evergreens and woodland perennials. 

Leaves tend to be a deep shade of green because they 

are rammed with chlorophyll to make the most of what 

light does hit them and a shiny surface helps to enhance 

their light capturing quest. Edge of woodland shrubs and 

trees – with the walls around the courtyard mimicking the 

deep shade of a dense canopy, will thrive – evergreens like 

skimmia, Viburnum tinus, and (if your soil or containers 

are suitably acidic) Camellias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons. 

Leaves may be large and lush looking, as a bigger 

leaf increases the surface area for capturing light and 

transpiring moisture. Fatsia japonica is a handsome 

example with big glossy palmate leaves. It’s really easy 

to grow and looks impressive. Underplant a fatsia with 

hostas and ferns for an instant, but hardy jungle. 

If you would rather have an elegant miniature woodland 

than a lush tiny jungle, try planting small multi-stemmed 

trees, or raise the canopy of large shrubs to create a 

similar effect. Make it more formal by incorporating 

topiary and tightly clipped small-leaved evergreens. 

Be careful using colour in a shady environment, as 

deeper hues and reds will not show up. The best colours 

for a shady corner are pale pastels, creams and whites, 

which sing out from the twilight zones. Fortunately 

nature thought of all this before us and you will find 

that most shade-loving flowering plants have pale 

flowers – and joy of joys, many are scented too. This 

is to attract beetles and night flying insects like moths, 

but is alluring to us too, especially in an enclosed 

space, as the fragrance will stay around for longer. 

If your courtyard is sunny, the options increase. 

It is likely to be warm and sheltered and will retain 

heat if surrounded by brick walls. You can go 


The Traditional Verandah Company 

TheTraditional Verandah Company 

heTraditional 

Porches |Verandahs Bespoke, |Gazebos hand |Wedding crafted 

Verandah 

structures venues |Commercial made in 

Company 

Kent projects 

Nationwide Coverage |Family Owned and Run |10YearGuarantee 

Fully inclusive Full Service service from from Design initial todesign Installation consultation to installation 

Porches |Verandahs |Gazebos |Wedding venues |Commercial projects 

Telephone 01233 636025 www.ttvc.co.uk sales@ttvc.co.uk 

Nationwide Coverage |Family Owned and Run |10YearGuarantee 

10% off when you mention Period Living, quote PLMJUNE21 

Full Service from Design to Installation 

*Terms and conditions apply 

Telephone 01580 854891 01233 636025 www.ttvc.co.uk www.ttvc.co.uk sales@ sales@ttvc.co.uk 

10% off when you mention Period Living, quote PLMJUNE21

Traditional Craftsmanship 

for Modern Applications 

Garages, Outbuildings 

and Garden Rooms 

Quality Buildings at 

Competitive Prices 

Camouflage unsightly bins 

with a sedum roof 

Mediterranean and incorporate olives, bays and 

aromatic herbs like lavender and rosemary, ramp up 

the colour with geraniums, cystus and salvias. If you 

can create overhead shade and increase the humidity, 

then a tropical paradise becomes a possibility. 

Balconies 

A balcony could be anything from a high-rise mini 

courtyard, or roof terrace, to a glorified window 

sill, but because it is a raised structure, there 

will be some important considerations to bear 

in mind before you pack it out with plants. 

One of the main issues is the wind. We’ve had some 

windy enough conditions at ground level recently, so do 

make sure that containers are secure and that plants are 

robust enough to stand up to a barrage. Taller, tougher 

plants can act as shields and climbers can be used to weave 

around railings and provide some cover. With any luck, 

once the bigger plants and climbers have established, 

a more sheltered microclimate will have been created 

so that slightly more tender specimens will flourish. 

Watch your weight. Containers, once filled with plants 

and soil, and especially if they are made from stone 

or terracotta, will be very heavy, so do check weight 

restrictions. When we made a living sedum roof on top 

of my workshop room a few years ago, we used a 50:50 

mix of Perlite, which is a very light volcanic rock, and 

multipurpose compost, rather than heavy soil. On a 

smaller scale, the tops of bin stores and bicycle sheds can 

also be turned into living roofs and micro-meadows. This 

sort of thing could really bring benefits to urban wildlife 

– and be more pleasant for the humans to look at too. 

Container planting 

Most of us have room for a few pots, whether that’s 

on a scrap of paving, by the front or back door, or 

on a window sill. Container planting is a great way 

to celebrate the changing seasons, and you can easily 

ring in the changes by adding in bedding plants 

to keep your displays looking perky all year. 

chartwelloakbuildings.co.uk 

Call for a quote 01959 447477 

Filston Farm, Filston Lane, Sevenoaks, 

Kent TN14 5JU 

ChartwellOakBuildingsWT214.indd 1 06/11/2019 11:06 

Bespoke design & build treehouses, playhouses 

and elevated platforms. 

Commercial & International commissions welcomed 

Window boxes 

Circumstances dictate that a window box – designed to 

fit on a window ledge, is never going to be huge – and 

Tel: 01403 262219 

www.cheekymonkeytreehouses.co.uk 


CheekyMonkeyS40.indd 1 25/01/2018 15:42

MULTI-AWARD WINNING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION 

TURNING YOUR DREAMS 

INTO REALITY 

Family Company celebrating 56 years of excellence. 

Call us for a no obligation 

FREE site survey on 

01883 622335 

• Pool Refurbishments 

• Service & Maintenance Contracts 

• Heating & Environmental Specialists 

• Chemicals, Equipment, Safety Covers 

• Moveable Floors 

• Saunas & Steam Rooms 

• Hot Tub Showroom 

• Supporters of Make a Wish Foundation 

Tanby Swimming Pools, 620-622 Limpsfield Road, Warlingham, Surrey CR6 9DS 

www.tanbypools.co.uk


An old water trough makes 

a great planter 

Jo’s workshop’s sedum roof 

flourishing in summer ‘21 

Chilli peppers grow well in pots 

and add vibrant colour 

will most likely be long and thin, so the plants you 

choose will either be compact by nature, or seasonal and 

easily changed once they run out of root room. Window 

sills are not necessarily standard sizes, so make sure that 

you measure the space before buying a box. They can 

be made from a multitude of materials and in a range 

of styles to suit tastes. As with balconies, you may have 

to think about the weight issue too and conversely, if 

they are lightweight, or prone to drying out, they may 

need to be secured to stop them falling off the sill. 

Annual bedding plants work well in window boxes, but 

permanent plantings will also manage, given the right 

conditions and care. Dwarf conifers, small evergreens 

and sub shrubs like gaultheria, box, trailing ivy and 

small ferns will work well in shade, while lavender, 

aubretia and erigeron will thrive in a sunny spot. 

Crops in pots 

You don’t need to have a dedicated plot or an allotment 

to grow a few edibles. There are lots of vegetable plants 

that will grow in smaller spaces and containers. The best 

plants to choose are those that you can keep cropping – 

French beans, salad leaves, tomatoes and courgettes. Dwarf 

varieties are great too – chanteney carrots, dwarf beans and 

spring onions are quick and reliable to grow. You could 

even plant an edible hanging basket with cherry tomatoes 

and salad, or trailing strawberries. Just remember to feed 

and water them well, as edible crops need lots of both. 

A planter of mixed herbs will need less maintenance 

and if you grow shrubs like rosemary, oregano, thyme 

and sage, they will last for years, staying young and 

fresh looking if you keep trimming them through 

the growing season – think herbal exfoliation. 

Alpines and succulents 

Alpines and sun-loving succulents are ideal for 

containers as the plants are usually small and compact 

(although some will clump up and spread fairly 

quickly). These trendy little plants are very easy to grow, 

providing you plant them in free-draining soil – in fact 

they don’t need much soil at all. The common name 

for the popular sempervivums is the ‘house leek’ – so 

called because they were apparently once used to plug 

holes in thatched roofs. They look great either on 

their own in small pots or in groups in large shallow 

containers – old ceramic sinks make great containers for 

alpines and succulents. Many outdoor succulent plants 

are surprisingly hardy, but should be moved under 

cover for the winter. Like many of us, they will not 

appreciate the cold, 

soggy conditions 

that English 

winters bring. 

Plants are 

beautifiers, 

purifiers, and 

mood lifters. We 

need them – and 

whether you 

have a garden 

or not, however 

small a space, 

we can always 

make room for 

some plants. 

A micro meadow roof garden 

Join Jo for a Gardening Course in her garden in Woodchurch, Kent. 

For more information, call 07923 969634 or see hornbrookmanor.co.uk 


Create a stunning affordable entrance 

All our canopies, heritage and contemporary, are manufactured by hand using 

traditional skills and traditional sustainable materials, all by our artisan workforce. 

Inspired by us manufacturing zinc and copper work for some of England’s most historic buildings. 

We are working in association with English Heritage to proudly present this officially licensed product. 

Porches, Verandas and Door Canopies 

You can contact us by email or call - we are happy to help. 

www.zac.ltd | 02039 576150 | info@zac.ltd


Heaven 

Scent 

Maximise on fragrance with 

Sue Whigham’s sweet-smelling picks 

Images: istockphoto.com 

So what are aromatic plants 

and how do they differ from 

plants with fragrant flowers? 

Yesterday, I layered up and 

meandered out into the garden in 

a search for any aromatic plants 

that have been brave enough to lift 

their heads above the parapet (it is 

the first week in March as I write). 

And whilst it was bracing down 

at Rye Harbour in the morning, 

the chill seemed magnified in the 

afternoon. It could be because 

we are about 50 metres above 

sea level and perfectly placed to 

be exposed to the sharp winds 

which seem to hit us from every 

direction. It’s a miracle that a 

brand new trampoline didn’t 

take off as so many others did 

during Storm Eunice. Was that 

the one? Three storms seemed 

to roll into each other. 

Anyway, to aromatic plants. 

They are those which contain 

aromatic compounds; essential 

oils that become ‘volatile at room 

temperature’. They tend to be 

highly concentrated and are found 

not only in flowers and leaves of 

a plant or tree but in their seeds, 

twigs, wood and bark as well as 

in their roots. Many of them 

have medicinal properties and 

have been used for centuries in 

all manner of potions. Think of 

lavender and its myriad uses. 

On the more domestic level 

I did find one or two little 

treasures in flower even at this 

early time of the year, the first 

one being Viola odorata, known 

also as sweet violet, wood violet, 

English violet or garden violet. 

There’s a large patch in amongst 

the hellebores which I’ve never 

paid much heed to and little 

pieces under an old hedge; perfect 

conditions for this little plant. 

In the early 1880s through 

to the 1940s, sweet violets were 

sold in bunches in London and 

in European cities like Paris. Not 

only are the little violet flowers 

strongly scented but they are 

complemented by clusters of heart 

shaped leaves which would make 

a fragrant ground cover under 

roses or in the front of a bed. The 

flowers and leaves are edible and 

can be used in salads and syrups, 

on cakes and in Champagne. 

