Surrey Homes | SH99 | April 2023

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Home Consultation 

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Expert advice 

01483 577533

Contents 

April 2023 

46 

68 

65 

12 

23 

27 

30 

45 

46 

61 

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 

Dream homes on the market 

NOTEBOOK 

Upcoming events for your diary 

THE MUST LIST 

Keep up-to-date with the latest 

must-see and must-have goodies 

CREATURE COMFORTS 

A sensitive renovation 

that pays homage to the 

property’s former owners 

GET THE LOOK 

Learn how to sprinkle in 

antiques like Olya 

COOL-ON-SEA 

Explore a super groovy 

holiday let by the coast 

GET THE LOOK 

Try your hand at well-worn chic 

65 

66 

68 

76 

79 

81 

THE SIMPLE THINGS 

Shop jewellery with teeny 

attention to detail 

INTO THE WOODS 

Rebecca Cuffe edits fashion 

inspired by nature 

CHICK CHIC 

Atelier Chocolates’ Molly Davey 

creates sweet Easter treats 

QUENCHING BEAUTY 

Reverse the drying effect 

winter has on your hair 

and skin with Jo Fairley’s 

tried and tested products 

BODY MATTERS 

Sarah Maxwell explains how to 

reconnect with your own body 

in the first of a two-parter 

NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Charlotte Lau gives pointers 

on how to keep your 

toddler’s diet healthy 

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

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

Visit priceless-group.com Copyright © 2023 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the 

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

83 

84 

88 

90 

EDUCATION NEWS 

Keep up to date with the latest 

from schools across the south east 

PLAN OF ACTION 

Make sure your pensions is working 

for you with advice from the 

financial experts at Citrus and FAS 

WHAT’S ON? 

Find out... 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Jane Howard gets ready for 

the sleep-deprived highlight 

of her year – lambs! 

GARDENS 

SUPPLEMENT 

30 pages of the 

latest trends and 

expert advice to 

inspire and inform. 

After page 62. 

Gardens 

7

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Editor’s 

Letter 

Finally! Embrace all the joys of spring as the sun 

(hopefully) starts to shine and coaxes out a gorgeous array 

of April bulbs to brighten gardens across the south east. 

If you’re looking to beautify your garden, you’ve certainly come 

to the right place. This issue’s Supplement is positively packed 

with advice to help you plan and action planting schemes and 

choose stunning accessories and sculpture to create the ultimate 

outdoor retreat. Our expert horticulturalists Sue Whigham and 

Jo Arnell have been busy researching exotic veg and therapeutic 

gardens respectively and we’ve created a list of stunning 

gardens to visit and be inspired by over the coming months. 

Interiors-wise, we’ve photographed two wonderfully 

contrasting properties with unique touches that truly embody 

each owner’s sense of style. Explore James and Anna’s effortlessly 

cool Camber retreat and see how interior designer Olya 

Lammas has tackled a renovation project with the utmost 

sensitivity to preserve the previous owners’ cherished library. 

We’ve had lots of fun putting together our food feature, 

paying a visit to talented chocolatier Molly Davey who 

showed us how to use a few technical tricks to create 

wonderful Easter treats for children and adults alike. 

Check out her irresistible recipes from page 74. 

In health news, Sarah Maxwell stresses the importance of 

learning to read the signals our bodies give us and Charlotte 

Lau goes on a quest to improve toddler diets. Plus, stock 

up on Jo Fairley’s hero products to restore your skin and 

hair to tip-top condition after the rigours of winter. 

Enjoy your Surrey Homes! 

Wealden Times & Surrey Homes Team 

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

Supplements & Features Editor ...................................................Rebecca Cuffe 

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

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

Lisa Gordon-Hughes 

Senior Account Managers ............................................................... Maria Hurley 

Sarah Norwood 

Sales & Marketing Executive ..............................................................Zoe Parrish 

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

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

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

Events Sales Director ......................................................................... Jude Brown 

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

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

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CurtainCallWT251.indd 1 07/03/2023 11:58

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Find your copy 

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest 

distributor of Surrey Homes or to get free copies 

delivered for a year for just £25 postage 

Thomas Thomas 

Mansfield 

The Family The Law Family Solicitors Law Solicitors 

12,000 copies of Surrey Homes are printed every month. 

We are available in the following outlets and are the only 

local magazine available at key commuter stations. 

If you have any questions re our distribution please contact 

Rachel Norrie – Distribution Manager 

rachel.norrie@priceless-group.com 

Ashtead 

• Patrick Gardner 

Bagshott 

• Howlands 

Estate Agents 

• Longacres Nursery 

Banstead 

• King of Cotton 

Betchworth 

• Buckland Deli 

• The Community 

Shop 

Bookham 


Bramley 

• Bramley Beds 

Buckland 

• Buckland Nurseries 

Camberley 

• Romans 

Cheam 

• Cook 

Chelsham 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Chobham 

• Melita 

• Pasha 

Claygate 

• Trew Art 

Cobham 

• Cobham Furniture 

• Fego Café 

• Oh So Coco 

Cranleigh 

• Notcutts 

• Roger Coupe 

Dorking 

• Dorking Travel 


• Princess Alice 

Hospice 

• Sainsbury’s 

Epsom 

• Mayfield Lavender 

Nursery & Shop 


Esher 

• Sandown Park 

Racecourse 

Farnham 

• Cook 

• ME Estate Agents 


• Waterstones 

Felbridge 

• Doves Barn Nursery 

Godalming 

• Cook 


• Sarah Louise Dix 


Godstone 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Guildford 

• BoConcept 

• Elm Nursery 

Farm Shop 

• Loaf 

• Neptune 

• Nuffield Gym 

Haslemere 

• Lythe Hill 

Hotel & Spa 

• Tesco Superstore 

Knaphill 


Leatherhead 


• Robert Leech 

& Partners 

Lingfield 


Lyne 

• The Farm Shop Lyne 

Milford 

• Secretts 

Old Oxted 

• Fish Plaice & Grill 

Oxted 

• Cook 

• Jackson-Stops 

& Staff 

• Limpsfield Stores 

• Morrisons 


Oxshott 

• The Bear 

Redhill 

• Priory Farm 

Reigate 

• County Clothes 


• RDO Kitchens 

Ripley 

• Ripley Nurseries 

Farm Shop 

• The Talbot 

Surbiton 


Walton on Thames 



Warlingham 

• Botley Hill 

Farmhouse 

• Rayners Estate 

Agents 

West Byfleet 

• Roman Tiles 

Weybridge 

• Tesco Extra 

Woldingham 

• Fine & Country 

STATIONS: 

• Dorking 

• East Grinstead 

• Epsom 

• Esher 

• Guildford 

• Haslemere 

• Kingston 

• Redhill 

• Richmond 

• Surbiton 

• Weybridge 

• Wimbledon 

• Woking 

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Separation & Divorce • Finances 

Children • Mediation • Cohabitation 

Prenuptial Agreements • Estate Planning 


ThomasMansfieldWT251-(Family Law)-SURREY.indd 1 16/03/2023 15:37

House 

Month 

of the 

£3,750,000 

Damien Pestell picks his favourite 

homes on the market 

Hersham/ 

Walton 

The dream: A striking 

contemporary home idyllically 

nestled on the banks of the 

meandering River Mole. 

This south-facing property 

offers ultra-modern living, all 

arranged over three luminous 

floors. If that wasn’t enough 

there’s even a leisure complex 

with an indoor pool. 

Where: A few minutes’ drive 

from Esher in one direction or 

Hersham Village in the other. 

Setting: Walking distance 

from the picturesque West 

End village green with its 

very own duck pond. 

Beds: 5 Baths: 5 

Special features: The stunning 

master suite enjoys glorious 

views across the gardens towards 

the river, while doors open 

out onto a dreamy balcony. 

Pleasing details: The study 

is an ideal size for those 

working from home. 

Outside: The secluded gardens 

of about an acre are a true 

delight. The expansive lawn area 

is surrounded by a selection 

of evergreens, shrubs and 

mature surrounds, providing 

seclusion and privacy. 

Time to town: From 

Hersham station, five 

minutes away, to London 

Waterloo in 23 minutes. 

Agent: Curchods 

01932 247777 curchods.com 

priceless-magazines.com 

12

Guildford 

£2,500,000 

The dream: A handsome family home 

in the heart of the Surrey Hills AONB 

with far reaching views toward the North 

Downs. With extensive grounds including 

tennis courts and a swimming pool, 

this property is ready for modernising 

and would make a fantastic project. 

Where: The historic village of Gomshall 

nestled at the foot of the North Downs and 

within easy reach of Dorking and Guildford. 

Setting: Tucked away down a semi rural 

country lane, in a delightfully tranquil location 

surrounded by its beautiful grounds. 

Beds: 6 Baths: 2 

Special features: The fantastic dining room 

is a great space for entertaining and enjoying 

family meals the old fashioned way. 

Pleasing details: Lovely period 

details throughout. 

Outside: Set in spacious gardens and 

grounds of nearly seven acres including 

a handy triple garage and paddocks. 

Time to town: From Guildford station, eight 

miles away, to London in just 37 minutes. 

Agent: House Partnership 

01483 266700 housepartnership.co.uk 

Cranleigh 

£2,000,000 

The dream: A unique barn conversion, 

modernised to make the most of its fantastic 

location, with single-story dwelling throughout 

and handy additional accommodation. Perfect for 

multi-generational living or an additional income. 

Where: Just 3 miles outside of Cranleigh, 

within the Surrey Hills AONB. 

Setting: Tucked away down a private 

drive, surrounded by country lanes with 

far reaching views to Hascombe Hill. 

Beds: 1 + 1 Baths: 2 + 1 

Special features: The voluminous living 

space has log cabin vibes and double aspect 

glazing which fills the room with light 

and offers direct access to the garden. 

Pleasing details: The marvellous sitting/dining 

room includes a bar and fantastic stone fireplace. 

Outside: The beautiful gardens stretch 

to just over 2 acres, with uninterrupted 

views across rolling countryside. 

Time to town: From Guildford train 

station, a 20 minute drive away, to 

London Waterloo in just 35 minutes. 

Agent: House Partnership 

01483 266700 housepartnership.co.uk 

13 priceless-magazines.com

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01306 230 047 

FINAL APARTMENTS REMAINING 



lifestory.group/rentnow 

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

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. March 2023.

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More retirees than ever are choosing 

to rent because they want flexibility 

and a better quality of life. 

People are living longer and looking 

to prioritise their health and wellbeing… 

and stay independent. 

Leading 

the way 

in retirement 

rental living 

Why buy? 

When you can rent. 

Before you jump to buy… explore Birchgrove. 

We specialise in building high-quality, assisted 

living apartments – solely to rent – on an assured 

tenancy basis, giving you the same level of security 

as home ownership. There are no service charges, 

or exit fees. You simply pay an all-inclusive rent 

(see below) and a one-off joining fee. 

If you’d like to be part of a social community with 

extensive communal facilities and good transport links, 

we’d love to hear from you... 

Scan the code, visit the website, or call to find out more: 

www.birchgrove.life 

020 3929 5599 

What’s included: 

Electricity 

Water 

Heating 

Broadband & WiFi 

Line rental & telephone calls 

(some exclusions apply) 

Buildings insurance 

General maintenance 

(plumbing, appliance repair, gardening etc) 

Housekeeping (one hour per week) 

Window cleaning (exteriors) 

Security 

Events calendar 

Group exercise session 

 

Handyman 

Additional costs: Our monthly rent makes it much easier to 

forecastanyoutgoingswhicharenotincludedinyourrent. 

For example: council tax, contents insurance, TV licence, 

food (weekly meal plans are available from the restaurant 

to help you plan your food costs) and any leisure activities 

that are not part of our events calendar. 

Queensgate 

Apartments 

Sidcup, Kent 

Woodbank 

Apartments 

Hook Heath, Woking 

Lower Mill 

Apartments 

Ewell Village, Surrey

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

Why buy? 

When you could rent 

The UK is fast becoming a 

rental market – especially for 

retirees. Renting in retirement 

is becoming more and more 

popular because it offers all the benefits 

of independent living without any of 

the stress of owning a house. Not only 

is there no need for stamp duty costs or 

legal fees when you move in, but you 

can also wave goodbye to those day-today 

maintenance commitments, like 

building repairs and mowing your lawn. 

At Birchgrove our high-quality assisted 

living apartments are solely for rent 

– no pressure to buy once you move 

in. There are no lengthy contracts or 

confusing small print. If you rent at 

Birchgrove, you only need to give two 

months’ notice should you wish to leave. 

This is how confident we are that you 

will love your move to Birchgrove. 

Our modern apartments are offered 

with assured tenancies (for those 

making Birchgrove their main home), 

and people appreciate both the 

security and flexibility this provides. 

This agreement entitles you to stay in 

your home for as long as you wish - 

should you choose - without any fear of 

being turned out. It also provides security 

of tenure - the same level of security as 

home ownership, but without the hassle.* 

(Subject to terms and conditions). 

The current concern impacting most 

households is the rising cost of living. 

Prices for energy, food, water, and 

household goods are rocketing. At 

Birchgrove, you don’t have any of the 

headaches or hassles associated with 

the above. This is because we have one 

inclusive rent to give you complete 

control of your expenditure. 

The Birchgrove rental model covers the 

large-ticket expenses like energy costs 

- electricity, heating and water - and 

many of the rising incidental costs that 

go along with owning your own home 

eg housekeeping, broadband, window 

cleaning, gardening, buildings insurance, 

security and a whole host of other things. 

We don’t charge service charges, nor 

do we charge exit fees. All you pay is 

the rent and a one-off joining fee. 

Resident Jan, 84, relays why 

she moved to Birchgrove: 

“When I was considering moving to 

a retirement village, it was to buy. 

I didn’t know any different as most 

places I knew were to buy. I’d not 

really heard about renting before. 

“When I found Birchgrove and 

discovered it was to rent, I spoke to my 

daughter and she thought it a much 

better idea. It’s much easier and you 

don’t have the problem of your family 

having to sell something when you go. 

My life is so much more enjoyable.” 

For more information about living 

at a Birchgrove retirement community, 

contact the team. Call 020 3929 5599 

or visit www.birchgrove.life


REDESIGNING WHAT 

IT MEANS TO RENT 

Smarter Rent co-founder, Alex Sullivan, on disrupting the rental 

market to benefit both renters and buy-to-let owners: 

How it works for existing 

buy-to-let owners 

If you’re an existing landlord, your 

property might work for Smarter Rent. 

We only let out exceptional properties 

in the best area, however. We have a 

rigorous vetting process, turning down 

nine out of 10 prospective homes. 

Why renters love what we do 

We don’t call our renters our clients 

because they pay a little more for an 

outstanding rental experience. 

Our contracts are flexible, from one week 

to 36 months and can be extended easily. 

Our homes are perfectly set up. The rent 

might be higher, but you won’t need to buy 

towels, teaspoons, furniture or anything else. 

Better still, we’re on call every day roundthe-clock 

to sort out any problems. 

At Smarter Rent we offer 

beautiful homes on terms 

that are flexible for renters 

and ensure high returns 

and occupancy rates for their owners. 

We do this by taking on properties in 

the right locations, fitting them out 

and providing outstanding service. 

Identifying the problem 

Almost half of the population of 

private renters in the UK are 35+ and 

40% will rent for the rest of their lives. 

They are likely to have children, pets 

and to want gardens and parking. 

Meanwhile, changes in law are putting 

a financial squeeze on landlords, while 

a lack of supply is pushing up rents. 

We want to solve both these problems 

by delivering better service both for 

property owners and renters. 

How it works for investors 

If you’re looking for a buy-to-let but don’t 

have the time to source the best possible 

investment, that’s where we come in. 

Everything we do is informed by data and 

expertise. We interior design the home and 

fit it out with every detail, from high-quality 

bed linen to kitchens bursting with utensils. 

Why owners love Smarter Rent 

We’ve honed every detail to create 

fantastic homes our clients feel 

are worth every penny. 

Our results-driven business shows that 

owners who are willing to meet high 

standards, offer good maintenance and 

fair contracts can make excellent returns. 

We organise everything. There may be 

upfront costs, but we ensure occupancy 

rates of over 95% and rental yields 

of 9.07% – that’s almost three times 

the UK average yield of 3.63%. 

Looking for a superb rental home 

or want to invest in a buy-to-let 

that will get you high returns? 

Talk to Smarter Rent, the independent 

property experts based in Surrey. 

0207 5509396 

alex@smarterrent.co 

www.smarterrent.co

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GoodlifeLodgeCoWT242.indd 1 07/06/2022 09:28 

PLOT OR NOT? 

If you think your land or 

property has development 

potential, then give us 

a call without obligation 

and in confidence. 

We are always on 

the lookout for 

land and property 

with development 

potential. 

Many of our 

clients retain our 

services and, in the 

majority of cases, 

pay our fees saving 

property owners 

R LAND AND significant PROPERTY costs. WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL 

Commercial buildings for residential 

conversion, former public houses, redundant 

buildings for redevelopment, buildings for 

conversion or replacement, houses for 

improvement, large sites on the edge of town, 

barn conversions, large gardens in residential 

areas and major regeneration projects. 

the majority of 

ignificant costs. 

blic houses, redundant 

replacement, houses 

nversions, large 

ects. 

Contact Stephen Donnelly on 

07739 514350 or 01892 579937 

website: sjd-projects.com 

email: steve@sjd-projects.com 

For more information contact 

Stephen Donnelly on: 

07739 514350 / 01892 579937 

steve@sjd-projects.com 

For regular updates, visit us at 

twitter.com/projects 

sjd-projects.com 


SJDprojectsWT245.indd 1 08/09/2022 12:04

What makes the Wealden Times 

Beautiful surroundings 

Come to shop, but stay for the day and explore the 

beautiful grounds of Hole Park Gardens. The ticket 

price includes entry to the 200-acre parkland and 

the colourful gardens which enjoy far-reaching views 

over the hills, woods and fields of the picturesque 

Kentish Weald. 

