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Surrey Homes | SH97 | February 2023 | Education Supplement inside

The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes

The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes

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EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT <strong>inside</strong><br />

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes<br />

PRICELESS<br />

FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong>


BESPOKE KITCHEN DESIGN<br />

DESIGN • SUPPLY • MANAGE • INSTALL<br />

SCAN ME


Come and visit our showroom:<br />

Bancroft Road, Reigate, <strong>Surrey</strong>, RH2 7RP<br />

01737240403<br />

www.rdokitchenstudio.co.uk<br />

rdokitchenstudio


<strong>Surrey</strong>, Sussex & Hampshire’s<br />

Premier Oak Framed Specialist<br />

Tel: 01483 420 258 I info@surreyoakbarns.co.uk I www.surreyoakbarns.co.uk


shampangroup.co.uk<br />

shampangroup.co.uk


Wood and Stone Floors<br />

Woodandstonefloors.co.uk<br />

Wood - Stone - Porcelain<br />

Studios across the south east<br />

Guildford - 189 High Street, GU1 3AW<br />

Tunbridge Wells - 6 High Street, TN1 1UX<br />

Design<br />

Home Consultation<br />

Supply & Installation<br />

Expert advice<br />

01483 577533


Contents<br />

<strong>February</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />

26<br />

67<br />

70<br />

12<br />

21<br />

25<br />

26<br />

43<br />

45<br />

46<br />

HOUSE OF THE MONTH<br />

Dream homes on the market<br />

NOTEBOOK<br />

<strong>February</strong> events for your diary<br />

THE MUST LIST<br />

Keep up-to-date with the latest<br />

must-see and must-have goodies<br />

THE HOUSE ON THE HILL<br />

A stunning new home set<br />

into the Goudhurst hillside<br />

GET THE LOOK<br />

Emulate Garry and Camilla<br />

Elms’ modern chic look<br />

PIECE OF MY HEART<br />

Love-ly art to suit all tastes<br />

FINDING THE LIGHT<br />

Pale is certainly interesting<br />

in this Pantiles property<br />

63<br />

67<br />

68<br />

70<br />

76<br />

79<br />

GET THE LOOK<br />

Be inspired by Alex Jørgensen’s<br />

natural sense of interior style<br />

SWEET DISPOSITION<br />

Shop heart-themed<br />

adornments<br />

NEW ROMANTICS<br />

Rebecca Cuffe edits<br />

amorous aesthetic<br />

MIX AND MATCH<br />

Jo Arnell combines perfect<br />

flavour partners to create<br />

four irresistible pies<br />

SLEEPING BEAUTY<br />

Beautify overnight with<br />

Josephine Fairley’s run-down<br />

of perfecting products<br />

KEEP IN THE KNOW<br />

Sarah Maxwell gives us another<br />

dose of menopause advice<br />

Published by Priceless Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street,<br />

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

Visit priceless-group.com Copyright © <strong>2023</strong> Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the<br />

advertisers & contributors are not necessarily those of Priceless Media Ltd.<br />

81<br />

83<br />

87<br />

89<br />

90<br />

NOURISH TO FLOURISH<br />

Charlotte Lau’s tips for optimum<br />

postnatal nutrition<br />

GREEN ATTRACTION<br />

Jo Arnell explores the relationship<br />

between plants and their owners<br />

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE<br />

Sue Whigham helps her son<br />

tackle a new garden project<br />

WHAT’S ON?<br />

Find out...<br />

FARM FABLES<br />

Livestock gossip straight<br />

from the farmer’s mouth.<br />

This month, Jane watches her<br />

pregnant cows like a hawk<br />

EDUCATION<br />

SUPPLEMENT<br />

32 pages of the latest<br />

news from thriving<br />

schools across the<br />

South East.<br />

After page 64.<br />

7


Our Alton Showroom has over 3000 products on display, why not visit us today.<br />

Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire GU34 2QJ Tel: 01420 590510<br />

Open: 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday | 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday<br />

www.distinctivelightinguk.com


Editor’s<br />

Letter<br />

C O U N T Y C L O T H E S<br />

M E N S W E A R<br />

Are you dying to breathe new life into a drab<br />

interior? With this issue, we’re beating the <strong>February</strong><br />

chill with inspiring spring decor courtesy of two<br />

beautifully fresh homes, where every corner has been<br />

carefully considered to maximise on style and comfort.<br />

If your children are just about to start in nursery or reception,<br />

or you’ve recently moved to the area and are searching for<br />

just the right school to enrol them, then look no further than<br />

our <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong>. You can read all the latest news,<br />

get to know a little more about the teachers and explore the<br />

curriculum with our comprehensive look at all things school!<br />

Health and wellbeing are always at the forefront of<br />

our minds, and this issue is no different with the second<br />

instalment of Sarah Maxwell’s look at the menopause.<br />

Josephine Fairley shares her beauty expertise with a list<br />

of overnight products that truly deliver results and<br />

Charlotte Lau takes a look at postnatal nutrition.<br />

Whilst she’s waiting for spring to wake her garden<br />

up, Jo Arnell has been busy in her country kitchen<br />

creating pie recipes to cosy up with on wintry nights.<br />

Try out her foolproof recipes from page 72.<br />

We couldn’t put out a <strong>February</strong> issue without a reference to<br />

Valentine’s Day. We’ve compiled some beautifully romantic<br />

fashion pages that every woman can enjoy, regardless of<br />

whether your stance on <strong>February</strong> 14th is to love it or leave it!<br />

Enjoy your <strong>Surrey</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>!<br />

U P T O<br />

7 0 % O F F !<br />

C A N T E R B U R Y - T E N T E R D E N -<br />

S E V E N O A K S - R E I G A T E - B E X H I L L<br />

S T O R E S<br />

( E X C L U D E S R O Y A L T U N B R I D G E W E L L S )<br />

W W W . C O U N T Y C L O T H E S M E N S W E A R . C O . U K<br />

CountyClothesWT249-SH.indd 1 16/01/<strong>2023</strong> 09:37<br />

Wealden Times & <strong>Surrey</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> Team<br />

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

News & Features Editor ...............................................................Rebecca Cuffe<br />

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

Sales Managers ..............................................................................Rachel Norrie<br />

Lisa Gordon-Hughes<br />

Senior Account Managers ............................................................... Maria Hurley<br />

Sarah Norwood<br />

Sub Editor/Features Writer ................................................................Emily Pavey<br />

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

Events Manager .............................................................................. Liz Copping<br />

Senior Account Manager, Events ....................................................... Jude Brown<br />

Managing Director .............................................................. Vivien Cotterill-Lee<br />

Executive Chairman ...................................................................... Julie Simpson<br />

Bring some of your personality to your wardrobe<br />

with a personally tailored suit or jacket with a<br />

choice of fabrics, linings and trims. Complement<br />

your look with our stylish footwear.<br />

48 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1AS<br />

01732 902019 | www.suitsshoessir.com<br />

9 priceless-magazines.com<br />

SuitsShoesSirWT248.indd 1 05/12/2022 10:56


Find your copy<br />

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest<br />

distributor of <strong>Surrey</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> or to get free copies<br />

delivered for a year for just £25 postage<br />

12,000 copies of <strong>Surrey</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> are printed every month.<br />

We are available in the following outlets and are the only<br />

local magazine available at key commuter stations.<br />

If you have any questions re our distribution please contact<br />

Rachel Norrie – Distribution Manager<br />

rachel.norrie@priceless-group.com<br />

Ashtead<br />

• Patrick Gardner<br />

Bagshott<br />

• Howlands<br />

Estate Agents<br />

• Longacres Nursery<br />

Banstead<br />

• King of Cotton<br />

Betchworth<br />

• Buckland Deli<br />

• The Community<br />

Shop<br />

Bookham<br />

• Patrick Gardner<br />

Bramley<br />

• Bramley Beds<br />

Buckland<br />

• Buckland Nurseries<br />

Camberley<br />

• Romans<br />

Cheam<br />

• Cook<br />

Chelsham<br />

• Knights Garden<br />

Centre<br />

Chobham<br />

• Melita<br />

• Pasha<br />

Claygate<br />

• Trew Art<br />

Cobham<br />

• Cobham Furniture<br />

• Fego Café<br />

• Oh So Coco<br />

Cranleigh<br />

• Notcutts<br />

• Roger Coupe<br />

Dorking<br />

• Dorking Travel<br />

• Patrick Gardner<br />

• Princess Alice<br />

Hospice<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

Epsom<br />

• Mayfield Lavender<br />

Nursery & Shop<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

Esher<br />

• Sandown Park<br />

Racecourse<br />

Farnham<br />

• Cook<br />

• ME Estate Agents<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

• Waterstones<br />

Felbridge<br />

• Doves Barn Nursery<br />

Godalming<br />

• Cook<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

• Sarah Louise Dix<br />

• Waterstones<br />

Godstone<br />

• Knights Garden<br />

Centre<br />

Guildford<br />

• BoConcept<br />

• Elm Nursery<br />

Farm Shop<br />

• Loaf<br />

• Neptune<br />

• Nuffield Gym<br />

Haslemere<br />

• Lythe Hill<br />

Hotel & Spa<br />

• Tesco Superstore<br />

Knaphill<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

Leatherhead<br />

• Patrick Gardner<br />

• Robert Leech<br />

& Partners<br />

Lingfield<br />

• Robert Leech<br />

Lyne<br />

• The Farm Shop Lyne<br />

Milford<br />

• Secretts<br />

Old Oxted<br />

• Fish Plaice & Grill<br />

Oxted<br />

• Cook<br />

• Jackson-Stops<br />

& Staff<br />

• Limpsfield Stores<br />

• Morrisons<br />

• Robert Leech<br />

Oxshott<br />

• The Bear<br />

Redhill<br />

• Priory Farm<br />

Reigate<br />

• County Clothes<br />

• Robert Leech<br />

• RDO Kitchens<br />

Ripley<br />

• Ripley Nurseries<br />

Farm Shop<br />

• The Talbot<br />

Surbiton<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

Walton on Thames<br />

• Waterstones<br />

• Sainsbury’s<br />

Warlingham<br />

• Botley Hill<br />

Farmhouse<br />

• Rayners Estate<br />

Agents<br />

West Byfleet<br />

• Roman Tiles<br />

Weybridge<br />

• Tesco Extra<br />

Woldingham<br />

• Fine & Country<br />

STATIONS:<br />

• Dorking<br />

• East Grinstead<br />

• Epsom<br />

• Esher<br />

• Guildford<br />

• Haslemere<br />

• Kingston<br />

• Redhill<br />

• Richmond<br />

• Surbiton<br />

• Weybridge<br />

• Wimbledon<br />

• Woking<br />

astionan carlton nouveau<br />

venice<br />

high quality, timeless design, authentic elements<br />

marina acme<br />

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11 priceless-magazines.com<br />

AstonMatthewsWT232.indd 1 06/08/2021 14:05


House<br />

Month<br />

of the<br />

£8,950,000<br />

Damien Pestell picks his favourite homes on the market<br />

Guildford<br />

The dream: A Grade I listed manor<br />

house that dates back to the 11th<br />

century and is thought to be the UK’s<br />

oldest continuously inhabited house.<br />

Updated and modified throughout the<br />

course of a century, it has been visited<br />

by royalty and figures of historical<br />

significance. Surrounded by a moat<br />

the house includes a host of incredible<br />

features including the west wing with its<br />

own entrance and the potential to be let<br />

separately, while the east wing features<br />

a remarkable 40 foot indoor pool.<br />

Where: The attractive and ancient<br />

village of Wonersh, surrounded<br />

by the <strong>Surrey</strong> Hills and less than<br />

4 miles from Guildford.<br />

Setting: Set in 10 acres of its<br />

own private grounds.<br />

Beds: 10 Baths: 6<br />

Special features: The sublime<br />

drawing room with panelled walls<br />

and fireplace has direct access to the<br />

indoor pool, should you fancy a dip.<br />

Pleasing details: The owner of the<br />

house allegedly contributed to the<br />

Crown during the battle against<br />

the Spanish in the 16th century, in<br />

return he was given some timber<br />

from the Spanish Armada, which<br />

is now in the dining room.<br />

Outside: The glorious gardens and<br />

grounds include a walled garden,<br />

formal lawn, a beautiful lake hosting<br />

an abundance of wildlife, and the<br />

wonderfully named Bog garden. A hard<br />

tennis court, WWII air raid shelter<br />

and meadow are further places to<br />

explore while a useful stable yard has<br />

the potential to be used as a helicopter<br />

hanger or for equestrian needs.<br />

Time to town: The main line station<br />

at Guildford offers a fast and frequent<br />

service into London, with journey<br />

times from around 36 minutes.<br />

Agent: Savills 020 7016 3780 savills.com<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

12


OIEO £3m<br />

Godalming<br />

The dream: A gorgeous Grade II listed cottage<br />

in an enviable position overlooking the village<br />

green in the peaceful hamlet of Bowlhead<br />

Green, with an abundance of character this<br />

home comes on the market with the bonus<br />

of additional accommodation, providing the<br />

potential for an extra income, if desired.<br />

Where: The pretty hamlet of Bowlhead Green is<br />

just 6 miles from the market town of Godalming.<br />

Setting: Set back in its very own walled garden.<br />

Beds: 5 Baths: 3<br />

Special features: The beautiful lounge with<br />

exposed timber ceiling and inglenook fireplace<br />

is a cosy place for those frosty winter nights.<br />

Pleasing details: The part tile hung aspect of the<br />

building combined with the high pitch roof come<br />

together to create a beautiful chocolate box cottage.<br />

Outside: The property sits in well maintained<br />

grounds of just under an acre and includes<br />

a barn incorporating a car port, garage<br />

and workshop, with store overhead.<br />

Time to town: From Godalming station<br />

a 15 minute drive away to London<br />

Waterloo in just 42 minutes.<br />

Agent: House Partnership<br />

01483 266 700 housepartnership.co.uk<br />

Holmwood<br />

£1,100,000<br />

The dream: A unique converted period barn<br />

on the edge of the <strong>Surrey</strong> Hills AONB. This<br />

former granary is set within a third of an acre,<br />

offering peace and quiet as well as a superb<br />

outlook over the surrounding countryside.<br />

Where: Holmwood, 5 miles outside<br />

the major town of Dorking.<br />

Setting: A stunning rural perspective, tucked away<br />

behind another property away from any prying eyes.<br />

Beds: 3 Baths: 2<br />

Special features: The spacious lounge with<br />

vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers and log<br />

burner is the perfect place to socialise.<br />

Pleasing details: The gorgeous spiral staircase<br />

with glazed balustrade provides access to<br />

the landing and two further bedrooms.<br />

Outside: The rear landscaped gardens are beautifully<br />

stocked with established shrubs, hedging and<br />

perennials all set within the well designed rear lawn<br />

garden. There’s even a secluded vegetable and fruit<br />

garden, positioned away from the main house.<br />

Time to town: From Dorking station, a 10 minute<br />

drive away, to London Victoria in just over an hour.<br />

Agent: Patrick Gardner<br />

01306 877775 patrickgardner.com<br />

13 priceless-magazines.com


Receive<br />

50%<br />

off of your rent<br />

for 6 months*<br />

Recharge<br />

Recreate<br />

Relive<br />

Rent now<br />

With Pegasus communities<br />

across the <strong>Surrey</strong> hills and beyond<br />

Choosing a later living home that’s<br />

right for you has never felt so good.<br />

Exclusively for the Sixty+<br />

Rent from £1,509<br />

Buy from £315,000<br />

rentnow@lifestory.group<br />

Cobham Bowers<br />

SURREY<br />

Moor’s Nook<br />

HORSELL<br />

Carriages<br />

PURLEY<br />

Taylor Place<br />

DORKING<br />

Highfields<br />

WEST BYFLEET<br />

1 & 2 bedrooms<br />

Rent from £2,669pcm<br />

Buy from £510,000<br />

1 & 2 bedrooms<br />

Rent from £1,509pcm<br />

Buy from £315,000<br />

1 & 2 bedrooms<br />

Rent from £2,060pcm<br />

Buy from £450,000<br />

1 & 2 bedrooms<br />

Rent from £2,022pcm<br />

Buy from £340,000<br />

1 & 2 bedrooms<br />

Launching <strong>2023</strong><br />

Buy from £400,000<br />

01932 321 033<br />

01483 431 072<br />

0203 3082 555<br />

01306 230 047<br />

01932 483 128<br />

lifestory.group/rentnow<br />

Terms and conditions apply. Your rent will be reduced by 50% for 6 calendar months if you reserve and move-in by 30th June <strong>2023</strong>. This offer is available on selected<br />

developments only. 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. January <strong>2023</strong>.


Show Home<br />

Launch<br />

<strong>February</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />

Be one of the first to view at<br />

Queens Court, Leatherhead<br />

Just 9 elegant and luxurious new homes set within a mature, tree lined avenue<br />

Each property offers a garden, terrace or spacious balcony overlooking communal gardens<br />

Register today to attend the launch in <strong>February</strong><br />

One & two bedroom homes<br />

from £350,000


Life doesn’t have to be...<br />

In a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster<br />

of one thing after another, with the nation<br />

holding its breath to see what’s next, we<br />

believe life doesn't have to be on hold. If you<br />

want to enjoy a better quality of life now,<br />

why not consider this solution.<br />

Press ‘resume’.<br />

Birchgrove retirement communities offer<br />

apartments that are smart, comfortable, light<br />

and secure. Future-designed for later life.<br />

Our model is ‘renting’ rather than ‘buying’, and<br />

you’ve no worries about utility bills as our rent<br />

is inclusive – with no price increase until 2024.*<br />

Renting offers much flexibility. You can move in<br />

(or out) quickly – and don’t need to sell your<br />

home before you do; you could even rent it out<br />

until the market picks up.<br />

*<br />

Capped until 2024. Transparently reviewed<br />

against the Retail Price Index annually.<br />

‘on hold’<br />

Enjoy a better quality of life... now!<br />

Scan the code, visit the website, or call to find out more:<br />

www.birchgrove.life/better<br />

020 3929 5599<br />

Leading<br />

the way<br />

in retirement<br />

rental living<br />

Queensgate<br />

Apartments<br />

Sidcup, Kent<br />

Woodbank<br />

Apartments<br />

Hook Heath, Woking<br />

Lower Mill<br />

Apartments<br />

Ewell Village, <strong>Surrey</strong>


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE<br />

Modern retirement living<br />

Downsizing for a better<br />

quality of life makes sense<br />

but bungalows are scarce.<br />

Research finds that over 25<br />

percent of retirees want to downsize, yet<br />

the vast majority are put off by moving<br />

costs and the logistics. Many retirees opt<br />

to sell their current home and buy as<br />

they believe it provides more security and<br />

allows them to keep some assets. However,<br />

the buying costs add up, especially as<br />

stamp duty rates are high, and often the<br />

resale value on retirement property is low.<br />

Birchgrove, the specialist developer of<br />

contemporary retirement properties offers<br />

an alternative way – a new retirement<br />

apartment that you can rent. A rental<br />

home provides more flexibility and<br />

enables you to release the full equity<br />

from the sale or rental of your property<br />

to boost your lifestyle and pension.<br />

Unlike most properties in the rental<br />

sector that aren’t adapted for mature<br />

residents, Birchgrove’s apartments are<br />

designed for people in later life.<br />

Birchgrove, offers modern and<br />

spacious apartments in Kent and<br />

<strong>Surrey</strong>. Each apartment is individually<br />

designed to maximise space and light<br />

and has the Birchgrove trademark<br />

of high-quality finishes so that the<br />

apartments are distinctly elegant -<br />

with details such as wide doors and<br />

corridors for freedom of movement<br />

and wheelchair access, appliances at<br />

waist height for ease of use in the fully<br />

fitted kitchens and en-suite showers.<br />

Birchgrove also offer complete<br />

packages to take the hassle out of moving.<br />

They will assist you with all aspects of<br />

the move, from putting your current<br />

home on the market to decluttering and<br />

selling unwanted items. Their ‘Moveasy’<br />

package, for example, even goes as far as<br />

helping you pick furniture for your new<br />

home! You can move into your new home<br />

stress free and with very little hassle.<br />

Once a resident at a Birchgrove<br />

retirement community residents have<br />

access to exclusive onsite amenities<br />

such as a restaurant, licensed bar,<br />

club room, a communal terrace,<br />

wellness suite, landscaped gardens<br />

and greenhouse. Regular events and<br />

activities programme also contribute<br />

to the friendly community lifestyle,<br />

and for added peace of mind there is a<br />

concierge and 24 hour staff presence.<br />

If you find yourself needing a<br />

little extra assistance, the Birchgrove<br />

tailored care support is offered through<br />

their homecare specialist partners<br />

who can personalise a care package<br />

for your individual requirements.<br />

There is a Birchgrove retirement<br />

community at Queensgate Apartments,<br />

Sidcup, Kent; Woodbank Apartments,<br />

Hook Heath, Woking; and Lower<br />

Mill Apartments in Ewell, <strong>Surrey</strong><br />

If you would like to find out<br />

more about living at a Birchgrove<br />

retirement community, contact the<br />

team who will happily talk through<br />

the options and tailor something that<br />

works to support your individual<br />

needs. Call 020 3929 5599 or<br />

visit www.birchgrove.life


S A N D O W N A N T I Q U E S H O M E & I N T E R I O R S F A I R<br />

SUNDAY 19TH FEBRUARY<br />

S A N D O W N P A R K R A C E C O U R S E , P O R T S M O U T H R O A D ,<br />

E S H E R , S U R R E Y , K T 1 0 9 A J<br />

OPENS 10AM - 3PM<br />

£2 ADMISSION<br />

(CASH ONLY ON THE GATE)<br />

(CHILDREN UNDER 16YRS FREE)<br />

FREE PARKING<br />

HOT & COLD REFRESHMENTS ON SITE<br />

INSIDE & OUTSIDE STALLS<br />

A N A B U N D A N C E O F A N T I Q U E S , C O L L E C T A B L E S , F U R N I T U R E ,<br />

P A I N T I N G S , V I N T A G E C L O T H I N G , C E R A M I C S , J E W E L L E R Y ,<br />

G A R D E N E P H E M E R A , S I L V E R A N D M U C H M U C H M O R E<br />

For all bookings & general enquiries please contact<br />

01932 230 946 enquiries@sunburyantiques.com<br />

www.sunburyantiques.com<br />

<strong>Surrey</strong>AntiquesWT249.indd 1 23/01/<strong>2023</strong> 09:23<br />