Looking at the flowers closely, you 

can see that they are five petalled 

with one petal looking like a 

little tongue at the bottom of the 

flower. They are very distinctive. 

Close by the sweet violet and 

happy in partial shade too, the 

soft fronds of a particularly gentle 

umbellifer have just begun to 

appear. This is sweet cicely, a 

member of the celery family. 

Myrrhis odorata is a perennial 

that spreads itself around in a 

non obtrusive way. It is easy to 

distinguish from cow parsley 

which comes into flower at the 

same time in that it has distinctive 

white flecks on some of its leaves 

and best of all, a strong aniseed 


BelEventsWT239.indd 1 22/03/2022 11:34 


26 

GreenBoxRecyclingWT228.indd 1 31/03/2021 16:12

Garden Perfection 

City Escapes provide domestic & commercial garden solutions 

In the early 1880s 

through to the 1940s, 

sweet violets were sold 

in bunches in London 

and in European 

cities like Paris 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

Regular Maintenance 

Design & Construction 

Small one off works 

Turf care management 

Problem area Solutions 

■ 

■ 

■ 

■ 

Seasonal Bedding plant displays 

Approved pesticide/ 

herbicides operators 

Habitat Management 

RHS qualified gardeners 

scent. Its long and distinctive seeds are very attractive 

and tasty ‘in the green’. They go a dark brown as 

they mature. Try the leaves in a salad whether it 

be fruit or vegetables or in omelettes and stews. 

The third plant which I’ve found on my brief and 

chilly ‘aromatic plant hunt’ are a few cowslips (Primula 

veris). It’s interesting to see that some, on richer soil, 

are already in full flower, and those in the field have 

only just begun to show a small rosette of leaves but I 

suppose that there they have more competition from 

the grass. In Spain their leaves are used in cooking 

for their citrusy flavour and traditionally they were 

picked on May Day to be used in garlands. There is 

something very special about cowslips and they have 

always been synonymous with spring and with Easter. 

As the flowers appear from one side of their stem they 

resemble a set of keys and it was said that ‘cowslips 

grew where St. Peter dropped the Key of Earth’. 

Melissa officinalis deserves more respect than it 

gets in my opinion. It finds itself somewhere to 

live just where you think you don’t want it to be. 

Actually it has a strong set of roots and making 

itself at home is obviously in its genes. But lemon 

balm with its lemony scented leaf and small, nectar 

filled flowers is worth having as not only is it a 

fabulous plant for beneficial insects but it can be 

used in all manner of ways. This plant’s name, 

Melissa, derived from Greek, means ‘honey bee’. 

Lemon balm and bee pheromones contain 

some of the same chemicals and one of the ways 

to encourage bees into a new hive is to crush the 

leaves which encourages the bees in. Mosquitoes, 

Tel: 01435 868211 | M: 07831 302107 | E: gardensmanager@gmail.com 

www.cityescapes.co.uk 

CityEscapesWT204.indd 1 24/01/2019 10:40 

Do you need shelter and shade? 

Verandas • Awnings • Carports • Roller Garage Doors 

Contemporary and traditional styles for all properties. 

Remote control lighting, heating, and vertical screens. 

Call SBI Ltd 0800 0742 721 sbiproducts.co.uk 


SBIWT238.indd 1 18/02/2022 18:12

SPECIAL OFFER 

• Quality day trips and holidays 

• Group Leader to assist you 

• Super deluxe coaches 

• Four star hotels 

• Must see destinations... 

...Call us for a brochure today and quote WT for news of a special offer 

t: 01622 434 981 

e: info@pennywoodtours.com 

Search 

Pennywood 

Tours 

www.pennywoodtours.com


There is something very special about cowslips and they have 

always been synonymous with spring and with Easter 

flies and ants are repelled by 

the citronella scent in the leaves 

of the plants so encourage that 

plant – rather than dig it out. I 

can’t wait to make a brew using 

its fresh leaves as I’m told on 

good authority that its calming 

effect ‘can boost brain power’! 

Another lemony aromatic 

plant is lemon verbena, Aloysia 

citrodora which is such a star. 

It’s also known by the charming 

name, Lemon Beebrush. This 

plant grows into a tall airy shrub 

in optimum conditions; full sun 

and shelter. It’s also a lovely plant 

to grow in a pot somewhere 

where you might brush past the 

leaves, said to smell like sherbert 

lemons. If you do grow it in a pot, 

it’s an idea to protect it in cold 

winters or bring it into a shed or 

greenhouse. Give it a prune in the 

spring and it’ll shoot back. I love 

the panicles of tiny purple/lilac 

flowers too. Makes a delicious tea. 

Jekka McVickar recommends 

popping a few fragrant leaves of 

lemon verbena into your pocket 

to lift your spirits. A good tip. I’m 

sure that most of you know about 

Jekka and her vast knowledge of 

growing culinary and aromatic 

herbs. Her family-run business 

north of Bristol grows an 

enormous range of herbs and her 

online shop is invaluable. Some of 

her RHS gardens designed for the 

Chelsea Flower Show and other 

RHS shows have now permanent 

homes in hospitals and hospices all 

over the country. She runs courses 

for those of us who want to 

know more or who want to grow 

their own sensory gardens full of 

aromatic and life enhancing plants. 

Jekka’s Herb Farm, Rose 

Cottage, Shellards Lane, 

Alveston, Bristol, BS35 3SY 

jekkas.com 

And we have Iden Croft Herbs 

in Staplehurst which was set up 

many years ago in what were 

the derelict kitchen gardens 

of Staplehurst Manor, now a 

residential care home. Opening 

again for the season at Easter, 

their themed gardens include a 

sensory garden, culinary herbs, a 

medicinal border and all things 

aromatic. Mail order (both seeds 

and plants) is now available. 

uk-herbs.com 


Neil Wilkin’s Dew Drops at Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden 

Come Outside 

Our favourite gardens to visit in the south east this spring 

Hannah Peschar 

Sculpture Garden 

The Hannah Peschar Sculpture 

Garden (above) is once again 

looking forward to welcoming 

art and garden lovers back for 

spring 2022. A new collection of 

sculpture has been thoughtfully 

installed amongst previous 

exhibits and wild spring flowers 

just waiting to bloom. New 

events taking place this year 

include forest bathing, mindful 

art workshops, yoga and dinner 

amongst the sculptures! 

When? Thursday to Sunday plus 

bank holidays from 1st April. 

Where? Dorking, Surrey 

Tickets: Pre-book online 

hannahpescharsculpture.com 

Bean Place Nursery 

This lovely nursery specialises 

in hardy perennials, ornamental 

grasses, hardy garden ferns, hostas 

and sempervivums. They produce 

healthy, vigorous young plants 

that are ready for you to plant 

straight into your garden. As part 

of their 25th year celebrations, 

Bean Place is opening their 

private garden at Watersfield 

with 100% of admission fees 

donated to the Kent, Sussex and 

Surrey Air Ambulance Charity. 

When? Nursery open Friday to 

Sunday from 1st April to 31st 

July and 2nd September to 30th 

October. Watersfield Garden open 

from 10th to 12th June and 16th 

to 18th September. 

Where? Headcorn, Kent 

Tickets: £3 (children & dogs free) 

beanplace.co.uk 

Pashley Manor 

Gardens 

Discover 11 acres of beautiful 

vistas, the culmination of a 

lifetime of passion for gardening. 

Historic walled garden, striking 

sculptures, kitchen garden… then, 

of course, the plants! Tulips, 

roses, dahlias and more. This 

spring enjoy a lunch on the café 

terrace, explore sculpture and art 

exhibitions, choose a souvenir at 

the gift shop, and check out events 

like the wonderful tulip festival 

from Wednesday 20th April to 

Wednesday 4th May (tickets 

£13.50). 

When? Open from 1st April, 

Tuesday to Saturday, bank 

holidays and special event days. 

Closed on Good Friday and Easter 

Sunday. 

Where? Ticehurst, nr Wadhurst 

Tickets: £13 

pashleymanorgardens.com 

Belmont Gardens 

The Gardens at Belmont are 

full of interest throughout 

every season, but they do 

have an extra special splash of 

colour from spring through to 

autumn. The kitchen garden 

was originally designed by Lady 

Arabella Lennox-Boyd and has 

beautiful Victorian greenhouses, 

along with figs, hops, soft fruits 

and traditional apple and pear 

varieties. The walled garden 

to the rear of the stable yard 

is an intimate enclosed garden 

with long borders containing 

an abundance of annuals and 

perennials. 

When? Daily, 10am to 6pm 

Where? Throwley, nr Faversham 

Tickets: Adults £7, Children 

£2.50 (12-16 years) 

belmont-house.org/ 

The Sculpture 

Park 

This magical world of water 

gardens, woodlands and incredible 

sculptures is worth seeing at any 

time of year as the landscape 

evolves with the seasons. In the 

spring, Biggie Chikodzai, resident 

Zimbabwean sculptor arrives 

to spend the summer with The 

Sculpture Park and bring with 

him the largest UK exhibition of 

Shona sculpture. Shona sculpture 

is a modern movement of stone 

carved sculpture created in 

Zimbabwe. Taking its name from 

the ‘Shona’ tribe of people, this 

helps to support artists in Africa 

who usually rely on the tourist 

trade for their income. 

When? Every day (except 

Christmas Day) 

Where? Churt, Surrey 

Tickets: £10 until April 17th, 

then £15 

thesculpturepark.com 

Lullingstone 

World Garden 

Tom Hart Dyke is a modern day 

plant hunter, following in the 

traditions of the plant hunters 

of old who risked life and limb 

in pursuit of fantastic blooms 

and plants. Tom returned from 

a dramatic kidnap ordeal in 

Columbia to create this incredible 

garden, combining plant heritage 

with cutting-edge horticulture. 

Well worth a visit to see rare and 

exotic plants aplenty! 

When? Thursday to Sunday plus 

bank holidays (exc Good Friday) 

11am to 5pm 

Where? Eynsford, Kent 

Tickets: See website 

lullingstonecastle.co.uk 


30

PASHLEY P MANOR 

GARDENS 

House Open for a New Season! 

The House will be open from Sunday 3 rd April. 

Guided House tours available on Sundays at 11.30am, 1pm and 

2.30pm. Self-Guided Tours available on Tuesday and Thursday 

afternoons from 1-3.30pm. 

Wild Classroom Family Cooking - 12 th April, 10am-1.30pm 

TULIP FESTIVAL 

20th April every day to 4th May; 10am - 5pm 

48,000 tulips in 105 varieties! 