Handpicked exhibitors 

The fairs team have been busy curating the perfect 

mix of exhibitors to ensure there’s something for 

everyone. Browse the marquees, shopping avenues 

and countless gazebos and meet the people behind 

the brands to find special pieces you’d struggle to 

find on the high street. From fabulous fashion to 

inspiring interiors and heavenly homewares, see the 

full exhibitor list at wealdentimes-fair.co.uk and 

start planning your day! 

Don’t miss the 

bluebells at 

Hole Park from 

1st April. See 

holepark.com 

for more info 

Delicious street food 

After a busy day shopping, head to the Bloom Stays 

Garden Room and treat yourself to a delicious 

coffee and slice of cake or make your way down 

to the street food vans for a tasty lunch or sit 

down with friends and enjoy a glass of bubbles 

whilst taking in the views of the beautiful Kent 

countryside.

Tickets on 

sale now for this 

fabulous day out, 

the gardens at Hole 

Park and 

car parking 

included 

Fair a great shopping day out 

Live entertainment 

Head to the Deck Chair Zone where on 

Thursday and Friday you can find live 

performances from local prep school 

choirs and on Saturday you can enjoy 

Cranbrook Town Band who will be 

playing a selection of well-known songs 

with their signature brass band twist. 

Four-legged friends 

Here at the Wealden Times, we love our fourlegged 

friends and it just wouldn’t be the 

Midsummer Fair without them. Well-behaved 

dogs on leads are permitted (even encouraged) 

and if you’re lucky your pooch may be papped 

and end up in the July issue of the mag! 

For more info and to book tickets 

visit wealdentimes-fair.co.uk 

Wealden Times 

Midsummer 

Fa i r 

8-10 JUNE 2023

YOUR NEW 

ESSENTIAL GUIDE 

OUT NOW! 

Available from more than 300 

locations across Surrey and SW 

London, the April – June Going Out 

in Epsom Guide will be available 

to pick up from late March. 

With comprehensive day by day 

listings of everything that is 

going on in and around Epsom, 

it’s an essential handy guide 

to hang on to. They are 

popular so if you can’t track 

one down, download it from 

www.goepsom.com 

EPSOM 

GOING OUT 

GUIDE 

APRIL — JUNE 2023

Notebook 

Upcoming dates for your diary 

Craft Show 

Drink in Summertime 

Celebrating its 40-year anniversary, visit 

the Weald of Kent Country Craft Show 

at Penshurst Place, Tonbridge from 29 

April to 1 May and discover over 150 

independent and artisan stalls. Explore 

large marquees showcasing handmade 

jewellery, homeware, art, fashion, 

accessories, artisan food and drink and 

more – lovingly created by specialist 

craftspeople. Enjoy delicious street food 

from selected caterers whilst soaking up 

the stunning surroundings. A mix of 

enjoyable activities and entertainment 

also await – from laser clay shooting, a 

falconry display and live musicians to 

children’s rides, workshops and more! 

thecraftshows.co.uk/ 

istockphoto.com/ Mykata Dolmatov / vectobplusb / Naddiya / Evgeniya Sheydt 

The ideal day out for wine-lovers... Immerse yourself (please 

not literally) in English wine at the Wine Garden of England 

Summer Celebration at the absolutely beautiful Balfour 

Winery on Saturday, 10th June. Seven wine producers from 

Kent will be showing their produce, and you’ll have the 

opportunity to taste wine from each of them as part 

of your ticket price. Balfour Winery, Biddenden 

Vineyards, Chapel Down, Gusbourne, Simpsons, 

Squerryes and Westwell Wines make up the super 

seven and you’ll have the opportunity to meet 

the people behind the wines, and learn more 

about why Kent is such a fast growing wine 

region. You can also book a vineyard tour, a 

winery tour and a masterclass with Kent’s very 

own Master of Wine, Clive Barlow. There’ll 

be live music and a choice of delicious locally 

produced food too. We recommend you leave your 

car at home and take advantage of the free shuttle 

from Marden Station. Tickets are just £20 each, 

and can be bought from winegardenofengland.co.uk 

Good Sense 

Ramsgate Through 

the Senses is returning to 

celebrate World Earth Day 

on April 21st – 23rd with a 

programme that taps into the 

five senses to inspire the mind, 

body and spirit. The weekend 

will feature immersive wild food 

experiences, local wine and beer 

tutored tastings, bespoke wildlife 

tours, creative workshops as well 

as rejuvenating therapies. 

You can find out more 

and book tickets at 

ramsgatethroughthesenses.org

Notebook 

Dine in 

Style 

The Restaurant at Hammond’s, Oxted’s new wine 

bar, is now open. You’ll find it upstairs in the 1920s 

building, luxurious and comfortable with a distinct 

Art Deco style – a great place to celebrate a special 

occasion or to meet up with friends. Choose from 

a five-course tasting menu, changed monthly to 

use the best of the available local seasonal produce. 

Head chef Tommy Morris with a background 

including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and The 

Old Bank, Westerham, brings classic French 

cooking techniques to a modern British menu. 

hammondswinebar.co.uk. 

Grow a Pear! 

The hardy perennials at The Garden Shows 

are getting ready to bring a plethora of plants, 

garden furniture, artisan designs, homeware 

products, sundries, fashion accessories and the 

most delicious country foods to your garden 

and home. Good garden advice, talks and 

walks with plenty of family entertainment. 

Make a bee line for Firle Place from 21st-23rd 

April. Tickets and info at thegardenshows.com 

Walk 

in the 

Park 

The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden will be opening 

its gates for the 2023 exhibition on Saturday 1st April. A 

thoughtful exhibition of contemporary sculpture in a wide 

variety of styles and materials is placed in harmony with the 

lush surroundings of the Sculpture Garden. Set in an ancient 

woodland valley, broadleaves and architectural planting provide 

a dramatic backdrop for the art on display. Head to the 

Indoor Gallery, tucked amongst the trees, to purchase smaller 

sculptures and decorative objects. Booking is essential. 

hannahpescharsculpture.com 

Hot Tickets 

Book your seats now for The Bee 

Keeper of Aleppo at Richmond 

Theatre on 2nd-6th May. This 

compassionate and beautiful 

play is a story of connection – 

between friends, families, and 

strangers. Moving, powerful, 

compassionate and beautifully 

written, witness a testament to 

the triumph of the human spirit. 

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CROWNING GLORY 

Head to Ightham Mote for 3 days of festivities during 

the Coronation Celebration Weekend. From Saturday 

6 May to Monday 8 May join the free trail counting 

the crowns hidden around the garden. And on Sunday 

7 May take your picnic along to the North Lawn to 

listen to the East Peckham Silver Band celebrate the 

coronation with a mix of classical and modern tunes. The 

garden party continues on Monday 8 with the Tonbridge 

Rock Choir on the North Lawn. Bring a picnic, enjoy 

the sunshine and join in a sing-song to celebrate the 

coronation! nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/ightham-mote 


24

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For a delicious and easy dinner, we love a COOK meal! They 

are all about the kind of food a great cook would create at home 

– so expect farm-fresh ingredients and hand-prepared meals that 

taste homemade. For a spring treat we’ve got our eye on this 

Beef Wellington for two (£22). Cook straight out of the freezer 

for 55 minutes for a nice touch of pink and serve with a simple 

homemade red wine jus and a couple of COOK’s sides. Order a 

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your home with 

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spring, Fenwick & Tilbrook’s 

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yet adorable look. layeredlounge.com 

must 

The 

From must-sees to must-buys and 

must-dos, don’t miss this month’s 

round up of what to buy, see, do, 

and generally get excited about! 

New luxury wellness space, The 

Nest is like a little piece of LA 

or Hawaii that’s popped up in 

a small village near Sevenoaks. 

They offer everything from 

traditional holistic treatments 

to cold water therapy and 

empowering fitness classes. Visit 

them to boost your wellbeing 

with a sound bath, massage, 

or one of many options for 

new and soon-to-be mums. 

This is a place with a caring 

community vibe and a holistic 

approach at heart. thenest.health 

It looks like a chocolate egg, 

right? But it is a tipple or two 

more. Inside this decadent and 

deceptive glass bottle, is an 

indulgent alcoholic chocolate cream 

liqueur made from the finest cocoa, 

vanilla and real cream. It’s super rich and 

chocolatey, and makes Easter feel fun, 

silly and sweet again! Find it at Harvey 

Nichols or Amazon for £29. Cheers! 

As the sun comes out to 

play again, head to 

Whitstable for this 

real treat of a 

Kentish bistro just metres 

from the sea. Samphire 

is rustic, relaxed and 

dedicated to local 

ingredients, their seafood 

is unsuprisingly spectacular 

as are meats from the charcoal 

grill and desserts like this rhubarb 

baked Alaska. samphirewhitstable.co.uk 

Time to update the wardrobe 

with a fresh bit of zing for 

spring? Sugarhill Brighton’s 

new collection is full of bright 

sun dresses, fun florals, and 

punchy prints. For example, 

this £52 A-line ‘Zora’ skirt. 

Super flattering and versatile. 

sugarhillbrighton.com 

Andrew Hayes Watkins 

Try stargazing in the dunes of 

Camber Sands on Saturday 15 

April from 9pm to 10:45pm. The 

Gallivant is holding an inspiring evening 

with the help of Pete from Night Sky 

Tours UK and his handcrafted telescope. 

With Venus entering the Pleiades, the 

seven sisters will be shining and waiting 

above the dunes to be discovered. You’ll 

get a warming drink, and can add a 

2 course before or after if you like for 

£25. And it’s for a good cause! Since the 

lovely Pete is donating his time for free, 

the price is just £10-20, which will go to 

Blood Cancer UK. thegallivant.co.uk 


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Comforts 

Olya Lammas’ sensitive renovation of a manor 

house’s former lodge has been a passion 

project for the interior designer, whose warm 

welcome ensures a steady stream of family 

and friends to fuel her love of entertaining 

It’s not unusual for an interior designer to use an 

item or architectural feature as a starting point 

for their decorative scheme. When this item is 

a fitted library, built by the former homeowner 

and associated with a wartime story of survival 

and valour, it adds a whole new dimension and 

set of challenges. How the designer responds 

30

to such challenges says a lot about 

them too – and it’s clear from the start 

that Olya Lammas cares about much 

more than just bricks and mortar. 

“We kept in touch with the previous 

owner, Genevieve, whose husband Peter 

sadly passed away before we bought 

Words: Jennifer Stuart-Smith 

Photographs: David Merewether 

Styling: Emily Pavey 

the house,” says Olya. “He was a very 

humble man but a polymath… who 

was excellent in languages, science 

and finance… as well as being one of 

the youngest commandos during the 

Second World War.” We are sitting 

in the library – his former office – as 

Olya tells me this and it’s hard not to 

share her emotion. “He was caught 

up in a battle and left to die but was 

found by an elderly woman who 

alerted the British army that he was 

still breathing. They saved him. He 

took a long time to recover… and one 

of his arms was permanently damaged.” 

Despite his injuries, Peter built 

the library shelving that is still at 

the heart of this striking home on 

the edge of Tunbridge Wells. “His 

wife Genevieve understood that we 

were going to do a lot of work to the 

house but her one request was that 

we didn’t take out Peter’s library,” 

says Olya. “So, the shelving was my 

starting point – and I wanted to keep 

a sense of warmth and cosiness, of 

sitting here with a cognac in your 

hand, as Peter might have done. It’s 

the perfect place to read a book, 

watch TV or lounge with the dogs.” 

‘The dogs’ – suitably elegant 

whippets called Bunny and Alfie – are 

very much a part of this beautifully 

refurbished home and nowhere is out 

of bounds. “The whippets are allowed 

to go wherever they want,” says Olya, 

a point that is highlighted by Alfie’s 

penchant for lying on the living room 

table alongside a 400-year-old urn. 

“He obviously thinks it matches the 

colour of his coat,” laughs Olya. 

This sense of informality and relaxed 

comfort is one of the first things you 

notice as you walk into the enticing 

kitchen. “I knew we would use this 

room a lot as a family, and with friends 

who just pop in when they’re passing 

– I love it. I cook every evening, so 

they know there will be nice food 

and wine to drink!” Enormous sash 

windows allow light to pour into 

this huge room as well as providing 

the perfect view over the garden. “I 

didn’t want formality. I wanted joy, 

laughter, wine flowing… cooking 

alongside our guests,” says Olya. 

She also had a much more 

straightforward prompt for her 

decorative scheme than in the library. 

“The plates started the kitchen. I found 

them in Avignon, France about five 

years ago. I knew one day I would start 

a colour scheme with them; there’s 

something happy about it,” says Olya. 

Bespoke mustardy-yellow kitchen 

units are a refreshing change to 


Previous pages: The kitchen may be grand in proportion, 

but oozes a lived-in sense of homeliness This page: Olya 

has clad one wall of the hallway with antique glass mirror 

panels, making the space feel open and airy 

the dark grey, dark blue and sombre hues one often sees 

in modern kitchens, though Olya says that some of her 

friends were initially doubtful of her choice: “Some of 

them said: ‘What, a yellow kitchen?! You must be joking!’” 

The table is a reclaimed refectory-style affair that can 

easily handle the demands of family life while the chairs 

are mid-century modern, Scandinavian and from Lots 

Road in London. “They were expensive,” says Olya, before 

pointing out that she is by no means tied to the high-end 

shops and markets. “I know where to go, where to buy 

and how to re-use things. I know lots of designers who 

have to buy everything from Lots Road or Chelsea Design 

Centre but re-using things makes more financial sense.” 

The antique display cabinet and leaded glass doors 

by which you enter the kitchen are a case in point. 

“The doors I found in a reclamation yard. I loved 

the old wood and the lead. They influenced my 

positioning – and widening – of the entrance into the 

kitchen.” The room is grand and striking yet homely 

too. Underfloor heating adds to the cosiness. 

Nextdoor to the kitchen is the former dining room – 

with a huge bay window looking out over the garden. 

Also to the surprise of her friends, Olya decided to do 


32

This page: Outside the kitchen, the 

hall is home to a striking painting that 

Olya bought in Alfies Antique Market 

in London; the downstairs loo is tiled 

in iridescent pink tiles, with more 

antique mirror glass mounted on the 

wall behind the basin 

away with the dining room and in 

its place create a utility room to die 

for. “I wanted to walk in – and yes 

it’s a utility room – but I wanted 

to enjoy being in here. There’s a 

beautiful view from the window, 

so when you’re ironing, it doesn’t 

feel so much of a chore.” Too right. 

Fabric-fronted cupboards hide any 

household clutter and there is a large 

sink and shelving area that Olya’s 

son teases her is like something 

from a Five Guys restaurant. 

“I need space for my vases, as I love 

having flowers in the house,” she says. 

“I also installed a fireplace which 

I found in a reclamation yard… 

because, why not?!” It is purely an 

aesthetic feature – with no chimney 

or potential for a fire – but serves as 

a focal point with ample space on 

the mantelpiece for two enormous 

oriental lamps and an ornate mirror. 

We cross a hallway that is filled 

with natural light, en route to the 

living room. “The mirrored wall 

panels make a big difference,” says 

Olya. “And look, if you stand here, 

you get that wonderful view of the 

garden reflected.” What could feel 

like a tall narrow space feels open 

and airy. At night the hallway takes 

on a wholly different and luxurious 

feel thanks to light sconces that 

came from the Dorchester Hotel: “I 

bought those from an auction, when 

the hotel was being refurbished,” 

says Olya. By day, they are simply 

a stunning decorative feature. 

By contrast, the living room 

embraces a lack of light. “This room 

is all about being a quiet space,” says 

Olya. “It’s so super-dark, I decided 

to embrace the darkness.” Olya has 

achieved this by covering the walls 

in a midnight blue ‘grass cloth’ by 

Phillip Jeffries. “I had these two 

paintings, which I bought in Antwerp 

for our last house. They were my 

starting point.” The paintings 


This page: Peter’s library has been 

carefully decorated to preserve 

the bookshelves that he built 

called Japanese Warriors – by an artistfriend 

of Salvador Dali – are a dramatic 

feature on either side of the fireplace. 

“They give out this energy and I feel 

very protected in this room,” says Olya. 

It’s really refreshing to find a living room 

with no television – not even a tiny one. 

“For me, living rooms are for conversations 

with your friends, drinking wine in the 

evenings, listening to music… or playing 

with your dogs, on the sofas. It’s not for 

watching TV,” says Olya. There is also 

plenty of opportunity to enjoy the décor 


34

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36 

ShardSolutionsWT248.indd 1 28/11/2022 14:29

This page: Olya has designed the living room to be a quiet and cosy space, opting for deep navies to embrace 

the fact that there’s less light here. The walls are covered in a midnight blue ‘grass cloth’ by Phillip Jeffries 

when not watching TV – Ethiopian 

woven ‘ID cards’ across one entire wall, 

lamps from the Avignon antiques fair – 

with William Yeoward grass lampshades 

– and a collection of interesting 

ceramics. One in particular, is a 

favourite of Olya’s. “I love this horse 

– it’s Moroccan but came from the 

south of France – and this is my secret 

place where I sometimes hide little 

pieces of chocolate or sweets.” Turkishpattern 

cushions add another cultural 

twist and sit atop two enormous 

sofas, cleverly upholstered with the 

whippets in mind: “Two whippets 

with muddy paws! They are outdoor 

fabrics, so they are wipe-clean.” Olya 

is unashamedly practical as well as 

loving the design-side of interiors. 