Des Oliver and The<br />

Atchison Quartet:<br />

What Does it Mean to be a<br />

Black Composer?<br />

Don’t miss this special evening of live music,<br />

film and discussion set in the atmospheric<br />

Historic Galleries.<br />

Find out more at<br />

wattsgallery.org.uk<br />

Compton, GU3 1DQ<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

<strong>Surrey</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> ad.indd 9 06/01/<strong>2023</strong> 11:38:53<br />

WattsGalleryWT249.indd 1 17/01/<strong>2023</strong> 16:36<br />

20


Notebook<br />

What to do and see near you this month<br />

Life on a plate<br />

istockphoto.com/ Zolga_F / tatianazaets<br />

Wheel of Fortune<br />

Combining a welcoming and inspiring atmosphere with<br />

fabulous facilities, The Ceramic Studio is located in<br />

beautiful orchards not far from Tunbridge Wells. Alongside<br />

their highly recommended courses and one-day experiences<br />

they host renowned potters specialising in a variety of skills<br />

including throwing porcelain, slab building and surface<br />

mark making and glazing techniques. We’re delighted to<br />

hear they’ve recently announced their line-up of fantastic<br />

<strong>2023</strong> Guest Potters, including Helen Beard and Emily<br />

Myers. So now’s the time to plan ahead and book yourself<br />

on a course. If you feel you need to develop your skills<br />

first then do take a look at their regular specialist<br />

courses, termly classes or single session options.<br />

theceramicstudio.co.uk<br />

Nothing is off the menu in<br />

‘Nothing in Moderation’<br />

Prue Leith’s frank, revealing<br />

and very funny all-new show.<br />

Prue will share a myriad of<br />

fascinating anecdotes about<br />

her life: taking audiences<br />

through the ups and downs of<br />

being a successful restaurateur,<br />

novelist, businesswoman and Great<br />

British Bake Off judge; feeding<br />

the rich and famous, cooking<br />

for Royalty and even poisoning<br />

her clients – all told for the very<br />

first time. You’ll find Prue at G<br />

Live in Guildford on Saturday 11<br />

<strong>February</strong>. For more details and<br />

to book tickets go to glive.co.uk<br />

Round<br />

& round<br />

Hever Castle and<br />

Gardens hosts half term fun<br />

this month. Visit the historic<br />

site between 11 and 19 <strong>February</strong><br />

to enjoy ‘Emerging Nature’ aimed<br />

at school aged children and families.<br />

Learn about animals that hibernate,<br />

get creative with a pebble painting<br />

workshop and have an animal themed<br />

face paint. As well as the Emerging Nature<br />

activities, feed the ducks or fish, explore<br />

the historic castle or let off some steam<br />

in one of three play areas including<br />

Tudor Towers adventure playground. You<br />

can find out which activities run on each<br />

day of half term at hevercastle.co.uk


Notebook<br />

Top spin<br />

Let’s go<br />

Be mine!<br />

This year’s unravel festival – held at<br />

Candle-lit dinners, atmospheric music and elegant<br />

Farnham Maltings on 24, 25 and<br />

rooms await you this Valentine’s Day at Leeds<br />

26 <strong>February</strong> – is set to be extra<br />

Castle. Arrive from 3pm, where the Castle Footman<br />

special, marking the festival’s 15th<br />

will welcome you both and show you to your room.<br />

anniversary, celebrating all things<br />

Delve into the Castle’s rich history as you are escorted<br />

yarn making, from knitting and<br />

on an after-hours tour, admiring its lavish interiors<br />

crochet to spinning and weaving.<br />

and stunning surroundings. From here, enjoy<br />

Held over three days, unravel<br />

a chilled sparkling reception in the Library<br />

welcomes makers and creatives for a<br />

ahead of dinner. The ultimate romantic<br />

unique community craft experience<br />

night away. Booking essential.<br />

with opportunities to participate in<br />

leeds-castle.com<br />

a special community project, watch live<br />

demonstrations and browse the beautiful works<br />

on display. At the heart of the festival is the curated<br />

marketplace which showcases independent producers and hand<br />

dyed yarns, hailing from across the UK, Europe and beyond. International<br />

exhibitors include Rauwerk, a Munich based yarn shop, Urth Yarns from<br />

Istanbul and Black Isle Yarns from the Highlands. Visitors will recognise leading<br />

names from the knitting fraternity and have the chance to discover new<br />

emerging hand dyers and designers. Tickets are £12 (plus online booking fee)<br />

in advance or £14 on the door. Festival and workshops tickets are now on<br />

sale and available from Farnham Maltings website. farnhammaltings.com<br />

WILD<br />

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, has launched<br />

a brand-new family programme, Nature Heroes, to inspire<br />

budding young adventurers in its spectacular 535-acre<br />

biodiverse site. Launching in <strong>February</strong> half-term, young heroes<br />

will embark on an intrepid adventure every school holiday, with<br />

the option to sport their very own superhero cape, available for<br />

purchase online or at the Visitor Centre. The self-led mission<br />

encourages young explorers to get hands-on and protect the<br />

environment, discovering the secrets that plants, wildlife and<br />

fungi hold, with the chance to earn a beautifully embroidered<br />

badge. Kicking things off in <strong>February</strong> half-term<br />

will be the Bird Buddy badge, as budding<br />

ornithologists can join an interactive<br />

trail to discover different bird<br />

species and their habits. Add-on<br />

activities include creating a<br />

bird feeder and a fun birdsong<br />

workshop. On 16 and 17<br />

<strong>February</strong>, visitors will be able<br />

to watch the mesmerising<br />

birds of prey flying display<br />

from Horsham-based<br />

Huxley’s Birds of Prey<br />

Centre. Find out more<br />

info at kew.org/wakehurst<br />

LOOK FORWARD: JUMP FOR JOY<br />

Jump racing at Sandown Park reaches its peak<br />

this March! Join in on Saturday 11 March for Betfair<br />

Imperial Cup Day, one of their feature meetings<br />

in <strong>2023</strong>. With a day of high-quality racing and<br />

entertainment on the cards, this is a day not to be<br />

missed. Can’t join them then? Book your place<br />

at the bet365 Jump Finale instead, one of the<br />

biggest racing days in the British calendar. Watch<br />

on as Champions are crowned and the racing<br />

on track is second to none. Tickets start at £28.<br />

thejockeyclub.co.uk/sandown/ to find out more.


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MMBaxterWT248.indd 1 02/12/2022 16:55


Looking for a romantic<br />

getaway this Valentine’s?<br />

Pour L’Amour, lodge at The<br />

Bell in Ticehurst, East Sussex has<br />

just been lovingly redesigned!<br />

In this fairytale getaway,<br />

Batemans’ painted leather panels<br />

have inspired beautiful wall<br />

decorations, while the influence<br />

of Charleston Farmhouse can be<br />

seen in painted cupboards that<br />

depict Vanessa Bell and Duncan<br />

Grant reading love poems to each<br />

other. Rooms at The Bell cost<br />

from £165, including breakfast.<br />

thebellinticehurst.com<br />

Polish up your cooking skills with the help of Gordon<br />

Ramsay. The celebrity-chef’s new cooking school in<br />

Woking offers courses both online and in person on every<br />

culinary delight you can imagine – from sushi and steak to<br />

vegan and Valentine’s dinner. gordonramsayacademy.com<br />

must<br />

The<br />

From must-sees to must-buys and<br />

must-dos, don’t miss this month’s<br />

round up of what to buy, see, do,<br />

and generally get excited about!<br />

Investing in art is a smart place to<br />

put your money if you’re looking to<br />

update your home, and Belgravia<br />

Gallery in Cranleigh, <strong>Surrey</strong>’s charity<br />

art has a heartfelt way to spend<br />

while giving to charity too. This Ruskin Spear<br />

silkscreen is full of delightful movement and<br />

fun, costs £750, and is one of a number of<br />

works on which 100% of the sale proceeds<br />

will benefit The Sebastian Hunter Memorial<br />

Trust (which supports those suffering from<br />

poverty in India). belgraviagallery.com<br />

Aston Matthews celebrates their 200th anniversary this year with<br />

the launch of the Astonian Original cast iron bath. Still family run,<br />

the company is known for stocking everything for bathrooms from<br />

brass loo roll holders to concrete basins. This latest addition is based on<br />

archive designs, with generous proportions and classic claw feet, and is<br />

now on display at their Guildford showroom. astonmatthews.co.uk<br />

For any readers searching for the perfect ring<br />

for a Valentine’s proposal, we may have a<br />

solution. KATA Jewellery in Tunbridge Wells<br />

has a bespoke service which combines modern<br />

designs with traditional craftsmanship, to<br />

create a ring as unique as the one you love.<br />

They pride themselves on creating ‘futureheirlooms’<br />

using 100% recycled and sustainably<br />

sourced gold and platinum, and can do<br />

heirloom remodelling to transform older treasures<br />

if you have something you’d like to use. Bespoke<br />

engagement rings cost from £3,500. katajewellery.com<br />

Serve up your pancakes this<br />

year with one of Jimbob Art’s<br />

adorably quirky plates. The East<br />

Sussex company has a selection<br />

of pancake themed options (as<br />

well as many other foods), all<br />

adorned with founder James<br />

Ward’s animal illustrations for<br />

an extra sweet flavour. This<br />

one is £22 at jimbobart.com<br />

This Pancake Day, we want<br />

to create the perfect pancakes.<br />

These lacey ones with a sweet<br />

berry compote are great to start<br />

practising early as they can also<br />

double as a Valentine’s treat if you<br />

can master them on time. Find<br />

the recipe on Le Creuset’s website<br />

– all you need is a squeezy bottle<br />

and their Toughened Non-Stick<br />

Crêpe Pan (from £115) which<br />

is so smooth there’s no need for<br />

unhealthy oil or butter. Plus easier<br />

clean up! lecreuset.co.uk<br />

Anyone for a curry? How<br />

about the best in the South<br />

East? Shampan at the Spinning<br />

Wheel, in Westerham, Kent,<br />

has been crowned the “Best<br />

in the South-East” at the<br />

British Curry Awards 2022,<br />

and we can see why! Flavoursome<br />

dishes, delightful cocktails, and<br />

an ambience of cosy luxury,<br />

combine here for an elevated curry<br />

experience. shampangroup.co.uk<br />

25


priceless-magazines.com<br />

26


The house<br />

on the hill<br />

With the help of a practice of skilled<br />

architects, the Elms have succeeded in<br />

creating a stunning multi-functional family<br />

space that works in perfect harmony with<br />

both their professional and home lives<br />

Words: Antonia Deeson Photographs: David Merewether & Timothy Soar Styling: Holly Levett<br />

27 priceless-magazines.com


Courage | Confidence | Character<br />

An independent school for boys aged 4-13 years, with co-educational nursery.<br />

Set in 45 acres of beautiful countryside with school bus routes including to SW London.<br />

Open Event<br />

Saturday 4 March <strong>2023</strong> at 10am<br />

Reception Taster Morning<br />

Tuesday 7 March <strong>2023</strong> at 9am<br />

Everyone Welcome<br />

To register your interest,<br />

admissions@parkside-school.co.uk or call 01932 862749<br />

parkside-school.co.uk


Above & previous pages: An elegant<br />

powder-coated steel staircase pierces the<br />

impressive double height atrium below.<br />

A tranquil landscape by Peter Bonney<br />

(right) hangs in the entrance hall<br />

Garry and Camilla Elms had first<br />

glimpsed the dilapidated pump<br />

house when they and their three<br />

children Isabel (now aged 14) and Hugh<br />

and Xavi (now aged 13) became members<br />

at Goudhurst Tennis Club. They had been<br />

looking for a new family home for some<br />

time, since losing out on another house on<br />

sealed bids. “I’d been scouring Rightmove<br />

for ages,” says Garry, “The old pump<br />

house hadn’t shown up on any searches<br />

as it was listed as Price On Application.<br />

When we realised that it was for sale<br />

we came and had a look and saw that<br />

not only did it come with an old 1930s<br />

cottage but also a swathe of the most<br />

beautiful Capability Brown style parkland<br />

– we knew we had to go for it.” <br />

29 priceless-magazines.com


timothysoar.co.uk<br />

This page: A series of huge and very striking portraits by South African-based artist Solomon Omogboye are displayed on the<br />

landing. Just like the exterior of the house – which uses natural materials to counterbalance any austerity of the glass and steel –<br />

the interior incorporates nature throughout its design, from the wooden floors and joinery to the profusion of houseplants<br />

Sitting with Garry and Camilla in their stunning architect<br />

designed contemporary home they point at the original pump<br />

house, now artfully hidden in a small copse of trees at the<br />

bottom of the hill. “That’s where we all lived,” says Garry, “us<br />

and the three kids whilst we waited for the necessary planning<br />

to build our dream family home. It was a great house.”<br />

Whilst the family are today happily cocooned within their<br />

beautifully designed two floor upside down house (more of<br />

which later) it has been quite the journey for them, moving<br />

first into the original 1930s terraced cottage whilst renovations<br />

began on the pump house and then into the pump house<br />

where they waited for the second phase of the main build<br />

to take shape. Throw into the mix a two-year pandemic and<br />

it is understandable quite how happy the Elms family must<br />

have been when they finally moved into their new home.<br />

“When we first moved into the original cottage, we all got a bit<br />

of a shock as nothing had been done to it in decades. Dark blue<br />

carpets, pink and yellow walls in the wrong place, but it was also<br />

quite lovely and very cosy with the most amazing views across the<br />

old parkland,” says Camilla. Within a year the necessary work had<br />

been done on the pump house, stripping it back to its Victorian<br />

roots, dragging it back to life from quite a sorry state. “The<br />

pump house had no roof and it was full of water. We kept the<br />

renovation as sympathetic as possible,” says Garry, who wanted <br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

30


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to preserve the authentic industrial feel with open brick work<br />

and conduits. However, for Camilla, not only did the industrial<br />

nature of the space suit her growing family, it also became<br />

the backdrop to her new business as a nutritional therapist.<br />

“I used to run a shop in Tunbridge Wells having worked<br />

in finance in the city. After I had my children, I started<br />

studying for a degree in Nutritional Therapy at the University<br />

of West London. As my business established itself, I started<br />

my first workshops at the pump house, collaborating<br />

with a local yoga teacher. It was a bit of a pain moving all<br />

the furniture out every time, but the concept of cooking<br />

and talking about food with my clients face-to-face really<br />

worked as I was able to run through recipes and ingredients<br />

with them, cooking for them and all eating together.”<br />

When it came to the main house build, although Garry had<br />

done most of the renovations in-house on the pump house,<br />

he decided to put the new family home out to tender, from<br />

the architects to the construction. “I work in construction, or<br />

at least I am very closely affiliated to it (Garry is Managing<br />

Director of The Cabling Group who specialise in structured<br />

cabling and AV) and so I knew it was a big enough job<br />

that I needed to outsource, and I wanted to find the best.”<br />

However, even with his <strong>inside</strong>r knowledge, designing and<br />

building a house to the aesthetic quality that Garry was<br />

after took several failed attempts. When they finally found<br />

pH+ Architects, based in London, they instantly knew that<br />

they had discovered the ideal people to design and project<br />

manage the construction of their perfect family home.<br />

“When Andy Puncher (co-founder of pH+ Architects) came<br />

to see us, he asked questions about our lifestyle, our possessions<br />

and our family life that really connected with us,” says Camilla.<br />

“Rather than enforcing his own criteria on the design for the<br />

house, he created something that worked for us. For instance, <br />

timothysoar.co.uk<br />

This page: Carefully crafted bookshelves, painted in rich colours<br />

of Farrow & Ball Downpipe and Zoffany Aubusson, divide up the<br />

space into perfectly functioning areas. The large marble and walnut<br />

island of the family kitchen sits alongside an ash dining table with<br />

blown glass pendant lights by UK company Rothschild & Bickers<br />

floating above. Movable slatted blinds, that open and close at the<br />

push of a button, reveal sweeping views over the countryside<br />

33 priceless-magazines.com


This page: Doors on the landing open up<br />

to reveal Camilla’s cosy office/den with<br />

inviting deep burgundy sofa and plenty of<br />

greenery from The Glasshouse in Cranbrook<br />

he didn’t laugh when I said I wanted<br />

two kitchens!” In fact, Camilla’s second<br />

kitchen, artfully secreted around a<br />

beautifully crafted floating partition set<br />

apart from the main family kitchen, seems<br />

completely logical. “I needed to continue<br />

to run my nutrition business from home,”<br />

she explains. “What worked so well in<br />

the pump house had been the face-toface<br />

groups and although I often have<br />

my clients sitting around the main family<br />

kitchen, I needed a ‘backstage’ area.” The<br />

second kitchen, which has a completely<br />

different atmosphere from the main family<br />

kitchen, is where Camilla prepares plates<br />

of food and ingredients that she whisks<br />

out for her clients. “I needed somewhere<br />

where all my seeds, nuts and powders<br />

could be stored away, separate from family<br />

life, so I can keep both areas working<br />

seamlessly and yet simultaneously.”<br />

The house itself is a masterpiece<br />

of modern family living and it is no<br />

surprise that is has been entered for<br />

several prestigious architectural awards.<br />

Constructed from glass and steel with<br />

Siberian larch wood panelling and<br />

movable slatted blinds – that open and<br />

close at the push of a button – it is an<br />

upside-down house, designed to make<br />

the most of its steep hillside position,<br />

offering sweeping views over the sculptural<br />

Goudhurst countryside that drops<br />

off beneath it. However, just like the<br />

exterior – which uses natural materials to<br />

counterbalance any austerity of the glass<br />

and steel – the interior too incorporates<br />

nature throughout its design, from the<br />

wooden floors and extensive joinery<br />

to the profusion of houseplants. <br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

34


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“I needed somewhere where all my seeds, nuts and powders could be stored away, separate<br />

from family life, so I can keep both areas working seamlessly and yet simultaneously.”<br />

This page: Camilla’s second kitchen is artfully secreted around a beautifully crafted floating partition set apart<br />

from the main family kitchen. It is where she prepares ingredients and plates of food for her clients<br />