Beautiful 11 Acre Gardens; Café with Terrace; 

Gift Shop; Sculpture and Art Exhibitions 

Open from 1st April - Tues to Sat & Event Days 

(NB closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday) 

Ticehurst, TN5 7HE 01580 200888 

pashleymanorgardens.com 

Step outside this spring and join Wild Classroom where you and 

your family will be able to cook over fire using seasonal produce 

from our Kitchen Garden. £65.00 includes the registration of 2 

adults and 2 children aged 4 - 15 years. Booking online required. 

Easter Egg Hunt - Sunday 17 th April, 11am-3pm 

Join us at Belmont for some Easter fun. Explore the gardens and 

search for the wooden eggs to win a chocolate treat, then head 

back to the Orangery to get crafty with some Easter themed 

activities. £5.00 per child & £2.50 per adult. Tickets must be 

booked in advance. 

Spring Fair - Monday 2 nd May, 11am-4pm 

Our Spring Fair features a superb range of quality plants, 

garden-related gifts, artwork, textiles, jewellery and a whole host 

of wonderful crafted delights. £5.00pp and free for under 16s. 

www.belmont-house.org • 01795 890 228 • events@belmont-house.org 

Belmont House & Gardens, Throwley, Faversham, Kent ME13 0HH 

PashleyManorWT239.indd 1 10/03/2022 HarrisBelmontCharityWT239.indd 09:09 

1 11/03/2022 12:52 

‘The Tide Has Turned’ Walter Bailey 

THE HANNAH PESCHAR SCULPTURE GARDEN 

An ever-changing exhibition of contemporary art amongst 

mature trees, dramatic planting and flowing waterways. 

See art come alive within nature 

Open for pre-booked tickets: www.hannahpescharsculpture.com 

T: 01306 627269 | Ockley | Surrey 


HeverCastleWT239.indd 1 04/03/2022 HannahPescharSculptureWT239.indd 15:44 

1 11/03/2022 12:41


86

Nutrition to 

Nurture 

Unable to find definitive advice on what expectant mothers should eat during 

pregnancy, Leiths trained chef and father of two, Adam Shaw, began to research and 

create dishes to help his wife feel good during pregnancy and beyond. As his family 

grew, so did his repertoire of recipes, expanding to cover weaning and 

family meals, too. Alongside his popular Instagram account 

@at_dads_table and website, the Tunbridge Wells resident has launched 

his debut cookbook, How To Grow Your Family. Here, Adam shares 

four nutrient-packed dishes that are as tasty as they are good for 

you, with a little chocolate thrown in for good Easter measure 

Veg-Packed Thai Green Curry 

Serves 2 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes 

Batch-cook me! 

I’ve dialled down the spice and increased the 

vegetables for this homemade Thai green curry. 

There’s no need to buy a curry paste, as you can 

make this fresh one in minutes. This dish is a 

real family favourite and works with chicken, 

prawns/shrimp, tofu or just loads of veg. 

• 250g cups brown basmati rice 

• a bunch of coriander 

• 1 green chilli, deseeded and diced 

• 2 lemongrass stalks, chopped 

• 5cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled 

• 1 shallot 

• 1 tsp fish sauce 

• 1 tsp brown sugar 

• juice of 1 lime 

• 1 x 400ml can of coconut milk 

• 2 chicken breasts, sliced 

• 75g frozen peas 

• 1 aubergine, diced 

• 4 baby corn, chopped 

(or 75g frozen sweetcorn) 

• 4 baby courgettes 

(or 1 large courgette) sliced 

• 1 red pepper, cored, deseeded and diced 

1. Cook the rice as per the packet instructions. 

2. Meanwhile, place the coriander, chilli, 

lemongrass, ginger, shallot, fish sauce, 

brown sugar and lime juice in a blender 

and blitz until it’s a chunky paste. 

3. Put 2 tablespoons of the paste into a 

large pan over a medium heat, along with 

a third of the coconut milk. Stir well. Add 

the chicken and cook for 5 minutes. 

4. Add the remaining paste and coconut 

milk to the pan, along with the vegetables. 

Cook for a further 8-10 minutes 

before serving alongside the rice. 

Mix it up: 

Swap in prawns/ 

shrimp or tofu for the 

chicken. Add some mushrooms 

and cherry tomatoes for extra 

vitamins, or an extra chilli to 

the paste for more heat. 

If you make a larger batch of the 

paste, you can freeze it or it 

will keep in the fridge 

for 3-4 days. 

 

87

PEPPERBOX INN 

Terrace garden, heated marquee 

& Indoor dining reservations 

Now open 

Visit our charming pub situated 

in beautiful countryside 

with outstanding views 

of the Weald of Kent 

Restaurant menu and 

traditional pub food served 

lunch times and evenings 

Sunday Lunches from £14 per person 

Served 12 noon - 3pm 

Outside terrace | Ample parking 

Walkers & Riders welcome 

Warm & welcoming open log fires 

Summer Opening Times: 

Tuesday to Saturday 

from 11.30am - 3pm | 6pm - 10pm 

Food Served: Lunch 12noon - 2pm 

Evening 6pm - 9pm 

Sunday Lunches: 12noon - 3pm 

Closed Sunday Evenings 

Windmill Hill, Harrietsham, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1LP 

01622842558 | www.thepepperboxinn.co.uk 

PepperboxInnWT239.indd 1 23/03/2022 WealdSmokeryWT239.indd 09:09 

1 08/03/2022 17:06 

Buy delicious grass fed meat. Reared to 

the highest welfare and nutritional standards. 

Shop online or in-store at the farm. 

Taking Christmas Orders. 

Paley Lane, Cranbrook, 

Kent TN17 2LX 

01580 891046 

paleyfarm.co.uk 


88 

PaleyFarmLtdWT239.indd 1 15/03/2022 10:14

Spiced Aubergine, 

Spinach & Green 

Lentil Dhal 

Serves 2 Prep time: 10 minutes 

Cook time: 30 minutes 

Batch-cook me! Family-friendly, 

just leave out the salt 

A hearty dhal tends to go down very 

well in early pregnancy as it’s so easy 

to eat. When you cook the lentils in 

the spices and stock, they take 

on such a delicious flavour 

and they go so well 

with the texture of 

the vitamin- and folate-rich aubergine. 

Top with some pomegranate seeds for 

a burst of sweetness and vitamin C. 

• 1 large aubergine 

• 3 tbsp olive oil 

• 1 tbsp garam masala 

• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 

• 1 tbsp ground coriander 

• 1 tbsp ground cumin 

• 1 onion, diced 

• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 

• 2.5cm of fresh root ginger, 

peeled and grated 

• 2 x 400g can of green lentils, drained 

• 500ml vegetable stock 

• 2 large handfuls of baby spinach 

• a handful of coriander leaves 

• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds 

1. Cut the top and bottom off the 

aubergine, then slice into 1cm discs. 

Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil 

and sprinkle with a pinch of each 

of the spices. Cook on a griddle/ 

grill pan over a medium heat for 

12–15 minutes, turning once. You 

may need to do this in batches. 

2. While the aubergine is cooking, 

heat a tablespoon of the oil in a frying 

pan over a medium heat. Add the 

onion and the remaining spices and 

mix well. Cook for around 3 minutes. 

Add the garlic and ginger to the pan 

and cook for a further minute. 

3. Add the green lentils and vegetable 

stock. Bring to the boil, turn the heat 

down and simmer for 15 minutes. 

4. Towards the end of the cooking 

time, add the spinach and stir until 

wilted. Divide the dhal between 

two bowls, then top with the 

aubergine, a few coriander leaves and 

pomegranate seeds before serving.

Mix it up: 

Serve over brown 

rice, swap the peppers 

for courgettes, peas and 

carrots or swap the sweet 

potato for tofu. Garnish 

with some chopped 

fresh chillies. 

Sweet Potato, 

Pepper & Kale Stir-Fry 

Serves 2 Prep time: 10 minutes 

Cook time: 25 minutes 

Make it vegetarian/vegan by using 

maple syrup instead of honey 

A very quick stir-fry dish using highly 

nutritious sweet potatoes and kale. 

Another energy-boosting meal to get 

you through those sleepless nights. 

• 50g cashew nuts 

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil 

• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 

• 1 shallot, diced 

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed 

• 5cm piece of fresh root 

ginger, peeled and grated 

• 1 red pepper, cored, 

deseeded and diced 

• 4 tbsps soy sauce 

• 1 tbsp sesame oil 

• 1 tsp honey 

• 1 tsp sriracha 

• 1 tsp rice wine vinegar or 

white wine vinegar 

• 3 large handfuls of kale, tough 

stalks removed, roughly chopped 

• 2 tbsps sesame seeds 

• 2 spring onions, chopped 

1. In a hot frying pan over a medium 

heat, dry-fry the cashew nuts for 

3-4 minutes, then set aside. 

2. Heat a tablespoon of the vegetable 

oil in a pan over a medium heat. 

Add the sweet potatoes, season 

with a pinch of salt and cook for 

5-7 minutes, turning frequently. 

Remove and place on paper towels. 

3. Heat another tablespoon of the 

vegetable oil in the pan. Add the 

shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes. 

Add the garlic and ginger and cook 

for 1 minute. Add the pepper and 

cook for another 2-3 minutes. 

4. In a separate bowl, combine 

the soy sauce, sesame oil, 

 

honey, sriracha and vinegar. 

5. Add the kale, cashew nuts, sweet 

potato and sauce to the pan and 

cook for a final 3-4 minutes. 

6. Divide between 2 bowls and sprinkle 

with the sesame seeds and chopped 

spring onions before serving.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

Recipe for Success 

Cassoulet Recipe 

A wholesome and traditional sausage dish 

steeped in warmth and flavour 

Serves 4 Recipe time 1 hour 30 minutes 

• 400g pre-cooked chipolata sausages 

• 2 shallots, chopped 

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed 

• 150g mushrooms, roughly chopped 

• 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 

• 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes 

• 1 can (400g) butter beans 

• 2 tbsp tomato puree 

• 250ml chicken stock 

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil 

• small handful of parsley, to serve 

1. Gently sauté shallots, mushrooms and 

garlic for 5 minutes in a heavy based pan. 

2. Add all the other ingredients to the 

pan, except for the beans, and simmer 

gently on a low heat for 1 hour, until 

the sauce thickens and reduces. 

3. Add in the beans and cook gently 

for a further 20-30 minutes. 

4. Season, garnish with parsley and 

serve with warm crusty bread. 

It is hard to replicate the taste 

of an original. Luckily for 

us, the recipe for the famous 

Speldhurst sausage – first produced 

in Speldhurst village over fifty 

years ago by butcher Joe Lovett – 

is as prized today as it always has 

been. Back in those early days, 

the landlord at the George & 

Dragon, recognising a sausage of 

quality, championed the brand 

and, when Joe retired, moved 

production to the prestigious 

Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, 

where the premium sausage could 

be enjoyed by a wider public. 