We head back out into the light 

of the hallway and up the long, wide 

staircase to the upstairs landing. The 

landing perfectly links the upstairs 

bedrooms, family bathroom as well 

as providing a ‘thinking space’ for 

Olya, who has a sofa overlooking the 

tile-hung manor house nextdoor. 

First stop is the super-cosy spare 

room, with deep carpets, lush Warner 

House wallpaper and sash windows 

down to floor level. “When our 

friends come down from London, 

they think we live in the country,” says 

Olya, with a chuckle. “So, I wanted 

to create a country-house bedroom.” 

The wallpaper was the starting point, 

of which Olya had second thoughts, 

before deciding to run with it. “I 

needed to bring warmth into this 

room, otherwise it’s just a bit dark. But 

not with yellow. More with pattern.” 

An enormous wardrobe is the perfect 

grand accessory. “I kept hold of this 

for years and wasn’t sure how or where 

I was going to use it… but for £130, 

you can’t go too wrong. And now I 

love it, it’s perfect for this room – and 

it’s full of my fabrics.” She proceeds 

to show us some stunning samples, 

from Uzbekistan, Africa and elsewhere. 

The cornices, ceiling rose and ornate 

mirror – all reinstated by Olya – give 

back the period charm to this striking 

room, which looks out over woodland. 

Nextdoor is the family bathroom 

– greatly enlarged from the tiny 

room that was here before. “It just 

didn’t work,” says Olya, “so I had 

to work hard to regain the space.” 

Sleek, tiled niches are both practical 

and minimalist – while a reclaimed 

marble double-basin is the ultimate 

luxury touch. “This was £250 from 

the Wadhurst reclamation yard, then 

a wonderful company, Clay Barnes 

from Stone of Destiny, restored the 

marble and glued it all back together 

for me.” The cabinets underneath 

were put together by Smithers & 


This page: Olya turned the old dining room into a 

well-planned utility room. Fabric-fronted cupboards 

hide household clutter and there is a large sink and 

shelving area alongside plenty of storage. Olya added 

the antique fire surround as a decorative touch 

Sons, using cupboards from the former owner’s home-classroom. 

The room design started with the butterfly picture. “I bought 

it a long time ago from an art fair. In our last house it was above 

a bench in the hallway. I love it and I knew I was going to use 

it again.” Then Olya found a stunning black-painted oriental 

cupboard and the black, white and gold colour scheme was set. 

The lights are by Jim Lawrence, as are many of the handles and 

other features around the house. “I use a lot of Jim Lawrence,” 

says Olya. A vintage kimono basket completes the look. 

For a house with such large rooms, the master bedroom is 

cosy but by no means cramped. “It is small for a reason – as 

we have a separate dressing room – and I prefer it this way,” 

says Olya. “If you can have a dressing room then you don’t 

need to fill the bedroom with wardrobes and storage space. 

It’s for sleeping, reading – cuddling with your whippets!” She 

always knew that this particular room – with a view out over 

the large back garden – was going to be their bedroom. 

“I treasure this Chinese rice-paper print, which I had in the 

previous house but the overall design scheme started with the 


38

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Top left & right: The master bedroom’s design scheme started with 

the screen at the top of the bed, from Yiju Antiques in Tunbridge 

Wells. The room itself was reduced in size to accommodate a dressing 

room Above: The delicate wallpaper in the en suite bathroom is by 

Colefax & Fowler and the sleek units are from West One Bathrooms 

screen at the top of the bed,” says Olya. 

The oriental-look side tables are by Oka, 

but work perfectly with the genuine 

antiques, such as the prints and screen. 

The lampshades, perhaps less predictably, 

are William Morris fabric. “All the artists 

and designers were influenced by one 

another and by oriental art – so it works 

together.” The lamp bases are by Pooky, 

another of Olya’s go-to online brands, 

while the large French mirror came 

from Olya and Phil’s previous house. “I 

positioned it at the foot of the bed to 

reflect the Japanese screen, after all, what’s 

the point of having the beautiful screen 

behind the bed, if you can’t see it?” 

As well as having a dressing room, there 

is a divine en suite. “I wanted to have 

both masculinity and femininity in this 

room,” says Olya. The delicate wallpaper 

is by Colefax & Fowler and contrasts 

perfectly with the rather masculine, glitzy 

Italian units from West One Bathrooms. 

By contrast, the tiles are more earthy. “I 

wanted natural, kind of an unfinished 

look with the tiles, which reminds me 

of clay.” Olya’s black and white theme 

continues but, as ever, is softened by 

creams, golds and more earthy tones, 


40

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Top left & right: The spare room 

features deep carpets, Warner House 

wallpaper and sash windows down to 

floor level Below left & right: The 

family bathroom’s design started with 

the butterfly picture. A reclaimed 

marble double-basin was found 

at Wadhurst reclamation yard 

luxury – and a ‘little black book’ to 

die for. It’s very tempting just to sit 

down in the dressing room and have 

a little sniff of the toiletries… but 

there’s a coffee waiting downstairs 

and whippets to meet. This really 

is a most homely of homes. 

as seen elsewhere in the house. “I link 

it all together with paintings I buy for 

absolutely no money – then re-frame 

to bring out the best in them.” 

Perhaps, leaving Olya’s signature 

till last, it’s time to see the dressing 

room. This womb-like space of soft 

plaster-coloured pink is tranquil and 

beyond tidy. Automatic lights greet us 

as we walk in. So, what is the texture 

on the cupboards? “I found the vinyls 

I wanted – called ‘Shagreen’ by Arte 

after its resemblance to shark skin – 

then matched this with hammered 

metal handles to complement the 

texture,” says Olya. In the centre of 

the room is an upholstered dressing 

room bench. “This I am very proud 

of… It’s the first piece of furniture 

I have designed and was made by 

my furniture-maker friend.” 

This last item and its creation, nicely 

sums up Olya’s approach: wonderfully 

practical with more than a bit of 

Address Book: 

Find out more about Olya’s company, 

A House to Love, at ahousetolove.co.uk 

Beyond Joinery beyondjoinery.co.uk 

Mandarin Stone mandarinstone.com 

Smithers & Sons wsmithers.co.uk 

Space to Make space2make.co.uk 

Stone of Destiny 

stoneofdestinydesign.co.uk 

West One Bathrooms 

westonebathroomsonline.com 

William Campbell 

williamcampbellframes.com 

Yiju Antiques Instagram @yijuantiques 


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Cool-on-sea 

A Rye-based couple have succeeded in 

turning an aesthetically challenged 1980s 

bungalow into the coolest beach house 


46

Words: Maggie Alderson 

Photographs: David Merewether, 

external shots by Bloom Stays 

Styling: Holly Levett 


YES, IT’S A 

CRYING SHAME… 

…that she left it too late to apply for Hurtwood House, 

because it’s simply the best for acting, dancing, 

singing, film-making – “A utopia for creative minds” – 

as the Good Schools Guide says. 

And crucially, this exciting school is equally successful 

academically. In fact, it’s statistically one of the top 

co-ed boarding schools in the UK. 

So, if you’re looking for a really exciting and rewarding 

change of school at 16 – don’t leave it too late. 

Contact Cosmo Jackson or visit our website for more 

information. 

T: 01483 279000 E: info@hurtwood.net 

hurtwoodhouse.com

Previous pages: The linear kitchen runs sleekly down one side of the capacious living space. The mixed-up tiles are by Emery & Cie 

Above: The two side walls are clad with horizontal wooden planks, created from old potato crates that were processed to joinery standards 

The outside of this building 

is so unprepossessing, you’d 

hardly notice it, strolling 

along the sandy track that leads 

from the main road through the 

village of Camber, to the soft golden 

dunes of the famous beach. 

It looks rather like an oversized 

garden shed. But down one side 

there’s a bright yellow door and once 

you step through it, you do a double 

take. Is this really the inside of that 

outside? Or have I stepped through a 

wrinkle in the space-time continuum? 

Tardis hardly does is justice. 

The generous space within 

appears even bigger because of 

a vaulted ceiling, painted black 

so the rafters disappear, and the 

square dimensions – which are 

quite unusual in a house – add to a 

sense of being somewhere special. 

Possibly by a beach in Montauk, 

New York, in the shack of the 

coolest surfer dude. Stoked, bro. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, because 

owners Anna Carloss and James Carver 

are familiar with that part of the 

world, among many others from their 

extensive travels, all of which seem 

to have come home to this house – 

not least in the wonderful black and 

white landscape photographs taken 

by James, of which more, later. 

But first, how did they create such 

a generous space from a building that 

looks so squat titchy from the other 

side? “We knocked the middle of 

the house down,” says James, as we 

sit at the long dining table, next to 

the linear kitchen that runs sleekly 

down the left-hand wall of the living 

space. Strictly no wall cupboards, or 

shelves, just a run of fabulous mixedup 

Emery & Cie Belgian tiles. 

“Then,” continues Anna, “we 

expanded it laterally, adding a 

wing on each side of the original 

structure. We put on a pitched roof, 

but with no ceiling, so it’s vaulted, 

creating a big open space.” 

Which describes the outline of 

this build – and also how this couple 

work together, pretty seamlessly, after 

doing six house projects together. 

Their first outside London, 16 years 

ago, was a country house in Peasmarsh, 

part of which was also the prototype 

for what has become their signature 

– black-painted exterior walls. 

I wrote about the second of their 

chic black houses, situated in a lovely 

spot by the river in Rye, for this 

magazine some years ago, and they are 

currently in the process of remodelling 

their latest family home nearby. That 

one has been painted ‘anthracite’. “It’s 

the new black,” says James, laughing. 

The difference between those houses 

and the one we’re sitting in (which 

looks great painted in the old black), 

is that it was bought specifically to 

be reimagined as a holiday rental. 

“We wanted to create a cool place to 

rent out,” says James. “A premium 

rental, for a discerning market.” 

And where better for a full sea/ 

sand and (hopefully) sun reboot, 


Above left: The interior blends the warm tones and textures of natural materials with mid-century furniture, art and objects 

from the couple’s travels Above right: The back wall is clad in corrugated iron, which was reclaimed from an old barn 

than a house within less than 100 

metres of one of the south coast’s most 

famous beaches? “If you grow up in 

south London, as I did,” says James, 

“Camber Sands was the beach…” 

And raising two sons in Rye, it 

became part of their family life. “We 

used to come over with our dog when 

the boys were small,” says Anna, “and 

when friends visit from London it’s 

always a good place to gravitate to.” 

So while they knew it was the 

perfect location for a beach house 

rental, the challenge was to find the 

right property to buy, one that was 

properly raw with potential that might 

not be apparent to most people. A 

lucky tip off from a friend let them 

know that this bungalow, then ugly 

red brick and deeply unappealing, was 

about to come up for sale, before it 

went on the open market. Perfect. 

You would think the next stage 

would be a flurry of spreadsheets, 

swatches and planning, but that’s not 

how the Carloss-Carver team works. 

“There are no mood boards, no formal 

plans,” says James. “We enjoy the 

creative process of making something 

interesting. We expressed ourselves, 

what we like, what we’re interested 

in, what we already owned – and it 

became beautiful, almost incidentally.” 

“The work divides naturally,” says 

Anna. “James sees the big picture, 

the 3D end result, whereas I’m 

more involved with the details, 

like the tiles, the lighting, the soft 

furnishings. We’re a good team and 

we have good people to work with.” 

Sitting at the table, taking in the 

space as a complete whole – the 

warm tones and textures of natural 

materials, the mix of sleek mid-century 

furniture with rustic, sporty with arty 

– it just all looks so right together, 

it’s quite something to know it has 

all just ‘fallen into place’ this way. 

So what is it all and where 

did it come from? 

The two side walls are clad with 

horizontal wooden planks, which 

greatly add to the cosy cabin 

atmosphere of the place, but don’t look 

like the scaffolding boards which are 

the more common go-to for creative 

renovation. “They’re old potato crates,” 

says James. “Power washed and finished 

to joinery standards. We came up with 

this solution when we were building 

a cabin annexe at our old house. We 

had to be creative, because if you go 

to a reclamation yard you get one 

batch of planks and we needed a big 

supply so it would all match up.” 

And match up it does – perfectly 

across the two doors (into a bathroom 

and a utility room/pantry) on the 

opposite wall from the kitchen, so you 

don’t immediately know they’re there. 

A detail which adds to the sense of 

unbroken space in the living area. 


50

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ThomasMansfieldWT251-(Private Law)-SURREY.indd 1 16/03/2023 SitSmartWT248.indd 14:58 

1 16/12/2022 11:03 

52

Above: The bedrooms off the living area are wood-lined 

to continue the cosy cabin atmosphere and accessorised 

with American-style alpaca blankets on the beds 

Right: A spiral staircase leads up to a small 

snug – a great hideaway for children 

The back wall, in contrast, is clad in rusty, 

old corrugated iron, hung vertically – and also 

from an agricultural source. “It was a barn 

roof,” says James. “I bought it from a farmer. 

He was going to pay someone else to take it 

away and I bought it, so it was good for him. 

I like bringing outdoor things indoors.” 

This theme continues in some of the many 

interesting decorative objects scattered through 

the space – snowboards and a large fibreglass 

barracuda, close to an anatomical print of a fish. 

The main pieces of furniture in the sitting area 

reflects James and Anna’s love of sophisticated 

mid-century furniture, with a classic sideboard and 

a leather L-shaped sofa – both eBay bargains. 

That was also the source of the eight old school 

chairs round the French farmhouse dining table 

(found at Sideshow Interiors in St Leonards), both 

of which reflect their other fondness – for old 

pieces of functional furniture, with character. 

In a similar vein, wooden crates that were used 

to transport laboratory glass are used as side 


This page: Striking black and white photographs of landscapes, 

taken by James, feature a single word overprinted on them. 

These are from his mindfulness project Now Be Present 

tables and bookshelves. Above these, on the back wall, is a 

painting sourced on their travels, this time to Bali, while 

on the floor opposite it is a statue they found in India. 

Also reflecting their travels are the striking black and 

white photographs of landscapes, taken by James, in 

settings as far afield as Argentina and Arizona – each 

of them with a single word overprinted on it, such 

as a seascape with NOW in large white letters. 

These are from James’ mindfulness project Now Be 

Present, a range of everyday items, including phone cases, 

journals and cards, as well as the photographic prints, 

featuring 35 different word/image combinations. “They are 

designed to be prompts for mindful living,” he explains. 

“I’ve developed the idea with a friend. The idea is that the 

words and images combined have a positive impact – being 

a reminder about the importance of living in the moment. 

“It’s based on research in neuroscience, about 

the power of living with emotive words. They are a 

subconscious reminder of where to put your focus, 

enjoying the process, living in the moment.” 

Which sounds like a very good thing – and I’m sure just 

 


54

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“There are no 

mood boards, 

no formal plans. 

We enjoy the 

creative process 

of making 

something 

interesting. 

We expressed 

ourselves, what 

we like, what 

we’re interested 

in, what we 

already owned 

– and it became 

beautiful, almost 

incidentally.” 

This page: White, 

almost shell-like, 

Moroccan Zellige 

tiles offer a lovely 

contrast to the worn 

wood panelling in one 

of the bathrooms 

spending time in this special space 

would help with all round wellbeing 

too. There is room for six people to do 

that, with bedrooms off the living area 

– wood-lined and with the cosy cabin 

atmosphere emphasised with Americanstyle 

alpaca blankets on the bed. 

The walls are decorated with quirky 

bits and pieces in the Carloss-Carver 

style, gathered hither and yon, such 

as a framed ‘Welcome to Florida’ 

t-shirt and an old sign from a former 

carpark, that used to be around the 

corner from the house. “We wanted 

it to be homely, cosy,” says Anna. 

“Cabin-like, relaxing and comfortable.” 

“Nicely presented,” adds James, “but 

not precious, carefully considered.” 

This balance is clear in the en suite 

wet room off one of the bedrooms – 

with another bathroom a very witty 

identical ‘mirror image’ of it, with 

exactly the same Moroccan Zellige 

tiles, large shower head and black 

ceiling. It’s a very simple idea which 

raises the bar for the whole place – and 

something I’ve never seen before. 

Heading outside, the garden is 

decked with the same scaffolding 

floorboards as the living room – 

Anna bought 500 of them “from a 

bloke in Gravesend” – there isn’t a 

break, they just go from inside to 

outside. Which is perfect, because 

this walled courtyard is another kind 

of living room, with one of those 


This page: Another bedroom is painted in sunny yellow and offers a very comfortable space to stay with plenty of room 

brilliant French outdoor table tennis tables, by 

Cornilleau, a hot tub, outdoor sofas and a dining 

table with chairs by Philippe Starck. Gravelled 

beds house bee-friendly, drought-resistant 

plants. In short, a summer holiday paradise. 

There’s also an outdoor shower, which you can 

access straight from the beach, via a side gate 

– a very good plan, because Camber basically 

is sand. Although James is adamant that this 

is a practical beach house. “I have a huge issue 

when people want you to take your shoes off 

when you come into a house. With scaffolding 

board floors like these, you can tramp sand and 

mud in here and hoover it up when it’s dry.” 

Back inside we head to the final bedroom, 

with another shot of the bright yellow first 

seen on the front door, with the walls painted 

in a bold sunflower. “We originally painted 

it black,” says Anna, “but it was too much. 

It took about 35 coats to cover it…” 

Behind the bed, a screen of potato-crate 

planks conceals shelves and hanging space on 

 


58

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CranleighBathroomStudiosWT241.indd 1 20/05/2022 16:26

Above left & right: The old funfair sign was found in St Leonards Outside: 

James decked the garden with the same scaffolding floorboards as the living 

room – there isn’t a break, they just go from inside to outside. Guests can 

enjoy using the table tennis tables, outdoor shower, hot tub, and pizza oven 

each side and there’s a well worn-in 

leather sofa at the foot of it, with 

a Saarinen coffee table James has 

had since before he met Anna. 