There are pops of rich colour and<br />

texture in the confident use of upholstery<br />

and curtains, which many owners often<br />

find hard to handle in a contemporary<br />

house. “I love houseplants,” says Camilla,<br />

“they are so important to our wellbeing<br />

and I worked with Kali at The Glasshouse<br />

in Cranbrook who has been amazing<br />

at sourcing just the right thing.”<br />

The sense of family is everywhere.<br />

Whatever the architectural merit of the<br />

house – which is undeniable – ultimately<br />

at the heart of this project is a home that<br />

has been beautifully engineered to meet<br />

the ever-changing needs of a large family.<br />

“We designed this place just before Covid<br />

struck and it was constructed as we were<br />

in lockdown,” says Garry. “I didn’t <br />

37 priceless-magazines.com


This page: Camilla and Garry’s bedroom suite sits just to the bottom of the stairs<br />

intend to be on site but as I was working<br />

from home, it turned out I was here all<br />

the time. We did end up with nearly 200<br />

changes to the original plans and they<br />

probably all thought it was a bit much,<br />

but I think that, in a large part due to<br />

the pandemic, it was essential for our<br />

forever home to be just that, somewhere<br />

that would act as a nest for our family,<br />

offering us protection during what seemed<br />

to be a very troubling time. It had to<br />

be just right, it had to be perfect.”<br />

Walking through the house is an<br />

essay in how modern family living<br />

could and should be. The large marble<br />

and walnut island of the family kitchen<br />

(the black walnut lovingly cured by a<br />

local carpenter in Biddenden) sits<br />

<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

38


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Clockwise from top: The contractors had<br />

to dig into the hill to support the larger<br />

structure of the new house, which resulted<br />

in some unplanned underground spaces<br />

– one of which is now a home cinema.<br />

A guest bedroom opens straight out into<br />

parkland that slopes down into a valley<br />

alongside a beautiful ash dining table.<br />

Hanging blown glass pendant lights by<br />

UK company Rothschild & Bickers float<br />

overhead offering both colour and texture.<br />

The exquisite carpentry by Simon Shaw<br />

(who Camilla found on Instagram) divides<br />

up the space into perfectly functioning<br />

areas. The partitions are painted in rich<br />

colours of Farrow & Ball Downpipe<br />

and Zoffany Aubusson accessorised with<br />

textural Buster & Punch handles.<br />

Around the opposite side of the<br />

partition is the sitting area which is filled<br />

with rich coloured upholstered sofas and<br />

midcentury modern chairs in charcoals<br />

and mustards. “Kate Malone Interiors in<br />

Tunbridge Wells helped us hugely with<br />

all the curtains, which add another level<br />

of texture and warmth,” says Camilla.<br />

“The curtain fabrics are from Italian brand<br />

Casamance and they really work perfectly,<br />

being luxurious but also modern and<br />

unfussy.” Around the house individual<br />

pieces of considered furniture and lighting<br />

sit perfectly, sourced in the large part by<br />

Willem from Dutch supplier De Jong<br />

Interieur, who Camilla met at Ardingly.<br />

On the landing a series of huge and<br />

very striking portraits by South Africanbased<br />

artist Solomon Omogboye, who<br />

the family had discovered on a holiday,<br />

takes you to Camilla’s cosy office/den<br />

which sits atop an elegant powder-coated<br />

steel staircase that pierces the impressive<br />

double height atrium below. Camilla<br />

and Garry’s bedroom suite sits just to<br />

the bottom of the stairs, whilst a long<br />

corridor lined with discreet-yet-endless<br />

storage, is home to the kids’ bedrooms<br />

(all ensuite) and the guest bedroom<br />

suite. “We really based the bedrooms<br />

on our perfect hotel – big enough for<br />

a good size bed and built-in cupboards<br />

and generous ensuite bathrooms with<br />

walk-in showers. “Each of the kids picked<br />

their own bathroom tiles so they got to<br />

take ownership of their room, not that<br />

it helps them to tidy up!” quips Garry.<br />

The guest bedroom also has a very<br />

cunning indoor/outdoor wall that joins<br />

“To be honest, I always thought home cinemas<br />

were a bit OTT,” says Garry, “but now we<br />

have one, it’s the best, as is the home gym.<br />

We use them all the time and they really do<br />

make this house completely lockdown proof!”<br />

the interior of the house to its exterior.<br />

This sense of conversation between the<br />

interior and exterior of the house has<br />

also been achieved through the extensive<br />

glazing throughout both the lower and<br />

upper levels of the house, each window<br />

revealing yet more views to the outside.<br />

On the lower level, as construction<br />

had to dig into the hill to support the<br />

larger structure of the new house, the<br />

family ended up with some unplanned<br />

underground spaces. “To be honest, I<br />

always thought home cinemas were a bit<br />

OTT,” says Garry, “but now we have one,<br />

it’s the best, as is the home gym. We use<br />

them all the time and they really do make<br />

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40


timothysoar.co.uk<br />

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to and from the house. The next phase<br />

of the garden and a planned swimming<br />

pool will happen next year. “I cannot wait<br />

for the summer,” says Camilla, “when<br />

I can sit outside this beautiful home,<br />

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From the gym, backstairs take you into<br />

a huge family utility/boot room which<br />

Camilla says she designed like the ones she<br />

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like this where all the sports bags, trainers<br />

and boots get dumped and can be cleaned<br />

timothysoar.co.uk<br />

off is a god-send,” she says. The area is<br />

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Off the utility space is a separate kids<br />

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space,” says Camilla, “so it’s utterly ideal<br />

for teenagers, play stations and noise!”<br />

Camilla and Garry have created the<br />

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41 priceless-magazines.com


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CurtainCallWT247.indd 1 02/11/2022 WestEndHouseGalleryWT249.indd 10:56<br />

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Get the<br />

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1 Ocean waves glass pendant light £125 French Bedroom frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 2 Dark blue panels wallpaper<br />

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homescapesonline.com 7 Machu cushion £92 Sweetpea & Willow sweetpeaandwillow.com 8 Dactyl table lamp £30 B&Q<br />

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PAINTINGS | SCULPTURE<br />

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BelgraviaGalleryWT249.indd 1 10/01/<strong>2023</strong> 15:08


Piece<br />

heart<br />

of my<br />

This Valentine’s, we’re celebrating with our list<br />

of eight pieces of art to get you feeling romantic<br />

From the sensation of a ‘dancing-on-air’ whirlwind<br />

romance, to the warm comfort of having<br />

someone to grow old with, sipping on a cuppa;<br />

love – much like art – comes in all shapes and<br />

sizes, and now is the time to appreciate it all!<br />

1<br />

3<br />

2<br />

istockphoto.com/ Vadim Cherenko<br />

1 This starlit scene conjours up ideas of being swept off<br />

your feet in love, dancing as the world melts away.<br />

Dancing To Heaven by Sir Peter Blake CBE RDI<br />

RA (61x45cm Limited Edition Signed Screenprint)<br />

£1,950 at Belgravia Gallery belgraviagallery.com<br />

2 A couple sits happily here, under an old tree that still<br />

flourishes – as we can imagine their relationship does.<br />

Now & Then by Graham Clarke (170x216mm limited<br />

edition etching of 300) £125 at grahamclarke.co.uk<br />

3 This temptingly vibrant pomegranate is a potent symbol<br />

of love, said to have been born of the blood of Adonis, and<br />

known as the forbidden fruit of Eden in some cultures.<br />

Pocket Pomegranate by Dani Humberstone<br />

(19x19cm oil paint on canvas) £195 at West<br />

End House Gallery westendhousegallery.co.uk<br />

4 The cheeky Rococo painting The Swing is given a<br />

modern update. The central female’s husband and lover<br />

are forgotten under veils of paint, leaving her frivolously<br />

4 5<br />

swinging in a swirl of pink, an expression of joyous female sexuality.<br />

The Swingers by Young & Battaglia (62.08x79.33cm original<br />

mixed media painting) £2,649, or also available as a digital<br />

print on canvas £402, at Mineheart mineheart.com<br />

5 Gill Wright depicts the intimate warmth of an embrace, or literal<br />

romantic entanglement, in fashionably romantic pinks and reds.<br />

Stella Hug by Gill Wright (29.7x42cm giclee print<br />

from a hand-drawn graphite/acrylic/watercolour<br />

painting) £69 at One off to 25 oneoffto25.com<br />

6 Passionate pinks bloom on this beautiful tree. Entitled Never<br />

Alone, we can take it as a metaphor for a blossoming love and<br />

6<br />

the exuberant sensation that you never need be alone again.<br />

Never Alone by Inam (24x25” framed original painting<br />

8<br />

on canvas) POA at Trew Art trewart.com<br />

7 Regular visitors to Wealden Times Fairs will be familiar<br />

with Cathy McClymont’s romantic style. Here she depicts an<br />

idyllic, dreamy home in which we can imagine love lives.<br />

Pink skies and sprite by Cathy McClymont (1x1m oil on canvas<br />

with chalk and gold leaf) £520 instagram @Cathymcclymont<br />

8 The coy look of a woman smelling a red rose, here gazes out across<br />

the centuries, a youthful smile capturing the poetic first bloom of love.<br />

The Fragrance Of The Rose by Jean Francois Portaels (52” x<br />

39” 19th century oil on canvas in its original antique gilt<br />

frame) £12,500 at <strong>Surrey</strong> Fine Arts surreyfinearts.com<br />

45 priceless-magazines.com<br />

7


Finding<br />

the light<br />

Words: Damien Pestell<br />

Photographs: David Merewether<br />

Styling: Holly Levett<br />

Alex Jørgensen guides us around<br />

his Edwardian townhouse, a<br />

renovation project that he’s managed<br />

to complete in just one year<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

46


47 priceless-magazines.com


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48


Previous pages: Symmetrical double aspect doors lead off the hallway and into a study on one side (above) and a family room on the other<br />

Above: Alex bought the artisanal rug from A Rum Fellow. The period marble fireplace is one of many immaculately restored in the house<br />

It was a Monday in November and despite some<br />

unseasonably good weather recently, the rain had settled<br />

in today. Nevertheless I was delighted to be travelling<br />

to the historic spa town of Tunbridge Wells, passing some<br />

of Kent’s most beautiful countryside on the way to visit<br />

a property which was just a stone’s throw from literally<br />

everything, including the elegant Pantiles, the Georgian<br />

covered colonnade in the popular ‘village’ area of town.<br />

I was meeting Alex Jørgensen – a Danish interior designer<br />

who has lived in the UK for the last 15 years – to see the<br />

Edwardian townhouse he has comprehensively remodelled<br />

in just a year, sympathetically restoring period features to<br />

create a functional family home, which is both bright, open<br />

and with more fireplaces than you could shake a stick at.<br />

Walking through the old High Street and down a narrow<br />

path I find the house in no time, where I am greeted by Alex<br />

and welcomed in. Moving through the hallway to the rear<br />

of the house, we enter the spacious kitchen/diner and I find<br />

a seat at the stylish breakfast bar as Alex pours me a glass<br />

of water. Turning around I start to survey the light-filled<br />

room which was transformed from three smaller rooms into<br />

a single open plan space. “It was very compartmentalised<br />

before,” Alex tells me, “the extra space is a real bonus.”<br />

Alex shares the home with his wife and their nine year<br />

old son, learning the ropes of interior design on the many<br />

house renovations he and his wife have embarked on over <br />

49 priceless-magazines.com


the years, he says, “This house isn’t<br />

our first rodeo! My wife and I have<br />

done quite a few homes together – I<br />

think we did five or six in the first five<br />

years.” He took things a step further in<br />

2016 when he swapped his career as a<br />

shipbroker to follow his life’s passion<br />

and become an interior designer,<br />

studying at the distinguished Inchbald<br />

School of Design, followed by a number<br />

The living room is full of<br />

richness and warmth. “It’s a<br />

more adult entertaining space<br />

which is classic contemporary,<br />

not too modern and not<br />

too old fashioned, a good<br />

description of my style”<br />

of successful years at a top 100 interior<br />

design firm. He then set up his own<br />

studio, “I always loved property and<br />

around the time my son was born I<br />

took some time off and retrained.”<br />

Stepping back into the kitchen/<br />

diner, Alex’s objective of bringing lots<br />

of light in has been realised. Multiple<br />

light sources allow the room to adapt<br />

to any mood, while the skylight above<br />

the large dining table illuminates the<br />

whole area. Bifold doors open up <br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

50


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ThomasMansfieldWT240- SURREY (Family Law).indd 1 06/04/2022 SitSmartWT248.indd 09:43<br />

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This page: The family<br />

room. Alex wanted<br />

to create a sense of<br />

cohesion throughout<br />

the ground floor, so a<br />

new doorway was put<br />

in to connect with the<br />

hallway and kitchen/<br />

diner beyond. A large<br />

dresser is a purchase<br />

from one of his trade<br />

contacts, illuminated<br />

by brass spotlights<br />

from Pooky. The<br />

wooden ladder gives<br />

a hint of a library<br />

to a good-sized patio and the terraced garden beyond. At<br />

the other end of the room, the off-white Neptune kitchen is<br />

fitted with white Silestone worktops and is completed by a<br />

substantial island, which sits opposite the large range cooker.<br />

Alex tells me his ambition was to create a multifunctional<br />

space, “The idea was to create a big family<br />

kitchen, because we cook quite a lot. It’s also a place for<br />

my son to do his homework and it’s great for casual dining<br />

and parties.” As we leave I admire some of the landscape<br />

artwork, including several pieces by Margate-based artist<br />

Michael Richardson, displayed next to the open storage<br />

units which feature a range of ceramics (a favourite of<br />

Alex’s) and an extensive collection of cookbooks – “My<br />

son has a sweet tooth so we make a few cakes together.”<br />

In the family room further remodelling has taken place. A<br />

fireplace has been removed to create a new utility room behind<br />

and a new doorway has been put in, connecting the hallway<br />

and kitchen/diner beyond. Alex explains, “We wanted a<br />

greater feeling of spaciousness, so that you could sit anywhere<br />

and not feel disconnected.” The television sits on a narrow<br />

table painted slate grey and the large dresser is a purchase<br />

from one of his trade contacts, jammed full of books (Alex<br />

loves to read) it fills most of the main wall and is lit by brass<br />

spotlights from Pooky. The wooden ladder gives a hint of a<br />

library and on the floor a tactile Scandi-style rug spreads out<br />

to provide a cosy activity area for the couple’s son, “It’s a <br />

53 priceless-magazines.com


This page: The spacious kitchen was created when three smaller rooms were knocked into a single open plan space<br />

space for him to play Lego, board games and even Nintendo.”<br />

Stepping into the voluminous hallway I pause to admire<br />

the double aspect door into the study, which mirrors that<br />

of the family room, creating a wonderful symmetry and<br />

opening up the space. Alex explains, “When we first moved<br />

in it was a traditional Edwardian hallway, which was quite<br />

dark, so we moved the doorways and extended them to<br />

get a better feeling of light and space, this also helped<br />

<br />

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Top right and left: The main spare bedroom is decorated in Alex’s signature colour palette of subdued tones of whites, greys and<br />

browns. Romanesque pottery sits on top of a small cabinet that houses neatly stacked magazines Above right and left: Alex’s enviably<br />

tidy son’s room features pops of blue and teal; the master bedroom is a cosy space layered with earthy tones, blankets and cushions<br />

to create views through the house and into the garden.”<br />

Attention to detail has not been spared on the smaller things<br />

either, with skirting recreated for the entire ground floor<br />

and new coving throughout that Alex designed himself.<br />

Entering the study, which is also Alex’s workspace, a<br />

stylish desk looks out over the front of the house, while the<br />

floor is adorned with a striking artisanal rug from A Rum<br />

Fellow. In the centre of the room a beautiful period fireplace<br />

is one of many immaculately restored in the house. Sitting<br />

on top is a Meissen style porcelain greyhound, a birthday<br />

gift from his wife and next to it a silver dish catches my<br />

eye, I find out it’s from Copenhagen where Alex grew up.<br />

Moving back into the hallway we pass what could have been<br />

a nondescript wall, opposite the staircase, that could so easily<br />

have been redundant space, but the addition of a circular<br />

mirror and small table has turned it into a lovely little feature.<br />

The final room downstairs is the living room, a<br />

noticeably more intimate space, full of richness and<br />

warmth. Alex explains, “It’s a more adult entertaining<br />

space which is classic contemporary, not too modern and<br />

not too old fashioned, a good description of my style.”<br />

Inside, gold picture frames, brass fittings and a refined<br />

Swedish chandelier contrast with the dark wood from<br />

the midcentury cabinet and the antique George III table.<br />

A large painting from his grandparents’ home depicts<br />

a rural Danish scene and below, the large four seater<br />

sofa and footstool is a cosy purchase from sofa.com.<br />

Natural fibre runners guide me past original stained glass<br />

windows as we walk up the grand Edwardian staircase to<br />

the first floor. Past the landing we move into Alex’s son’s<br />

room, which clearly has a lot of love in it. Vintage framed<br />

prints give the feeling of an old fashioned boys’ room,<br />

<br />

57 priceless-magazines.com


This page: Right at the top of the house this cosy guest bedroom is very private, it has amazing views and a beautiful marble bathroom<br />

with toy wooden soldiers furthering the nostalgia. The red<br />

armchair stands out as a fun and playful addition, while<br />

the vibrant blue mantelpiece is surrounded by built-in<br />

bookshelves bursting with books and a treasure trove of toys.<br />

The main spare bedroom is filled with Alex’s colour<br />

palette of subdued tones of whites, greys and browns,<br />

while art clustered on the wall depicts a mixture of<br />

scenes from around the UK interspersed with some<br />

abstract pieces. Below, Romanesque pottery perches atop<br />

a small cabinet packed with neatly piled magazines<br />

<br />

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Above: Lack of space is no issue in the gorgeous master bedroom ensuite, where a roll top bath sits in the middle of a tiled herringbone<br />

floor, taking in the views over the back garden. Large gold-framed mirrors and brass swan-neck globe lights offer a 1930s vibe<br />

and next to the bed an original fireplace with ornate<br />

cast iron and tiled surround is something to admire.<br />

Back in the landing area we enter the master bedroom, a<br />

cosy space layered with earthy tones, blankets and cushions<br />

bestowing a touch of hygge, in an otherwise fairly minimalist<br />

bedroom. Of course there is a fireplace, this time an exquisite<br />

marble one which Alex has put in. As we move into the<br />

ensuite, I am rendered momentarily speechless taking in the<br />

stunning bathroom for the first time, it’s absolutely enormous!<br />

A gorgeous roll top bath, with has views over the back garden,<br />

sits on the tiled herringbone floor, while the exquisite vanity<br />

unit reveals his-and-hers sinks set in a white marble top. Large<br />

gold-framed mirrors and brass swan-neck globe lights offer<br />

a 1930s vibe and to top it all off there is a walk in shower.<br />

Peeling myself away from the ensuite we go up another<br />

flight of stairs. I start to think this house is never ending<br />

but there is just one final bedroom to see. This one at<br />

the top of the house has privacy and amazing views.<br />

As Alex and I walk back down to the ground floor, I<br />

consider all the work that has gone into this home and I<br />

still can’t quite get my head around how Alex has done it in<br />

a year. But he has and it’s beautiful. He has sympathetically<br />

restored a grand old house, opening it up and making it<br />

work for the future, fulfilling his family’s needs. Subtle<br />

details are everywhere and when you put them all together,<br />

you have a warm and welcoming family home.<br />

Address Book:<br />

For more information on Alex’s interior design services,<br />

contact Alex Jørgensen Studio on 07415 186622<br />

and see www.alexjorgensenstudio.com<br />

A Rum Fellow arumfellow.com<br />

Michael Richardson michaelrichardsonfineart.com<br />

Pooky pooky.com<br />

61 priceless-magazines.com


Studio Open Days <strong>2023</strong><br />

17 18 19 <strong>February</strong> 17 18 19 March<br />

11am to 3pm<br />

Etchings, watercolours, posters, books, cards and more...<br />

Up The Garden Studio<br />

White Cottage, Green Lane, Boughton Monchelsea,<br />

Kent, ME17 4LF<br />

We are open by appointment throughout the year,<br />

wendy@grahamclarke.co.uk 07801 922081<br />

www.grahamclarke.co.uk<br />

GrahamClarkeWT249.indd 1 18/01/<strong>2023</strong> RoseberysWT249.indd 15:29<br />

1 23/01/<strong>2023</strong> 11:09<br />

RUG STORE specialise in a wide selection of new, old and Antique Persian, Turkish, Caucasian and Turkmen<br />

Carpets. Various antique, old and new Kilims are available. We offer a professional hand-cleaning and restoration<br />

service. We buy old and antique carpets - even damaged rugs. Part exchange and evaluations.<br />

312 UPPER RICHMOND ROAD WEST, EAST SHEEN, RICHMOND, LONDON, SW14 7JN.<br />

TEL / FAX: 020 8876 0070 INFO@RUGSTOREONLINE.CO.UK WWW.RUGSTOREONLINE.CO.UK<br />

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RugStoreWT249.indd 1 10/01/<strong>2023</strong> 14:40