The cherished and carefully 

preserved recipe continues to be 

produced locally at a farm on 

the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. 

Speldhurst aren’t resting on the 

laurels of their iconic original and 

their proactive and enthusiastic 

team welcome new and exciting 

challenges. Dedicated to achieving 

excellence, they are ready to 

combine the finest, most succulent 

pork with quality local ingredients 

in order to offer sumptuous new 

varieties of their fresh sausages. 

Discerning consumers can find 

Speldhurst sausages for sale in 

local shops, supermarkets and in 

many pubs, cafés and restaurants. 

For those that don’t know where to find their favourite sausages 

please contact Speldhurst sausages for details of local stockists on 

01892 750080 or see speldhurstqualityfoods.com

achmanns.co.uk 

Easter at Bachmanns 

Specialities from our award-winning 

patisserie and chocolaterie 

Handmade on the premises and beautifully wrapped for the perfect gift. 

We use the finest chocolate to create our signature Easter collection: 

• Easter Eggs, filled with our own chocolates 

• Chocolate bunnies 

• Easter chicks 

• Traditional Simnel cakes and hot cross buns 

Our gateaux, desserts, freshly baked breads, croissants and Danish are available 

from 9am, while celebration cakes are available to order. 

6 Criterion Buildings, 

Portsmouth Road, 

Thames Ditton, 

KT7 0SS 

Tel: 0208 398 1988 

32 Church Street, 

Weybridge, 

KT13 8DX 

Tel: 01932 820247

Speedy Chocolate & 

Pomegranate Mousse 

Serves 4 Prep time: 10 minutes, plus 1-2 

hours chilling time Cook time: 5 minutes 

This chocolate mousse is delicious 

and only takes 10 minutes to make. 

When one of you is awake for a 

feed in the wee hours, tuck into 

this bad boy and treat yourself. Just 

make sure you make more if you 

take the last one from the fridge! 

• 150g of milk or dark chocolate 

• 20g butter 

• 3 eggs (British Lion stamped) 

• 1 tbsp caster/granulated sugar 

• seeds of 1 pomegranate 

1. Bring a saucepan of water to the 

boil and place a heatproof bowl over 

it, making sure the bottom of the bowl 

doesn’t touch the water. Break up the 

chocolate into the bowl and add the 

butter, stirring them together when they 

begin to melt. When melted completely, 

remove the bowl and leave to cool. 

2. Separate the eggs. Add the egg 

yolks to the cooled chocolate and 

mix well. In a separate bowl, 

whisk the egg whites and 

sugar for 2-3 minutes until 

peaks are formed. Fold the 

egg whites into the chocolate, then 

mix in half the pomegranate seeds. 

3. Spoon the mixture into 4 ramekins 

or bowls, cover and refrigerate for 

1-2 hours. Serve with a spoonful 

of pomegranate seeds on top. 

Mix it up: 

Add your favourite 

berries to the chocolate 

instead of the pomegranate. 

Serve with some whipped 

cream or ice cream 

to make it truly 

decadent. 

Find more of Adam’s recipes 

by visiting his website, 

atdadstable.com, or see his 

Instagram @at_dads_table 

where he regularly posts 

recipes to his 45,000+ 

followers. His new book, 

How To Grow Your Family, is 

published by Nourish Books.

Suffering with shoulder, 

elbow or hand pain? 

The Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital can help. 

We understand pain or limited function can be debilitating 

and affect your quality of life. We caught up with our 

specialist Orthopaedic Consultant, Mr Richard Sinnerton, 

around your diagnosis journey and treatment options. 

1. What are common issues you see/treat in clinic? 

The proper names are rotator cuff tendinitis and tears; frozen shoulder; 

dislocated shoulder; arthritic shoulder; tennis elbow; carpal tunnel 

syndrome; arthritic thumbs and trigger finger. In real language I see any 

sore, stiff or wobbly shoulders; painful elbows and tingling or locking fingers 

and painful thumbs! 

2. How can my pain/limited function be diagnosed? 

The most important way to make a diagnosis is to listen to you because 

you will almost always tell me what is wrong. You may need an X-ray and 

occasionally a scan but your story is always the key. 

3. What treatment options do I have? 

Just because you’ve been referred to a ‘surgeon’ doesn’t mean you need 

surgery. In fact, only 15% of the people I see will need an operation. 

Once I’ve made the diagnosis then a steroid injection and Physiotherapy 

may be all you will need. If it does come to surgery, I use tried and tested 

techniques that I know will work. 

4. How do I know I need to see a specialist? 

You can come and see me straight away as far as I’m concerned (although 

you may need to arrange this with your insurer first). If simple treatments by 

your GP or therapist aren’t helping then don’t hesitate, don’t put up with the 

pain and loss of function and don’t let things get worse. 

To find out more search ‘Mr Richard Sinnerton Nuffield Health’ 

or give us a call on 01483 342 635.

All about 

Spots 

Calm angry skin and get your confidence back 

with Josephine Fairley’s soothing breakout products 

istockphoto.com/YuliaBu 

There is nothing that brings into 

sharper focus the link between 

skin and confidence than spots. 

Whether it’s the occasional hormonerelated 

eruption, an ongoing battle 

with blemishes or full-blown (perhaps 

cystic) acne, breakouts can make the 

sufferer feel hugely self-conscious and 

as if nothing’s working to help their 

skin. At some point, all of my family 

has suffered – and I’ve watched how 

sometimes, it’s made them want to 

hide away. ‘Acne’ has definitely been a 

four-letter word, in our household. 

One of the most common skin 

complaints of all, it’s prevalent among 

teenagers, but cases of adult acne are 

rising dramatically. The location of 

breakouts tends to be different in 

teens and adults, however: teenage 

spots tend to cluster on the T-zone 

(nose and forehead, sometimes chin), 

whereas adult breakouts (which tend 

to be hormonally linked) are most 

often found along the jaw-line. The 

approach is the same, though. 

Stop over-stripping the excess oil 

and sebum from the surface of your 

skin. It’s true that at all ages, including 

adulthood, acne factors include pores 

clogged by oil, skin cells and bacteria. 

But over-stripping skin can send oil 

glands into overdrive, so they simply 

produce more, rather than go into 

retreat. If you’re a label-reader, seek out 

products with antiseptic and calming 

ingredients such as lavender, tea tree, 

sage, cypress and/or rosemary which 

can help keep skin clean and bacteriafree, 

but are gentle and soothing. 

When it comes to skincare, your 

watchword really should be ‘gentle’. 

(In reality, caring for problem skin 

shouldn’t be that different from caring 

for sensitive skin.) Certainly avoid 

cleansing brushes, which will overstimulate 

the skin. Instead, effective 

cleansing solutions to remove grime, 

make-up and bacteria from skin that is 

prone to breakouts, which I repeatedly 

recommend to grateful sufferers, are: 

trusty Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, £17 

for 100ml, with its antiseptic botanicals; 

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash, 

£16 for 125ml; and (just-launched 

and really very good), Wildsmith 

Energising B5 Gel Cleanser, £38 

for 100ml, with its interesting gel-tofoam 

texture. My step granddaughter, 

meanwhile, afflicted by acne on the 

cusp of her twenties, swears by d’still 

Calming Cleansing Balm, £58 for 

50ml, a wonderfully aromatic balm-tomilk 

formula from a range launched 

by St Leonard’s-on-Sea-based Ula 

Blocksage after her own journey with 

hormonal acne and dermatitis; Roxy 

used the whole range (we had to send 

her replenishments in Central America, 

on her travels!) with great results. 

Cleanse skin again lightly in the 

morning too, and always use warm-butnot-hot 

water. Whatever time of day, 

be sure only to use cloths that are fresh 

and scrupulously clean. Ideally, that 

means two muslin cloths or flannels 

for cleansing, each day, which should 

then be put through the wash. It does 

mean having a little pile of cloths that 

are dedicated to getting skin clean. 

Kiss goodbye to strong, alcoholbased 

toners. (I once did an experiment 

with one of these, having been told 

it removed nail polish. It did.) This 

is probably the most important piece 

of advice of all, as so many spot 

ranges ‘work’ by over-stripping 


30 

Years 

Caring since 1981 

CEDAR LODGE 

FOREST CARE 

A family approach to care and support 

“The quality of care & kindness that Mum has received is second 

to none. As her daughter, I can relax, being 100% confident that 

she is being looked after in a respectful, caring & dignified way. 

Mum herself says how marvellous the staff are.” 

carehome.co.uk review, 2021 

9.9 

Review Score 

on carehome.co.uk 

St Catherine’s Rd 

Camberley, GU16 9NP 

Call: 0333 305 1785 or visit: forestcare.co.uk

Jasmine Homecare Services 

Caring for people in their homes 

Our private care offers the option to be looked after in the comfort of your 

own home. Our carers are handpicked for the suitability of the job and are 

highly trained to provide good old fashioned quality of care. 

Jasmine carers can visit you in your home at times to suit 

your daily routine. 

It can be anything from 30 minutes to 1 hour or more 

to help with everyday tasks. 

We will talk to you about just what you want 

and respect your wishes throughout. 

Jasmine Homecare provide 24 hour on call services to ensure 

that we are there when you need us. 

(and thus over-stimulating) skin. With a good cleanser, I 

promise you don’t even need to use toner – but I have tried 

telling spot-sufferers that till I’m blue in the face, and they 

hardly ever believe me! So if you do want to follow your 

cleanse with a liquid on a cotton pad, either use a micellar 

water – for instance, Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water 

Sensitive Skin, £19.99 for 250ml, or Garnier Micellar 

Water Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin, £7.99 for 700ml 

– or a super-gentle option like Neal’s Yard Rehydrating 

Rose Toner, £16 for 200ml, or Star Child Orange Flower 

Water Organic, from £6.25 for 100ml. Simple, gentle, 

effective and won’t send your oil glands into overdrive. 

Consider carefully before using masks or exfoliators. Avoid 

scrubs altogether if skin is breaking out, as they shouldn’t be 

used on broken skin. You shouldn’t use them on oily/blemishprone 

skin more than once or twice a month at the best of 

times – ditto masks. Less really is more, with spot-prone skin. 

Your skin still requires moisturiser, even if it’s breaking 

out. Moisture is essential for healthy cell communication 

– and water shouldn’t be confused with oil (which you 

probably don’t want to add). Look for the words ‘noncomedogenic’ 

(which means non-pore blocking) on 

packaging, if you can, and choose light but protective 

products like Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light 

Moisturiser, £3.45 for 125ml, Liz Earle Skin Repair 

Light Cream, £25 for 50ml, and The Ordinary 

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, £7 for 100ml. 