The shower room here continues 

the wood theme of walls and 

floors, plus two more crates to 

provide flat surface space. 

On the wall outside the bathroom 

is an old funfair sign, found in a longgone 

St Leonards shop. It says, in a 

characteristically curly font: ‘If you 

wish, save your wins for larger prizes’. 

I would say just staying a few nights 

in this very special beach house would 

be a pretty good prize in itself. 

Address Book: 

To book at stay at Lark Rise, visit 

bloomstays.com/property/lark-rise 

Find out more about NOW. Be Present. 

at nowbepresent.com 


60

Get the 

LOOK 

1 Athenian Black paint £26.95/l Annie Sloan anniesloan.com 2 Mullan Aneho cluster pendant light £204.99 Made to 

Last made-to-last.co.uk 3 BoCoCa azure painted waterfall wood tiles £43.95/m 2 Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk 

4 Adanna wall art £290 Sweetpea & Willow sweetpeaandwillow.com 5 Windsor multi patterned tiles £24.95/m 2 Tile 

Mountain tilemountain.co.uk 6 Buxton mango wood TV unit £249.99 VonHaus vonhaus.com 7 Sloane sofa from 

£1,886 Darlings of Chelsea darlingsofchelsea.co.uk 8 Old farmhouse oak rustic wide plank floor £63.91/m 2 The Wood 

Flooring Co thewoodflooringco.com 9 Grey Persian faux cowhide rug £688 Mineheart mineheart.com 


Flower Power 

Shop Wealden Times Midsummer Fair’s charming 

selection of botanically inspired gifts and accessories 

1. Ornametal UK 

2. Sarah Stoker 

3. Alicemae Vintage 

4. Infiniti Fashion 

6. Low Wood Nursery 

5. Sofas & Stuff 

Join us from 

8th-10th June 

Hole Park Gardens, Rolvenden 

7. AllÓRA 

1. Ornametal UK handcrafts steel garden sculptures and homewares – orna-metaluk.co.uk 2. Sarah Stoker Designs creates 

artwork and ceramics inspired by her countryside walks, capturing the colours and light that nature provides – sarahstoker.co.uk 

3. Alicemae Vintage combines the old with the new, curating vintage and artisan home interiors, clothes and accessories for an 

individual style – Instagram @alicemaevintage 4. Infiniti-fashion is the perfect choice for artificial plants and flowers which are 

beautiful and realistic (no one would know they are artificial!) – etsy.com/uk/shop/ChicLondonByMay 5. Sofas & Stuff’s handmade 

British furniture features fabric designed in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Victoria and 

Albert Museum (V&A) – sofasandstuff.com 6. Low Wood Nursery has a beautiful selection of plants, climbers, perennial, shrubs 

and much more – Instagram @lowwoodnursery 7. AllÓRA showcases a collection of one-of-a-kind Italian handprinted and 

handpainted linen tablecloths, throws, cushions, bed sets and bath towels – allorashop.com 

From fabulous fashion to inspiring interiors and gorgeous garden goodies, 

see the full exhibitor list and to buy your tickets, 

visit wealdentimes-fair.co.uk and start planning your day!

Gardens

• Automation and installation 

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• Supply-and-fit service for fully 

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• Brick piers 

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• Driveway alterations 

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HarrierGatesWT247.indd 1 

Bourne Buildings 

31/10/2022 11:39 

THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK WITH OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 

5,000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY 

Set in a magical landscape of water and wildlife, Bourne Buildings is 

not your typical garden buildings showsite. 

Well known for its vast selection of garden buildings and expert 

advice, Bourne Buildings offer standard, as well as made-to-order 

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

Our complete range of services include product installation, base 

laying and a re-felting service. 

Visit our showsite to see an impressive array of stone ornaments, 

including eye-catching armillary. 

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

• 60 Sheds 

• 60 Summer houses 

• 35 Playhouses 

• 35 Greenhouses 

• 20 Garden Offices & Garden Rooms 

• 8 Garages 

Opening Hours 

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

CLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAYS 

01252 718481 

sales@bournebuildings.co.uk 

www.bournebuildings.co.uk 

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


BourneBuildingsWT251.indd 1 03/03/2023 12:19 

2

13 29 

Contents 

27 

5 

22 

5 VIVA MAGENTA 

2023's colour of the year is 

perfect for garden entertaining 

7 SPACE TO HEAL 

Jo Arnell branches out into 

therapeutic gardens 

13 GIMME MORE 

Have some fun with maximalist 

outdoor decor 

15 THE WELLBEING GARDEN 

Local experts share 

top tips on how to make 

your garden a sanctuary 

to improve wellbeing 

17 WEIRD & WONDERFUL 

Explore a world of 

delightfully unusual fruit 

and veg with Sue Whigham 

22 NOT-SO-SECRET 

GARDENS 

We've rounded up five 

must-see gardens in the South 

East to visit, explore and inspire 

27 ARTISTIC FLAIR 

A gallery of art guaranteed 

to add interest and creative 

style to your outdoor space 

29 GREECE IS THE WORD 

How to bring Mediterranean 

inspired gardening to the UK 

30 THE MORE YOU GROW 

Courses and workshops for 

those looking to develop 

their gardening skills 

27 

5 

17 

THINKING ABOUT HAVING A CLEAR OUT? 

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Visit our website for more information and prices 

YOUR LOCAL SUPPLIER OF 

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GardenscapeWT248.indd 1 30/11/2022 11:16 

Bespoke design & build treehouses, playhouses 

Bespoke design 

and elevated build treehouses, 

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Commercial & 

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commissions welcomed 

Commercial International commissions welcomed 

13 

TEL: 01403 262219 

www.cheekymonkeytreehouses.co.uk 

www.cheekymonkeytreehouses.co.uk 

CheekyMonkeyWT249.indd 1 24/01/2023 17:06 


Is your garden ready for summer? 

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sizes, fertilisers, feeds, garden tools and much more 

Find us at: 

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CapitalGardensLtdWT251.indd 1 16/03/2023 14:13 

rhs.org.uk/wisley 

Inspiration seekers, 

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4

Gardens Supplement sponsored by 

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VIVA MAGENTA 

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Acrylic wine Goblet 

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Lavaux glass goblets 

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Cirsium rivulare 

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Bean Place Nursery 

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Ceratostigma 

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Spare part jumbo peach 

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Sorbet spun bamboo 

salad bowl £8 

Honey Bee Home 

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Charlie charcoal oven 

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Cheeky Charlie 

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Hellebore HGC Ice 

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Golden Valley Plants 

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Walter rechargeable table lamp 

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garden design, construction & maintenance 


6


Space to Heal 

Jo Arnell explores the 

undisputed health benefits 

of therapeutic gardens 

istockphoto.com/ nancykennedy / chris-mueller / dropStock / PaulMaguire 

Research has shown – and 

most gardeners can 

testify, that gardening 

is good for us. More and more 

hospitals, homes for the disabled 

and rehabilitation centres are 

installing therapeutic gardens. 

The NHS is even prescribing 

gardening, especially in a 

community setting, to help 

treat anxiety and depression. 

We’ve known since the earliest 

of times that being in a green 

space brings a sense of wellbeing 

and that connection to nature 

is a vital part of our existence. 

Down through history we’ve 

created sanctuaries for healing 

and restoration – places where 

plants became central to the 

health of the community. 

Monastic physic gardens 

were common in the middle 

ages, not just for growing 

medicinal herbs – where they 

were used to treat a huge range 

of ailments – but for people to 

visit and benefit from just being 

within the gardens. Indeed 

Florence Nightingale wrote in 

her book Notes on Nursing 

that visual connections to 

nature, views through the 

window, or just flowers 

by the bedside helped the 

recovery of patients. 

Therapy gardens can be 

used in hospital settings, 

for recuperation, respite, 

outdoor physiotherapy 

and as places for people 

to practice therapeutic 

horticulture – actively 

participating in growing 

both ornamental plants and 

edible crops. These days 

healing gardens are multidimensional, 

multi-sensory 

and are often a vital part of 

a patient’s rehabilitation. 

Ideas behind healing 

spaces can be used, both 

in our own gardens and in 

public parks – to help us 

escape from our everyday 

stresses and the pressures 

of work, releasing us from 

stuffy indoor environments, 

dull offices and stultifying 

urban landscapes. A garden 

is meant to be a relaxing 

place, somewhere to sit and 

unwind, but with a little 

thought and some simple 

additions it can become 

so much more than that. 

Designing a 

therapeutic garden 

Depending on how large the 

space is, it can be divided 

into different zones to 

allow for a range of uses. 

It might be that a secluded 

quiet space is needed away 

from the main garden – an 

area for contemplation 

and solitude, for private 

conversations, or dealing 

with bad news. A separate, 

but more open communal 

area is useful for visits, group 

activities and recreation. 

Paths through and around 

the garden should be 

easy to navigate and wide 

enough for a wheelchair, 

although there could also 

be places where substrates 

vary – perhaps paths of soft 

bark in a woodland situation, 

lawns or paths mown through 

a meadow or a patch of long 

grass where people could walk 

barefoot, even cobbles or stones, 

(especially if there’s a handrail 

nearby) to encourage confidence 

in walking over uneven surfaces. 

Even in a small space there 

could be a rich variety of 

experiences on offer – after all, 

a garden is a place of immersion 

where all the senses are engaged. 

Installing a water feature is 

one of the best additions, as 

the sight, sound and even the 

touch of water is soothing 

(unless you’re like me and being 

near trickling water makes 

you run for the nearest loo). 

Water is wonderful for 

encouraging wildlife too. A 

pond is the absolute best thing 

you can do to attract a range of 

species – and this in itself adds 

a whole new dimension to the 

garden experience. Watching 

wildlife is fascinating and 

knowing that wild creatures are 

benefitting from something 


It’s important to engage 

more than one sense in 

the garden, so a range 

of plants that engage 

and immerse all the 

senses – touch, smell, 

hearing, even taste – 

will bring greater depth 

to the experience of 

being in the garden 

you’ve provided for them is 

rewarding and uplifting. If 

safety is an issue, then a small 

water feature comprising a 

reservoir of water, pump and 

a pipe through a drilled stone, 

or small fountain of some kind 

will be almost as good. A bird 

bath or a shallow container 

of water (provided it’s kept 

clean) will bring in plenty 

of insects and birds, even 

small mammals – just make 

sure that the sides aren’t too 

steep and that creatures can 

easily escape if they fall in. 

Warmth from the sun is 

beneficial in small amounts, but 

shade from the heat of a sunny 

day during the summer months 

will ensure that the garden can 

be safely used all year round. 

Shade can be temporary in the 

form of parasols and awnings, 

or from more permanent 

installations like arbours, trellis 

and pergolas. The most natural 

thing to do would be to plant a 

tree or two and thereby create 

a canopy of dappled shade. 

Colour is a big mood 

enhancer, and, as mentioned, 

if you are wanting to create a 

calm environment, the most 

soothing and refreshing colour 

is green. Using different shades 

of green, adding in textures, 

different leaf shapes and sizes 

enhances the experience. 

Green plants of various heights 

can be used to create a 

canopied and layered effect, 

mimicking how they would 

grow in nature. Bright, bold 

colours work best in sunny 

situations – they make 

us cheerful and have an 

invigorating effect, but can 

also become overwhelming, 

so use sparingly in a 

therapeutic environment. 

Cool pastels – blues, mauves, 

pinks and shades of white 

and cream are harmonising 

and calming. Pale flowers 

are often beautifully scented 

too, which adds to the 

experience, especially if 

they are used near ‘nose 

height' – in raised beds, 

or try scented climbing 

plants and taller shrubs. 

The plants to grow 

While green plants are 

beneficial to health and 

wellbeing, it’s important to 

engage more than one sense 

in the garden, so a range 

of plants that engage and 

immerse all the senses – 

touch, smell, hearing, even 

taste will bring greater depth 

to the experience of being in 

the garden. Sensory gardens 

have become very popular 

and are a gentle way to 

engage all the senses, because 

they exist within the calming 

environment of a garden, 

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Paths should be easy 

to navigate and wide 

enough for a wheelchair, 

although there could also 

be places where substrates 

vary to encourage 

confidence in walking 

over uneven surfaces 

making them particularly useful 

in situations where sensory 

overload could be a problem. 

Seasonality is an important 

aspect to consider. It’s good to 

grow a varied range of plants 

that will be at their best at 

different times of the year, 

thereby encouraging the garden 

to be used, when practical, 

through the colder months too. 

Perennial herbs such as 

lavender, rosemary, thyme and 

sage have aromatic leaves as well 

as flowers, so can be used all 

year round. They are also easily 

grown in pots, so can be moved 

around or even brought indoors 

in winter. These are attractive, 

scented and edible, but will 

need to be grown in freedrawing 

soil in a sunny spot. 

Include tactile leaves on 

plants like Stachys (lambs’ 

ears), Stipa tenuissima (Mexican 

feather-grass) and the bark of 

some trees – Acer griseum with 

its flaky, peeling ‘cinnamon’ 

bark and Prunus serrula, 

which also has peeling bark, 

just as tactile as the acer, but 

as smooth and shiny as 

a freshly fallen conker. 

Plants that evoke 

memories, or help with 

recall – the scent of tomatoes 

say, the sight of poppies in 

a patch of meadow, or the 

sound of rustling beech 

leaves – are very useful in 

dementia care settings, where 

sensory experiences can 

trigger thought processes and 

help people to remember or 

have feelings of recognition 

and familiarity. Our sense 

of smell is directly linked to 

our limbic system and the 

deeper parts of the brain, 

so is particularly evocative. 

Gardening as 

therapy 

The act of gardening itself is 

therapeutic – and it doesn’t 

have to be strenuous to be 

life-enhancing. Just touching 

earth and being near to the 

ground will improve your 

mood, as there is a bacteria 

in the soil that causes our 

bodies to release serotonin. 

Planting, sowing seeds, 

feeding and watering plants 

brings purpose and reward 

– even a little bit of light 

weeding will give results and 

show achievement. Social 

therapeutic horticulture 

is extremely beneficial 

in fostering engagement, 

communication and 

active involvement 

around gardening tasks, 

not to mention useful 

practical skills. 

It is a transformative 

activity and there are now 

many therapeutic gardens 

and places to practice 


throughout the country. 

It is used in a wide variety 

of settings – helping with 

recovery from illness or 

trauma, with rehabilitation 

and developing skills and 

independence, even slowing 

down the rate of some 

degenerative illnesses. 

Our connection with 

nature is instinctive – 

humans have a deep-seated 

Plants that evoke 

memories, or help with 

recall – the scent of 

tomatoes say – are very 

useful in dementia 

care settings, where 

sensory experiences 

can help people to 

remember or have 

feelings of recognition 

and familiarity 

need to be near to green spaces 

and to feel that we are part of 

the natural world. Therapeutic 

gardens help to bring that 

environment a little closer – to 

act as a serene bridge between 

the man-made and the wild 

spaces, a horticultural half-way 

house of hope and healing. 

Therapy gardens that I love: 

Thrive, Battersea 

Park, London SW11 

thrive.org.uk 

The Therapy 

Garden, Normandy, 

Surrey thetherapygarden.org 

Horatio’s Garden 

horatiosgarden.org.uk 

The Gardening4health 

Directory provides 

a list of social and 


activities and organisations 

gardening4health.co.uk 


10


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Owning an outdoor swimming pool is one of the most rewarding 

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ALUKOV offers a solution where you can benefit of having an 

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is retractable swimming pool enclosure. The gliding system allows 

you to slide the whole structure off the swimming pool with ease 

and change an outdoor pool into indoor. This way you have the 

best of both worlds. There are many additional benefits of having 

enclosed swimming pool. The structure stops debris, grass, leaves, pine 

needles, insects etc. falling into the pool therefore less maintenance, 

less chemicals, no waste of heat energy stored in the water from 

the sun or heater, security, prevention of accidental falls and most 

importantly extended swimming season. Having ALUKOV enclosure 

means you may swim when you want. 

ALUKOV has very wide choice of styles, shapes and heights to choose 

from. The most popular is full height enclosure where you can stand up 

in. If you prefer an enclosure which will not obstruct the views we can 

offer you a low version (you can still swim underneath). 

Enjoy a swim all year round by adding a telescopic swimming pool 

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For a free site visit call office on 0118 909 98 44 or mobile 07557 668906. More information www.alukov.co.uk.

Moroccan souk 

blue round 

outdoor rug £40 

Talking Tables 

talkingtables.co.uk 


Lemon leaf outdoor 


BeanBagBazaar 

beanbagbazaar.co.uk 

Morisot Parasol £315 

Sweetpea & Willow 

sweetpeaandwillow.com 

Gimme 

MORE 

Colour, pattern, shape, glamour and above all style. 

We want more in our outdoor spaces and we want it now! 

Firefly portable table lamp 

lotus £320 Micucci Interiors 

micucci.co.uk 

Bystander Magazine 

Canadian Pacific deckchair 

£150 We Love Cushions 

welovecushions.co.uk 

Murtoli indoor outdoor 

sofa chaise Ligne Roset 

ligne-roset.com 

“Contemporary gardens are transforming into 

sumptuous extensions of our indoor living 

spaces. Outdoor living rooms with luxurious 

seating are perfect to entertain or simply lounge. 

Add plush cushioned furnishings, side tables, 

and rugs underfoot for opulent comfort, along 

with wood burners, chimineas or fire bowls 

to gather round to keep warm and delight 

in the dancing flames when the sun sets.” 