Get the<br />

LOOK<br />

1 Adams 4 light pendant chandelier Elstead Lighting elsteadlighting.com 2 Tamara wall light with ribbed glass<br />

£49.50 där lighting darlighting.co.uk 3 Chelwood reclaimed wood bookcase £639 Modish Living modishliving.co.uk<br />

4 Autumn Landscape by A Wyant print £216 Mindthegap mindtheg.uk 5 Country Blue paint £44/2.5l Zhoosh<br />

Paints zhooshpaints.com 6 Light blue wicker cushion £135 Fermoie fermoie.com 7 Cenova sofa £4,424.25 BoConcept<br />

boconcept.com 8 Cube beanbag in platinum grey jumbo cord £29.99 rucomfy rucomfybeanbags.co.uk 9 Engineered<br />

European oak Blanco Prime Herringbone flooring from £104.95/m 2 Havwoods havwoods.com 10 Spindle back dining<br />

chair in duck egg blue £99 Where Saints Go wheresaintsgo.co.uk<br />

63 priceless-magazines.com


"Parents report how delighted they<br />

are that their children play, learn<br />

and grow in such a supportive<br />

environment" Independent Schools Inspectorate<br />

Prep School & Nursery<br />

Open Morning<br />

Saturday 4th March<br />

Lingfield College Prep is a vibrant and successful day school.<br />

Blending academic excellence, supportive pastoral care and a<br />

rich programme of co-curricular opportunities to inspire,<br />

motivate and nurture every pupil.<br />

Racecourse Road, Lingfield, <strong>Surrey</strong> .01342 838153<br />

www.lingfieldcollege.co.uk


A H<br />

in what happens if?<br />

(and certainties)<br />

Independent Day School for Girls aged 4-18 years<br />

2024 Entry<br />

Open Mornings<br />

Prep<br />

Friday 3 March<br />

Saturday 20 May<br />

Friday 9 June<br />

Saturday 30 September<br />

Friday 20 October<br />

Contact us via<br />

admissions@tormeadschool.org.uk www.tormeadschool.org.uk<br />

Tormead School, Cranley Road, Guildford, <strong>Surrey</strong> GU1 2JD7<br />

@TormeadSchool<br />

Senior<br />

Thursday 4 May<br />

Wednesday 21 June<br />

Wednesday 20 September SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING<br />

Saturday 30 September<br />

Friday 13 October


11<br />

7<br />

Contents 30<br />

4 BUSY BEES<br />

We get an update of the latest<br />

news from our schools<br />

Thomas<br />

Mansfield<br />

Wills Wills & & Wills Inheritance & Inheritance Planning Planning<br />

Planning Planning for for your your for future future your does future does not does not have have not to have to to<br />

be be costly costly be or costly or complicated or complicated<br />

4<br />

23<br />

7 CREATURE COMFORTS<br />

Find out about all the fun going<br />

on at Saint Ronan’s school farm<br />

9 MEET THE HEADMASTER<br />

Get to know Matthew Bryan,<br />

Longacre School’s Headmaster<br />

11 CRACKING THE CODE<br />

Hear two perspectives<br />

on how IT is evolving<br />

15 GO FOR IT!<br />

Learn about Ashford School’s<br />

inclusive ‘Sport for All’ ethos<br />

17 STRONGER TOGETHER<br />

How are local schools<br />

having a positive impact<br />

in their communities?<br />

23 SOCIAL LIFE<br />

Two schools share how they are<br />

teaching their students valuable<br />

skills beyond the classroom<br />

27 MEET THE PRINCIPAL<br />

We enjoy hearing from the new<br />

Principal of Claremont School<br />

29 OUT & ABOUT<br />

Discover stories of students<br />

exploring local and international<br />

destinations<br />

30 THE BALANCING ACT<br />

Parkside School tells us how<br />

balancing work and play brings<br />

out the best in their students<br />

Cover image by Parkside School<br />

9<br />

15<br />

29<br />

4<br />

29 30<br />

Having Having a Having Will a Will gives a gives Will you you gives control control you over control over who<br />

who over who<br />

receives your receives your assets assets your and, assets and, if you if and, you have if have younger have younger<br />

children, children, it allows it allows you it allows you to assign to you assign to legal assign legal guardians, legal guardians,<br />

should should should anything anything happen.<br />

happen. happen.<br />

If you If you are If are you intending are intending to leave to leave to leave everything everything to your<br />

to your to your<br />

partner partner and/or partner and/or and/or children without children without any without any complex any complex<br />

wishes, wishes, then wishes, then we we are then are now we now offering are offering now a offering new a new Simple a Simple new Simple<br />

Will Will service service Will at service an at an affordable at an affordable price price but but price without<br />

without but without<br />

compromising compromising on our on our on specialist our specialist advice advice and advice and and<br />

service.<br />

service. service.<br />

And And we we have And have now we now have extended now extended this this offer offer this to Lasting<br />

to offer Lasting to Lasting<br />

Powers Powers of Powers of Attorney of (LPA). Attorney (LPA). If your (LPA). If your If circumstances<br />

your are are straightforward are and and not not and complicated, not complicated, we<br />

we we<br />

can can draft draft can Simple a draft Simple a LPA Simple LPA for for a LPA fixed a fixed for fee. a fee. fixed fee.<br />

Thomas Thomas Mansfield Mansfield Solicitors Solicitors<br />

Legal Legal experts Legal experts in experts in Inheritance in Inheritance Planning, Planning, Powers Powers of Powers of of<br />

Attorney, Attorney, Wills, Wills, Court Wills, Court of Court of Protection of Protection and and Probate. and Probate.<br />

OUR OUR NEW NEW OUR NEW SERVICES SERVICES<br />

Our Our new new Simple Our Simple new Will Simple Will Service Service Will costs Service costs costs<br />

£240 £240 plus plus £240 VAT VAT for plus a for single VAT a single for Will a single Will Will<br />

£310 £310 plus plus VAT £310 VAT for plus two for VAT two “mirror” for “mirror” two Wills “mirror” Wills Wills<br />

Our Our new new Simple Our Simple new LPA Simple LPA Service<br />

Service LPA Service<br />

From From £365 £365 From plus plus £365 VAT VAT for plus a for single VAT a single for a single application application<br />

Call Call today today Call on today on 01483 01483 on 01483 679333 679333<br />

For more For more For information more information and and the terms the and terms of the these<br />

of terms these of these<br />

offers offers please please offers visit visit please our website:<br />

our visit website: our website:<br />

www.tmwillsandprobate.co.uk<br />

GUILDFORD GUILDFORD WOKING WOKING WOKING WEYBRIDGE WEYBRIDGE ESHER ESHER ESHER LEATHERHEAD LEATHERHEAD<br />

3 priceless-magazines.com<br />

ThomasMansfieldWT240-SURREY (Private Law).indd 1 06/04/2022 09:25


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

Marlborough House takes a new<br />

individual approach to teaching<br />

Marlborough House School has a new individualised<br />

enrichment programme for Years 7 and 8, offering pupils in the<br />

top two years a more bespoke path and the opportunity to follow<br />

their own passions and interests. What’s more, in light of the current<br />

climate, they will offer a 30% reduction on fees for Years 7 and 8.<br />

From September, Marlborough House will further individualise their learning<br />

approach so that the children can follow their interests and strengths, and have<br />

more freedom to step away from the constraints of the timetable – choosing drama<br />

rather than a fourth games session in a week for example. Trips to senior schools for an<br />

afternoon, hearing from guest speakers or trying a themed day off-timetable will all become<br />

things that pupils can learn from alongside regular lessons. And the Year 8 Leadership Programme<br />

offers even more trips and challenges enabling children to grow in confidence and independence at<br />

the top of the School and finish in style! In this way, all pupils will get extra preparation for senior<br />

school entrance or scholarships as well as an enriched experience that will serve them well,<br />

long after they leave education. This individualised learning approach will sit alongside<br />

school’s well-established Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB). A forward-thinking school, the<br />

PSB was adopted in 2019 to maintain the rigour of the curriculum, while allowing<br />

children to learn more relevant skills for later life too, like how to present,<br />

communicate, lead, collaborate, debate and research independently. This sits<br />

alongside the school’s emphasis on educating characters as well as young<br />

minds, helping children to develop practical wisdom, joy of learning<br />

and self-belief that will support them at senior school and beyond.<br />

To find out more about Years 7 and 8 at Marlborough<br />

House, and book a private tour or a spot on their<br />

Open Day on Wednesday 8 March <strong>2023</strong><br />

visit marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk<br />

Weston Green School rated<br />

“Excellent” in ISI Inspection<br />

Weston Green School in Thames Ditton, <strong>Surrey</strong>, was<br />

awarded ‘Excellent’ in all areas by the Independent Schools<br />

Inspectorate (ISI) for the academic achievement and personal<br />

development of its pupils, reinforcing its aim to celebrate childhood<br />

and give pupils a breadth of opportunity to achieve individual success.<br />

The school prides itself on providing opportunities for each child to reach<br />

their academic potential within an enriching environment where they feel valued,<br />

fulfilled, confident and emotionally secure. Since the school’s last inspection in 2017,<br />

the school has grown from strength to strength with the new inspection commenting that<br />

pupils have “outstanding levels of self-confidence” and that “opportunities abound for pupils<br />

to experience excellence in achievement”.<br />

The Headteacher, Sarah Evans said, “I am thrilled that the Inspectors have given such high praise<br />

to every aspect of school life and have acknowledged the excellent academic achievements,<br />

as well as the incredible personal developments our children achieve throughout their<br />

time at Weston Green School”. The ISI report said the school is “successful in its<br />

aim of providing pupils with opportunities to achieve their academic potential”,<br />

that “pupils work with evident enthusiasm and relish their learning”, and<br />

that “principles and values are actively promoted which facilitate the<br />

personal development of pupils”. One parent also said that the school is<br />

“academically rigorous but incredibly friendly and warm”.<br />

If you are looking for a prep school place (for boys and girls<br />

aged 2-11 years), you can see Weston Green School yourself<br />

at their Open Morning on Thursday 16th March.<br />

Individual tours are also available on request. Find out<br />

more at wesstongreenschool.org.uk<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

4


Tonbridge teams excel in<br />

international Physics contest<br />

<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

istockphoto.com/ Valeriya Pichugina<br />

Two Tonbridge School teams, in Lower and<br />

Upper Sixth categories, achieved the status of<br />

‘Top in the UK’ after competing in the International<br />

Physics Brawl, an event organised by Charles University,<br />

a renowned institution in the Czech Republic.<br />

Nearly 200 teams, from schools across the world, took part<br />

in this annual online event which tests problem-solving skills<br />

under time pressure. The Tonbridge boys named the best UK team<br />

for the Lower Sixth were also ranked seventh in the world.<br />

Chris Powell, Head of Physics, said, “Super-curricular activities such<br />

as the Physics Brawl give our students opportunities to be exposed<br />

to the subject outside of taught lessons, adding valuable depth<br />

and breadth to their experience. We saw plenty of strong<br />

performances, and huge credit must go to our team finishing<br />

seventh in the world, which is a fine achievement. It’s<br />

an exciting prospect that these students may have<br />

another chance to shine in the Physics Brawl<br />

Busy<br />

next year.” Find out more about Tonbridge<br />

School online at tonbridge-school.co.uk<br />

The launch of the Granville<br />

Graduate Programme (GGP)<br />

The latest news from our thriving education providers<br />

This January the Granville School in Sevenoaks<br />

launched GGP to combine five strands of learning<br />

and create a robust, challenging programme of study<br />

that enriches and extends Year 6 girls’ learning and<br />

prepares them for their transition to secondary school.<br />

Taught by a team of subject specialist teachers, modules include<br />

debating, finance and business, sports leadership, engineering,<br />

computer science, art history, further maths and English<br />

and Junior Leadership. Aside from the academic challenge it offers,<br />

the programme has a strong wellbeing focus. They use both<br />

Girls on Board, an approach that supports girls to navigate<br />

social and friendships issues, and Positive <strong>Education</strong>,<br />

a research-backed programme, explicitly teaching<br />

positive approaches to emotions, relationships,<br />

health, purpose and accomplishment. The GGP<br />

ensures that the girls are fully prepared for<br />

further success in Year 7 and beyond.<br />

granvilleschool.org<br />

A new kind of education<br />

for a changing world at ACS<br />

International School Egham<br />

The traditional academic system doesn’t work for<br />

everyone. For too many children, it means rote learning,<br />

and a lack of motivation, which ultimately makes it harder<br />

for them to think for themselves. At ACS International School<br />

Egham, they offer students a different type of education, suited to<br />

the challenges of the changing world: the International Baccalaureate<br />

(IB). ACS Egham has a broad intake with no entry exams. ACS is one of<br />

only two schools in the UK to offer all IB programmes for students aged<br />

4 – 18. In place of A Levels, they offer the IB’s Diploma Programme<br />

(DP), which allows students to continue learning six subjects in<br />

their final years. Research has shown this prepares students<br />

better for university than other curricula and is advantageous<br />

for students wanting to thrive at university in the UK or<br />

around the world. For the past two years, the students<br />

have achieved a 100% pass rate in the DP. In<br />

2022, the average point score in was 36, which<br />

is equivalent to two grade A* and 1 grade<br />

A at A Level. acs-schools.com/egham<br />

5


Our Values: An <strong>Education</strong> for Life<br />

NEXT OPEN MORNING<br />

SATURDAY<br />

22 nd April <strong>2023</strong><br />

For further information:<br />

t: 01932 869001 | w: www.reeds.surrey.sch.uk<br />

| e: admissions@reeds.surrey.sch.uk<br />

Sandy Lane | Cobham | <strong>Surrey</strong> | KT11 2ES


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

istockphoto.com/ Roman Kybus<br />

Creature Comforts<br />

From rugby-loving donkeys to an immortalised duck, we’ve enjoyed<br />

hearing all about Saint Ronan’s school farm<br />

“<br />

We opened our school farm with the aim to have a few rescue chickens<br />

– modest and easy to maintain. Our first batch of chickens were<br />

bald, squawky and reluctant to part with their eggs! Nothing would<br />

persuade the children to pick them up (or the chickens to allow them to). Today,<br />

we have lustrous and robust chickens who deliver the yellowest of yolks and run<br />

to be cosseted by little Ronians, and many other creatures besides.<br />

“First, we have the escapologist pygmy goats who are taken for walks on leashes,<br />

for which the children bring leaves to be nibbled enthusiastically. Then there are<br />

our two sports-enthusiast donkeys, who love watching school matches and bray<br />

approvingly when the home team score a point, knowing that a carrot may soon<br />

arrive from an overexcited child.<br />

“Next on the list are the rabbits and guinea pigs, and two imperious peahens,<br />

along with three adopted underweight hedgehogs to nurture through hibernation.<br />

We also have a herd of Ryland sheep known for navigating their public shearing in<br />

front of excited children with no sense of embarrassment in their nakedness.<br />

“The democratically elected ‘President’ of the animals, Basil the Duck, shot to<br />

fame in lockdown, and remains immortalised in a brass effigy, after sadly being<br />

eaten by Mr Fox (not the Director of Sport – the wily sly one who expectantly<br />

saunters past the chickens with a twinkly glint). Lastly we have three large, well<br />

fed, and friendly pigs, Ivanka, Winnie and Clemmie – the latter two of which were<br />

gifted to us by the Dean of Canterbury who needed a loving home for them when<br />

he retired. We were only too pleased to step in, and now these piggies are washed,<br />

brushed, fed and pampered. In return, they are positively brimming with affection.<br />

“Pre Prep children alternate their weekly trips to the Farm with the Forest<br />

School, so they get plenty of time outside. In the Prep School we run an active<br />

and popular weekly club, as well as participating in the local County shows.<br />

The farm has come a long way since those first bald, squawky, egg-free days<br />

saintronans.co.uk<br />

”<br />

7 priceless-magazines.com


CELEBRATING HAPPY<br />

HEARTS FOR OVER 75 YEARS<br />

Pupil achievement: Excellent<br />

Pastoral care: Excellent<br />

FOUNDED<br />

1946<br />

START YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE<br />

A co-educational independent school for children aged 2 – 11 set in<br />

the glorious <strong>Surrey</strong> Hills, Longacre makes education exciting and<br />

enjoyable for all pupils. During their time here pupils are inspired<br />

to develop a joy for learning that leads them to deliver outstanding<br />

results and move on to a number of exceptional senior schools.<br />

JOIN US FOR OUR<br />

OPEN DAY<br />

3 RD MARCH <strong>2023</strong><br />

www.longacreschool.co.uk


Meet the<br />

Headmaster<br />

From chart-topping ex-pupils to psychology podcasts, we get<br />

to know Matthew Bryan, Headmaster at Longacre School<br />

What makes Longacre school special?<br />

It’s a combination of the people and the<br />

ethos. The children are so lucky to come<br />

here, but equally it’s they who make<br />

it such a great school. They’re kind to<br />

each other and particularly take pride in<br />

looking after younger children, which has<br />

created a self-perpetuating virtuous circle.<br />

Teachers and parents buy into a school<br />

which centres itself around the mission<br />

to ensure that everyone is happy. Markers<br />

of success are products of that happiness,<br />

rather than being goals in their own right.<br />

What is your favourite part of your job?<br />

The job is always about children,<br />

especially the transformational power<br />

to allow children to achieve more than<br />

they thought possible. That series of<br />

expressions, from disbelief and wonder<br />

to delight and pride, is unbeatable.<br />

Working with incredibly talented<br />

colleagues and getting lovely feedback<br />

from grateful parents come close second!<br />

What inspired you to work in education?<br />

I came into it by accident – I signed<br />

up for teacher training at university<br />

because I wasn’t ready to leave yet, and<br />

that turned out to be good fun. I then<br />

went for a job interview to get some<br />

practice. When they offered me the job I<br />

didn’t know what to do, so I figured that<br />

I’d stay in teaching as long as it stayed<br />

fun. That was 22 years ago now…<br />

Can you share any career highlights?<br />

I keep every thank you note from pupils<br />

and parents: they’re useful on the more<br />

difficult days! Teaching is the best job<br />

in the world, the times you feel you<br />

made a real difference – comforting,<br />

encouraging, role-modelling – are the<br />

highlights. I fondly recall the Upper<br />

Sixth form student who got 100% in<br />

A level Latin and went on to be the<br />

lead singer of a chart-topping band,<br />

but I’m not altogether sure how crucial<br />

the Latin was to his success…<br />

What about your own school days?<br />

It was pretty traditional! I have lots of<br />

memories, good and bad, which heavily<br />

influence the way I try to lead my<br />

school. I was incredibly privileged to<br />

have the most wonderful time at prep<br />

school – making great friends, learning<br />

from inspiring teachers, building a<br />

sense of self-identity, confidence and<br />

the value of having fun at school.<br />

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?<br />

Family time is hugely important – we<br />

enjoy a dog walk that ends in a pub<br />

lunch. I enjoy endurance sports (in<br />

my case, plodding around on foot<br />

or bike) and am in training to ride<br />

the King Alfred’s Way. I wouldn’t<br />

always call it enjoyable, but I probably<br />

spend too much time and energy<br />

following Tottenham Hotspur!<br />

Tell us your favourite book or author.<br />

Any kind of swashbuckling historical<br />

fiction – Dumas’ The Count of Monte<br />

Cristo is an epic revenge story. As<br />

a child, the book I reread most was<br />

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar<br />

by Roald Dahl. Rightly or wrongly,<br />

most of my reading is non-fiction,<br />

often on psychology. I particularly<br />

love Malcolm Gladwell’s books (and<br />

podcasts); The Tipping Point is a lifechanging<br />

read! Thinking about it, these<br />

all refer to the depth of potential power<br />

that lies within ordinary people.<br />

What are you excited for in <strong>2023</strong>?<br />

Adventures! My family has a new tent<br />

and I can’t wait to use it to explore.<br />

longacre.surrey.sch.uk<br />

9 priceless-magazines.com


Believe. Brave. Bold.<br />

Instilling inner strength to create brave,<br />

young students for the future.<br />

Our innovative approach to teaching helps create a love for learning.<br />

This empowers students with an inner belief to help every child<br />

fulfil their utmost potential.<br />

Our latest ISI Inspection<br />

Report rated the school<br />

as EXCELLENT in all<br />

aspects of teaching.<br />

An independent Nursery and Prep School for girls and boys aged 9 months – 13 years<br />