Consider an inside-out approach. Some practitioners of 

integrated healthcare see a link between skin problems and 

the gut and liver. You certainly have nothing to lose by 

incorporating lots of vegetables 

and some fruit into your 

diet, and choosing fresh 

whenever possible. In 

addition, drinking 

2.5 litres of filtered 

or bottled water a 

day is a standard 

 

✔ Personal care 

✔ Cooking 

✔ Shopping (together or for you) 

✔ Cleaning your home 

✔ Assist with medication 

We provide 

✔ Visiting relatives or friends 

✔ Sightseeing or leisure activities 

✔ Visiting your G.P. 

✔ Over night care 

✔ Live-in care 

At Jasmine Care South East Ltd. we are proud to provide a trusted reliable service, 

where you, our client is at the very centre of our focus. 

To find out more please call our friendly team on 

CRANBROOK: 01580 713 533 

team.jasminecare@gmail.com 

Jasmine Care South East Ltd. offers services in the whole of Kent & East Sussex 

JasmineHomecareWT227.indd 1 02/03/2021 13:58 


EhanceClinicWT239 1 11/03/2022 14:13

The Independent, family owned, 

hearing specialist... 

Practices at: Broadstairs | Croydon | Eltham | Northfleet | Chatham | Maidstone 

• Comprehensive Hearing Tests • Tinnitus Consultations • Microsuction Wax Removal 

• Every make, model and fitting style available • Aftercare included for life 

• Hearing protection and swim moulds • Home visit service available 

Call 0800 028 6763 for more information 

or visit our website: www.regainhearing.co.uk 

RegainHearingWT236.indd 1 09/12/2021 13:51 

New 

patients 

welcome* 

DUK08927 | Sep21 

Show us your smile 

Cranbrook 

Everyone’s welcome at Bupa Dental Care Cranbrook - 

you don’t need to be a member or have insurance. 

Call 01580 715 786 

*Terms and conditions: 1. 1. A new private patient check-up fee fee is is £129 £112 and and a a COVID-19 safety tariff tariff may will apply. 

2. Patients must be 18 years or or over. 3. 3. Appointment subject subject to to availability. 

Bupa Dental Care is a trading name of Oasis Dental Care Limited. Registered in England and Wales No: 00478127. 

Registered office: Bupa Dental Care, Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW. 


98 

BupaUkWT236.indd 1 30/11/2021 09:51

Menopause Yoga with JoJo 

Support with: 

Insomnia - Joint Pain - Hot Flushes - Brain Fog - Anxiety 

Ease symptoms with yoga workshops 

endorsed by specialist Dr Louise Newson 

Newson Clinic guidance on HRT + 

nutritional advice & natural remedies 

A safe and supportive space for all 

women at all stages of menopause 

recommendation 

for clear skin generally. 

Find a way to relax. Stress is linked to 

increased cortisol levels, which can increase 

skin oiliness and inflammation. When your 

acne starts acting up, devote a little time to 

work out what’s stressing you out. Our 

ancestors only produced cortisol when 

being chased by a sabre-toothed tiger, 

or in life-threatening situations – but 

we can encounter stress several times 

in a day. Find a way of dealing with 

it – whatever works for you, whether 

it be deep breathing, yoga, a walk in 

the garden, to offload skin-aggravating 

stress. (Personally, I swear by the calm. 

com app.) 

Never squeeze. Well, almost never. 

Superfacialist Eve Lom once shared with me 

this wisdom: ‘On a daily basis, squeezing can 

damage and scar skin. But if you get an occasional 

spot, it’s okay to squeeze.’ Her technique? ‘You have 

to prepare skin first, by cleansing, then warming it. 

Ensure hands are spotlessly clean, too. Take a piece of 

cotton wool and soak it in hot water, then hold over the 

spot for around six seconds, repeating five or six times, 

before squeezing with the tips of your fingers, not your nails 

– which will mark skin. Never try to squeeze just a red lump; 

unless there’s a white ‘head’ on it, you’ll just spread the infection 

and make matters worse. And wipe with tea tree oil, afterwards.’ 

Last but not least, invest in a great concealer. You can take 

some of the stress – and distress – out of a skin that’s flaring up by 

covering up the redness. I often point spot sufferers in the direction 

of the Clinique range, which is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic 

and features a great anti-blemish concealer. The irony is: when you 

look in the mirror and feel better about your skin, that sets off a chain 

reaction that may actually help to improve it… 

Visit beautybible.com for Jo’s daily ‘loves’ and features. 

“ Western medical science 

meets Eastern well-being for 

all levels of experience” 

Highly recommend 

 

Monthly Workshops Reserve your at place Rye Creative for January Centre: 2022 

Bookwhen.com/Yoga-Creative 

Jojoyogacreative 

YogaCreativeWT239.indd 1 11/03/2022 09:53 

Concept 

Hair 

50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564 

Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk 

or through our facebook page 

salon 


WilliamCharlesWT239.indd 1 11/03/2022 16:04

Residential Care Home for the 

Elderly in Headcorn, Kent 

We provide both long-term accommodation 

and short stay respite stays. 

Small friendly residential care home that can offer 

24 hour care that is provided by fully trained staff 

led by registered manager, Donna Bratton. 

All rooms are comfortable and 

furnished with the opportunity to personalise. 

We can also offer day care, where we have a bathing service and 

you can see our visiting hairdresser and chiropodist. 

Yew Tree House 

has been a privately 

run home for over 

30 YEARS 

As the home is situated in the centre of Headcorn our residents have close 

access to local churches, dentist, hairdressers, surgery, shops and public transport. 

9 Station Road, Headcorn, 

Ashford, Kent TN27 9SB 

T: 01622 890112 

E: yth@mail.org yewtree-carehome.co.uk 

fully 

Natural Relief for Hay Fever 

YewTreeCareHome239.indd 1 22/03/2022 14:29 

Hay fever is the cause of seasonal misery to 

millions of people worldwide. 

Award winning Helios Hay Fever combines 

three homeopathic remedies Allium cepa, 

Euphrasia and Sabadilla and has a long history 

of traditional use to relieve typical hay fever 

symptoms such as irritated eyes and nose, 

itching, sneezing and a dry, tickly cough. 

Being natural, Helios Hay Fever is without any 

known side effects, does not cause drowsiness 

and is suitable for all the family. 

Alongside our remedies we have a wide range 

of herbal and other natural products to relieve 

your hay fever symptoms, backed by expert 

advice from our team of qualifi ed homeopaths 

and pharmacists. 

A warm welcome awaits you or for more 

information please see our website 

www.helios.co.uk 

Helios Homeopathy Ltd, 97 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2QR 

Open Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.30pm Sat 9.00am - 2.00pm 

01892 537254 www.helios.co.uk 


100 

HeliosPharmacyWT239.indd 1 22/03/2022 14:04

Wellbeing 

In the Hoop 

Sarah Maxwell explores what makes 

weighted hoop workouts so popular 

Image: istockphoto.com/zokov 

If you’re old enough to remember 

the hula hoop craze you will 

remember how difficult it 

was initially and, if you practised 

long and hard enough, the sense 

of achievement was enormous. 

So when I started looking into the 

benefits of hooping recently, I was 

really looking forward to that feeling. 

You’d be forgiven for assuming that 

I have good co-ordination given the 

job I do, but unfortunately this isn’t 

the case – the hoop spent more time 

on the floor than around my waist! 

Then I tried a weighted hoop … 

After throwing myself around the 

kitchen with a variety of different 

weighted hoops (way easier than a 

regular hula hoop) I was amazed at 

how much I was able to control it 

and I felt I had a great workout, along 

with the added joy of singing (badly) 

to a few of my favourite empowering 

songs. My advice is to go straight for 

a weighted hoop and have some fun. 

What are the benefits of a 

weighted hoop workout? 

• Greatly improved balance (this is an 

essential element of fitness but is often 

overlooked and missed in the majority 

of workouts – yoga being an exception) 

• Greater mobility and flexibility 

• Increased strength, cardio fitness 

• Doesn’t need a lot of space 

• Can be done almost anywhere 

• Easily transportable 

• Calorie burning fat loss 

And it doesn’t stop there! It’s a great 

workout that feels more like fun than 

a regular gym workout. Exercising 

like this can offer a huge boost to our 

mental health too, increasing 

dopamine (the happy hormone) 

and serotonin production (the 

feel good hormone). Using your 

weighted hoop outside, in front of 

the TV, online or with friends offers 

flexibility and good value, which all 

adds up to the likelihood of being 

able to sustain an effective form 

of exercise over the long term. 

Choosing your hoop 

You will find a wide range of 

weighted hoops available starting 

from 1kg up to around 3kg (links 

below). If you have any problems 

with your knees or back, please listen 

to your body and go carefully. 

It’s best to wear slimmer fit 

clothing when hooping because 

anything baggy around your middle 

will restrict the hoop’s movement. 

Powerhoop powerhoop.com 

Good for beginners: ResultSport, 

£32.95, amazon.co.uk 

Good all-rounder: Opti, £18 

argos.co.uk/product/4543408 

Good for physio & 

rehabilitation: Therapy in 

Motion, £34.99, vivomed.com 

Getting started 

A 2-3 minute warm up before using 

your hoop will not only help prevent 

injuries, it prepares your body and 

mind to do the workout effectively 

and give you the results you want. 

Keep your core engaged 

The key to a successful hoop workout is 

keeping your core engaged throughout. 

This takes some practice but is well worth 

it – you will get some aerobic benefit if 

you don’t do this, but you won’t get the 

same level of core strength improvement. 

When you begin 

Start by doing 2 to 3 minutes with a 

low weight hoop (I started with 1lb) 

up to around the 3lb mark. I don’t 

advise going higher than 3lbs because 

the likelihood of injury and bruising 

outweigh the benefits measurably! 

Mix it up 

Incorporating the hoop into other exercise 

activities will bring even quicker and more 

effective results. I’ve had a great response 

to combining weighted hoop training 

with ballet barre and HIIT workouts, 

anything goes so why not give it a whirl? 

Sarah Maxwell is a multi award-winning 

weight loss, lifestyle and fitness coach. 

Find out more about her work here: 

Facebook & Instagram: @sarahmaxlife 

Twitter: @sarahmax100 

sarahmaxwell.com 


Your health 

doesn’t have 

to wait 

With Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital you’ll see 

a leading specialist in a hospital where safety 

comes first. When you book an appointment 

with us, you can be sure that you’ll receive 

expert care in a secure environment. 

Fast access to diagnosis and treatment 

You can see one of our specialists quickly, 

because less waiting means less worrying. 

Advanced technology 

We use the latest technology and techniques 

wherever possible to get the best outcome 

for you. 

Safety first 

Our hospitals have thorough protection 

measures in place to keep you safe. 