– Chris James, General Manager / Landscape 

Designer at Graduate Landscapes 

Tiles painted 

using a Painswick 

tile stencil £7.60 

The Stencil Studio 

thestencilstudio.com 

Made with 

Holkham outdoor 

fabric £35/m 

Warner House 

warner-house.com 

600mm Stainless steel fire 

pit cooking set £1,470 

The Woodee thewoodee.com 

Exotic birds water resistant 

seat pads £34.99 (set of two) 

Celina Digby celinadigby.co.uk 

Wisteria rechargeable lamp £195 with Teal 

English Meadow empire shade by Matthew 

Williamson £115 Pooky pooky.com 

Tavolo fire table in 

rosé from £5,090 

Solus Decor 

solusdecor.co.uk 


Find out more about Chris’ work at 

graduatelandscapes.co.uk and find your local 

Grovewell Garden Centre in Tenterden, Canterbury, 

Folkestone or Hamstreet grovewellgc.co.uk 

“Design a space hidden away to 

retreat from the main social areas 

where calm and serenity can be 

discovered. There’s nothing more 

enticing than taking a dip in a 

sparkling clear natural pool.” – Chris 

James, General Manager / Landscape 



Weybridge garden with a 

pool and paved brick steps 

by Graduate Landscapes 

graduatelandscapes.co.uk 

Yoga studio Pinnacle 

garden room POA 

Green Retreats 

greenretreats.co.uk 

“Herbs add wonderful fragrance to 

help us unwind and engage with 

nature. Plant prostrate rosemary 

in tall pots to cascade over the 

edge or creeping thyme in patio 

crevasses so the scent is released 

as you walk through the space.” 

James May, Head of Horticulture 

at Grovewell Garden Centres 

Wreath nester bird 

box £34.99 Sue Ryder 

shop.sueryder.org 

“Bird feeding stations, bird baths 

and plants such as pyracantha and 

cotoneaster can help encourage 

birds. Their presence alone fills the 

space with life and you’ll be playing 

your part in preserving our wild 

birds for future generations too!” – 

James May, Head of Horticulture 


“An outdoor building for 

relaxing or meditation can be 

invaluable. A space in which 

to sit, relax and enjoy a cup 

of tea listening to the birds 

or running water enables us 

to be present in the moment 

and helps you to unplug 

from the day-to-day stresses 

of modern living.” – James 

May, Head of Horticulture 


Kitchen herbs planter 

£39.99 Gardenesque 

gardenesque.com 

The 

Wellbeing 

Garden 

Tenby arbour 

£449.99 Grovewell 

Garden Centres 

grovewellgc.co.uk 

We spoke to a couple of local experts to find out how to 

design a restful outdoor space to enhance wellbeing 

istockphoto.com/ NYS444 

“Create a spot to stop, whether it’s 

a well-placed set of wind chimes 

and a cosy balcony tea-for-two set, 

a statement water feature, sensory 

garden, purpose-built studio or 

simply a quiet, sunny spot in 

your favourite room surrounded 

by houseplants in which to nestle 

and enjoy a good book.” – James 

May, Head of Horticulture at 

Grovewell Garden Centres 

Bowl planter 

water feature, 

£350 Cox & Cox 

coxandcox.co.uk 

“Water features create atmosphere 

and ambience for quiet zones in 

the garden. The calming sound of 

water slowly trickling across stones 

offers a place of tranquillity to sit 

and contemplate.” – Chris James, 

General Manager / Landscape 



greenbluegardens.com 

Create your 

dream garden 

this spring 

Outdoor Living Living Walls Tree Planting Root Management 

greenbluegardens.com


Weird & Wonderful 

Sue Whigham digs deep into the world of lesser-known fruit and veg 

istockphotocom/ weisschr / shurub / tilo 

Well, I know we haven’t had much snow here in the 

south east but the low temperatures and icy winds 

haven’t really been conducive to getting out in the 

garden. I’ve discovered that the only thing for it is to wrap up 

well and get out there little and often. My dogs are completely 

confused by this erratic behaviour but it’s the 

only way that works for me. Today’s job has 

been to plant out a few hundred snowdrops ‘in 

the green’ before they dried out. Thankfully, 

they look better planted out in clumps rather 

than singly and I was buoyed by the Archers’ 

Omnibus babbling away in the background. 

What I laughingly call my vegetable patch is 

still a bit of a mess but by the time that this issue 

comes out all should be well. We’ve started to 

clear it by tidying up the climbers on the trellis, 

the most vigorous of which is our boysenberry. 

This plant was bred in California in the 1920s 

by one Rudolph Boyson and is thought to be 

a cross between a blackberry and loganberry 

or a red raspberry but possibly all three. All we know is that 

it is wildly vigorous and the fruits large and delicious. It does 

rather fight back when you are trying to tie in new growth but 

it’s well worth the trouble. Its close neighbour was my Japanese 

wineberry, Rubus phoenicolasius, which scrambled around in a 

rather more controlled manner. I love it for its decorative red 

I’ve joined a waiting 

list for Apios 

americana (above) 

but it’ll be worth 

the wait and also 

gives us a chance to 

thoroughly prepare the 

ground and find some 

tall plant supports 

stems covered in hairs as well as its delicious little reddy-orange 

fruits. Alys Fowler describes them so well, to quote: ‘with a 

strong raspberry flavour that pops with a little sherbet’. I say 

‘was’ because there is no sign of it and I wonder if we’ve lost it. 

So putting my mind to both unusual and some perennial 

edibles, I think that this might be the year to 

be a bit more adventurous. However, it seems 

that everybody else has had the same idea and 

we might have to curb our enthusiasm a bit. 

I’m wondering whether the seeds of sea kale, 

Crambe maritima, might still be viable. I know 

that they should be sown fresh but these have 

been used as decoration since the end of last 

year. It’s worth a try as if they work this is a plant 

that you don’t have to live near the sea to grow, 

especially as they have three different harvests: 

1. Force the spring shoots by placing a 

rhubarb forcer (or bucket) over the plant for 

a while and then steam the tender shoots. 

2. Cook the young leave 

as you would a vegetable like kale. 

3. Steam the unopened floret or flower bud 

adding a lemon and tahini dressing. 

I’ve scoured the internet for a groundnut plant, Apios americana, 

having read about its virtues and have now located a couple of 

plants on the Kore Wild Fruit Nursery website. I’ve joined 

 


Ilex Nellie R Stevens Ligustrum japonicum (pleached) Magnolia grandiflora 

Ct PvC 

t SC tS 

Photinia Red Robin 

Privacy in gardens can be created using 

trees to hide or screen out an undesirable 

view. Trees grown for this purpose often 

have a clear stem up to fence panel height 

around 1.8-2m with a full bushy canopy 

above, forming a good screen above the 

fence line. This type of screening is 

particularly useful if the garden is 

overlooked by neighbouring properties 

or to retain lower-level exposure to an 

attractive wall or area. 

Semi-mature trees can be planted to 

achieve effective screening from the offset 

with evergreens being preferred for this 

purpose as they screen throughout the year. 

However, a planting scheme that includes 

deciduous trees can provide rich contrast 

and seasonal interest. 

Screening trees 

Practicality Brown can supply a range of 

top quality trees for screening, which are 

particularly useful for creating privacy. 

This is our selection of the best screening 

trees, and all are in stock at our nursery in 

Iver, Bucks: 

• Eriobotrya japonica 

• Ilex aquifolium Nellie R Stevens 

• Ilex castaneifolia 

• Ligustrum japonicum 

• Magnolia grandiflora 

• Osmanthus aquifolium 

• Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’ 

• Pinus nigra 

• Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’ 

• Viburnum lucidum 

Pleached trees 

We also have a range of pleached trees 

which can be used in the same way; 

pleached trees can be effective for formal 

screening and where space is limited. 

These are our best trees that are in stock: 

• Ilex aquifolium Nellie R Stevens 

• Ligustrum japonicum 

• Magnolia grandiflora 

• Photinia frasari ‘Red Robin’ 

• Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’ 

tree & edge ursery 

As well as the screening trees, Practicality 

Brown grows a range of premium quality 

Practical Instant Hedge at the nursery in 

Iver. You are welcome to visit to view both 

trees and hedges. 

www.pracbrown.co.uk 

Conac us for deails 

email rees@pracbrown.co.uk 

or call 01753 652022 for more informaion

Artists clockwise top left: Shaun Brosnan, David Begbie, Rob Mulholland 

THE HANNAH PESCHAR SCULPTURE GARDEN 

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HannahPescharSculptureWT251-AD1.indd 1 10/03/2023 14:25 

a waiting list for these 

precious two but it’ll be 

worth the wait and also gives 

us a chance to thoroughly 

prepare the ground and find 

some tall plant 

supports. I think 

that the willow 

stems recently 

cut down might 

do the trick. 

And why grow 

Apios americana? 

Firstly as it is 

a legume its 

roots will add 

nitrogen to 

the soil and it also has the 

added bonus of clusters of 

lovely pink flowers, as well as 

strings of edible underground 

tubers. They are full of 

carbohydrates and high in 

protein and it seems are ideal 

Sea kale, 

Crambe maritima, 

(above) is a 

plant that you 

don’t have to 

live near the 

sea to grow 

for the vegetarians amongst 

us like our six year old 

granddaughter. Watch this 

space whilst we persuade her 

to try them later in the year. 

The idea is to 

slice the tubers 

and fry them, 

adding oregano 

and a little sea 

salt too. Harvest 

the tubers as 

the plants die 

back in autumn 

and store some 

of them in the 

same way you 

would dahlia tubers to plant 

out the following year. 

Another vine with 

delicious early shoots is 

Caucasian spinach, Hablitzia 

tamnoides. Once you’ve 

harvested some of the 

 

RHS 

People’s 

Choice 

Winner 

Laurel Hill Gardens is an award-winning 

garden design studio based in the Surrey Hills 

We offer design, build and planning 

services for all garden sizes. 

Creating inspirational spaces in 

traditional and contemporary styles. 

Paula’s passion is creating beautiful, 

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LaurelHillGardenDesignWT251.indd 1 16/03/2023 15:14


early leaves, leave the rest to use as a 

substitute for spinach. This plant is happy 

in a damp, semi shaded spot and takes 

up little space as it has a vertical habit. 

Incredible Vegetables in Devon has this in 

their fascinating plant and seed list. Julien 

Skinner and Mandy Barber follow both 

Check out Red 

Kuri (above) or 

Red Onion Squash 

(Squash ‘Uchiki 

Kuri’) described 

as ‘little globes 

of orangeness’. 

How gorgeous 

organic and permaculture 

principles on their two sites 

down near Dartmoor. They 

have been trialling Apios 

americana. They grow plants 

to enrich soil eco systems 

and to store carbon from the 

atmosphere and also give talks 

at garden and permaculture 

festivals, so it’s well worth 

visiting their website to see 

where they’ll be next. 

Actually their story is 

pretty inspirational as ten years ago their 

land was used purely for sheep grazing. 

They now have an acre of permaculture 

vegetables, meadows, a forest garden and 

a huge planting of native trees. And now 

with the amount of biodiversity they have 

created, many of their edibles are multipurpose 

in that they have become sources 

of food for wildlife and pollinating insects. 

Check out their fab website for exciting 

plants, cuttings, seeds, bulbs and bulbils. 

I see that they sell skirret, Sium sisarum, 

seeds as do the marvellous Chiltern Seeds 

in their Veg Book. I have to say that this 

vegetable looks very odd with 

its bundles of pale skinny 

roots. But as Chiltern Seeds 

say, it is very rarely mentioned 

or grown these days but what 

fun to have a go. It seems that 

skirret is native to China, but 

was known to the Romans, 

Emperor Tiberius in particular! 

You can either try it raw in 

salads, adding rocket too, or 

cook it with butter and garlic. 

And whilst you are 

immersed in the Chiltern Seeds catalogue, 

check out Red Kuri or Red Onion Squash 

(Squash ‘Uchiki Kuri’) described as ‘little 

globes of orangeness’. How gorgeous. And 

along with its pear shaped, nutty flavoured 

fruits, it is a reliable and easy vegetable to 

grow. I can’t wait to give this one a go. 

Kore Wild Fruit Nursery, 

Bridport House, Cilcennin, 

Lampeter, Ceredigion SA48 8RL. 

Tel: 01570 470439 

korewildfruitnursery.co.uk 

Incredible Vegetables, 

24 Home Park, Ashburton, 

Devon, TQ13 7BE 

Tel: 07765 665284 

incrediblevegetables.co.uk 

Chiltern Seeds, 

Crowmarsh Battle Barns, 

114 Preston Crowmarsh, 

Wallingford, OX10 6SL. 

Tel: 01491 824675 

chilternseeds.co.uk 

Sue Whigham can be 

contacted on 07810 457948 

for gardening advice and help 

in the sourcing and supply of 

interesting garden plants. 


20

The Sculpture Park in Churt, Surrey houses an eclectic mix of Modern and 

Contemporary Sculpture for sale, thoughtfully displayed throughout 10 acres 

of tranquil arboretum, water gardens and indoor art gallery. 

Open all year round, every day 10am – 5pm 

Adults £15, Concessions £10 

The Sculpture Park 

Jumps Road, Churt, 

Farnham, 

Surrey, GU10 2LB 

Monumental garden sculpture to mantelpiece bronzes 

Personal gifts to Investment artwork 

Shop in person or online 

Delivery and installation service available 

01428 605453 

info@thesculpturepark.com 

www.thesculpturepark.com


Sissinghurst Castle Gardens 

The romantic Sissinghurst Castle Garden is at the heart of the 

Weald of Kent, near Cranbrook. Created in the early 1930s, it 

began as the artistic vision of Vita Sackville-West and her husband 

Harold Nicolson. Decades later, their work lives on, and you 

can travel through the different 'rooms' of the garden, which are 

especially spectacular now as they start to erupt with colour in 

April. Magnolia and narcissi will be out in full force, the Lime 

Walk will see long beds of tulips frame the walkways, the 

orchards will be bursting with blossom and sweet fragrances 

will tempt you down the pathways to discover something 

new. It’s open daily from 11am to 5:30pm and you can book 

tickets online at nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst 

NOT-SO-SECRET 

GARDENS 

Some of the South East’s greatest treasures are its beautiful gardens. For 

family days out, walks in the fresh air or a wave of gardening inspiration, 

they have so much to offer. Here are just a few to visit this year... 

Hever Castle Gardens 

Discover Hever Castle’s magnificent awardwinning 

gardens set in 125 acres of glorious 

grounds. Between 1904 and 1908 Joseph Cheal 

and Son took some marshland and transformed 

it into William Waldorf Astor’s vision. Today, 

the spectacular gardens are still thriving and 

filled with inspiration for your own garden at 

every turn. Spring is a wonderful time to visit as 

you’ll find spectacular carpets of daffodils, walls 

covered in camellias and tulips in full bloom, as 

well as flourishing rhododendrons, azaleas and 

wisteria. Take a pause at the Loggia, a charming 

spot overlooking the 38-acre lake, perfect for a 

little moment to relax before exploring the many 

cascades, grottos and fountains. You could also 

visit the Pompeiian Wall and classical statuary 

of the Italian Garden, admire the giant topiary 

chess set, or try a Sunday Walk or Church 

Gill Walk, which will take you wandering 

through peaceful woodland, along the course 

of a stream. It’s open 10:30pm till 6pm until 

October 28. Find out more at hevercastle.co.uk 


22


Pashley Manor Gardens 

An abundance of colour blooms from April right through to September at 

Pashley Manor Gardens. Sweeping herbaceous borders are filled with reds, 

oranges and golds; Mediterranean purples and blues reflect the ornamental 

swimming pool; and the terrace overflows with glorious pinks and 

purples. Over 46,000 tulips, wisteria and bluebells flourish in spring, then 

rhododendrons and climbing roses. By mid-June hundreds of shrub roses have 

started to bloom, followed by a riot of dazzling dahlias lasting into autumn. 

Throughout all this, glimpses of sculpture are a constant in the landscape, 

like Diana the Huntress who guards the entrance to a wild wooded path 

and a sculpture of Anne Boleyn on the moated island, who marks the spot 

believed to be where the Boleyns had a hunting lodge. The Kitchen Garden 

is plentiful all season, growing spinach and herbs, courgettes, beans, soft 

fruits and more fresh seasonal produce, which you can try yourself at the 

Café. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, until the end of September, with the 

Tulip Festival running from 19 April to 3 May. pashleymanorgardens.com 

istockphoto.com/ ElenaMedvedeva 

The Hannah Peschar 

Sculpture Garden 

The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden in 

Ockley, Surrey is in an ancient woodland 

valley, filled with remarkable art to explore and 

discover. It is approaching its 40th birthday, 

and exhibits around 200 pieces by some 50+ 

artists, every year. On Saturday 1 April the Park opens for 

2023 with their latest thoughtfully curated exhibition of 

contemporary sculpture. Pieces of all styles and materials 

will be placed in harmony with this lush and magical 

landscape, to create a place where art and nature unite. 

And if you’d like a souvenir of your visit, there is an 

indoor gallery tucked amongst the trees, where you can 

shop for smaller sculpture and decorative objects. Tickets 

must be booked in advance online, where you can also 

find opening times hannahpescharsculpture.com 

Wakehurst 

Kew's wild botanic garden in the High Weald of West 

Sussex is bursting with outdoor delights to get you 

excited about nature. Their world-renowned living plant 

collections are the most diverse of any botanic garden in 

the world and an enlightening learning opportunity for 

all who visit. Here there are walled gardens, woods, bogs, 

a 150-acre nature reserve, plants that are extinct in the 

wild, an American Prairie and an Elizabethan Mansion. 

7 July – 17 September will be an especially great time 

to visit, as Rooted will be in full swing, an exciting 

collection of six outdoor art installations inspired 

by trees. Featuring a 10m high multi-coloured neon 

installation, tree climbing workshops for children, and 

a giant robotic mouse that can be fed mycelium pellets, 

this is a fabulous time to experience Wakehurst. And 

in the ever-popular lates programme, there will be live 

performances, pop-up food stalls and botanical cocktails 

too! The gardens are open 10am to 6pm. Find more 

information and booking at kew.org/wakehurst 


Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

© National Trust 2023. Registered Charity no. 205846. 