Book a private tour to find out more<br />

www.hazelwoodschool.co.uk<br />

Wolf’s Hill, <strong>Surrey</strong>, RH8 0QU. 01883 733841


Pavel Malik, Assistant Head & Director of Digital<br />

Learning at Radnor House Sevenoaks (below), discusses<br />

the benefit of teaching coding skills from a young age<br />

Learning coding offers many educational benefits. From<br />

helping to develop digital skills and building future career<br />

opportunities to teaching mathematics, computational<br />

thinking and problem-solving. Coding also links to different areas of<br />

the curriculum, particularly STEM subjects.<br />

Setting the foundations for coding<br />

Technology plays such an important role in our lives that we want<br />

to instil interest and understanding of technology from a young age.<br />

Creating a programme of study where Coding and Robotics start<br />

in Reception enables us to build interest. Furthermore, it develops<br />

IT skills at the same time we are introducing reading, writing and<br />

arithmetic. Our focus is on robotics, using block coding instructions<br />

in Year 1 and progressing to text-based coding in Python in Year 5<br />

and above.<br />

Developing digital thinking<br />

All pupils in the Prep School receive one hour of computing per<br />

week, helping them to develop computational skills which transfer<br />

across different educational disciplines, including logic, writing and<br />

research. When our Prep School students enter our Secondary School,<br />

they are much more advanced at handling technology than many<br />

new entrants and often help new students get up to speed.<br />

Closing the digital skills gap<br />

Reports show that the global jobs market is suffering a shortage<br />

of digitally able workers, making skilled individuals highly desirable<br />

and necessary for progress and economic growth. By investing in<br />

skills from a young age and continuing this support throughout the<br />

school, we are equipping students for global workplace success and<br />

hope to inspire more under- represented groups to achieve careers in<br />

technology.”<br />

Radnor House Sevenoaks has an Open Morning on Saturday 18th<br />

March <strong>2023</strong>. Register interest at radnor-sevenoaks.org/opendays-tours<br />

Cracking the Code<br />

Two schools give us the<br />

lowdown on coding and<br />

computing<br />

St Andrews Prep share their coding education know-how<br />

How is technology integrated into your curriculum and school life?<br />

Our rich and varied D&T curriculum encompasses a wide range of<br />

technologies. As early as year 5 children work with and use computer<br />

aided design and a laser cutter to manufacture their design ideas. In<br />

Engineering children use civil engineering software to design and<br />

simulate bridge designs.<br />

Which year groups get involved in coding?<br />

From year 5 to 8 children construct a wide range of electronic<br />

products, including a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer project where<br />

children programmed their product to play different Christmas songs<br />

and display different sequences of lights dependent on different light<br />

levels, Silent Night being a popular choice as light levels dropped.<br />

How do you encourage kids to get coding?<br />

In D&T children develop their understanding of programming<br />

through System and Control projects. Children use a software to<br />

develop and simulate their programs before downloading their<br />

program to their finished product. Year 8 have just finished making<br />

and programming their electronic dice, where they developed their<br />

understanding of electronic systems and micro-controllers.<br />

Do you have any technology clubs?<br />

We have an electronics club where children have extended their<br />

learning by programming and constructing different electronic<br />

products. In another D&T club children are developing technical<br />

drawing and architectural modelling skills.<br />

standrewsprep.co.uk<br />

11 priceless-magazines.com


Prep School Open Morning<br />

Saturday 4 March<br />

9.30am to noon<br />

Boys and girls 3 months to 13 years<br />

IAPS – Boarding, flexi-boarding and day<br />

To register or to book a personal visit please contact:<br />

prep.admissions@bedes.org<br />

T 01323 356939<br />

bedes.org<br />

Senior School Open Morning<br />

Saturday 11 March<br />

9.30am to noon<br />

Boys and girls 13 to 18 years<br />

HMC – Day, weekly and full boarding<br />

To register or to book a personal visit, please contact:<br />

admissions@bedes.org<br />

T 01323 356609<br />

Bede’s Senior School<br />

Upper Dicker<br />

East Sussex BN27 3QH<br />

Bede’s Prep School<br />

Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne<br />

East Sussex BN20 7XL


CO-EDUCATIONAL | AGES 4–18<br />

SURREY & BERKSHIRE<br />

THE WORLD<br />

HAS CHANGED.<br />

SO WHY HASN’T<br />

EDUCATION?<br />

Rote learning, spoon feeding, box ticking - no wonder so many children struggle to<br />

succeed in today’s world. ACS Egham’s challenging, proven, and truly modern IB<br />

programme gives children the tools they need to become independent learners. As one<br />

of only two schools in the UK to offer the entire IB programme, we are uniquely placed<br />

to create unforgettable experiences that transform the way children see the world.<br />

International Baccalaureate through school | Extensive busing | Bursaries available<br />

DISCOVER THE IB DIFFERENCE BY ATTENDING ONE OF OUR OPEN DAYS


Nursery & Kindergarten Lower Prep School Upper Prep School Senior School<br />

Nursery Kindergarten Lower Prep School Upper Prep School Senior School<br />

Nursery & Kindergarten Lower Prep School Upper Prep School Senior School<br />

Register for our Open Day<br />

Wednesday Wednesday 1<br />

March March<br />

2022<br />

2022<br />

www.manorhouseschool.org | 01372 457077 | admissions@manorhouseschool.org<br />

www.manorhouseschool.org 01372 457077 admissions@manorhouseschool.org<br />

www.manorhouseschool.org | 01372 457077 | admissions@manorhouseschool.org<br />

ManorHouseSchoolWT249.indd 1 21/12/2022 15:10<br />

Looking for a school place?<br />

Visit our open morning on<br />

Thursday 16th March<br />

Independent school for boys<br />

and girls aged 2-11 years.<br />

To book call 020 8398 2778 or email<br />

info@westongreenschool.org.uk<br />

Weston Green School,<br />

Weston Green Road,<br />

Thames Ditton. <strong>Surrey</strong>, KT7 0JN<br />

020 8398 2778<br />

westongreenschool.org.uk<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

14<br />

WestonGreenSchoolWT249.indd 1 19/01/<strong>2023</strong> 12:53


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

Go for it!<br />

Ashford Prep School wholeheartedly believes in an ethos<br />

of ‘Sport for All’ which means every child – no matter<br />

their ability – is provided the opportunity to represent<br />

the school competitively; we field up to ten teams on any<br />

given matchday.<br />

Whilst particularly strong across the traditional<br />

team sports, Ashford Prep School also actively seeks<br />

opportunities for pupils to enjoy a far wider range of<br />

sporting activities. This is predominantly achieved through<br />

the co-curricular programme of over 100 different<br />

enrichment options, with sports being rotated so that there<br />

is something new each term – judo, hula-hooping and<br />

competitive dance all being recent popular additions. Last<br />

term saw pupils represent the school in table tennis for<br />

the first time at the Kent Schools’ U11 Tournament and<br />

a small group of Year 5 and 6 pupils will soon be dipping<br />

their toes into the world of motorsport with the Formula<br />

Goblin Go Kart that they are currently constructing.<br />

“A small group of Year 5 and 6 pupils will<br />

soon be dipping their toes into the world of<br />

motorsport with the Formula Goblin Go<br />

Kart that they are currently constructing”<br />

An area that is growing in popularity is the family of<br />

sports that sit under the umbrella of the Olympic sport of<br />

Modern Pentathlon. Head Girl of Ashford Prep School,<br />

Zara, recently became the U11 European Champion<br />

in biathle and triathle, representing Team GB at the<br />

European Championships in Marathon, Greece.<br />

Biathle races consist of swimming and running as part of<br />

a single race, whilst triathle involves shooting, swimming<br />

and running in a continuous shoot/swim/run format.<br />

Races generally take place outdoors beginning with a<br />

pack start, and the winner being the first to cross the<br />

finish line. Zara trains with Ashford School Swimming;<br />

a performance programme encompassing swimming,<br />

biathlon and laser run. Zara swims three times a week as a<br />

member of the Prep Potential Squad, as well as attending<br />

weekly runfit and laser shooting sessions. Zara also trains<br />

outside of school. Zara had the following to say about her<br />

recent success and sport in general:<br />

“I have always enjoyed sport particularly running and<br />

swimming, which was popular at school. I first had the<br />

opportunity to try shooting (both pistol and laser) at<br />

Ashford School – I wasn’t very good at it to begin with,<br />

but I have enjoyed the challenge of getting better at it. I<br />

also like the fact that it is very different from any other<br />

Ashford School explains how broadening<br />

options enhances enjoyment and<br />

participation in sport<br />

sports that I am involved in. Biathle and triathle<br />

combines these disciplines, which I love.<br />

It was an amazing experience to compete in<br />

Greece. It was unbelievably tough, especially<br />

the swim as the wind was really strong, but the<br />

feeling at the end is almost impossible to put into<br />

words. I have aspirations to go to the Olympics<br />

as a middle distance runner in the future, but I<br />

know that there is a lot of hard work ahead of<br />

me if I want to achieve this. My advice to anyone<br />

who wants to try a new sport is go for it!”<br />

ashfordschool.co.uk<br />

15 priceless-magazines.com


WHERE CHARACTER IS MADE<br />

Join us for our<br />

Open Morning<br />

Friday 24 <strong>February</strong><br />

standrewsprep.co.uk


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

STRONGER TOGETHER<br />

We’ve been asking our schools how they connect with their communities<br />

Eastbourne College tell us about a wide variety of projects which<br />

enrich their school life and beyond<br />

Eastbourne College is one of thirteen schools/colleges in the Coastal Schools<br />

Partnership (East Sussex). We love working together as it provides a high level of<br />

benefit for the young people and staff across all our schools; we genuinely are stronger<br />

together. The group encompasses schools from Seaford across to Bexhill. There have been<br />

many highly successful projects since we started in 2014 encompassing academic, artistic and<br />

environmental initiatives.<br />

One initiative is the work started in 2018 by the Your Town, Your Ideas, Your Future project which<br />

worked with professionals exploring ideas about how to make Eastbourne a more vibrant place to live in<br />

and to visit. Eastbourne Borough Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and Lord and Lady Lucas continue<br />

to work with us. Sir Tim Smit from the Eden Project has also been greatly inspired by the commitment of our<br />

young people. A working party of young people from across the Partnership, the Reconnect Group, are now actively<br />

engaged with making our area a vibrant, environmentally engaged place to live.<br />

We were delighted to be a major partner in the Making Natural History Conference in November 2020. This online<br />

conference brought together major environmentalists, with key appearances from Sir Tim Smit, Dr William Bird and<br />

Baroness Floella Benjamin. There was also a live stream with Millennium Kids in Australia.<br />

We are presently working with the Environment Agency giving a voice to young people around coastal defences and continue<br />

to develop our Pupil Premium engagement project which has successfully started with Saturday morning basketball sessions. We<br />

also run an annual dance residency previously with Rambert and this year with Motionhouse Dance Company.<br />

Continuing professional development opportunities for teachers abound at Eastbourne College; we recently hosted a highly<br />

successful twilight session focused on SEN strategies and another on the opportunities afforded by the Turner Prize coming to the<br />

Towner. We are closely involved with the Towner/Turner Wrap Round Project which will run throughout <strong>2023</strong>. Exciting times<br />

for our community as the world’s leading prize for contemporary art will be presented at Towner Eastbourne in <strong>2023</strong>.<br />

For more information visit eastbourne-college.co.uk<br />

17 priceless-magazines.com


FREE TO<br />

BE ME<br />

I am smart, funny, brave, kind, curious, unique,<br />

creative, energetic, honest, fearless, caring,<br />

surprising, determined, playful, musical and<br />

a loyal friend.<br />

And that’s just today.<br />

I’m free to be wonderfully<br />

and wholeheartedly me.<br />

Visit www.bansteadprep.com for information on our open days and personal tours.<br />

instagram.com/bansteadprep facebook.com/bansteadprep twitter.com/BansteadPrep<br />

BansteadPrepWT242.indd 1 20/06/2022 11:16<br />

The Power of<br />

<strong>Education</strong><br />

Aspirational academic aims, exceptional pastoral<br />

care; enabling confidence to flourish and<br />

unleashing potential.<br />

Visit battleabbeyschool.com to register for our<br />

Open Days.<br />

March<br />

04<br />

SATURDAY<br />

March<br />

11<br />

SATURDAY<br />

Battle Abbey School<br />

Founded 1912<br />

Battle Abbey School<br />

Tel: 01424 772385 www.battleabbeyschool.com<br />

OPEN DAY<br />

10.00am - 1.00pm<br />

Senior School<br />

(11-18 years)<br />

OPEN DAY<br />

10.00am - 12.00 noon<br />

Prep & Nursery School<br />

(3 months -11 years)<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

18<br />

BattleAbbeySchoolWT249.indd 1 06/01/<strong>2023</strong> 11:44


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

Reed’s School tells us about their award-winning outreach and community projects<br />

The school’s own charitable Foundation was established in 1813 as an orphanage. Ten percent of the pupils are helped to<br />

attend the school because they have lost the support of one or both parents and have experienced family trauma as well<br />

as financial and social hardship.<br />

The Outreach Programme at Reed’s School extends the reach of the Foundation by partnering with over 40 state primary and<br />

secondary schools in economically-deprived areas. The programme benefits over 3,000 children annually, running a series of<br />

exciting and attainable activities to raise the aspirations and attainment of children in the state sector.<br />

These activities are hosted at Reed’s using their own staff, pupils and facilities and range from sport and the arts to STEM across<br />

a variety of formats. Pupil involvement facilitates their ethos to ensure they leave Reed’s possessing a strong moral compass and a<br />

desire to go into the world and improve it. Examples include First Form (Year 9) pupils hosting an Arts Event for Year 5 children<br />

to share their skills in drama, art and music; Sixth Form pupils assist with Maths and Squash lessons in the RacketsCubed<br />

initiative. Pupils learn that their own skills can be used to help others less fortunate than themselves.<br />

In developing the Forum, Reed’s has built close relationships with the Headteachers at their partner schools which allows them<br />

to evolve the programme to best meet the needs of their pupils. Operational partnerships with Chelsea FC Foundation, <strong>Surrey</strong><br />

CCC and the Golf Foundation assist with the delivery of some programmes.<br />

Reed’s offers many opportunities for the local community to use their facilities. These range from providing science facilities<br />

for a one-day course for Year 10 and 11 pupils to running weekly after-school groups for refugees, as well as letting schools, scout<br />

groups, sports clubs etc. use their amenities such as the swimming pool and performances spaces.<br />

In 2020 Reed’s were shortlisted for the TES Independent-State School Partnerships Award and in 2021 they won the AMCIS<br />

Partnership/Outreach Impact Award. For more information email Kathryn Bartram, Development & External Relations Director<br />

at kbartram@reeds.surrey.sch.uk or visit the school’s website reeds.surrey.sch.uk<br />

istockphoto.com/ melitas<br />

19 priceless-magazines.com


SUTTON VALENCE SCHOOL


Help find their<br />

own superb<br />

Be anything but ordinary<br />

at Eastbourne College<br />

Open Morning<br />

Saturday 25 <strong>February</strong><br />

eastbourne-college.co.uk


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

Social Life<br />

Two schools share how they build social skills in students<br />

Richard Mills, Registrar at Bede’s tell us how they build their boarding community<br />

Bede’s<br />

For boarding pupils, building<br />

relationships at school is even more<br />

vital because their school peers are<br />

more than just classmates — they are a<br />

close–knit community, a family who rely<br />

on each other for support, guidance and<br />

friendship. Creating such a community is<br />

about forming a home away from home<br />

and our activity programme is an essential<br />

part of boarding life as it helps create a<br />

stronger sense of home and belonging.<br />

Children can board from Year 5 at Bede’s<br />

Prep School and from Year 9 at Bede’s Senior<br />

School. Our boarding children come from<br />

across the country and from 38 countries<br />

around the world. Our aim is to quickly<br />

establish children into boarding life to help<br />

them to settle into their new surroundings<br />

and make friends (and memories) for life.<br />

Our activity programme and boarding house<br />

routines are pivotal to this.<br />

Each child, whether a full, flexi or weekly<br />

boarder, is attached to a boarding house,<br />

where they will find a strong sense of<br />

community and camaraderie. The moment<br />

a child joins a house they are matched with<br />

a ‘boarding buddy’ and are encouraged to<br />

engage in all the activities on offer to them.<br />

Each house will nominate a charity that<br />

they will fundraise for over the course of<br />

the year, and pupils are encouraged to give<br />

back to the local community and support<br />

good causes with invaluable experiences such<br />

as distributing supplies to the homeless or<br />

raising vital funds – all of which teach pupils<br />

skills beyond just the classroom.<br />

“Mountain biking in the<br />

South Downs National Park,<br />

visiting the trampoline park,<br />

outdoor activity centres, theatre<br />

trips, beach days, paintballing,<br />

kayaking, paddle boarding,<br />

roller disco and cinema and<br />

shopping trips, are all activities<br />

on offer throughout the year.”<br />

We aim to give children the opportunity to<br />

make the most of their local surroundings<br />

and culture. Both the Prep School and the<br />

Senior School are idyllic. The Senior School<br />

sits in the heart of the English countryside<br />

in the pretty village of Upper Dicker, and<br />

the Prep School is at the foot of the South<br />

Downs National Park, overlooking the<br />

stunning coastline in Eastbourne. Children<br />

are fully immersed in their environment and<br />

are given endless opportunities to explore<br />

activities and discover new hobbies or<br />

interests. Both schools run a varied activities<br />

programme during the week where pupils<br />

can try anything from sports to debating, art<br />

to creative writing, dance to chess and more<br />

– not only enriching their education but also<br />

helping to form bonds with each other.<br />

Weekends provide our pupils with both<br />

fun and relaxation – there is just the right<br />

balance between relaxation, structured<br />

activities and schoolwork. Mountain<br />

biking in the South Downs National Park,<br />

visiting the trampoline park, outdoor<br />

activity centres, theatre trips, beach days,<br />

paintballing, kayaking, paddle boarding,<br />

roller disco and cinema and shopping trips,<br />

are all activities on offer throughout the year.<br />

The activities are chosen by the boarders<br />

in weekly boarding house meetings, with<br />

cooked brunches and movie nights being<br />

very popular amongst pupils.<br />

During their spare time, when not in<br />

lessons or enjoying activities, pupils have<br />

time with their tutor and housemaster/<br />

mistress to discuss their progress, workload<br />

and phone home to stay connected with<br />

their loved ones. Every evening there are<br />

activities in-house including movie and<br />

pizza nights, games, reading, and socials.<br />

Our extracurricular timetable includes<br />

many wellbeing and health-promoting<br />

opportunities too, like yoga or even helping<br />

care for the animals at our onsite Zoo!<br />

Our ultimate aim is to create a supportive<br />

environment where children can thrive. We<br />

are dedicated to the mental and physical<br />

wellbeing of our pupils, as well as their<br />

academic success.<br />

Join Bede’s for their Open Mornings on<br />

4 March (Prep) or 11 March (Senior)<br />

and see their boarding houses for<br />

yourself, including the new state-ofthe-art<br />

boarding house at Bede’s Senior<br />

School which opened in Autumn 2022.<br />

Sign up at bedes.org/open-morning<br />

23 priceless-magazines.com


Don’t miss our next<br />

<strong>Education</strong><br />

<strong>Supplement</strong><br />

available in our<br />

June issue<br />

Where Children Thrive<br />

Open Events<br />

Whole School Open Event: Friday 10th March 9.15am - 10.45am<br />

Prep Open Event: Wednesday 26th April 9.15am - 10.45am<br />

Senior School Open Event: Thursday 29th June 6.00pm - 8.00pm<br />

Through School 3-18: Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior & Sixth Form<br />

Ewell Village, Epsom, <strong>Surrey</strong><br />

www.ewellcastle.co.uk<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

WilliamLawrence-EwellCastleSchool-WT249.indd 1 19/01/<strong>2023</strong> 16:06<br />