Book to see an expert today 

Search ‘Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital’ 

Call 01892 621 870 

Interest free finance – 0% representative APR available 

Credit is subject to status. Spire Healthcare Limited is acting as a credit broker, Omni Capital Retail 

Finance Ltd is the lender. All named parties are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct 

Authority. Spire Healthcare’s registered address is 3 Dorset Rise, London, EC4Y 8EN.

Nourish to 

Flourish 

Wellbeing 

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach 

Charlotte Lau brings some 

calm to morning routines 

For many of us the relentless cycle of going to bed too 

late, hitting snooze on repeat and rushing out the door 

feeling highly stressed, is all too common. However 

with many people commuting less and working from home 

more, maybe it is the perfect opportunity to use this ‘regained 

time’ to start our day a little more calmly. Establishing a 

morning routine is all about setting specific time aside to 

become more mindful and intentional about your day. Instead 

of getting up and switching straight into ‘to-do mode’ we 

should allow ourselves the time to feel more calm and focussed 

on the day ahead. An important part of being able to build 

and sustain a morning routine is quality sleep, enabling you 

to wake up refreshed and ready to go the next morning. 

Give it a go... SEEK MORNING LIGHT 

A good night’s sleep starts with what we do first 

thing in the morning. Our body has an in-built 

clock, known as our circadian rhythm and it 

has a lot to do with our wake and sleep times. 

Research has shown that exposing our bodies 

to early morning light not only supports high 

quality sleep, but is also associated with lower 

weight. Allow your skin to be in morning light 

as much as possible, seek out the sunrise, sit with 

your morning drink outside or beside an open 

window, take your breakfast outside or do your 

morning stretch in the garden. By allowing your 

body maximum light in the day and dimmer lights 

once the sun goes down, you are supporting your 

body’s internal clock for better sleep that evening. 

istockphoto.com/LiudmylaSupynskay & Anna Cinaroglu 

Learn to… DESIGN YOUR MORNING 

Let’s face it, mornings can be stressful. Alarms blaring, children 

screaming and to-do lists looming do not constitute a good start 

to the day, so try to design a morning routine that works for 

you. This may mean waking up 10 minutes earlier to a quieter 

house, a morning coffee before everyone stirs or time for a gentle 

stretch. By planning how you spend the first minutes upon 

waking, you can set your body and mind up for a more positive 

day ahead. Think about things that bring you joy; light a candle, 

go straight outside for a brisk walk, read a chapter of a good 

book or, quite simply, just sit. Allowing your mind to be calm 

gives the opportunity for creativity, reflection and productivity 

and therefore less stress. It doesn’t matter whether your morning 

routine lasts five minutes or one hour. What’s really important is 

to do something that is meaningful to you and that allows you 

to slow down for a moment and step out of autopilot-mode. 

Charlotte runs Plume Nutrition, where she offers support and advice 

for weight management, controlling cravings, sleeplessness, stress 

and increasing energy levels. Find out more at plumenutrition.com 

Step away from… YOUR PHONE 

What is the first thing you do when you wake 

up? For many of us, we are woken by the alarm 

from our phones which, once switched off, is used 

to have a quick check of our emails, scroll social 

media, read the news or perhaps a quick attempt 

at Wordle… and that is all before we have opened 

the curtains. Perhaps these things are harmless 

as a one off, but if they are repeated daily, they 

can really affect the start of your day. A tricky 

email from your boss, an impending utility bill or 

some difficult world news, is instantly additional 

stress. Try to make your bedroom a no tech zone; 

leave your phone and laptop in another room 

before you go to bed and invest in a good oldfashioned 

alarm clock! Imposing a ‘no-tech’ rule 

an hour before bed, as well as for an hour upon 

waking, may just result in a more peaceful mind. 


CO-EDUCATIONAL | 13 - 18 YEARS | DAY & BOARDING 

Join us for a an Open Morning 

13+ Entry - Sat. 11 th June 2022 

Sixth Form Entry - Sat. 18 th June 2022 

www.kings-school.co.uk 

“A thriving academic school in 

exquisite surroundings steeped in 

history, with highly motivated 

pupils who are hungry to learn”

School News 

Building Futures 

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook is expanding to provide a 

through-school from 2 to 16-years-old 

Exciting news in from Dulwich 

Prep Cranbrook... the school 

is launching an expansion to 

include Years 9, 10 and 11, which 

will offer families an academically 

ambitious, forward-looking, 

co-educational day school from Nursery 

all the way through to GCSE. 

The new Dulwich senior school will 

give students the opportunity to study 

a wide range of GCSEs, supported 

by exceptional pastoral care and a 

real focus on the individual. The 

first cohort will progress into Year 9 

in September 2023; they will move 

through the school to be the school’s 

first Year 11 students, taking GCSE 

examinations in the summer of 2026. 

Admission into the senior section of the 

school will be guaranteed for current 

Dulwich families, and the school 

welcomes external entry into both Year 

7 and Year 9 from September 2022. 

David Nelson, Chair of the Dulwich 

Preparatory Schools Trust, commented, 

“Dulwich Prep Cranbrook has always 

been forward-looking. It was one of the 

very first Preparatory schools to move 

to co-education in the 1970s and the 

first Kent Prep to embrace the digital 

age, using iPads as an educational 

tool. With senior schools moving 

away from Common Entrance, it has 

re-examined the curriculum in Years 7 

and 8, so its planned move into senior 

education is the next logical step.” 

“We’re going to offer 

genuine choice, so that 

every student has the 

opportunity to marry 

passion and ability, to 

discover their element.” 

Paul David, Headmaster 

The project will see the appointment 

of additional, highly experienced 

teaching staff, including 

a Head of Senior 

School. The school will also undergo 

development of its buildings to 

create a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly 

facility incorporating lecture facilities, 

remodelled classrooms, breakout 

study areas and social spaces, 

with a student café at the heart. 

Paul David, Headmaster, added, “Our 

qualified and experienced teaching 

staff are thrilled to be extending the 

curriculum beyond Year 8, to inspire 

and enthuse students to choose 

from a wide range of courses of 

study. We’re going to offer genuine 

choice, so that every student has the 

opportunity to marry passion and 

ability, to discover their element.” 

Find out more at 

dulwichprepcranbrook.org 


CO-EDUCATIONAL | 3 - 13 YEARS | DAY & BOARDING 

Join us for our whole school Open Morning 

Sat. 14 th May 2022 

“this traditional prep school brings out strengths, 

both academic and creative, so that by the 

time they leave they’re ready for 

www.junior-kings.co.uk the fast-paced senior school.”

Education 

Meet the Head 

We chat to Emma Károlyi, Head of Junior King’s, 

about her journey to becoming leader of the school 

What inspired you to teach? 

I always wanted to make a difference 

to others and allow my creativity 

to flourish. The enthusiastic energy 

of the children inspires me, and I 

try to remember how it felt to be 

their age. If adults harnessed the 

same joy and openness as pupils, 

imagine the difference in life. 

What do you enjoy most 

about working in education? 

The people – pupils, parents and 

colleagues. Education is always about 

finding how others tick and seeking 

the best in them. I feel proud to 

watch the pupils who leave the Junior 

School continue to flourish across 

the Senior School and beyond. 

How do you unwind outside 

work? I need to be creative. This 

year, I am teaching myself embroidery 

and have set myself the challenge of 

making an embroidered calendar, 

with an icon for every day of the 

year. I love playing my viola, but 

don’t get to do it nearly enough. 

What is your favourite memory 

from your own school days? 

Apart from meeting my husband in 

sixth form, I remember most warmly 

my prep school and my inspirational 

Head; she knew and valued every 

pupil, found their strengths, and 

fostered a real love of learning in us all. 

If you could teach anyone 

from history, who would it 

be? There are plenty of historical 

people I would have liked to have 

been taught by myself, from Marcus 

Aurelius onwards. There are plenty 

of prominent people on the world 

stage who would benefit from the 

liberal and caring education at Junior 

King’s, but for whom it is too late. 

How does Junior King’s equip 

its pupils for the future? 

Junior King’s pupils leave us with 

a love of learning, modesty, a 

deep-seated empathy and kindness 

for others and the skills to make 

the world a better place. 

What has been your proudest 

achievement? Watching my 

own children flourish and become 

lovely adults, which assures me 

that I am doing the right thing for 

all the children at Junior King’s. 

How does the school’s 

impressive heritage influence 

life today at Junior King’s? 

Junior King’s is steeped in history, 

in its ethos, buildings, and early 

founders. The children are part of a 

school that has been in Canterbury 

since the 6 th century, yet we 

are forward-looking, constantly 

changing, and enriching ourselves 

with the modern world, while 

deeply respecting our heritage. 

junior-kings.co.uk 


Perfect Partners 

The New Beacon’s Headmaster, 

Mike Piercy, shares his thoughts 

on the school’s exciting merger 

with Tonbridge School 

Much has changed in recent years; from Brexit to 

pandemic to geopolitical instability. Through 

lockdowns, families have reviewed their lives, 

priorities and, in some cases, their children’s education. 

Were I to have any influence on education policy I would 

advocate the revival of the middle school model, 8-13: 

such is the tradition of prep schools. In the case of The 

New Beacon (a boys’ school) compare an 11 and 13-yearold 

– a little boy to a young man who has greater selfconfidence, 

self-awareness and understanding of his place in 

a community, with a more secure grasp of learning habits. 

In 2021 The New Beacon merged with Tonbridge 

School: two like-minded boys’ schools with a remarkably 

similar mission. While boys have gone from The New 

Beacon to 23 different schools in the last six years, 

many proceed to Tonbridge. Boys aspiring to Tonbridge 

from 11+ prep or primary schools can now join The 

New Beacon for Years 7 and 8. For us, we remain a 13+ 

school with those two important early secondary years to 

inculcate learning habits, resilience and self-confidence. 

An exciting aspect of the merge is the development of an 

academically ambitious, enlightened curriculum from years 

7 to 9. Respective Heads of Department have had fruitful 

discussions regarding which skills and what knowledge best 

prepare boys for the rigours of GCSE, 6th Form and beyond. 

It is early days in the merge of our two schools but there 

have been some ‘quick wins’ such as our older boys having a 

half day in The Barton Science Centre and Tonbridge UVI 

sailors teaching our younger ones at Bough Beech reservoir. 