Photography © National Trust Images/Jonathan Buckley 

Spring blooms 

at Sissinghurst Castle Garden 

APRIL 17 – 23 

Where a Love of Tulips 

is Celebrated this Spring 

Free garden tours and floral displays*. 

* 

Admission charges apply. 

hevercastle.co.uk 

Daily, 11am-5:30pm 

See website for full breakdown of prices and timings 

There is no better place to watch Spring come to life 

than at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Join us amongst 

the blossom, daffodils and tulips as we welcome in the 

cheerful colours of the new season. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden 

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Call us for a no obligation 

FREE site survey on 

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• Pool Refurbishments 

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• Supporters of Ordinary 2 Extraordinary 

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

www.tanbypools.co.uk

Kent Garden Show 

& NAFAS Regional Flower Show 

Sat 27th, Sun 28th & Mon 29th May 

Gates Open 9.30am - 5pm (last admission 4pm) 

Featuring over 300 exhibitors with a wide variety of goods. 

Floral marquees with stunning floral displays including 

medal winners from Chelsea. There is a food hall, 

craft pavilion, brass band & children’s rides. 

Garden furniture, water features, garden sheds and 

buildings, tools, sculptures, & much more. 

Jacqueline Aviolet will be in attendance all weekend to 

give answers to your gardening questions. 

Tickets available now. 

Artists clockwise top left: Walter Bailey, Neil Wilkin, Jilly Sutton 

THE HANNAH PESCHAR SCULPTURE GARDEN 

Mature trees, dramatic planting and flowing waterways support, frame 

and enhance an ever-changing exhibition of contemporary art available 

to purchase - displayed throughout a unique and beautiful landscape. 

See art come alive within nature 

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

T: 01306 627269 | Ockley | Surrey 

Tickets 

available at 

the gate & online 

Prices: Adults £12.00, 

Seniors £10.00 

Children up to 

age 16: Free 

Sorry no dogs 

01795 474660 

www.kentgardenshow.com 

The Kent Showground, Detling ME14 3JF 

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Easter EE Hunt 

at Ightham Mote 

25 March - 23 April 

This Easter, we invite you and your family to join us for an annual ‘Games 

in the Garden’ Easter EE Trail around the charming gardens of Ightham 

Mote. 

Pick up an Easter EE Trail sheet in Visitor Reception and complete ten 

fun Easter activities to claim your chocolate Easter EE! 

© National Trust 2019. Registered Charity no. 205846. Photography © Chris Lacey 

To discover more about our offer, please visit nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote/whats-on or call 01732 810378 


26 

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1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

istockphoto.com/ goir & istockphoto.com JackF 

7 

6 

Artistic 

Flair 

Mix man-made artistry with the 

natural beauty of your garden to make 

a real statement in your design 

8 

9 

10 

1 Inca unique laquered steel sculpture by Nimrod Messeg €8,160 The 

Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden hannahpescharsculpture.com 

2 Bronze Crow garden sculpture £349 Adams Bronze adamsbronze.com 

3 Delft flourish tulip outdoor prints from £36 Hattie Lloyd Home 

hattielloyd.com 4 Leopard Love waterproof art from £250 YardArt 

yardartuk.co.uk 5 Garden Boxing Hares by Sue Maclaurin £5,500 

Nelson & Forbes nelsonandforbes.co.uk 6 Squirrel created from 

recycled metal oil drums £38 Zimbolic zimbolic.co.uk 7 Brassed Away 

unique bronze statue by Wilfred Pritchard £23,400 The Sculpture 

Park thesculpturepark.com 8 Revolution POA Masters & Munn 

mastersandmunn.co.uk 9 Garden Lying Girl by Jonathan Sanders 

£10,150 Nelson & Forbes nelsonandforbes.co.uk 10 Old Man of the 

Forest by Lucy Kinsella (signed edition 1 of 6) £24,000 The Sculpture 

Park thesculpturepark.com 11 Vinnie, the Pouncing Fox sculpture in 

polished stainless steel £235 Devenick Designs devenickdesigns.co.uk 

11 


Grounds Maintenance | Instant Trees & Hedges 

Landscape Build & Plant | Automatic Irrigation 

www.hortlands.co.uk 

London office: 01895 438 811 

Cotswolds office: 01386 841708

Olive tree £55 

Plants4Presents 

plants4presents.co.uk 


©National Trust Images Eva Nemeth 

The Delos 

garden at 

Sissinghurst 

Castle Gardens 

nationaltrust.org.uk 

Grecian style 

light up water 

feature £495 

Cox & Cox 

coxandcox.co.uk 

istockphoto.com/ ElenaMedvedeva 

Above is the garden of 

Littlethorpe Manor in 

Ripon Yorkshire. It will 

be open to visit on 10 

September as part of 

the National Garden 

Scheme ngs.org.uk 

Gianna Grecian bust 

pot £56 Anthropologie 

anthropologie.com 

GREECE IS THE WORD 

Stuart Terry – Projects Coordinator at Hortlands – explains how to 

achieve a Mediterranean style garden that will thrive in our local climate 

Mediterranean- and Greek-style garden design has become a 

popular trend in the UK – and for good reason. Interior design 

trends that incorporate elements such as terracotta tiles and rustic 

stonework have contributed to the interest in these styles of garden 

design, but more than that, the harsh reality of hotter and drier 

summers due to global warming has made homeowners and garden 

designers seek out sustainable and beautiful outdoor spaces. 

Look to gardens like those at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy, the Getty Villa 

in Los Angeles, California, La Mortella in Italy or the Alhambra in Spain and 

you’ll find inspiration is in no short supply. You can start by researching the 

right plants – a crucial step in achieving this garden concept. Using droughttolerant 

plants and conservation techniques such as bark mulching is also 

essential to sustain the garden. Some Mediterranean and Grecian plants, such 

as lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage and olive trees, can thrive in hot and dry 

conditions, making them perfect for the south east of England. Other plants 

to consider include cypress trees, succulents and agaves, and you can also add 

colour and fragrance to the garden with plants like jasmine and climbing roses. 

To achieve a Mediterranean- or Greek-style garden it’s also essential to use the right 

materials and layout in your design. Incorporating features such as terracotta tiles, 

rustic stonework, and a colour palette featuring a lot of blues, whites or purples 

can help create the desired look. To really complete the design, some feature pieces 

like columns, arches, pergolas or water features like fountains or small pools, can 

really make a design statement and enhance the ambiance of your outdoor space. 

Finally, finish up with some wrought iron furniture, ceramic pots and outdoor 

lighting like Hunza tree spike lights to add a bit of wow factor. hortlands.co.uk 

Mediterranean style 

garden design and 

outdoor kitchen featuring 

an ALFA Cupolino 60 

wood fired oven, by AOS 

Kitchens aoskitchens.co.uk 

Marrakesh 

Terracotta brick 

tiles £71.98/m² 

Baked Tile Co 

bakedtiles.co.uk 

A garden by Hortlands in the 

Mediterranean style, with a feature 

walkway with statement arches. 

Find out more about Hortlands 

and the services they offer at 

hortlands.co.uk 

This garden, Home Close, in Oxfordshire is part of 

the National Garden Scheme and will be open on 25 

June as part of the Sibford Garden Group ngs.org.uk 



Creative Days with 

Sussex Garden School 

Wednesdays throughout the year 

Various Sussex Garden Venues 

Juliet Sargeant is an award-winning garden 

designer and Radio 4 Gardeners Question 

Time panellist. She has gathered together an 

expert team of gardeners, designers, creatives 

and crafters to offer all sorts of courses at 

The Sussex Garden School. Take yourself 

out of your everyday to immerse yourself in 

nature and learn anything from composting 

to cross-stitch. You will be treated to a 

delicious lunch or refreshments and enjoy 

a relaxing atmosphere with like-minded 

enthusiasts. Design courses will guide you 

through improving your own plot, craft 

courses are ‘hands-on, have-a-go’ days, and, 

new for 2023, you can learn ‘How to Garden 

Greener’ – a rare opportunity to garden 

alongside a professional horticulturalist 

and learn the tricks-of-the-trade. They also 

offer gift vouchers, so you can also spread 

the joy and gift a course to a friend or 

loved one. 

Contact: info@julietsargeant.com 

Cost: From £75 

sussexgardenschool.com 

Garden Design in 

Woodchurch, Kent 

Design days throughout the season 

Hornbrook Manor Farmhouse, Appledore 

Road, Woodchurch, Kent TN26 3TH 

Devised and run by Jo Arnell, these weekly 

border design days and morning courses 

have been formulated to help you plan and 

plant your garden with confidence. Using 

key design principles, you will learn how to 

use plants that will be both beautiful and 

reliable, adding structure, interest and colour 

to your borders through the seasons. Sessions 

are small and friendly, so you’ll also meet 

some fellow enthusiasts. Full of notes, cake, 

coffee/tea and lots of gardening inspiration. 

Cost: Design days cost £95 including lunch, 

7-session design course costs £335 

Contact: Jo Arnell 07923 969634 

jo@hornbrookmanor.co.uk 

hornbrookmanor.co.uk 

Wildlife Gardening 

for Beginners with 

Surrey Wildlife Trust 

Friday 21 April 10am-3pm 

Brockham Village Green RH3 7LA 

and Nower Wood Education Centre 

If you'd like to attract bees and butterflies 

or simply love the diverse appearance of 

a wildlife garden, it is vital to understand 

how to create this space for nature. This 

one day course will begin in Brockham 

Village Green at a thriving community 

garden with your tutor, Paul Ritchie. He'll 

show you the vital components for any 

wildlife gardening project. You'll then head 

to the Nower Wood Education Centre 

(just 10 minutes down the road) where 

Paul will discuss the principles of a wildlife 

garden, what to consider when planning 

and developing one, how to assess an 

existing garden and the best ways to create/ 

enhance your own green space in order 

to achieve your personal botanical goals. 

Cost: Members £45, non-members £60 

surreywildlifetrust.org 

THE 

MORE 

YOU 

GROW 

Now is the perfect time of year 

to boost your gardening skills 

and learn something new with 

a local course or workshop 

Forage and Ferment 

with Isobel Spence 

at Curious House 

Sunday 23 April 

Near to Curious House, Ticehurst, East 

Sussex (exact address upon booking) 

This workshop will teach you how to forage 

safely and sustainably for wild ingredients 

to create a seasonal ferment to take home. 

During a short walk you’ll learn about 

and gather some seasonal wild greens and 

flowers to add to your ferment. The group 

will then head back for a seasonal light 

lunch, after which Isobel will guide you 

through some simple steps to create your 

very own ferment. Sturdy footwear required. 

Cost: £135 including a jar for 

your ferment, a worksheet, light 

lunch and refreshments. 

curioushouse.net 

Introduction to 

Gardening at Merriments 

Thursdays 27 April – 25 May 

1-4pm & Mondays 5 June – 

3 July 9:30am-12:30pm 

Merriments, Hawkhurst Road, Hurst 

Green, East Sussex TN19 7RA 

Merriments Gardens is an Accredited Royal 

Horticultural Training Centre and will 

be starting a new RHS Level 2 Theory 

Certificate in September. If you would 

like a flavour of what will be included 

in this course, they are running a five 

week Introduction to Gardening course 

aimed at keen gardeners wanting to extend 

their knowledge. Topics covered include 

Botany, Soil Composition, Propagation 

and Choosing, Planting, and Maintaining 

PlantsCost: £125 including refreshments 

(Merriments Members save 20%) 

Contact: education@merriments.co.uk 

merriments.co.uk 

Rosewater Distillation 

Workshop at Belmont House 

Wednesday 7 June 10am-2pm 

Belmont House & Gardens, 

Faversham ME13 0HH 

Local herbalist, Mandy Rickard from 

AR Botanical is holding a workshop on 

distilling aromatic hydrosols for herbal 

healing. Many herbs have aromatic 

properties used in skincare, household 

products and natural medicine. Rosewater 

in particular, has actually been used over 

the centuries in cooking, perfumery, and 

skincare. In this course you will experience 

every stage of the process from picking 

the buds, through to distillation using a 

traditional copper still and bottling. 

Cost: £55 per person. All materials 

and light refreshments provided. 

belmont-house.org 

Grow the Seasons at 

the Small Holding 

Wednesdays 2 & 16 

August 9.30am-3.30pm 

The Small Holding, Ranters Lane, 

Kilndown TN17 2SG 

Hosted at the wonderful green-Michelin 

starred restaurant, The Small Holding, 

learn to maximise the rewards of your hard 

work growing fruit and veg in your garden, 

learning from those who have perfected 

the art. This one will help you discover 

how to pick and harvest efficiently, create 

your very own compost and feeds, and 

grow cut-and-come-again crops so that 

you can make the most of your garden. 

Cost: £125 

growtheseasons.com 

istockphoto.com/ mucchanpapa 


30

PASHLEY MANOR 

PASHLEY MANOR 

GARDENS 

GARDENS 

House Open for a New Season 

The House will be open from Sunday 2 nd April. 

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

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

afternoons from 1-3.30pm. 

Easter Egg Hunt - Sunday 9 th April, 11am-3pm 

TULIP FESTIVAL 

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

48,000 tulips in 105 varieties! 

TULIP FESTIVAL 

19th April every day to 3rd May 

Beautiful 11 Acre Gardens; Café with Terrace; 

Gift Shop; Sculpture and Art Exhibitions 

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

East Sussex/Kent (NB closed on border Good Friday TN5 and 7HE Easter 01580 Sunday) 200888 

Ticehurst, TN5 7HE 01580 200888 

pashleymanorgardens.com 

pashleymanorgardens.com 

Explore the gardens and search for the wooden eggs to win a 

chocolate treat, then head back to the Orangery to get crafty 

with some Easter themed activities. £6.00 per child & £3.50 per 

adult. Tickets must be booked in advance. 

Spring Fair - Monday 1 st May, 11am-4pm 

Our Spring Fair features a superb range of quality plants, 

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

host of wonderful crafted delights. £7.00pp and free for under 

16s, garden entry included. 

Paper Peony Workshop - Monday 15 th May, 11am-1pm 

Join us at Belmont to learn how to make a selection of paper 

peonies and eucalyptus. All materials will be supplied including 

printed instructions for you to carry on your creative journey at 

home. £35.00 per person. 

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

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

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COUNTY CLOTHES MENSWEAR 

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS 

STORE 

NEW SHOE DEPARTMENT 

Proud stockists of: 

Barker, Geox, Jeep, Lacuzzo, Sergio Duletti, John White, R M 

Williams, Bugatti and Savelli, boots & shoes 

WWW.COUNTYCLOTHESMENSWEAR.CO.UK 

Surrey’s 

Leading Occasion 

Wear Boutique 

www.melitaboutique.co.uk 

57 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AF 

Tel: 01276 856308 

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Visit Blue Velvet Shoes at 

174 Kings Road, SW3 4UP 

buy online www.bluevelvetshoes.com 


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The simple 

things 

From left to right: Gold plated daisy 

necklace, £24, sterling silver flower 

studs, £16, gold plated sterling silver 

bee necklace, £26, sterling silver 

daisy studs, £16, sterling silver tiny 

butterflies, £16, all presented in little 

glass domes and available from Rising 

Star, Tenterden 01580 766226 

Instagram @risingstarkent 


Styling: Lucy Fleming

Moths with uncut ruby and 

diamond necklace £4,875 

Lucy Sylvester lucysylvester.co.uk 

Ultimate boho dress 

£65 Joe Browns 

joebrowns.co.uk 

Poison arrow 

frog £3,995 

Clio Saskia 

cliosaskia.co.uk 

Dahlia hair comb 

£38 Wolf & Moon 

wolfandmoon.com 

Macie scallop collar top 

£52 Sugarhill Brighton 


Silver snowdrop earrings 

by Naomi James £89 

West End House Gallery 

westendhousegallery.co.uk 

Beaded clutch £68 

Anthropologie 


Scarab beetle 

necklace £33 

SEOL + GOLD 

seolgold.com 

Real Flower verena hydrangea 

and pearl earrings £185 

I’mmany immany.co.uk 

Irie Jumper £79 

Sugarhill Brighton 


Stacey’s Stories 

rose stud earrings 

£39 Abbott Lyon 

abbottlyon.com 

Palmer floral 

satin maxi dress 

£130 Monsoon 

monsoon.co.uk 

Almond blossom 

tree earrings £120 

Amanda Coleman 

amandacoleman.co.uk 

Yes, it’s florals for spring! Mix yours up with 

some woodsy critters and creatures for a 

magical fairytale forest aesthetic 

Serendipity 

button-front pullon 

midi skirt £35 

Cotton Traders 

cottontraders.com 

Liverpool Street 2.0 

Stitch bag £279 

Radley London 

radley.co.uk 

Real Flower Grande Amore 

earrings with bow studs £85 

I’mmany immany.co.uk 

istockphoto.com/ jukree 

Enamel robin earrings 

£24 Fable England 

fableengland.com 

Lilac floral embroidered 

crop cardi £65 

Oliver Bonas 

oliverbonas.com 

Aderyn retro 

ditsy jumpsuit 

£59 FatFace 

fatface.com 

Botanical twist headband 

£22 Anthropologie 


Enamel fawn 

brooch £21 

Fable England 

fableengland.com 

Nagini snake ring 

£55 Luna Charles 

lunacharles.co.uk 

Polki diamond and 

enamel gold ring £4,300 

Pomegranate Jewellery 

pomegranate-london.co.uk 

Melanie wrap 

dress £89 

Crew Clothing 

Company 

crewclothing.co.uk 

66

UNIT 11 HART SHOPPING CENTRE 

FLEET | HAMPSHIRE | GU51 3LA 

01252 621035 

www.experiencethedifference.co.uk

Chick 

Chic 

Recipes: Molly Davey from Atelier Chocolates 


What’s tempering? 