FROM<br />

TOP SPOTS<br />

TO<br />

OLD SPOTS<br />

The UK’s International Mathematical<br />

Olympiad (IMO) team is made up of the<br />

country’s top six school-age<br />

mathematicians. Two Tonbridge boys<br />

were selected to represent the UK at the<br />

most recent competition in Oslo. This<br />

was only the second time in two decades<br />

that two IMO members had been chosen<br />

from the same school.<br />

Also known for their intelligence are our<br />

Old Spots – a versatile breed of pig that are<br />

great favourites here in our School Orchard,<br />

and along with our bees provide valuable<br />

lessons of a slightly different kind.<br />

Visit website<br />

Arrange a visit:<br />

admissions@tonbridge-school.org<br />

tonbridge-school.co.uk<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

24<br />

TonbridgeSchoolWT249.indd 1 13/12/2022 13:08


Sutton Valence School<br />

istockphoto.com/ Pattadis Walarput<br />

At Sutton Valence School, we place<br />

a high value on the importance<br />

of developing students’ and<br />

boarders’ social skills. We believe that<br />

these skills are essential for success in<br />

life and are integral to our approach<br />

to education. Our boarding system<br />

has been designed to foster a balance<br />

between achieving academic potential,<br />

great learning outside the classrooms and<br />

developing social skills. (Boarders also<br />

benefit from superb living facilities – we<br />

were national finalists in the Boarding<br />

Schools Association awards last year<br />

following significant refurbishment and<br />

investment in boarding areas.)<br />

“Once a month, we have<br />

a cultural food celebration<br />

theme at dinner, which<br />

helps to broaden students’<br />

understanding of different<br />

cultures and cuisines.”<br />

One of the ways we encourage bonding<br />

is by having all boarding students share<br />

breakfast and dinner together each<br />

day. This not only provides a sense of<br />

community, but also allows students<br />

to practise social skills. Additionally,<br />

once a month, we have a cultural food<br />

celebration theme at dinner, which helps<br />

to broaden students’ understanding of<br />

different cultures and cuisines.<br />

After dinner, students have designated<br />

prep time in which they complete<br />

homework and consolidate their learning.<br />

This allows them to focus on their studies<br />

while also having time to socialise with<br />

their peers afterwards. Many students<br />

choose to do this by participating in<br />

supervised sporting activities in the sports<br />

hall or other social gatherings of a creative<br />

nature.<br />

At weekends, our boarding team<br />

arranges trips for our students. These<br />

range from outings to local bowling<br />

alleys and cinemas, to adventures further<br />

afield such as theme parks and theatre<br />

visits. These trips provide opportunities<br />

for students to bond with their peers<br />

and experience new things together. A<br />

number of boarders also volunteer at local<br />

charities and in the community in their<br />

spare time.<br />

From film nights to charity work, we hear how Sutton<br />

Valence School help their students develop social skills<br />

“All boarding students share<br />

breakfast and dinner together<br />

each day. This not only<br />

provides a sense of community,<br />

but also allows students to<br />

practise social skills.”<br />

We are particularly proud of our<br />

boarding student leaders, who take<br />

an active role in organising studentled<br />

activities such as house singing<br />

competitions, film nights and quizzes.<br />

These activities provide a platform for<br />

students to showcase their talents and<br />

develop leadership skills. In the Houses,<br />

students have great relaxation and<br />

cooking facilities that they share with<br />

each other.<br />

At Sutton Valence School, we believe<br />

that developing social skills is an essential<br />

part of a well-rounded education. Our<br />

boarding system is designed to foster a<br />

balance of academic achievement and<br />

socialisation, with a range of activities and<br />

opportunities for students to socialise,<br />

bond and develop their social skills. Find<br />

out more at svs.org.uk.<br />

25 priceless-magazines.com


Be Yourself<br />

at Claremont<br />

...unless you’re being someone else<br />

Open House Week<br />

Monday 13 - Saturday 18 March<br />

Nursery & Prep School<br />

St Leonards, East Sussex TN37 7PW<br />

01424 751555<br />

Senior School & Sixth Form<br />

Bodiam, East Sussex TN32 5UJ<br />

01580 830396<br />

To register for Open House Week or book a tour,<br />

visit the events page claremontschool.co.uk/events<br />

admissions@claremontschool.co.uk


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

Meet the<br />

School Principal<br />

We’ve been getting to know Claremont<br />

School’s new Principal, Severine Collins<br />

What excites you most about<br />

joining Claremont School?<br />

Claremont’s principles align with<br />

my own belief that every child is an<br />

individual who needs to be nurtured,<br />

developed and challenged to become<br />

the best they can be. The young people<br />

who will shape our future need to be<br />

agile, empowered with a deep love of<br />

learning that enables them to take risks,<br />

be creative and innovative, solve complex<br />

problems and drive societal change. At<br />

Claremont pupils are given opportunities<br />

to improve their self-esteem in social<br />

contexts, teamwork and collaboration<br />

activities, sporting, performing,<br />

debating, musical performances… the<br />

list is endless. Claremont is the ideal<br />

setting for young people to thrive<br />

and achieve their dreams, and I feel<br />

privileged to have joined the team.<br />

What do you most enjoy<br />

about being a Principal?<br />

Working with young people. Their<br />

creativity, their thirst for knowledge and<br />

for a brighter future is contagious. You<br />

have to work hard to achieve success,<br />

and I am honoured to be supporting<br />

them in developing those attributes<br />

What are the greatest<br />

challenges of the role?<br />

An African proverb rightly states, “If<br />

you want to go fast, go alone; if you<br />

want to go far, go together”. I much<br />

prefer to make decisions through<br />

collaboration, allowing teamwork,<br />

creativity, and innovation to happen.<br />

I like to receive ideas and input<br />

from all, including students. I have a<br />

genuine interest in the achievements of<br />

others too, and I am a firm believer in<br />

professional development of all staff.<br />

Tell us about your own school days.<br />

I am a French national and did all my<br />

schooling in France, including university,<br />

before I came to the UK to do a degree.<br />

Languages were my thing but I used to<br />

think I couldn’t do maths., thankfully<br />

my maths teacher was amazing, she<br />

explained that arithmetic is actually<br />

another form of language, it made<br />

such a difference. I went on to study<br />

Artificial Intelligence at Sussex University.<br />

Programming computers to do what<br />

humans do using their intelligence was<br />

yet another form of language, but it also<br />

taught me so much about the human<br />

brain. It was absolutely fascinating.<br />

Did you always want to go into<br />

education?<br />

Always! It is such a humbling experience<br />

knowing that you are equipping young<br />

people with key personal characteristics,<br />

attributes to positively impact their local,<br />

national and international communities.<br />

I am also a passionate supporter of new<br />

technologies and how they enhance<br />

learning so I did a Masters Degree at<br />

Kings University in ICT and e-learning.<br />

How do you relax away from work?<br />

I spend time with my family, my dog, go<br />

to the gym or go swimming, cook and<br />

socialise. During holidays I like to travel<br />

and see my family in France, or I will go<br />

hiking or visit galleries, museums and<br />

historical houses. But my big passion is<br />

DIY and interior design. I love looking<br />

for a bargain, vintage furniture or<br />

decorative objects, and like to upcycle<br />

tired pieces.<br />

What are your hopes for the year ahead?<br />

I first want to get to know everyone and<br />

understand their views. Being surrounded<br />

by gifted professionals who realise the<br />

vision we uphold for our young people is<br />

what gets me out of bed every morning.<br />

claremontschool.co.uk<br />

29 priceless-magazines.com


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istockphoto.com/ katatonia82, Leonid Andronov, kaisorn, Jan Zabrodsky, Afonkin_Yuriy &primo-piano<br />

Spring Grove School on broadening horizons<br />

F<br />

rom<br />

Out &<br />

WeAbout<br />

learn about the many benefits of school trips<br />

visits to the local beach to week-long residential trips to<br />

France, school trips play an important part in school life at Spring<br />

Grove School. Experiences that take children out of the classroom - and<br />

sometimes out of their comfort zone - are an important part of the school’s<br />

growth mindset learning. A well-chosen trip can support and extend<br />

learning, while adding new perspectives and excitement to a topic.<br />

Many of the trips are to local destinations such as Canterbury<br />

Cathedral, Samphire Hoe or Chatham Docks. To support their<br />

learning about China in Year 2, the children visit a Chinese restaurant<br />

in Ashford (and experience eating with chopsticks!). A visit to Hever<br />

Castle brings a new perspective to Year 4’s Tudor projects. For the<br />

younger children, the journey, packed lunch and a visit to the gift<br />

shop are often just as exciting as the outing itself!<br />

Spring Grove also runs week-long residential trips further afield<br />

for children in Years 5 and 6, to a chateau in Normandy and a<br />

watersports centre in Gloucestershire. These trips are often the first<br />

time a child has been away from home for any length of time and<br />

offer a taste of independence. As one of our Year 5 pupils said, “I<br />

tried out canoeing and bread making, I helped out in the mini farm,<br />

Mayfield girls attend Model United<br />

Nations Conference in Poland<br />

I<br />

n<br />

October, six girls from Mayfield School attended the 7th Annual Model<br />

United Nations (MUN) Conference in Poland, with pupils from across Europe.<br />

MUN is an educational simulation of the United Nations in which students<br />

can learn about diplomacy and international relations. Students represent a<br />

country and debate issues with the aim of reaching a resolution.<br />

The girls attended as delegates for Russia, Iran, Canada, the USA, DPRK and<br />

Nigeria, sitting on committees for Human Rights, UN Women, and the Future<br />

Security Council – the latter set in 2050 amidst concerns about overpopulation.<br />

They stayed with host families in Torun and had a great time experiencing<br />

Polish culture in their downtime following heated debate about global issues<br />

during the day. Sixth Former Cosima finished the conference as Best Delegate<br />

on the Human Rights Committee, while Rosie was voted Best Delegate in the<br />

General Assembly. She also managed a star turn on TV Torun!<br />

Rosie said: “Words fail to describe the exhilaration I felt being surrounded by<br />

so many enthusiastic and intellectual people who share my passions for politics,<br />

international relations, and debate.”<br />

Mrs Kasia Kilvington, MUN lead at Mayfield, said: “MUN has transformed<br />

the lives of some of the girls at Mayfield, enabling pupils who never believed<br />

they could speak in public to do just that. It has made them keen researchers<br />

and critical thinkers, having to scrutinise nuance in the delicate wording of<br />

resolutions, and given them immense confidence.”<br />

mayfieldgirls.org<br />

and I was so sad to leave the Chateau… but I’ll have great memories<br />

of our trip.”<br />

Spring Grove’s next open morning is on Saturday 11 March,<br />

register and find out more at springgroveschool.co.uk


<strong>Education</strong> <strong>Supplement</strong><br />

The Balancing Act<br />

According to their ISI EQI Inspection Report from<br />

September of last year, Parkside School’s pupils<br />

“consistently attain well in relation to the abilities<br />

of others taking the same tests”. We ask them how<br />

they bring out the best in their pupils<br />

We believe good schools are about experiences<br />

and opportunities promoting the personal<br />

growth of all – pupils, parents, staff and the<br />

community. Parkside is a great example of this as we use our<br />

extracurricular, community and school trip programmes to<br />

complement and enhance our innovative curriculum.<br />

Experiencing new opportunities to discover and develop<br />

unique passions and talents is at the heart of Parkside’s<br />

philosophy. The motto, “Courage, Confidence, Character”<br />

underpins all learning and teaching. It is about having the<br />

courage to try new things, which builds the confidence<br />

and motivation to succeed. The understanding gained<br />

through participation establishes a strength of character<br />

which translates in each of the boys as they leave after Year<br />

8, to go to senior school. Our ISI EQI Inspection Report<br />

from September 2022 noticed how our pupils “feel safe to<br />

take risks and attempt new challenges, supported within an<br />

environment where warm and trusting relationships prevail”.<br />

The extracurricular programme incorporates the expected<br />

range of sporting activities such as tennis, football and cricket.<br />

However, more adrenaline-fuelled activities such as trail<br />

biking and target shooting spice up the programme nicely.<br />

Those who prefer something slightly more mindful enjoy<br />

yoga, knitting, nature and papercraft. Academic clubs and<br />

clubs for the designers, chefs and potters are all up for grabs<br />

and these change termly with new activities.<br />

The academic rigour of the school is effectively<br />

complemented by the emotional and mental health benefits<br />

of exploring new experiences, the local community and the<br />

wider world around us. The privilege of being able to travel<br />

together, as a school, on a residential trip were championed by<br />

Parkside last year, being one of the first schools to take their<br />

sports tour out to the Caribbean after the pandemic.<br />

This academic year will see the more senior boys travelling<br />

to France and Italy on separate trips to immerse themselves<br />

in language, culture and even more dare-devil activities such<br />

as skiing, climbing and orienteering. Boys in Year 7 and 8<br />

are offered leadership opportunities through adventure and<br />

activities centres, which take them outside their comfort zone<br />

and challenge their status quo. Trips to the beach, Harry<br />

Potter World, London and residentials to such destinations<br />

as Stratford upon Avon are all planned into the calendar<br />

meticulously. The younger boys visit art galleries, museums,<br />

adventure centres, boat trips on the Thames and Legoland!<br />

Whilst the Nursery children enjoy trips to local farms and,<br />

importantly, the local high street and library.<br />

The whole school community is encouraged to take part<br />

and get stuck in with new activities. Parkside parents are<br />

always welcomed and encouraged to take part in school life<br />

through weekly tennis clinics with Parkside’s resident coach,<br />

Nicky Draper (yes, Jack Draper’s mummy), movie nights,<br />

cheese and wine tasting and sports dinners.<br />

Pupils at Parkside are recognised for their individual talents<br />

which are often unleashed and enhanced through the range<br />

of extracurricular activities and experiences. Food technology,<br />

languages, forest school, the humanities, design and<br />

technology are all taught as part of the curriculum and topics<br />

within these are consistently reinforced by life experiences. A<br />

rich education is one full of risks and adventures, after all you<br />

only live once (YOLO)!<br />

Join Parkside’s Open Event on Saturday 4 March 10am<br />

to 12pm. Register your interest by e-mailing admissions@<br />

parkside-school.co.uk or visiting parkside-school.co.uk<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

30


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Sweet Disposition<br />

Candy coated treats to show your love this Valentine’s Day<br />

Photograph: David Merewether Styling: Lucy Fleming<br />

Devotion necklace, £27, Odyl odyldesign.com; Kayali Lovefest Burning Cherry eau de parfum with notes of<br />

cherry, raspberry, praline, palo santo, guaiac wood and patchouli, from £67 for 50ml hudabeauty.com/uk;<br />

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Red Valentino heart pocket<br />

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Vintage rose sparkle silverbracelet<br />

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Reiss Bonnie wide leg<br />

trousers £150 John<br />

Lewis johnlewis.com<br />

Rosebud earrings<br />

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Kate Spade Bijou Top Handle<br />

Cross Body Bag £350 John Lewis<br />

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Hai ballerina pump £103<br />

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Coach watch £225<br />

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Sif Jakobs Jewellery<br />

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Lily Phellera Kaya maxi<br />

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Hartlyns gold woven<br />

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Mix & Match<br />

Jo Arnell gets creative with pie fillings for a<br />

satisfying <strong>February</strong> feast Photographs: David Merewether<br />

In the days before tupperware,<br />

pastry was just a convenient<br />

and portable container – a<br />

way of keeping the food <strong>inside</strong><br />

protected until you were ready<br />

to eat it. It’s comforting to know<br />

that the outer casing is now just as<br />

edible as the filling – and comfort<br />

is, after all, a by-word for pie. And<br />

a pie does not have to be pastry<br />

based – potato, or even whipped<br />

cream, make great pie toppings.<br />

The main thing is to keep things<br />

simple – as easy as pie…<br />

Squash, Caramelised<br />

Onion and Feta Filo Pie<br />

Prep time: 40 mins Cooking<br />

time: 25-30 mins Serves 6<br />

You will need a spring-form<br />

tin and a pastry brush<br />

Filo pastry is tricky to handle as<br />

it dries out as soon as you look<br />

away from it, so have a damp<br />

tea towel/kichen roll handy to<br />

cover it if needed – and ensure<br />

that all the other ingredients are<br />

prepped and ready to assemble<br />

before you open the packet.<br />

• 200g ready-made filo pastry<br />

(at room temperature)<br />

• 1 butternut squash, peeled<br />

and cut into chunks<br />

• 5 red onions, sliced<br />

• 2 tbsp olive oil<br />

• 1 tbsp balsamic (or<br />

red wine) vinegar<br />

• 2 tsp brown sugar<br />

• 200g feta cheese (or<br />

vegan version)<br />

• 2 tsp dried oregano<br />

• ½ tsp chilli flakes (ie not much)<br />

• 2 sprigs rosemary<br />

• 50g pine nuts (optional)<br />

1. Peel and chunk the butternut<br />

squash (approx 1-2cm cubes). Tip<br />

into a baking tray and coat with 1<br />

tablespoon of the olive oil. Sprinkle<br />

with oregano and bake in the<br />

oven (180°C) for 20-30 minutes.<br />

2. Meanwhile slice the onion<br />

thinly and slowly caramelise in a<br />

frying pan – basically fry gently for<br />

as long as it takes for the onions<br />

to cook right down, adding the<br />

vinegar and sugar about halfway<br />

through this process. Cut the feta<br />

cheese into rough cubes and then,<br />

once the onion and squash have<br />

cooled a little, assemble the pie.<br />

3. Line a loose bottomed tin (I<br />

used a 23cm diameter springform<br />

tin) with greaseproof paper.<br />

Melt the butter and keep ready<br />

in a bowl. Then fold 2 sheets of<br />

the filo pastry into the bottom<br />

of the tin, brushing each side all<br />

over with melted butter. Place<br />

further buttered layers into the<br />

tin, allowing the excess pastry<br />

to loosely overhang the sides.<br />

4. Working quickly, add the filling,<br />

alternating squash, onion and<br />

feta cheese, dotted with a little<br />

chilli and approx 1 teaspoon of<br />

rosemary, until you reach the top<br />

of the tin. Fold the overhanging<br />

filo back over the filling, decorate<br />

with the rest of the rosemary and<br />

pine nuts, and bake in the oven<br />

for approx 25 minutes, until the<br />

pastry is golden. Serve warm<br />

(or cold) with a green salad. <br />

71 priceless-magazines.com


Apple and Rhubarb Lattice Pie<br />

Prep time: pastry – 1 hour;<br />

fruit filling 20-30mins<br />

Cooking time : 30 minutes Serves 6-8<br />

You will need a nice deep pie dish<br />

(26cm) and a pastry brush<br />

I have made this pie with two types<br />

of pastry – shortcrust for the base<br />

and puff for the latticed top. It works<br />

just as well with all shortcrust. The<br />

trick to making good pastry is to keep<br />

everything as cold as you can and to<br />

rest it in the fridge prior to cooking.<br />

I used butter in the shortcrust, but<br />

another shortening (lard for instance)<br />

is fine. Or buy ready-made. I have to<br />

admit to buying the flaky pastry ready<br />

rolled from the supermarket – it saves<br />

a lot of time, but if you are making<br />

your own, the same applies in terms<br />

of keeping the pastry cool. Substitute<br />

raspberries for the rhubarb if you must.<br />

For the shortcrust pastry base (double this<br />

if you are using shortcrust for the top too):<br />

• 280g plain flour<br />

• 150g salted butter<br />

• 2-3 tbsp cold water<br />

or just use 1 ready rolled pack<br />

of puff pastry (you can also use<br />

ready-made shortcrust and omit<br />

the recipe for the pastry base)<br />

For the filling:<br />

• 850g Bramley cooking apples<br />

(approx 3-4 apples) peeled,<br />

cored and cut into chunks<br />

• 200g rhubarb (approx 3 stalks),<br />

washed and cut into 2cm chunks<br />

• 100g sugar, plus 1 dsp to<br />

sprinkle on top – or to taste<br />

• 1-2 tsp lemon juice (to stop<br />

the apple browning)<br />

• 2 tsp milk<br />

1. If you are making shortcrust pastry,<br />

cube cold butter into 1cm cubes and<br />

place in a large mixing bowl. Sift the<br />

flour onto the butter and, with nice<br />

cold hands, quickly rub the butter<br />

into the flour until you have a fine<br />

crumble topping. Spoon in the icy<br />

cold water, a little at a time, and<br />

combine into a ball without kneading<br />

more than necessary – over-handling<br />

makes pastry tough. Cover and rest<br />

in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.<br />

2. Meanwhile pre-cook the filling – I<br />

braise the rhubarb in the oven in<br />

a covered dish with some sugar (1<br />

tbsp) and a tbsp of water for 15-20<br />

minutes (150˚C), this method keeps<br />

its shape. Cook the chopped apples<br />

(sprinkle with a bit of lemon to stop<br />

them browning) in a pan with 50g<br />

or so of the sugar for 10-15 minutes<br />

until that are soft, but not a complete<br />

mush. Leave to cool. I prefer less sugar<br />

in this pie, but add to taste. If you<br />

have substituted raspberries, do not<br />

cook them prior to baking in the pie.<br />

3. Roll out the pastry on a cold, floured<br />

surface – approx 2mm in thickness. Lift<br />

carefully and drape over the pie dish,<br />

pressing it gently into place. Spoon in<br />

the cooled fruit, mixing a little, but<br />

not mashing together. Trim off the<br />

excess pastry and brush around the edge<br />

with a little milk (you will be ‘gluing’<br />

the lattice top to the pastry base).<br />

4. Cut the pastry for the lattice top<br />

into equal strips (approx 1cm by the<br />

width of the pack or the pie). Layer<br />

alternate strips over the top of the pie<br />

to make a lattice, weaving them over<br />

and under. Brush pastry with milk,<br />

then sprinkle with sugar and bake in<br />

the oven for approx 30mins until the<br />

lattice top is a light golden brown. Serve<br />

with cream or ice-cream (or both!).<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