New Beacon staff have enjoyed working with students at 

Tonbridge and likewise Tonbridge staff have met with 

and taught boys at The New Beacon. newbeacon.org.uk 

Rediscover England’s First Cathedral 

• UNESCO World 

Heritage site 

• 1,400 years of history 

• Resting place of 

saints and royalty 

Kids Go Free until 31 October 2022 (T&Cs apply) 

www.canterbury-cathedral.org 


CanterburyCathedralWt239 1 11/03/2022 14:07

Mayfield Festival 

of Music and the Arts 

23 APRIL - 8 MAY 2022 

MAGNIFICENT MUSIC 

in a Beautiful Sussex Village 

- PLUS - 

THEATRE • FILM • ART 

FOR THE BOX OFFICE AND FULL DETAILS OF ALL EVENTS VISIT 

MAYFIELDFESTIVAL.CO.UK 

in association with 

Mayfield School

COURSES 

Every Saturday 9am – 10.30am 

The Maidstone Art Centre 

Marlpit Farm, Wierton Road, 

Boughton Monchelsea, 

Maidstone ME17 4JW 

ANIME AND MANGA 

DRAWING CLUB 

A weekly Anime and Manga 

drawing club with limited spaces 

available at a friendly and fun 

not-for-profit community arts 

centre. Please book in advance 

on website (details below). All 

the materials needed will be 

provided and it is a wonderful 

chance to make new friends and 

improve your drawing skills. 

Entry: £8.50 

themaidstoneartcentre.co.uk 

Thur 21 and Thur 28 Apr 

10am plus Fri 22 Apr 7pm 

The Outdoor Candle Company, 

35 High Street, Pembury, 

Tunbridge Wells TN2 4PH 

CANDLE MAKING 

WORKSHOP 

During this two hour workshop 

you will learn about the history of 

candle making and scents and will 

make a 100% soy wax candle with 

access to a fragrance library, giving 

you a wide selection fragrance oils 

from which to select your scent. 

All equipment and materials 

will be provided, as well as 

complimentary tea or coffee and 

homemade cake in the morning 

sessions or a glass of Prosecco or 

soft drink in the evening sessions. 

Private group bookings can be 

catered for, contact The Outdoor 

Candle Company for details. 

Entry: £50 

theoutdoorcandlecompany.co.uk 

EASTER FUN 

Sat 2 – Sun 24 Apr 

10am – 5.30pm 

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA 

AT BOCKETTS FARM 

Enjoy a family day out as the 

lambing season gets into full 

swing! With over 500 gorgeous 

new born lambs due and ‘Meet 

the Shepherd’ sessions daily, there 

will be plenty of opportunity to 

learn about the lambs and even 

watch one being born! Plus, 

meet baby chicks and ducklings 

in Small Animal Encounter 

sessions and enjoy fun live 

shows in the Easter Garden. 

Complete the Easter trail too 

and children can take home a 

delicious chocolate treat. With 

craft activities, tractor rides, pig 

racing, heaps of outdoor adventure 

to explore, a huge indoor play 

barn and brand-new adventure 

playground ‘Squirrel Scramble’, 

you can be sure of a great day 

out! Pre-booking essential. 

bockettsfarm.co.uk 

Sat 2 – Mon 18 Apr 

Leeds Castle, Broomfield, 

ME17 1PL 

EASTER NEST TRAIL 

AT LEEDS CASTLE 

This Easter, you are invited to 

join Leeds Castle’s Easter Nest 

Trail! Embark on an adventure 

through the great outdoors, 

where you’ll CRACK the clues to 

find the six giant bird nests. All 

belonging to different birds, you 

must use the clues to guess which 

bird lives in each nest and count 

the number of eggs they’ve laid. 

Once all nests have been solved, 

you will claim your delicious 

chocolate egg. With picturesque 

gardens and seasonal parklands to 

explore, spend the rest of the day 

taking in the fresh air, admire the 

fragrant blooms, and take a family 

portrait in front of the castle. 

leeds-castle.com 

Fri 15 Apr 10am – 3pm 

Doddington Place 

Gardens, ME9 0BB 

DEMELZA’S ANNUAL 

EASTER EGG HUNT 

Demelza’s Annual Easter Egg 

Hunt is back and they can’t 

wait to see you there. 

Join in at the spectacular 

Doddington Place Gardens this 

Good Friday to help Cotton 

Tail find his friends. Each child 

taking part will receive a prize 

for completing their hunt! 

Choose your Wave – 10am, 

11.30am or 1pm. 

Entry: £5 per child, £1 per adult 

demelza.org.uk 

Sat 16 – Mon 18 Apr 

11am – 5pm 

Lullingstone Castle, 

Dartford DA4 0JA 

EASTER EGG QUIZ AT 

LULLINGSTONE CASTLE 

Lullingstone Castle and The 

World Garden kicks off its season 

with family fun with their Easter 

Trail and Quiz. Aspiring plant 

hunters will be able to scour The 

World Garden and Grounds 

for Easter clues and then report 

on their discoveries to claim an 

eggtastic surprise, plus the chance 

to meet some Easter characters. 

Set within 120 acres of beautiful 

Kent countryside, Lullingstone 

Castle is one of England’s oldest 

family estates, dating back 

to the time of Domesday. 

Entry: £10 adult, children 

under 16 go free 

lullingstonecastle.co.uk 

GARDENS 

What’s On in April 

Fri 15 – Sun 17 Apr 10am – 5pm 

Firle, Lewes, BN8 6LP 

THE GARDEN SHOW 

AT FIRLE PLACE 

It’s all about art, design, your 

garden and you! More than 

200 stalls with plenty of plants, 

garden goods, unique wares and 

family fun including toddler 

funfair, Easter egg treasure 

hunts, bouncy castle and more. 

Helpful advice is on hand and 

free talks to brush up on your 

gardening skills. All in support 

of the fantastic Hands of Hope 

charity, which works to relieve 

food poverty and social isolation 

by connecting marginalised 

people with the natural world. 

Assistance dogs only please. 

01243 538456 / firle.com 

thegardenshows.com / 

hohcharity.co.uk 

Tues 19 – Sun 24 Apr 

Hever Castle, Hever Road, 

Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG 

TULIP CELEBRATIONS 

AT HEVER 

Feel uplifted by over 40,000 

tulips proudly standing to 

attention and providing a 

visual feast of spring colour. A 

kaleidoscope of brightly coloured 

tulips will declare that spring 

has well and truly arrived at 

Hever Castle this month. 

Head Gardener, Neil Miller, a fan 

of bold bright colours, has selected 

a palette for 2022 that celebrates 

spring in all its glory and heralds 

the start of warmer days to come. 

Throughout Tulip Celebrations, 

you’ll be able to join daily garden 

tours led by Hever Castle’s 

gardening team. Plus, Woodland 

Walk (just off Lake Walk) will be 

open so that an additional 25 acres 

of outside space is available to you. 

hevercastle.co.uk 

Fri 29 Apr – Sun 1 May 

Hever Castle, Hever Road, 

Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG 

MAY CELEBRATIONS 

AT HEVER CASTLE 

Visitors will be able to dance 

around the Maypole with 

brightly coloured ribbons 

intertwined and watch Morris 

dancing and a traditional 

May Day play on the Castle 

forecourt as part of May bank 

holiday weekend celebrations. 

hevercastle.co.uk 

FAIRS & FESTIVALS 

Sat 30 Apr – Mon 2 May 

Penshurst Place, Tonbridge 

WEALD OF KENT 

COUNTRY CRAFT SHOW 

The perfect day out with great 

shopping, delicious food, 

entertainment and activities 

for all the family to enjoy! 

Discover outdoor marquees 

bursting with unique handcrafted 

creations from over 150 

independent stall holders. 

Lovingly created products and 

gifts await… from jewellery, 

homewares and clothing to art, 

garden ornaments, artisan food 

and drink plus much more! 

As well as great shopping, 

there are enjoyable activities 

and entertainment for all the 

family – from classic children’s 

fairground rides and live 

musicians to interactive craft 

workshops and demonstrations. 

thecraftshows.co.uk 


SATURDAY 7 - SUNDAY 8 MAY 2022 

SANDOWN PARK RACECOURSE, KT10 9AJ 

USE CODE FOR £2 OFF GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS | ONE PER CUSTOMER 

SAVE2 

VALID FROM 28/03/2022 - 27/04/2022 

BOOK YOUR TICKET TODAY 

CRAFTINGLIVE.CO.UK 

TICKETS 

FROM 

£7.00 

HighlightCraftsWT239.indd 1 03/03/2022 14:02 


112 

GLiveWT239.indd 1 10/03/2022 16:51

MUSIC 

What’s On in April 

Sun 10 Apr 3pm 

Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall 

Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 

VERDI’S REQUIEM 

The Royal Tunbridge Wells 

Choral Society return to the 

Assembly Hall for the first 

concert of their 119th season 

to perform Verdi’s Requiem. 

They are joined by the RTWCS 

orchestra and four experienced 

soloists and musical director, 

Robyn Sevastos. Experience the 

astounding power of the Dies 

Irae and the heart-wrenchingly 

tender pleading for forgiveness 

by a singly beautiful soprano 

voice in the final Libera Me. 

Entry: £10-22 from box 

office 01892 530613 

assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk 

Sat 23 Apr to Sun 8 May 

Mayfield, nr Tunbridge Wells 

MAYFIELD FESTIVAL 

The Mayfield Festival, 

incorporating the Tunbridge Wells 

International Music Competition, 

is being held in the beautiful 

village of Mayfield and with over 

twenty events, there’s something 

for everyone. Featured artists 

include Joe Stilgoe, the renowned 

pianist Joanna MacGregor and 

the Oxford Camerata (performing 

Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis). 

mayfieldfestival.co.uk 

Sat 23 Apr 7.30pm 

St George’s Church, 

Gravesend, DA11 0DJ 

GRAVESHAM CHORAL 

SOCIETY & ORCHESTRA: 

A CONCERT OF 

CELEBRATORY MUSIC 

BY HANDEL, HAYDN 

AND MENDELSSOHN 

Back with their first performance 

since lockdown GCS will treat 

their audience to Haydn’s 

Te Deum in C, Handel’s 

Ode for St Cecilia’s Day and 

Hymn of Praise by Mendelssohn. 

With orchestra, and sopranos 

Helen Lacey and Hannah Hughes 

and tenor Stephen Brown. 

Entry: £12 adults and £5 

for full time students 

graveshamcs.co.uk 

THEATRE 

Sat 23 Apr 10.30am & 1.30pm 

G Live, Guildford 

MILKSHAKE LIVE 

If your children or grandchildren 

love Paddington Bear, Noddy or 

Milkshake Monkey, they’re in for 

a massive treat, as all the gang 

from Milkshake are heading to G 

Live with a brand new stage show. 

Packed full of laughter, audience 

interaction and the kind of fun 

that will gets you up off your seat, 

join Daisy and Ollie, Blues Clues 

and You, Pip and Posy and more 

for an unforgettable family time. 