Tempering chocolate 

is a process that stabilises 

its properties to give a smooth 

and glossy finish with that 

satisfying ‘snap’, making it 

a great enhancement to 

chocolate covered treats 

and confectionery. 

A patisserie chef in high-end establishments for over a decade, Molly 

Davey tuned her professional skills and started making hand-crafted 

chocolates from her kitchen in Kent in 2021, founding Atelier Chocolates. 

Working exclusively in small batches, Molly paints her chocolates by 

hand, ensuring each one is truly unique. Here she dreams up four Easter 

recipes to show us how to get creative using good-quality chocolate 

To buy Molly’s chocolates, and to keep an eye out for details of 

upcoming chocolate making workshops, visit atelierchocolates.com 

The following recipes use the ‘seeding’ method to temper the chocolate. Follow 

the method below... You will also need a food thermometer and piping bag. 

Jazzies 

Makes approx 60 jazzies 

 

• 150g white chocolate 

• edible decorations of your choice 

1. As per the seeding method: 

melt ⅔ of the white chocolate 

in stages in the microwave until 

approximately 50˚C. Add the 

remaining ⅓ finely chopped 

white chocolate and mix well 

until incorporated and smooth. 

2. Keep stirring until the 

chocolate reaches 27-28˚C (for 

white chocolate you do not 

need to heat until 30-31˚C) 

you are now ready to pipe! 

3. Place your sprinkles on a flat 

tray and pipe circles of white 

chocolate to your preferred size. 

Alternatively you can pipe white 

chocolate circles on acetate and 

scatter over the sprinkles whilst the 

white chocolate circles are still wet. 

The Seeding Method 

The seeding method is one way of 

tempering chocolate that is great for 

small quantities of chocolate and 

for home environments that require 

minimal mess and equipment. 

1. Bring a pan of water to a simmer 

and then remove from the heat. Break 

the chocolate up into small chunks and 

add ¾ to a bowl. Set the bowl over the 

pan to make a bain-marie, ensuring 

the bottom does not come into direct 

contact with the water. Let the chocolate 

gradually melt to 55°C, stirring slowly 

and continuously (you can also do this 

in the microwave in short intervals). 

2. Remove from the heat and add 

the remaining chocolate pieces. 

Slowly stir the chocolate until it 

melts and reaches 27-28°C. 

3. Place the bowl of chocolate back 

over the pan of water and set over 

a low heat. Reheat to 31-32°C 

for dark chocolate, 30°C for milk 

chocolate and 28°C for white. 


achmanns.co.uk 

Easter at Bachmanns 

Specialities from our award-winning 

patisserie and chocolaterie 

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

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

• Easter Eggs, filled with our own chocolates 

• Chocolate bunnies 

• Easter chicks 

• Traditional Simnel cakes and hot cross buns 

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

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

6 Criterion Buildings, 

Portsmouth Road, 

Thames Ditton, 

KT7 0SS 

Tel: 0208 398 1988 

32 Church Street, 

Weybridge, 

KT13 8DX 

Tel: 01932 820247

Hot cross bun truffles 

Makes 12 

 

• caramel chocolate (can use milk 

chocolate as an alternative) 

• white chocolate (for the cross) 

For the hot cross bun 

infused truffle mixture 

• 100ml orange juice 

• 50g sultanas 

• 150g dark chocolate (I used 

light dark callets at 55%) 

• hot cross bun spices: 1½tsp 

cinnamon and 1½tsp mixed spice 

• zest ½ orange 

• 120g double cream 

 

1. Place the orange juice in a small 

pan and bring to the boil. Remove 

from the heat and add the sultanas 

and leave for 30 minutes to soak up 

the orange juice and get plump. 

2. Strain any remaining orange juice 

from the sultanas and put to one side. 

3. Place the dark chocolate into a heat 

proof bowl and melt in the microwave in 

small intervals (be careful not to leave the 

chocolate for too long or it will burn and 

seize). I used callets – a bit like chocolate 

chips, but if using a chocolate bar simply 

chop into small pieces and follow as 

per the callets. The chocolate should be 

around 50-55˚C when fully melted. 

4. At this stage you can now make the hot 

cross bun infused cream. Place the cream, 

orange zest and the hot cross bun spices in 

a pan and bring to a fast simmer of 80˚C. 

5. Carefully pour ⅔ of this over the 

melted chocolate callets and mix from 

the centre until emulsified and smooth. 

Once this has been incorporated add the 

remaining ⅓ of the cream mixture and 

again mix until incorporated and smooth. 

6. Fold in the orange soaked sultanas and 

leave to set in the fridge for several hours 

until you have a firm truffle mixture. 

7. Using a spoon or measuring spoon 

weigh out 15g of truffle mixture and roll 

into a ball shape. It is sometimes easier to 

do this with slightly cocoa dusted hands as 

it helps to stop the truffle mixture sticking 

to your hands if they are slightly warm. 

8. As per the seeding method, melt ⅔ of 

the caramel chocolate in the microwave 

until 50˚C. Add the remaining ⅓ 

chopped chocolate and stir until 27-28˚C. 

9. Carefully dip your truffle balls 

into the caramel chocolate and 

place on a greaseproof lined tray. 

10. Once set, repeat step 8 with your 

white chocolate, place in a piping bag 

and pipe a cross over each chocolate. 

11. Again, leave to set and then enjoy! 


Chocolate lollipops 

Makes approximately 8 lollipops 

 

• 200g chocolate (finely chopped) 

• chocolate transfer sheets 

• lolly sticks 

• edible decorations of your choice 

1. As per the seeding method, melt 

⅔ of the chocolate in stages in the 

microwave until approximately 

50-55˚C. Add the remaining ⅓ 

of chocolate and mix well until 

incorporated and smooth. 

2. Keep stirring until the chocolate 

reaches 27-28˚C. For white chocolate, 

you do not need to heat any 

more. For milk chocolate, give the 

chocolate an additional heat briefly 

in the microwave until 30˚C. For 

dark chocolate heat until 31˚C. 

3. You are now ready to place your 

chocolate into a piping bag. 

4. Lay your chocolate transfer cocoa 

design upwards. Lay your lolly 

sticks on the acetate and pipe your 

chocolate directly on to the lolly 

stick. Be mindful of the chocolate 

spreading out slightly. Decorate 

the back however you wish. 

5. Once set, peel the chocolate 

transfer acetate from the lollipops. 

You should be left with a beautiful 

design for the front of your lollipop 

with a lovely decorated back. 


72

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Easter slab bars 

Makes 2-4, dependent on size 

 

• 400g chocolate (finely 

chopped) 

• edible decorations 

1. As per the seeding method, 

melt ⅔ of the chocolate in 

stages in the microwave until 

approximately 50-55˚C. 

Add the remaining ⅓ of 

chocolate and mix well until 

incorporated and smooth. 

2. Keep stirring until the 

chocolate reaches 27-28˚C. For 

white chocolate, you do not 

need to heat any more. For milk 

chocolate, give the chocolate 

an additional heat briefly in 

the microwave until 30˚C. For 

dark chocolate heat until 31˚C. 

3. You are now ready to place 

your chocolate into a mould or 

simply greaseproof a small tray 

and tip your chocolate into the 

desired shape and thickness. 

4. Decorate however you 

wish: nuts, seeds, dried fruits, 

sweets, cookies etc. I simply 

used chocolate mini eggs 

and sweetie fried eggs for a 

fun family Easter treat!

Quenching 

Beauty 

Josephine Fairley pulls out all the stops in the quest for 

moisturising skin and haircare to combat winter dessication 

Daffs may be up, lambs may 

be frolicking – but honestly, 

didn’t it feel like the longest 

winter in living memory…? And if 

you look around at the women you 

know – or even just in the mirror – I’m 

pretty sure you’ll see the cold, windy 

weather took a beauty toll. If you had 

the central heating turned on at all 

(and most of us rolled over and gave 

in to turning the thermostat up at 

some point), it will have stripped every 

last molecule of moisture from skin 

and hair. The good news, however, is 

that if you deliver the equivalent of 

a long, cool drink of water to your 

parched complexion and frazzled 

barnet, you’ll see rapid results PDQ 

– and it’s those ‘miracle-workers’ I’m 

going to share with you this month. 

I’ll kick off by saying, though, that 

when skin’s dry, it can be tempting to 

reach for an oil to fix the problem. But 

in reality, complexions (and hair) need 

both oil and water. This is something 

I discovered first hand when I once 

forgot to take a body lotion on holiday. 

‘Never mind, I’ll just use an oil,’ I 

thought. Nah. Over the week, my skin 

became papery, dry, cracked and dull. 

First 

thing I did when 

I got to Duty Free en 

route back to Blighty was pick 

up a body lotion, and I swear: you 

could HEAR my body lapping it up. 

There’s nothing wrong with layering 

a few drops of oil underneath the 

products I’m about to share. But for 

the quickest fix of all, I point you in 

the direction of an ingredient that has 

become a buzz in recent years. And 

while ‘fashionable’ beauty ingredients 

may come and go, hyaluronic acid 

(also known as sodium hyaluronate, or 

‘HA’ for short) is here to stay. Today, 

this mega-moisturising molecule 

frequently enjoys star billing on the 

INCI (ingredients) lists of products 

for face and body – and there are 

good reasons why we should be 

rolling out the red carpet for this 

amazing skincare star ingredient. 

Its powers are quite simply 

extraordinary. Hyaluronic acid absorbs 

1,000 times its weight in water. A single 

gram can hold up to six litres of water 

– explaining hyaluronic acid’s ability to 

quench skin with moisture, infusing the 

cells to ‘plump’ them. No wonder it’s 

become a byword for hydration. What’s 

more, it’s completely kind to skin, ideal 

even for sensitive types; mention the 

word ‘acid’ and many of us recoil, not 

necessarily from memories of tedious/ 

challenging school chemistry lessons, 

but because of negative experiences 

with applying acids to skin in the past 

(particularly the early generation of 

‘fruit acids’, which were very irritating). 

Hyaluronic is entirely different to those 

alpha hydroxy acids – including 

glycolic and lactic acid – and does 

not peel or irritate skin in any way. 

Although it’s powerfully skinquenching, 

HA is light and 

non-greasy – so it’s great for oily 

and combination complexions, 

not just mature, dry ones. In 

fact, formulators tend to find 

that this molecule works best 

in – and will be better absorbed 

via – lighter formulations rather 

than rich creams; today, we can find 

it being incorporated in an increasing 

number of skin-plumping serums, 

sunscreens, primers and moisturisers. 

I personally have an entire arsenal of 

HA-powered products, and I thought 

I’d share some of them here. Balance 

Me, for instance, have embraced 

hyaluronic with gusto, creating several 

products which deliver a megamoisturising 

fix. Newest is Ceramide 

Barrier Booster, £33 for 30ml, ideal 

for even the touchiest skins, and 

which – as the name suggests – works 

to help skin’s barrier function. For the 

past few years, we’ve heard so much 

about acids and exfoliation – which 

are great for brightening, but in terms 

of keeping moisture in the skin, aren’t 

so desirable because they can thin 

the epidermis and allow moisture to 

escape; by contrast, products like this 

fragrance-free addition to Balance Me’s 

line-up work to keep it in. You’ll also 

find HA in Balance Me Tri-Molecular 

Hyaluronic Serum, £33 for 30ml, a few 

drops of which deliver instant comfort 

and a tangible sense of moisturisation. 

But my absolute fave in the range is 

Hyaluronic Plumping Mist, £22 for 

45ml; I’ve one of these on my desk for 

a 4pm spritz of instant moisture, to 

be enjoyed alongside a cup of Lapsang 

and four squares of Green & Black’s 

(what else?), as a teatime pick-me-up. 

A wonderful new multi-tasking 

product that just landed on said desk, 

meanwhile – at the perfect, winterparched 

moment – is Lixirskin Good 

Skin Shaker Super Dew, £39 for 


76

istockphoto.com/Ekaterina Klishevnik 

15ml, a shake-before-use product 

which instantly delivers a de-puffing 

dose of algae-derived minerals, adds 

luminescence via light-capturing 

technology, while boosting skin with 

an HA-derived ingredient. Apply 

two pumps after your moisturiser 

for immediate radiance, or add a dot 

or two over your make-up when it’s 

starting to look dull and flat. Hey, 

presto! Got your glow back, girl. 

I like cream-gel formulations, too, 

for quenching skin. With a delicious, 

cooling texture, they can be deceptively 

lightweight, often delivering an instant 

appearance of dewiness, along with 

a sense of true and very welcome 

comfort. Check out Clinique Moisture 

Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing 

Hydrator, £40 for 50ml, as well as 

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic 

Cream, £35 for 50ml; with a glorious, 

whipped texture, it’s best suited to 

combination skintypes, perhaps, as it’s 

oil-balancing, but very plumptious. 

Hyaluronic-infused, serum-drenched 

sheet masks, meanwhile, almost push 

moisture into skin like magic; 10 or 20 

minutes with one of these positioned 

over your face can be transformative. 

(I like to use them to counteract 

the moisture-sapping effect of air 

conditioning, on flights, but you do 

have to be prepared to put up with 

some weird looks.) Just make sure the 

mask itself is biodegradable, from an 

eco-perspective, as these are singleuse 

products – for instance, Me+ 

Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Mask, £2.99, 

or Revolution Skincare Hyaluronic 

Hydrating Sheet Mask, £8 for five. 

If I’m feeling flush, I’ll treat myself 

to a Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture 

Infusion Bio-Cellulose Hydrating 

Mask, £50 for four: pricy, yes – but 

honestly, the next best thing to an 

actual facial in terms of skin-plumping. 

Harking back my Sahara-dry 

holiday skin experience, meanwhile, 

what’s good for faces is also, of course, 

good for bodies: I’m a big fan of The 

Solution Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating 

Body Lotion, £9.99 for 200ml, but 

you might also check out Boots 

Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Body 

Cream, £4.50 for 200ml, or Garnier 

Body Superfood Hydrating Gel-Cream, 

£8.99 for 380ml. They’re all real 

‘steals’, and you can afford to be – and 

should be – generous with them. 

And then we come to hair. 

Particularly if you colour yours, I can 

pretty much place a bet with good odds 

that yours looks vaguely like you’ve had 

your finger in an electric socket, by 

now, after that central heating’s wreaked 

its worst for – oh, lord, just how 

many months IS it…? The result is: 

frizzy, fried, dull. I’m sure by now you 

won’t be surprised to discover that the 

haircare world is also now embracing 

the wonders of hyaluronic acid – 

for instance, L’Oréal Elvive Hydra 

Hyaluronic Acid Shampoo, from £3.75 

for 250ml (shampoo), which I like 

to pair with their Hydra Hyaluronic 

Acid Mask, rather than the ‘matching’ 

conditioner; priced £7.99 for 300ml, 

it’s a properly hydrating gloss boost. 

What I would say is that for hair, 

though, seeking out hyaluronic 

acid-charged products doesn’t – to 

me – offer a huge advantage over 

other great hair-nourishing finds. So: 

simply take your favourite hair mask 

and slather, slather, slather. (Mine 

currently include mega-rich Molton 

Brown Intense Repairing Hair Mask, 

£30 for 250ml, and Fable & Mane 

HoliRoots Repairing Hair Mask, 

£30 for 237ml, from a brand that 

taps into Ayurvedic wisdom – and 

which smells flipping fantastic, I can 

tell you.) Remember: more is more. 

And the longer you can leave on your 

chosen mask to nourish hair, the 

better – I like to cover my pillow in 

a towel, and rinse out by morning. 

So there you have it. Quick 

quenchers for thirsty faces, 

bodies and hair – which 

I promise will fill you 

with the joys of spring, 

rather than sinking 

your heart, when you 

look at your plumped-upin-a-good-way 

reflection. 

See beautybible.com for more of Jo’s 

tried and tested beauty reviews. 


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78 

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

Wellbeing 

Body Matters 

Sarah Maxwell explains how to get to know your 

own body in the first of a two-part exploration 

istockphoto.com/ fizkes 

Most of us have heard the 

phrase ‘listen to your body’, 

often following illness, 

injury or simply after over doing a 

physical activity. Below is a general 

overview of body awareness definitions 

that I’ve compiled to help you to 

understand why being in tune with 

your body is essential when it comes 

to maintaining your whole physical 

and emotional heath. Read on to find 

out how you can get started on this 

amazing journey, quickly and easily. 

Proprioception 

This is our ability to know where our 

limbs are and what they are doing 

(without actually physically seeing 

them). A good example of this is 

being automatically able to tell the 

difference between standing and sitting 

when you have your eyes closed. 

Spatial Awareness 

This is the ability to understand the 

position of one’s body, navigate around 

objects and co-ordinate movements. 

This is something I have to practice 

regularly due to misjudging a door 

frame and hitting it with various body 

parts. Thankfully it doesn’t affect 

my driving ability (although a few 

might question that statement!). 

Interoception 

This means your ability to recognise 

bodily sensations such as feeling hot, 

cold, itchy etc. Being alert and tuned 

into your body’s signals enables you 

to understand and cope with stress 

levels, thus making you aware when 

you’re fatigued and need rest. 

Being interoceptive allows you 

to access your current emotional 

state to enable you to work 

through issues and self soothe. 

Recent studies suggest that 

good body awareness can 

have a positive effect on pain 

management. Additionally other 

studies have shown that a lack of 

body awareness can possibly have 

effects on self esteem, acceptance 

of self and depressive symptoms. 

Excercises 

Yoga, meditation, pilates and massage 

are renowned for greatly improving 

your body awareness, but you can 

do the quick and easy exercises 

below on your own without using 

anything other than yourself. 

❤ Breathe (1-2 minutes). 