72


73 priceless-magazines.com


Easy Fish Pie<br />

Prep time: 30 minutes<br />

Cooking time: 20-25 minutes<br />

Serves 4<br />

Supermarkets sell ‘fish pie mix’<br />

containing pre-cut chunks of salmon,<br />

cod and smoked haddock, which works<br />

well, but feel free to choose your own<br />

selection. I like to go for a white fish, a<br />

smoked type and something with a bit<br />

of bite – usually small Atlantic prawns,<br />

or if I’m pushing the (fishing) boat out,<br />

scallops or mussels. Both béchamel or<br />

cheese sauce work as a base, but crème<br />

fraîche, with a little thickening, really<br />

complements the flavours of the fish.<br />

• 500g floury potatoes<br />

• 450g fish fillets cut into<br />

chunks, or fish pie mix<br />

• 100g prawns, or other<br />

firm textured fish<br />

• 75g spring onions, chopped<br />

• 50g butter<br />

• 4 tbsp milk<br />

• 1 dessert spoon plain flour<br />

• 300ml carton crème fraîche<br />

• 50g slivered almonds (optional)<br />

1. Peel the potatoes, cut into chunks<br />

and boil until soft. Mash together with<br />

40g of the butter and 1 tbsp of milk.<br />

2. Place fish pieces in a pan with a lid,<br />

cover with the rest of the milk and the<br />

pan lid and poach gently for 5-10 mins<br />

until the fish is very lightly cooked.<br />

Drain, but keep the poaching liquid.<br />

3. Add the remaining 10g butter<br />

to the pan the fish was poached in<br />

and mix with the flour, bubble this<br />

for a minute and then stir in the<br />

poaching liquid to make a thick<br />

sauce. Combine with crème fraîche.<br />

4. Place the fish and spring onions in<br />

an oven proof dish and stir in the sauce.<br />

Top with mashed potato and flaked<br />

almonds (if using) and bake in a preheated<br />

oven (180°C) for 20-25 minutes.<br />

5. Serve with a parsley garnish,<br />

steamed French beans, peas or other<br />

green vegetables of your choosing. <br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

74


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leeping<br />

eauty<br />

Josephine Fairley reveals night treatments that really do work<br />

It’s not called ‘beauty sleep’ for<br />

nothing. Now, you might have<br />

thought that while you snuggle<br />

down beneath your sheets at night,<br />

relaxing and restoring energy was all<br />

that was going on. But scientists have<br />

now pinpointed that at around 1am,<br />

your body is at its most resourceful<br />

– helping to repair and renew skin,<br />

as well as other body cells, while you<br />

slumber sweetly. So it’s official – beauty<br />

sleep really is that, which is why it’s so<br />

vital to make sure you get your zzzs.<br />

But more than that, the right<br />

products let you take advantage of the<br />

body’s repairing power, harnessing your<br />

natural circadian rhythms to wake up<br />

not only rested, but more radiant. In<br />

fact, there’s now a raft of products which<br />

are specifically designed as ‘sleep-in’<br />

treatments, specifically to take advantage<br />

of this – variously referred to as ‘sleep-in<br />

creams’, ‘sleeping creams’ or ‘sleeping<br />

masks’. How are they different from the<br />

night creams most of us already have in<br />

our skincare arsenal? Well, this relatively<br />

new category has been influenced by<br />

the multi-step, multi-product regimes<br />

of women in Korea. Frankly, just<br />

reading about the effort involved and<br />

the many different products ‘required’<br />

for a Korean woman to look gorgeous<br />

generally makes me want to have a<br />

lie-down – but in my experience, this<br />

particular step in the Korean process<br />

really does deliver benefits when used<br />

a couple of times a week as a ‘booster’,<br />

with these sleeping masks tending to<br />

offer a jolt of specifically face-waking<br />

ingredients. Sort of in line with<br />

what a regular face mask offers, but<br />

working their magic as we slumber,<br />

and left on the skin till morning.<br />

I’m certainly a fan. A couple of nights<br />

a week, in place of my regular facial<br />

oil or night cream, I now slather on<br />

a ‘sleeping mask’ – on my dry skin,<br />

more is always more – and definitely<br />

wake up looking more rested<br />

and glow-y. But as with<br />

everything in beauty,<br />

not all products are<br />

created equal – so<br />

here are some<br />

favourites.<br />

(And I’m<br />

also<br />

going<br />

to<br />

share some of my favourite sleepbeckoning<br />

products at the end,<br />

too – because when it comes to<br />

slumber, more is also more, and<br />

after listening to Johann Hari’s<br />

book Stolen Focus on Audible, I’m<br />

more convinced of the importance<br />

of good, quality sleep than ever.)<br />

Jane Scrivner Overnight Recharge<br />

Balm, £54 for 50ml. A balm that<br />

morphs into an oil when applied to<br />

skin – and only a tiny bit is required<br />

for a recharged look; it works to<br />

restore the complexion’s barrier<br />

function with Indian neem oil and<br />

a blend that includes an alphabet of<br />

vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, F and K).<br />

L’OCCITANE Immortelle Precious<br />

Overnight Mask, £55 for 50ml. I reach<br />

for this at least twice a week – more<br />

often if I feel my skin’s looking dull.<br />

Luscious, pillowy in texture, it’s powered<br />

by immortelle – one of L’Occitane’s<br />

signature ingredients, harvested in<br />

Corsica, and rich in antioxidants.<br />

Smells divine: a little <br />

<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

76


istockphoto.com/ ill0gique<br />

bit aromatic, a little bit powdery.<br />

Boots Vitamin C Brightening<br />

Sleeping Mask, £4.50. An incredible<br />

steal – less than a fiver (wowzer!).<br />

In this case, Boots recommend that<br />

the zingy, citrusy, gel-like product –<br />

featuring lots of brightening vitamin<br />

C – is used as an overnight blitz for<br />

14 days (or rather, nights), massaged<br />

into skin before bedtime and then<br />

rinsed clean away in the morning.<br />

Liz Earle Superskin Overnight<br />

Mask, £40 for 50ml. You can either<br />

use this like a regular night cream,<br />

on a nightly basis, or slather on more<br />

generously as an overnight mask, when<br />

its plumping blend of cranberry seed,<br />

avocado, rosehip and borage oils, shea<br />

butter and vitamin E can work their<br />

plumping magic. I’ve been a massive<br />

fan of the Superskin line-up since it<br />

launched, and this doesn’t disappoint.<br />

Temple Spa Quench Rejuvenating<br />

Mask, £30 for 65ml. ‘Quench’ by<br />

name, quenching by nature – powered<br />

by apricot kernel oil, glow-getting<br />

vitamin C and avocado oil. I<br />

swear I can almost hear my skin<br />

slurping this up, as I drift off!<br />

Plus, to make even more of your<br />

beauty sleep (and even improve<br />

the quality of your kip, itself)…<br />

Create a wind-down ritual, to<br />

improve your sleep benefits. In terms<br />

of beckoning sleep itself – so that<br />

those cells get the maximum chance<br />

to re-charge and renew – I personally<br />

think it’s really important to develop a<br />

series of steps which becomes part of<br />

the process of heading dream-wards.<br />

For me, that’s a generous spritz of This<br />

Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray,<br />

from £15.75 for 75ml, which is almost<br />

like knockout drops for me, with<br />

its blend of chamomile, vetiver and<br />

lavender. (It’s actually clinically proven<br />

to help with sleep challenges, so you<br />

don’t have to take my word for it.)<br />

Try switching to a silk pillowcase.<br />

Legendary beauties have always<br />

sworn by them, as the face seems to<br />

glide over the surface and doesn’t get<br />

‘scrunched up’ while you slumber. I<br />

love the This Is Silk pillowcases, which<br />

are from £26 for the half-silk version<br />

to £60 for the full silk offering (and<br />

this comes in a beautiful range of<br />

shades from boudoir pink to black).<br />

Try sleep ‘gummies’. I’m a recent<br />

convert to these chewable supplements,<br />

and have been enjoying improved<br />

sleep – and some pretty crazy dreams<br />

– thanks to YUMI Bedtime (5-HTP),<br />

£16.99 for 60 gummies, a formula<br />

based around passiflora and griffonia<br />

seed extract, with an effect akin to<br />

that of melatonin (a supplement<br />

that’s currently banned in the UK).<br />

Harness sleep-time to boost your<br />

hair, too. Well, well, well: these are<br />

now a whole new beauty category, too!<br />

But it makes sense – any repairing hair<br />

product tends to work better the longer<br />

you’re able to leave it on – unless you<br />

have oily roots, in which case such a<br />

long treatment is best avoided. Here’s<br />

the how-to: cover your pillowcase in<br />

a towel. Towel-dry your hair (with a<br />

different towel), then comb your chosen<br />

mask through the hair; next morning,<br />

shower or rinse out any remaining<br />

product and hey, presto – silkier, shinier<br />

hair, which you can style as normal.<br />

My favourite masks, currently, are<br />

the fabulous, Ayurveda-inspired,<br />

rich and creamy Fable & Mane<br />

HoliRoots Repairing Hair Mask,<br />

£30 for 237ml, and Body Shop<br />

Banana Truly Nourishing Hair<br />

Mask, £15 for 240ml, which revisits<br />

a legendary Body Shop product,<br />

in a nourishing, de-frizzing form.<br />

(Still that fab, good-enough-to-eat<br />

smell, though!) Meanwhile, if you<br />

want a lighter-textured overnight<br />

treatment, check out Pantène 8H<br />

Active Serum Overnight Beauty<br />

Reset, £19.99 for 70ml: weightless<br />

but powerfully shine-boosting.<br />

So, at a time of year when hibernation<br />

seems to come naturally, I reckon<br />

we might as well make the most<br />

of that natural tendency to sleep<br />

for longer. And with a little help,<br />

awake more beautiful, rested-looking<br />

and glowing, in time for spring<br />

to unfurl its many wonders…<br />

See beautybible.com for more of Jo’s<br />

tried and tested beauty reviews.<br />

77 priceless-magazines.com


Sleep Better : Feel Better<br />

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HealingAlternativesWT249.indd 1 09/01/<strong>2023</strong> OdylWT249.indd 09:34 1 11/01/<strong>2023</strong> 15:11<br />

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78<br />

RyeArtGalleryWT249-HLFH.indd 1 20/01/<strong>2023</strong> 11:38


Wellbeing<br />

Sarah Maxwell shares a second<br />

instalment of vital menopause info<br />

istockphoto.com/ vvmich<br />

Menopause is a hot topic at the moment and<br />

has had a seismic shift in interest, giving<br />

us information and essential knowledge<br />

that we didn’t have previously. With this in mind, it’s<br />

surprising that post menopause isn’t a bigger subject,<br />

especially considering that the post menopausal stage<br />

is the longest period of time in a female’s life.<br />

Just like puberty, pregnancy and peri menopause,<br />

post menopause can be entirely different again. You<br />

may think we’ve done menopause to death, but there<br />

is so much more for us to learn about ourselves and<br />

the stages we go through in order to support ourselves<br />

and enable us to pass on what we’ve learnt to those<br />

starting to navigate their way through the minefield of<br />

information and the distress that can often come with it.<br />

Post menopause symptoms<br />

You may have none of the below, you may<br />

have some, you may have all and more.<br />

• Mood swings<br />

• Anxiety<br />

• Disturbed sleep<br />

• Night sweats<br />

• Recurrent cystitis<br />

• Exhaustion<br />

• Thinning of hair<br />

• Lack of libido<br />

• Bowel and urination problems<br />

Whilst many of the above post menopausal symptoms<br />

– such as mood swing and hot flushes – will resolve<br />

over time for many, it’s important to know that some<br />

may remain. This is why I encourage all women,<br />

particularly at this stage in their lives, to look after their<br />

health and wellbeing. Now is the time to build a good<br />

foundation for your overall health and wellbeing.<br />

It’s never too late to start putting a few things in<br />

place, especially those that make you feel good.<br />

It’s important to focus on good nutrition,<br />

making sure you include more fibre, calcium,<br />

essential vitamins and nutrients in your diet.<br />

There is a great podcast series by Naturopath Jennifer<br />

Harrington on Spotify called Menopause Natural Solutions<br />

which was developed to help women transitioning into<br />

menopause rediscover their health and happiness in<br />

midlife, which you may be interested to listen to.<br />

Post menopause health checker<br />

It’s important to pay close attention to the following:<br />

• Gut health issues<br />

• Thyroid function<br />

• Heart disease<br />

• Obesity<br />

• Type 2 diabetes<br />

• Metabolic syndrome<br />

• Plus, remember to book regular smears and breast checks.<br />

A health check is available from your GP for anyone aged<br />

40 and above. mygp.com/what-does-a-health-check-include<br />

Services available to you<br />

Menopause Support is a service you can be referred to by your<br />

GP menopausesupport.co.uk. I understand that not everyone<br />

is lucky enough to have access to a GP who has an interest<br />

and understanding about menopause and how it presents in<br />

so many different ways. If, unfortunately, your doctor doesn’t<br />

support you, you may want to show them this page and, if<br />

that doesn’t work, change your doctor to one who wants to<br />

support you and others like you. There’s a helpful leaflet that<br />

you can download from The Menopause Charity’s website:<br />

themenopausecharity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/<br />

How-to-ask-your-GP-for-help-rev.pdf<br />

In a nutshell<br />

A well balanced diet and regular exercise you enjoy doesn’t<br />

mean starvation diets and extreme exercise – something I never<br />

recommend. A healthy sprinkle of good food, movement,<br />

relaxation, rest and play is all we need. Take baby steps so that<br />

you are in a strong position to start what is the longest phase of<br />

your life as a woman and make a plan to enjoy every moment.<br />

Sarah Maxwell is a multi award-winning weight loss, lifestyle and fitness coach. Find out more about her work...<br />

Facebook & Instagram: @sarahmaxlife Twitter: @sarahmax100 sarahmaxwell.com<br />

79 priceless-magazines.com


BALFOUR DINING CLUB<br />

MUSIC SESSIONS<br />

Set in our beautiful tasting room, The View, these unique<br />

dinners with music are a wonderful way to spend a Saturday<br />

evening with friends or family.<br />

Arrive at 7.30pm for a welcome drink, before being seated for a<br />

tasting of a selection of our Balfour Wines.<br />

A delicious four-course meal is then accompanied by<br />

marvellous live music performed by a local artist.<br />

Saturdays available:<br />

11th and 18th <strong>February</strong><br />

4th and 11th March<br />

7.30pm - 10.30pm | £60pp<br />

Visit www.balfourwinery.com to reserve your table<br />

This event must be booked in advance<br />

Balfour Winery, Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0HT<br />

01622 832794 | info@balfourwinery.com<br />

M O T HER'S DAY<br />

AFTERNOON TEA<br />

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Visit www.balfourwinery.com<br />

to reserve your table<br />

balfourwinery.com | 01622 832794<br />

Balfour Winery, Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0HT


Nourish to Flourish<br />

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau<br />

looks into post-natal dietary requirements<br />

Step away from… ALCOHOL & CAFFEINE<br />

Increasing your fluid intake after birth, and especially for<br />

breastfeeding mothers, is important. Dehydration can cause<br />

headaches, confusion and reduced energy so keeping well hydrated<br />

is key. The amount of fluid needed varies, but aim for around<br />

10-12 glasses a day. Try to make water the majority of your fluid<br />

intake and limit your consumption of alcohol (to a maximum<br />

of 14 units a week for women) and caffeine, as these can pass to<br />

breast milk and may affect the baby’s digestion, sleep and feeding<br />

patterns. Don’t forget that caffeine is also found in chocolate,<br />

some fizzy drinks, energy drinks and often cold and flu remedies<br />

as well as tea and coffee. The amount of caffeine passed into the<br />

breastmilk is about 1% of what the mother consumes and it<br />

reaches a peak in the breastmilk about an hour after consumption,<br />

so be aware of when you are ingesting caffeine and feed times.<br />

It’s no secret that the food we eat fuels our daily activities<br />

and it is especially important when those activities<br />

include caring for a newborn or breastfeeding. The time<br />

after a mother has given birth is an important phase to be<br />

looked after, to recover and to plan the right nutrition and<br />

support. It is common, however, for the desire to lose the baby<br />

weight to take precedence over nourishing the body with the<br />

right foods to support recovery, milk production and rest.<br />

istockphoto.com/ miwa_in_oz / Magone / chokja / Elena Tsvetkova Andrii Zorii / Max Lirnyk<br />

Learn to… REPLENISH<br />

The time after giving birth can be physically and mentally<br />

challenging and keeping up with the demands of a new born,<br />

feeding, sleep deprivation as well as recovering from the birth<br />

can be hard. It’s not a time for reducing calories or cutting food<br />

groups to achieve pre-birth weight, instead focus on a healthy,<br />

balanced diet which includes lots of fruit and vegetables (aim<br />

for 30 different sources a week) as well as protein to support<br />

recovery, complex carbohydrates for energy and iron rich foods<br />

such as soy beans, lentils, oats, lean meats, spinach, tofu or<br />

chickpeas. If you are breastfeeding, then you will need to increase<br />

your calories by 500 a day to support milk production and<br />

replenish calcium stores. Try to include milk, cheese, yoghurts,<br />

tofu, leafy greens and nuts in your diet. Zinc is important for<br />

breastfeeding mums and supports the immune system; beef,<br />

fish, tofu, nuts and seeds are all good sources. Omega-3s, found<br />

in oily fish, nuts and seeds, are important for brain development<br />

in babies, so make these a priority if you are breastfeeding.<br />

Give it a go… PRIORITISE YOURSELF<br />

To help restore pre-pregnancy health, replenish nutrient stores<br />

and support lactation after giving birth, it is essential that you<br />

take time amongst the chaos to prioritise yourself. Newborns<br />

are demanding and without giving yourself the right care and<br />

support, looking after your little bundle can be even harder.<br />

Try to sleep when you can, (and I say this as a mother of 3),<br />

I know this can be difficult! Lean on your support network to<br />

plan in times for rest, a shower or to just sit! Ask a friend for<br />

meal donations or batch cook and freeze easy, nutritious meals<br />

in the lead up to the birth, so you don’t have to think about<br />

what is for the next meal and enjoy time with other mothers<br />

and their babies… a good chat with someone who understands<br />

can do wonders for your mood. When you can, arrange walks<br />

with friends in the fresh air and lastly, don’t put any pressure<br />

on yourself to achieve to-do lists – most things can wait!<br />

Charlotte runs Plume Nutrition, where she offers support and advice for weight management, controlling<br />

cravings, sleeplessness, stress and increasing energy levels. Find out more at plumenutrition.com<br />

81 priceless-magazines.com


Don’t miss our<br />

Garden<br />

<strong>Supplement</strong><br />

available in our April issue<br />

www.charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk I 01580 713189 I info@charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk<br />

Swattenden Lane, Cranbrook, TN17 3PS<br />

Nesting season is almost here!<br />

While the main nesting season starts in March, birds are traditionally<br />

thought to have paired up by Valentine's Day and will be looking for shelter.<br />

With the decline in natural habitats, garden birds are relying<br />

more and more on us to provide a clean, warm environment to<br />

lay their eggs and raise their chicks.<br />

Visit us in store to pick up a nest box, feed and treats<br />

for your garden birds!<br />

P E T | A N I M A L | W I L D L I F E | E Q U E S T R I A N |<br />

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SBIWT247.indd 1 25/11/2022 09:32