0343 310 0055 / glive.co.uk 

Fri 29 Apr 7.30pm 

G Live, Guildford 

HARRIS AND BAKER’S 

BACKSTAGE PASS 

Two of the nation’s best-loved 

broadcasters, Bob Harris and 

Danny Baker head out on tour, 

ready to spill the beans on 

their unparalleled experience 

of spending time up-close and 

personal with the greats of modern 

music. They’ve been backstage, 

front stage, at home and on-theroad 

with virtually every legend 

in the business. So, get ready for 

funny stories and lots of scandal 

from their lives in rock ‘n’ roll. 

0343 310 0055 / glive.co.uk 

Listings are correct at time of going to 

press but may be subject to change. 

Readers are advised to check with 

venues before making arrangements. 

We can list your event in the next 

issue of Wealden Times or Surrey 

Homes for only £15+VAT. Please 

supply up to 200 words that should 

include date, time, venue, contact 

for enquiries and any entry price to 

whatson@priceless-group.com or send 

with payment (cheques payable to 

Priceless Media Ltd.) to What’s On, 

Priceless Media, Kettle Chambers, 21 

Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 

3HF. Priceless Media reserves the 

right to edit text to fit space allocated. 

If you would like your event listing 

to be accompanied by a full colour 

reproduction (42.5 x 62.5mm) of a 

Learn how to Design, 

poster or other pictorial image, the 

Plant, Prune and Propagate 

total charge will be £95+VAT. Deadline 

for the May issue is 8 April 2022. 

LET US TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN 

Multideck specialise in the installation of 100% 

recycled, LET environmentally US TRANSFORM friendly, YOUR no rotting, GARDEN no 


painting LET LET 

LET US Multideck US COMPOSITE 

US TRANSFORM specialise specialise in the DECKING. installation in YOUR the installation of 100% GARDEN 

We are of a local 100% 

company friendly, no rotting, no 

LET recycled, Multideck specialise in the in the installation of 100% of 100% 

Multideck US but environmentally specialise are able 

COMPOSITE in DECKING. in the to install friendly, 

installation throughout no rotting, 

We are a local 

of 100% the no 


recycled, 

company environmentally 

but are able to install friendly, friendly, 

throughout no rotting, no rotting, 

the no 

recycled, country. painting environmentally All COMPOSITE products in friendly, require DECKING. no little We rotting, of 100% or are no no a local 

Multideck specialise in the installation of 100% 

painting country. COMPOSITE All products require DECKING. little We or are We a are local a local 

maintenance painting recycled, company 

COMPOSITE environmentally but and are offer DECKING. 

able friendly, a to 10 install year We no rotting, are 

throughout guarantee. 

a local no no the 

company maintenance but but are and are able offer able to a install to 10 year install throughout guarantee. throughout the the 

company Available painting country. country. but COMPOSITE but 

All are 

All are All 

products able 

products able products 

in a selection to DECKING. to 

require install of require 

require colours little of throughout with We colours are little or no 

little a a local local 

or no 

the or no 

with 

company country. company maintenance country. All 

and offer or Grooved a 10 year options. 

but but All are products are 

and able and 

offer to offer require install a 

a 10 year guarantee. 

throughout 10 little year guarantee. 

or guarantee. 

no the the 

Please country. 

maintenance Woodgrain 

maintenance Available country. Available Call for a and selection free, offer no obligation a of 10 colours year with quote 

Available All 

All 

and products in 

or 

in offer a selection 

Grooved a require 

10 year 

little 

of colours little of 

options. 

guarantee. colours or 

or 

no 

with no with 

maintenance Mobile: 075 a or selection Grooved 8383 7474 of options. colours or options. or with 

maintenance Available Woodgrain and offer and a selection offer or a 10 10 Grooved year guarantee. 

of year colours guarantee. options. with 

Available Landline: Call 

Woodgrain a selection 

for 01622 free, 

or 

no 

Grooved of colours 

891915 obligation 

options. with 

Available a selection of colours quote with 

Please Woodgrain 

Please Call for a free, Grooved 

no no obligation options. 

Mobile: 

Woodgrain Call for 

quote 

Please Mobile: Call E: Woodgrain enquiries@multideck.uk 

075 

or a Grooved free, 

for a 075 or 8383 Grooved 

8383 

no options. 

7474 options. 

7474 

obligation 

or 

quote 

Please Call or 

Please Landline: Call Web: 

Mobile: for a free, 

for www.multideck.uk 

a 075 free, 8383 891915 

no obligation 7474 or or quote 

Composite decking is made from fully recycled materials 

E: 01622 075 no 8383 obligation 01622 891915 7474 quote or 

891915 

E: Mobile: 

Landline: Mobile: 075 

enquiries@multideck.uk 

075 

01622 8383 7474 

8383 7474 

891915 or 

Landline: or 

Landline: E: Web: 01622 891915 

E: enquiries@multideck.uk 

www.multideck.uk 

01622 891915 

Composite Web: E: E: enquiries@multideck.uk 

decking www.multideck.uk 

is made from fully recycled materials 

Composite Composite 

E: Web: decking 

enquiries@multideck.uk 

Web: Web: www.multideck.uk 

decking is www.multideck.uk 

is made is from fully recycled materials 

materials 

Composite decking decking is made is made from fully from recycled fully recycled materials materials 

Composite Web: decking www.multideck.uk 

is made from fully recycled materials 

Composite decking is made from fully recycled materials 

Please Call for a free, no obligation quote 

Ibbett Mosely 

AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS 

Limited Liability Partnership 

MultideckWT239.indd 1 22/03/2022 10:38 

The Auctioneer's Next Sale Will Be On 

Wednesday 27th April 2022 

Currently to be held at The Auction Rooms, 

Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1HJ and online at 

easyliveauction.com/ibbettmosely at 11.00 a.m. 

Viewing by appointment only, please contact us for more information. 

Tel: 01732 456731 Web: www.ibbettmosely.co.uk 

125 High St, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UT 

Registered in England No. 0C341637 Regulated by RICS Registered at the Sevenoaks office as Ibbett Mosely Surveyors LLP 

Wood Floor 

Sanding 

IbbettMoselyWT238.indd 1 02/02/2022 09:38 

- Family Business - 

We also restore wooden kitchen tops 

FREE estimates - call any time 

07794953597 gerardgrover@gmail.com 

GARDENING COURSES 

AllWoodsSandingServicesWT2171/8.indd 1 21/02/2020 12:55 

Practical Gardening Courses at HORNBROOK MANOR FARM, Woodchurch, Kent 

Small, friendly gardening 

classes designed to help you 

get the best from your garden 

through the seasons. 

Contact Jo Arnell: 07923 969634 

jo@hornbrookmanor.co.uk 

Join Jo Arnell in her garden in 

Woodchurch for morning or 

full day gardening courses 

Learn how to Design, Prune, 

Plant, Propagate - and get the best 

from your garden this year. 

Contact Jo: 07923 969634 

hornbrookmanor.co.uk 


HornbrookManorWT239.indd 1 07/03/2022 15:46

Farm 

Fables 

Jane Howard has her fingers 

crossed that her bees have 

successfully overwintered 

when she wakes up the 

hives this month 

April… the evenings are longer, 

the countryside is greener and 

the birds are louder. Bliss. Spring 

has arrived and nowhere is this more 

apparent than in the apiary where hopefully 

I will still have four happy healthy hives. 

Most insects overwinter by either laying eggs 

which hatch out in the spring or by having a fertilised 

queen who hibernates all winter and then emerges 

to lay eggs when it warms up. But honey bees do it 

differently. They spend all summer collecting nectar 

and then making and storing honey in a labyrinth of 

wax combs. Then as the cold weather sets in they seal 

up all the cracks in the hive with a sticky glue called 

propolis, made from the sap of pine 

trees, and hunker down in a cosy 

home with a well stocked pantry. Who 

wants to go out in February anyway? 

Back in October I checked each hive 

to make sure they had enough stored 

honey, then wrapped each one in bright 

flappy plastic sacks to frighten off 

woodpeckers. I then fitted tiny metal 

grills across the entrances to stop any 

passing mice moving in to what must 

seem like quite an attractive free and 

cosy six month rental opportunity. 

And six months later on a spring 

day in April, when you can venture 

out without a jumper – this usually 

coincides with flowering red currant 

bushes coming into bloom – it’s time to 

crack open the hives and see what’s been 

going on. The first visit is always a time of excitement 

that I will find lots of busy bees, and trepidation that I 

might not. Every year quite a few colonies don’t make 

it – around 20% across the South East last year. 

But being quite an optimist, here’s hoping that not 

only will all four hives have made it, but that each will 

contain a healthy well-fed queen already laying lots 

The first visit is 

always a time of 

excitement that I 

will find lots of busy 

bees, and trepidation 

that I might not. 

Every year quite a 

few colonies don’t 

make it – around 

20% across the 

South East last year 

of eggs to build up numbers for the season ahead. 

A good colony of bees will contain about 50,000 

worker bees in the summer, all frantically busy 

collecting nectar from flowering plants to turn into 

stored honey. Numbers then drop in 

late autumn, so only about 10,000 go 

through the winter eating the stored 

honey and forming a ball around the 

queen to keep her super warm. 

Each egg that the queen lays takes 

three weeks to hatch out as a worker 

bee and the young bee then spends 

the first three weeks of her (they 

always are) life in the hive carrying out 

domestic chores like feeding the young, 

spring cleaning and storing the honey. 

Only when she is six weeks old does 

she leave the hive to start foraging. 

In April these workers will decide 

to make some slightly different size 

comb and the eggs the queen lays into 

this become boys – drones. But guess 

what, they only have one role in life 

and that doesn’t involve nectar, honey or housework! 

So do the maths and you see that my four queens 

– Bodicea, Victoria, Anne and Elizabeth – have their 

work cut out to lay enough eggs to get from 10,000 in 

January to 50,000 in July. But I’m sure they’re up to 

the job and weather and global events permitting here’s 

hoping for a busy and productive bee-keeping season. 

Image: istockphoto.com/CollinswoodImages 

Find out more about daily life at Coopers Farm by visiting coopersfarmstonegate.co.uk 


114

One destination 

-Two extraordinary Venues - 

Superb Bespoke Interiors, Bathrooms, Kitchens & Bedrooms 

A unique one-stop shopping experience for all your interior & exterior 

design & decoration requirements. 

The most atmospheric sculpture park in Britain. 

More than 300 internationally renowned sculptors exhibiting over 1000 

sculptures for sale within ten acres of arboretum & wildlife inhabited 

water gardens. 

Miscellanea 

Crossways, Churt, Surrey 

GU10 2JA 

01428 714 014 

www.miscellanea.co.uk 

www.thesculpturepark.com 

Curator: 07831 500 506 

The Sculpture Park 

Jumps Road, Churt, Surrey 

GU10 2LH 

01428 605 453

Surrey Homes | SH87 | April 2022 | Garden supplement inside

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Surrey Homes | SH87 | April 2022 | Garden supplement inside

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?