Green<br />

Attraction<br />

Jo Arnell looks into houseplants with benefits<br />

istockphoto.com/ abibe vida / yuqian liu<br />

Keeping houseplants will make<br />

you more attractive. This is not<br />

just a ploy by the houseplant<br />

marketing board – according to some<br />

research commissioned by The Joy of<br />

Plants, all you need to boost your allure<br />

is a houseplant or two. It turns out that<br />

showing love to your houseplants is also<br />

showing the world – and prospective<br />

dates – that you are a kind and nurturing<br />

person, and most likely to bestow the<br />

same sort (well maybe not quite the<br />

same – some people aren’t keen on regular<br />

watering and dead-heading) of affection on<br />

a partner. But before you substitute ‘good<br />

sense of humour’ with ‘keeps houseplants<br />

alive’ on your profile and rush out to buy<br />

some, have a think about which plants to<br />

choose, because some are easier to keep<br />

alive than others and, judging by some<br />

of mine, attraction can be short-lived.<br />

Show you care<br />

It helps to understand how to<br />

look after the plants in your care,<br />

especially if you want them to thrive<br />

and look well tended and loved.<br />

I bought a few houseplants last year.<br />

Not to attract anyone you understand<br />

(and my husband won’t read this, but<br />

just in case), but mainly because I didn’t<br />

have any (I’m too busy trying to keep<br />

the outdoor plants alive) and I live in a<br />

very low-beamed dark house with central<br />

heating – conditions that even plants<br />

from the floor of a very dense jungle don’t<br />

much enjoy. Even in the brightest rooms<br />

in houses with much higher ceilings<br />

than mine, far less light is available to a<br />

plant than we imagine – and so most of<br />

our houseplants, certainly the lush and<br />

leafy ones, come from warm woodlands<br />

and rainforests, where light levels are<br />

typically very low. Tropical forests are<br />

humid places too, which is why so<br />

many of our indoor plants do well in<br />

bathrooms and kitchens – and shrivel up<br />

when forced to watch Bake Off with us<br />

in our centrally heated sitting rooms.<br />

Plants that will manage in warm, dry<br />

shade tend to have dark, leathery leaves –<br />

dark green because they are packed with<br />

chlorophyll to try and absorb as much<br />

light as they can, and leathery to prevent<br />

water loss. A good example of this is<br />

an Aspidistra – a plant associated with<br />

gloomy Victorian hallways and darkened<br />

living rooms. Parlour palms (the clue is in<br />

the name) and some ferns will also cope<br />

in this sort of dry shade. Do not subject<br />

a delicate Adiantum (Maidenhair) fern<br />

to such conditions, though. I love these<br />

little plants, but they are tricky and need<br />

humidity – sit them on a tray of damp<br />

gravel, mist at least twice a day. You<br />

probably won’t have time to show love<br />

to much else if you have one of these.<br />

If you are lucky enough to have a<br />

conservatory, or have south- or westfacing<br />

windowsills, then succulents,<br />

cacti and other desert-type plants will<br />

thrive. A favourite with students, because<br />

succulents don’t mind if you forget to<br />

water them, not that all students neglect<br />

plants (certainly not once they know<br />

how attractive plant-keeping might<br />

make them). Contrary to popular belief,<br />

they do need watering, mostly as they<br />

come into active growth in the spring<br />

– and they will even enjoy a summer<br />

holiday in the garden – just remember<br />

to bring them in again in the autumn.<br />

Something to love<br />

You might not be looking for a human<br />

companion right now, so the houseplants<br />

in your life could be there for your<br />

own pleasure. Most of us – even if it is<br />

buried deep – are nurturers by nature<br />

and watching a plant in your care grow<br />

and flourish is rewarding. It’s also much<br />

cheaper and less of a commitment than<br />

having a pet (I won’t say partner, but…)<br />

and, although a plant won’t necessarily<br />

show actual love to you in return, it will<br />

respond by unfurling a new leaf, bursting<br />

into bloom and generally looking healthy<br />

and well cared for. If you’re a gardener<br />

you’ll know this and most likely will be<br />

completely hooked into plant care already.<br />

Romantic houseplant gifts<br />

I know it’s traditional to give red roses<br />

at this time of the year, but roses don’t<br />

usually bloom in <strong>February</strong>. They will have<br />

been forced in an unromantic polytunnel,<br />

or flown in from a far flung field. Also,<br />

once cut and plonked in a vase, the only<br />

way is down and out onto the compost<br />

heap. A houseplant gift, however, chosen<br />

carefully to suit the recipient, could<br />

last a lifetime, or at least several weeks<br />

longer than a bunch of cut flowers.<br />

You don’t want to give something called<br />

‘Mother-in-law’s Tongue’ or a snake plant<br />

to someone, despite its indestructibility<br />

and ability to purify the air. There are<br />

more romantic looking and sounding<br />

gifts to try. Anthuriums, with their heartshaped<br />

spathes (a spathe is like a flower,<br />

only longer lasting) fittingly available<br />

in red, pink or white, look the part and<br />

with their elegant waxy leaves, are easy<br />

to care for too. Another plant with<br />

<br />

83 priceless-magazines.com


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HarrierGatesWT247.indd 1 31/10/2022 11:39


heart-shaped leaves is Ceropegia linearis subsp<br />

woodii, the silvery-leaved ‘String of Hearts’<br />

plant. This is a dainty looking little thing,<br />

trailing prettily out of a pot, but like<br />

many that appear delicate, it is tough,<br />

with wiry stems and a forgiving nature.<br />

Phalaenopsis, or the Moth orchid, is<br />

another that looks difficult to keep, but<br />

these exotic plants are also easy to look<br />

after – just water the container (they are<br />

epiphytic, so won’t need repotting into<br />

soil) occasionally and place somewhere<br />

bright, but out of direct sunlight.<br />

Easiest of all is a heart-leaved<br />

Philodendron. It is a trailing plant<br />

– occasionally made to climb up a<br />

damp mossy pole. As I might have<br />

hinted, I am a notorious houseplant<br />

murderer, but despite my best<br />

efforts to kill it, the Philodendron<br />

in my house has remained<br />

steadfast, coping with all sorts of<br />

extremes and managing to cling<br />

on in virtual abandonment for years.<br />

Beauty from houseplants<br />

Just being among plants in your house will<br />

make you more beautiful. They will be filtering<br />

toxins and reducing the drying effects of the<br />

central heating to ensure that your skin is<br />

kept moisturised and free from impurities.<br />

Peace lilies are especially good at air purifying,<br />

absorbing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and<br />

trichloroethylene and even eating mould spores.<br />

The gel-like sap of Aloe vera can even be<br />

directly applied to the skin and is very useful<br />

for soothing burns, cuts, and dry skin caused by<br />

harsh winter winds. Keep both of these plants in<br />

the bathroom and even if you don’t fancy rubbing<br />

your skin with Aloe sap, at least the Peace lily<br />

can be getting rid of mould in the shower.<br />

Love among the leaves<br />

It has long been known that plants enhance our indoor<br />

environments, help us to breathe, purify the air of toxins –<br />

and now it appears, they also help improve concentration<br />

and boost productivity. Plants in office situations are used<br />

to soften and beautify otherwise drab and business-like<br />

interiors. They have a multitude of beneficial properties,<br />

including improving our mood, so houseplants could<br />

definitely be an important part of a romantic setting, helping<br />

to relax – and perhaps even inspiring amorous thoughts.<br />

Who knew that owning houseplants could bring so many<br />

benefits? They could be all we need to spark joy and love in<br />

our homes and work spaces. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have<br />

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istockphoto.com/ Varvara Kurakina<br />

Patience is a<br />

Virtue<br />

Sue Whigham advises it’s worth taking your<br />

time to discover how your new garden<br />

grows as she contemplates the revamp of<br />

her son’s new outside space near Bath<br />

Having lived in a Brixton flat with a small but<br />

perfectly formed garden for a decade, my son<br />

and his wife made the big decision to move out of<br />

London last year. Over the years their garden had become<br />

absolutely full of mature plants, shrubs and a couple of trees.<br />

We hadn’t expected the olive tree to get so large to be honest<br />

or the crab apple to spread as it did. The latter might have<br />

been my mistake as I was going through a period of absolutely<br />

loving Malus transitoria which I still do – it’s a fabulous tree.<br />

The fences were painted a dark browny black which looked<br />

great draped with plants like the highly scented Trachleospermum<br />

jasminoides and R. ‘New Dawn’ and the raised beds filled up<br />

every summer with clouds of shrubby salvias and all manner<br />

of lovely things. There had been a large white hydrangea there<br />

when they arrived and we took half a dozen cuttings late last<br />

year, which seem to have taken and are now ready to grow on.<br />

And the raised beds, created using old railway sleepers<br />

which had begun to rot, had added interest as they became<br />

home to stag beetles who emerged into the garden in the<br />

summer to find a mate. It was wonderful to see them<br />

actually. The male has jaws which look like a stag’s antler,<br />

hence the name. And, like stags, they use their ‘antler’ jaws<br />

to fight other males for the females. London is apparently<br />

a national hotspot for stag beetles and considerable<br />

conservation work is being done to conserve their habitats.<br />

But despite having a tree-filled park a few streets away, the<br />

urge to have more space and fresh air worked its way to the<br />

top on the list of priorities. And having made an offer on the<br />

second house they viewed, the Brixton flat and its garden have<br />

been replaced by a property in a village just south of Bath. And<br />

what a journey that was with several months spent in Airbnb<br />

properties whilst the chain sorted itself out and fears that their<br />

mortgage provider would renege on their offer were resolved.<br />

So now they are the proud owners of a sloping (and boy, what<br />

a slope) garden of just under half an acre. Thankfully the area<br />

nearest to the house is quite big and, luckily, perfectly flat – but<br />

it is just getting there from where the cars are parked that<br />

is the problem. But perhaps one should not worry about<br />

that and just see it for the wonderful south facing views<br />

they have over rolling countryside. And of course the slope<br />

can be tamed one day with the help of a digger and some<br />

innovative landscaping. Project Number 20 most probably.<br />

So, picture a garden on a slope which has been well loved but<br />

is now in need of a bit of sorting out. Where do you start...<br />

I think the first thing to think of is not to rip everything out<br />

immediately. Wait until you have been there for a while and<br />

can see what appears in the spring that you like the look of.<br />

Also it’s an idea to check what sort of soil you have<br />

before planting anything. Have a look round to see what<br />

is thriving in other local gardens perhaps. In this case, the<br />

local houses, many of them listed, are built from local Bath<br />

Stone, an alkaline limestone. So no acid lovers here.<br />

Then think about the aspect of the garden. For instance<br />

the vegetable patch is not only on a slope at the back of the<br />

house but a good half of it gets a limited amount of sun –<br />

especially in the winter when the light levels are so low. It<br />

is pretty stony here too, but that’ll help with drainage. The<br />

weeds are happily growing away but as old carpets from the<br />

house have been ripped up already, some of them have been<br />

turned over to be used as weed suppressors. Luckily they were<br />

all fairly neutral colours so there haven’t been any comments<br />

from the village on their way to the pub next door.<br />

Something that might be worth doing whilst there is so<br />

much else to do in the garden would be to sow a green manure:<br />

a cover crop grown solely to improve the soil. The one that<br />

I would use would be Phacelia which, whilst acting as a soil<br />

improver, also looks very pretty with its blue flowers and the<br />

added bonus of being very attractive to beneficial insects. Actually,<br />

when you eventually dig the plant in to work its magic on<br />

the soil, it’s worth leaving a few clumps here and there for the<br />

insects. You can sow Phacelia from spring through to autumn<br />

and as it is particularly leafy, it helps prevent nutrients being<br />

leached out of the soil whilst also helping to smother weeds.<br />

The previous owners have left a few bits of this and that<br />

in this area. There’s rhubarb and Jerusalem artichokes up at<br />

the back – it is very hard to get rid of Jerusalem artichokes<br />

even if you wanted to – and surprisingly some of the herbs<br />

like sage and rosemary are perfectly happy even in quite<br />

a shady spot. I suppose the drainage suits them well.<br />

Don’t forget to take photographs of the borders as they are now.<br />

As nothing had been cut down in this garden, it has been quite<br />

easy to identify most things. I’m a great fan of the Picture This<br />

app. You have to pay for it but it seems to be better than most at<br />

identifying plants that you are having trouble recognising yourself.<br />

We’ve already spent a wet afternoon identifying umpteen exotic<br />

houseplants that have made the transition from South London<br />

to the West Country. Apparently there is a fabulous houseplant<br />

shop called Cornucopia somewhere on Streatham High Street<br />

which was difficult to walk past without being tempted. The<br />

border plants were easier to recognise without any problem but<br />

it’s obvious that some of them are either totally overgrown or <br />

87 priceless-magazines.com


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out of place. There are at least<br />

half a dozen mature hazelnut<br />

clumps. One or two have already<br />

been cut right back and any good<br />

stems stored away to use as pea and<br />

bean supports in the summer. I must<br />

say that the borders look better<br />

already and definitely less congested<br />

although seven huge plants are about<br />

five too many. A Lonicera nitida hedge<br />

has been pulled out as it was as good<br />

as dead and perfect for the basis of a first<br />

bonfire. Lonicera, if kept under control, it is<br />

a fast growing alternative hedging plant but<br />

it soon topples over if left to its own devices<br />

and becomes unwieldy and ugly. Give me<br />

a native hedge any day – think of the advantages for wildlife.<br />

An overgrown rambling rose has had dead wood taken out<br />

so far but, as it is growing just by the one and only seating area,<br />

it may be replaced unless it is particularly fragrant or beautiful.<br />

Bath Stone walls on one side of the garden aren’t improved by<br />

having a couple of very elderly tree peonies looking very tired<br />

and soggy leaning against them. There’s not much else there<br />

but what fun they’ll have ‘clothing’ this wall and perhaps doing<br />

away with the narrow border at its base. But as there are some<br />

bulbs poking through as we speak, there may be something there<br />

that is worth hanging on to, so it’s worth waiting to find out.<br />

And then we come to the buddleias. They really do self sow<br />

like mad. Think of all the ones we see from the train on the way<br />

into London. As they are a great source of nectar for butterflies,<br />

it is great to have one or two in a garden but perhaps where their<br />

height fits in with everything else. Cut them back in late <strong>February</strong>/<br />

early March so that they’ll be flowering as the butterflies emerge.<br />

There is a laurel hedge that hides the pub garden next door<br />

– the house is wedged between an ancient church on one side<br />

and an ancient pub on the other! The Packhorse Inn dates<br />

from circa 1498 but was rebuilt in the 17th century. It closed<br />

in 2012 when its owner intended to change it into flats. The<br />

villagers had other thoughts, managing to raise over a million<br />

pounds from 430 investors to buy back the pub. It reopened as<br />

a community pub four years later having been totally renovated.<br />

The garden alone took 1,000 hours of volunteer help to landscape<br />

and it seems that 25 tonnes of earth was shifted by hand!<br />

But back to the laurel hedge. Laurel is one of my least favourite<br />

plants and, as we know, is used as instant evergreen planting on<br />

new developments everywhere we turn. At the moment this one<br />

is too tall for its space, but bearing in mind that it is affording<br />

privacy from the pub garden, a couple of feet off the top in<br />

late spring will improve things – unless there are nesting birds<br />

in there which will mean that it can’t be touched until July.<br />

And finally, on wet or frosty days what better way is<br />

there to spend your time than peering through gardening<br />

catalogues and perhaps ordering a few dahlias and flowers<br />

for this season’s cutting garden. Have you seen the<br />

choice of cosmos there is now? So deliciously pretty.<br />

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810 457948<br />

for gardening advice and help in the sourcing<br />

and supply of interesting garden plants.<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

88<br />

Ashford&CranbrookRoofingWT248.indd 1 30/11/2022 17:50


ART & AUCTIONS<br />

Sat 28 Jan – Sun 12 Mar<br />

Mon-Sat (excluding Tuesdays)<br />

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KARL TERRY ‘ROOTED<br />

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AT RYE ART GALLERY<br />

Rye Art Gallery celebrates the<br />

painting career of plein air artist,<br />

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Having only started on this path<br />

following a chance encounter with<br />

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Entry: free<br />

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Tues 21 Feb<br />

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ROSEBERYS: FINE &<br />

DECORATIVE AUCTION<br />

Roseberys specialist fine art<br />

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is presenting two important<br />

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automatons and commercial toys<br />

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Their ingenious design and witty<br />

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key aspect of the history of toy<br />

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collection of European ceramics,<br />

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Sat 11 <strong>February</strong><br />

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PRUE LEITH – NOTHING<br />

IN MODERATION<br />

In Prue’s frank, revealing<br />

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Listings are correct at time of going<br />

to press but may be subject to change.<br />

Readers are advised to check with<br />

venues before making arrangements.<br />

We can list your event in the next<br />

issue of <strong>Surrey</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> for only<br />

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RNRMEnterprisesLimitedWT249.indd 1 13/01/<strong>2023</strong> 11:08


Jane Howard looks forward<br />

to welcoming the first of<br />

this year’s new arrivals<br />

It’s extraordinary how much<br />

lighter the evenings are now<br />

than they were at Christmas.<br />

I know that’s how it works but it’s<br />

always surprising and thrilling. And<br />

along with the first snowdrops and<br />

crocuses there’s also lots of new life about<br />

to arrive on the farm to get excited about.<br />

The bull went out with the cows last May and<br />

ran with them for a couple of months. We used<br />

to be much more relaxed about leaving him with the<br />

girls for a long lazy summer of love, but we learnt the<br />

hard way and found ourselves calving for months on<br />

end. Now he goes in in May and out by July, back to a<br />

bachelor existence, which means we will only be calving<br />

for a couple of months – quite long enough to be keeping<br />

a 24 hour vigil to make sure everything goes smoothly.<br />

All the cows were pregnancy tested in August and<br />

all that information is recorded in my<br />

Herdwatch app, so a quick glance at the<br />

phone and I can easily tell which order<br />

they will calve in. The first sign that a cow<br />

is going into labour is a hunched back<br />

and a tail held out at a strange angle –<br />

she looks and feels very uncomfortable.<br />

That might be all that happens for a few<br />

hours before the water bag appears and<br />

then, if all is well, a pair of hooves and<br />

a nose – an indication that everything<br />

is in the right position-- and it will be<br />

born without the need for assistance.<br />

But even then the job isn’t over.<br />

However deep and clean the bed of<br />

straw, a cow shed is far from hygienic,<br />

and the calf will need good immunity from the moment<br />

it arrives. This comes from the mother’s colostrum,<br />

the first thick milk that is stuffed with antibodies and<br />

in the first few hours they must consume at least two<br />

litres -- without which their future is precarious.<br />

So a few minutes after she’s given birth the cow<br />

needs to stand up and start vigorously licking<br />

her calf dry – it’s where the saying lick into shape<br />

comes from – and then start pushing it to get up<br />

and nudging it into position to find her udder.<br />

All the cows were<br />

pregnancy tested<br />

in August and all<br />

that information<br />

is recorded in my<br />

Herdwatch app, so a<br />

quick glance at the<br />

phone and I can easily<br />

tell which order they<br />

will calve in<br />

An older experienced cow will know exactly what<br />

needs to be done and she’ll encourage it every step of<br />

the way but sometimes the heifers (first time mums)<br />

are far from impressed by the effort of giving birth<br />

and see no good reason to pursue motherhood and<br />

its associated responsibilities any<br />

further, thank you very much.<br />

So imagine, it’s three in the morning<br />

you’ve pulled and tugged a healthy calf<br />

into the world, all is well and it’s time<br />

for a cup of tea. It’s sooo annoying then<br />

to return half an hour later to discover<br />

the wet, confused and shivering calf<br />

still lying where it was born while its<br />

mother is nonchalantly munching hay<br />

with the other cows with a ‘nothing<br />

to do with me’ attitude. Grrr.<br />

What then follows is an hour of catching<br />

the heifer and keeping her restrained<br />

behind a gate while trying to get a slippery,<br />

wet, heavy (about 40kg) calf to stand<br />

up and find the udder through the railings – and sorry,<br />

but the bull calves are always far lazier than the girls and<br />

would far sooner just expire! Frequently, in an attempt<br />

to squirt the milk into the calves mouth, everything –<br />

including me – gets covered in sticky yellow colostrum<br />

(though it’s apparently very good for the skin) and I<br />

wonder why I gave up the day job. But then eventually it<br />

happens and nothing, absolutely nothing, sounds better<br />

that an enthusiastic slurp slurp slurp with the heifer gently<br />

mooing encouragement to her new arrival. Happy days.<br />

Find out more about daily life at Coopers Farm by visiting coopersfarmstonegate.co.uk<br />

priceless-magazines.com<br />

90


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