❤ Stand tall with your feet hip-width 

apart, shoulders back and down 

and chin tucked under, so you have 

your body in a good posture state. 

❤ Place one hand on your chest and 

one on your belly. Close or lower 

your eyes to the ground and notice 

your breathing. Focusing on your 

breath draws in more oxygen and 

enables your body to function at an 

optimal level. It can greatly reduces 

stress levels (in a very short space of 

time). Concentrating on you and 

not outside distractions is a great 

first step in being body aware. 

❤ While in the same position as 

before, try and stand on one leg. 

Balance (1 minute on each leg). 

❤ At first keep your eyes open and observe 

your toes and heel – are they all applying 

the same pressure on the floor or do 

you feel more pressure on one area than 

another? Progress this exercise by lowering 

your eyes or closing them entirely (be aware, 

this is much more difficult that it sounds!). 

Body Scan 

This is a great way to relax before bed 

Start by visualising each finger, your 

palm, wrist, forearm, elbow, shoulders, 

and neck. Work your way around your 

whole body and breathe normally. 

I’m looking forward to sharing 

Part 2 of body awareness already! 

See you next month. 

More info: 

• the-guided-meditation-site.com/ 

body-awareness-meditation.html 

• autismawarenesscentre.com/ 

interoception-and-autism-bodyawareness-challenges-for-those-with-asd 

• sciencedirect.com/science/article/ 

pii/S1360859219300774 

Sarah Maxwell is a multi award-winning 

weight loss, lifestyle and fitness coach. 

Find out more about her work... 

Facebook & Instagram: 

@sarahmaxlife 

Twitter: @sarahmax100 

sarahmaxwell.com 


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Nourish to Flourish 

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau 

looks into healthy eating for toddlers 

In a recent study, experts have warned that British toddlers 

have one of the worst diets in the world, with the majority of 

calories coming from foods which have been linked to a host 

of health problems. A study of children’s diets in eight countries 

found that under-5s in the UK have the highest consumption rate 

of mass-produced, ready-made foods, where 61% of the energy 

intake of British children aged two to five years old came from 

ultra-processed foods. Many toddlers have fluctuations in appetite 

and can be selective in their food choices and this is completely 

normal, so learning to guide your child to make better food 

choices that support growth, development, mood, immunity and 

future health outcomes is incredibly important. Toddlers need 

three meals and some snacks each day, which should be made up 

of around five+ portions of fruit and vegetables, five portions of 

starchy carbohydrates, three portions of dairy and alternatives, two+ 

portions (three if vegetarian) of protein and a small amount of fat. 

Step away from… HIGHLY PROCESSED SNACKS 

The amount and variety of ultra-processed snacks in the baby and 

toddler aisles at the supermarket is huge and can contribute to our 

toddlers’ intake of unhealthy highly processed foods. Sweet fruit 

pouches, cereal bars, toddler biscuits, puffed vegetable sticks and 

rice cakes are all so irresistible, but they can be packed with fat, salt 

and sugar. Instead try to offer snacks that are made of whole foods, 

e.g. vegetable sticks with hummus, cheese chunks, nut butters on 

apple or banana slices, fresh fruit with a dollop of natural yoghurt, 

homemade biscuits or muffins. Try to avoid offering too much 

dried fruit like little raisin packets, as these can get stuck in teeth 

and cause decay. Avoid fizzy drinks and minimise fruit juices, as 

both are high in sugar. Water and milk are the best choices. 

Learn to… ESTABLISH GOOD HABITS 

There are many things that can impact children’s eating habits, 

from teething and sickness to activity levels, sleep and their 

environment. A positive atmosphere at home is key to encouraging 

good eating behaviours. Don’t give up after introducing a new food 

just once, as it can take between five and fifteen times before a child 

will accept a new food. Your reaction and attitude to trying new 

foods can be really influential on your child, so try to be as relaxed 

as possible before and during meal times. Be a role model for eating 

a variety of different foods and cultivate a positive relationship 

towards food intake. Try to limit offering sweet treats as a reward, 

making a child feel guilty for others being less fortunate, or insisting 

on a clean plate, as these may trigger a negative relationship with 

food in the long run. Make food fun! Include children in shopping 

and cooking from a young age, encourage experimentation with 

food (get messy!), and eat as a family as much as possible. 

Give it a go… COOK FROM SCRATCH MORE 

A poor diet doesn’t provide enough of the crucial nutrients 

needed to keep you in optimal health and, longterm, it could 

also have life-limiting effects. Ensuring that your kitchen is full 

of a healthy, colourful and diverse range of foods is one of the 

best things you can do for your child’s diet. Try to cook more 

from scratch; swap breakfast cereals for scrambled eggs and 

avocado with wholegrain toast, or porridge topped with fresh 

berries. Swap oven chicken nuggets and chips for roast chicken 

and homemade potato wedges as well as introducing simple 

swaps like white breads and rolls for the wholegrain variety or 

white pasta for lentil or wholewheat versions. Making fresh 

smoothies, soups or pasta sauces is a great way of including 

extra vegetables without too much effort (and in disguise 

if needed). Make use of your freezer and batch cook your 

favourite meals. Stock up with frozen veg like peas, sweetcorn 

and mixed bags which are great if time is a constraint. There’s 

no need to add additional salt to your child’s diet at any age 

unless you have been told to do so by a health professional. 

Charlotte runs Plume Nutrition, where she offers support and advice for weight management, controlling 

cravings, sleeplessness, stress and increasing energy levels. Find out more at plumenutrition.com 


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82 

MarlboroughHouseWT251.indd 1 06/03/2023 11:47

Education 

The Great Outdoors 

We learn about Forest School and ‘empty 

classroom days’ from Longacre School’s 

Headteacher, Matthew Bryan‘ 

When I think back to my own school days, I 

was delighted whenever a teacher took a class 

outside, though sadly the overriding memory is of 

presuming that lessons al fresco were not going to 

involve any kind of serious work or application. That 

kind of thing happened in classrooms, so I presumed. 

The school playing field might be ideal for football, 

handstands and relaxing, but it is also perfect for academic 

pursuits, be that composing poems about spring as the 

bluebells and blossom emerge, or breaking twigs to 

see fractions literally, or bringing science to life in the 

pursuit of minibeasts. The outdoors makes the most 

wonderful canvas for art and a child will never forget 

a historical battle if they take part in a re-enactment 

(especially if it includes some dressing up!). 

All pupils at Longacre engage in Outdoor Learning, with 

the older children moving from Forest School activities 

to Teamwork and Leadership tasks with a real focus 

on achieving as a group, rather than as an individual. 

These innovations at Longacre are integral to achieving 

outstanding results and record value-added data. 

To ensure that outdoor learning becomes systemic 

and normal, we give over whole days to individual year 

groups as ‘empty classroom days’. Come rain or shine, 

pupils spend the whole school day – save loo trips! – 

outside, following their normal curriculum and ensuring 

that lunch includes toasted marshmallows. Teachers 

at Longacre look forward to teaching everything in 

the wild, with particular kudos to the ICT teacher! 

longacre.surrey.sch.uk 

Excellent Report 

Marlborough House School tell us about 

their recent ‘Excellent’ rating by the 

Independent Schools Inspectorate 

Following a rigorous three-day inspection, staff 

and governors at Marlborough House School 

were delighted to be awarded the highest rating of 

“Excellent” in all areas, in March 2023. The Prep 

School was praised for the pupil’s “excellent” academic 

achievements, in addition to their “excellent” personal 

development. Feedback on the school’s individual 

approach was glowing, with Inspectors noting that: 

“Pupils of all abilities make fast progress from their 

individual starting points and achieve high academic 

standards” with pupils acquiring “excellent knowledge, 

skills and understanding across the curriculum”. 

The school’s modern, skills-based approach to the 

curriculum was also commended for enabling pupils 

to “develop effective skills for learning and for life”. 

As a school with clear values at its core and a robust 

personal development programme, it is no surprise that 

Inspectors found that: “Pupils of all ages show high 

levels of self-knowledge, self-confidence, determination 

and resilience”. Marlborough House’s ethos centres 

around ‘Valuing Self and Others’ and the report 

repeatedly identified pupils as a wonderful combination 

of “confident” and “respectful”. Indeed, in interviews 

with Inspectors, children themselves described the pupil 

body as “incredibly friendly, kind and respectful”. 

Mr Newton, Head of Marlborough House thanked 

the school community for their support: “We are very 

proud of our pupils and this remarkable recognition 

that they have received. A huge thank you goes to our 

talented and committed staff and the whole school 

community. Next year, the school will mark its 150th 

anniversary and this exceptional, independent review of 

MHS is a wonderful starting point for our celebrations.” 

marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk 


Employment Law 

that works for you. 

Our experienced team of employment 

law specialists can advise in relation to 

the full range of employment matters. 

We provide cost effective advice tailored 

to your needs on matters including: 

+ Settlement Agreements 

+ Senior Employee Exits 

+ Employment Related Shareholdings 

+ Unfair Dismissal 

+ Discrimination, Harassment 

& Victimisation 

To find out how we can help, call us on 

01622 698000 or 01227 643250 

or email enquiries@wmlaw.uk 

whitehead-monckton.co.uk 

Antonio Fletcher 

Associate Director 

Louise Purcell 

Associate Solicitor 

Lydia Ashman 

Solicitor 

Petra Venton 

Associate Solicitor 

Whitehead Monckton Limited (no. 08366029), registered 

in England & Wales. Registered office 5 Eclipse Park, 

Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated 

by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 608279. 

Plan of 

Action 

Citrus Financial’s David Braithwaite 

(DipPFS, Manging Director & Principal Financial Adviser) 

talks us through the key pension 

questions you should be asking 

David is BBC Radio Kent’s 

resident financial expert and 

his passion is making financial 

advice understandable. Having 

established Sevenoaks based Citrus 

Financial in 2002, he believes 

in empowering people through 

knowledge and giving everyone 

the skills and help required 

to approach their finances with confidence. 

Is it ever too late to start paying into a pension? 

No, you’re never too late to start, especially as the government 

provides valuable tax breaks. With a personal pension, the 

government provides tax relief, so in really simple terms when 

you pay £100 in, it gets topped up to £125. It’s even better 

if you are in a workplace pension, as you also benefit from 

your employer paying into the scheme. So, for example, if 

you pay £100 into a workplace pension, the government add 

an additional £25 and your employer £75. Of course, some 

employers offer more generous contributions. In essence, 

it’s a great way to double your money. One of the things we 

do as financial advisers is to make sure our clients are as tax 

efficient as possible with their planning – putting money into 

a pension is like saving, but with great tax breaks you wouldn’t 

otherwise benefit from. Also, pension funds can be passed on 

after death and usually with no inheritance tax to be paid. 

How do I find out if my pension is being 

invested into funds that are right for me? 

Most people really haven’t a clue where their pension is being 

invested. This is understandable, we’re all busy and many 

people join a scheme and opt for a default fund. It’s never 

checked again, as after all, you’ve done the hard work and ‘got 

a pension’. In reality though, you need to treat your pension 

in the same way you would an investment. It’s the pension 

funds that you’re invested in that will provide you with 

growth. So, it really pays to take the time to get it right, and 


84 

WhiteheadMoncktonWT250-HLF.indd 1 22/02/2023 15:52

Pensions 

istockphoto.com/ okies3D / Kikujiarm 

then to keep an eye on the performance. Just like investing, 

you should always start with the amount of risk you are happy 

to take. Then see what options you have with the pension 

you are in. If you’re not happy you can switch your fund if 

necessary. It’s relatively easy to do and usually at no cost. 

What are my pension options when I reach retirement age? 

It depends on what type of pension you have. There are 

two main types, Final Salary/Defined Benefit or Defined 

Contribution pensions. A Final Salary pension, (which is 

becoming rarer) promises a level of income paid for life, 

without much input or risk to you. Defined Contribution 

pensions (the ones where you see a cash value each year) have 

different options depending on the contract. In the main you’ll 

have two options though, either an annuity which is a fixed 

income for life, or ‘drawdown’ which is where you choose 

the frequency and amount of money you withdraw from 

your pension. With drawdown, the remaining pot still stays 

invested though, like someone putting a tap onto your pension 

pot. Both Final Salary and Defined Contribution pensions 

will offer a combination of tax-free lump sum and income. 

How much money would the average person need 

in their combined state and personal pension 

pots to ensure a comfortable retirement? 

This is a question we’re regularly asked but it really depends 

on what lifestyle you want in your retirement. When 

you retire you could receive an income from the state 

and both workplace and personal pensions. According to 

Which? a ‘comfortable’ income for a couple in retirement 

is £28,000 per annum. This means a pot of anywhere 

between £144,950 to £204,750. However, for a ‘luxury’ 

income of £45,000 for a couple you’d need between 

£470,580 and £664,450*. It’s worth remembering you 

will likely spend more when you first retire, as holidays 

and travel feature more. As we reach older age our 

spending tends to reduce. A good place to start is gathering 

information on all your pensions and work from there. 

What should we be thinking about pension-wise as 

we progress through our 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s? 

And what happens if the retirement age is raised again? 

The older we all get, then the interest we take in our pension 

grows exponentially. When you are younger you don’t tend to 

think about getting old, and when you are older, retirement 

becomes more real – especially when others around you talk 

about their plans. If there’s one piece of advice I would pass 

on, it’s that it’s never too early to start paying into a pension. 

The earlier you start paying in, the better off you’ll be as you 

make full use of compound interest. The state pension age is 

only going in one direction as life expectancy increases and the 

government looks to save money. We’re starting to see people 

plan for a different type of phased retirement, where rather 

than aiming for a magical retirement date they’re choosing to 

cut back on their hours or switch to less demanding jobs. 

How can you check on the status of your State Pension? 

Not everyone knows but it’s really easy and free to do. Simply 

head to gov.uk/check-state-pension and start there. They will 

send you a forecast based on your National Insurance (NI) 

contributions. They’ll tell you when you can expect to receive 

your pension and how you can increase it should you want 

to. This is something everyone should do, especially as the 

government has just extended the deadline for people to fill 

gaps in their NI record. Under normal rules it is only possible 

to fill gaps up to six years after the year in question, but you 

now have until the 31st of July to fill historic gaps all the 

way back to 2006/07. So do this now. Also, planning is so 

much easier when you know all the facts. Don’t forget to also 

keep up to date statements of your other pensions, and if you 

need help making sense of it all, it’s what we are here for. 

*which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/ 

starting-to-plan-your-retirement/how-muchwill-you-need-to-retire-aNmlv7V7sVe9 

(Details correct at time of going to print.) 

Find out more at citrusfinancial.co.uk 


DO YOU KNOW 

HOW MUCH 

YOU’LL NEED 

TO RETIRE? 

We all imagine that we’ll have a comfortable and fulfilling 

retirement. But do you know how much you’ll actually 

need to enjoy your retirement, rather than just get by? 

Speak to us today. 

We can help you plan for your retirement now, so when the time 

comes you’ll be able to not only cover the essentials but also enjoy 

the finer things in life. 

The value of pensions and investments can fall as well as rise and you can 

get back less than you invested. 

Mortgages | Pensions | Financial Planning | Investments | Insurance 

Citrus Financial Management Ltd 

2nd Floor 

Watermill House 

Chevening Road, Chipstead 

Sevenoaks TN13 2RY 

T. 

F. 

E. 

W. 

01732 834 834 

01732 834 838 

advice@citrusfinancial.co.uk 

citrusfinancial.co.uk 

Approver Quilter Financial Services Limited & Quilter Mortgage Planning Limited. 15/03/2023

Pensions 

Look to the Future 

Lee Wood APFS, Chartered 

Financial Planner at 

Financial Advice & Services Ltd 

helps us make sense of pensions 

Is there one place where I can track down all my 

previous pensions? Is it sensible to combine them? 

Most people work for several companies during their 

lifetime, contributing to different pensions along the 

way. This can mean it is difficult to assess the value of 

the accumulated pensions and make decisions around 

drawing a pension income in the future more challenging. 

If you have lost touch with a pension, the Government’s 

Pension Tracing Service can help. Combining pensions 

into a single arrangement can often make sense, as 

it aids clarity, and can save costs over time; however, 

this course of action isn’t right for everyone. Taking 

independent financial advice, which considers your personal 

circumstances, can help you make the right decisions. 

How do I find out if there are any NI credits available to me? 

The new State Pension is based on your National Insurance 

(NI) record at the point you reach State Pension Age. If 

you are employed, and earn over £242 per week, or are 

self-employed and pay the appropriate contributions, 

you will gain a qualifying year on your record. To qualify 

for the full State Pension, you will need to have 35 

qualifying years’ worth of NI contributions. You may 

be able to get NI credits if you’re not paying NI, for 

example if you claim benefits when you are unemployed 

or ill. These credits can help to fill gaps in your NI 

record. You can check your National Insurance record, 

to identify any gaps, through the Gov.uk website. 

Are there any situations, for example maternity 

leave, that will affect payments into my pension? 

If you’re in a workplace pension scheme and your employer 

contributes to it, they must continue to do so while you’re 

receiving Statutory Maternity Pay. These contributions 

must be made for 39 weeks, and, possibly longer if this is 

part of your contract of employment. In respect of the State 

Pension, as Maternity Pay is subject to National Insurance 

deductions, you will receive a National Insurance credit 

if Maternity Pay exceeds £123 per week. If your child is 

under 12 years of age, and you don’t work (or don’t earn 

enough to pay National Insurance) then receipt of Child 

Benefit counts as a NI credit towards your State Pension. 

Do I need to nominate a beneficiary for my pension? 

And how would I go about doing that? 

Many people don’t appreciate that making a Will doesn’t 

usually control who receives your pension savings in the 

event of death. The Trustees of the Pension Scheme, or 

your pension provider, will decide who receives the pension 

savings. You can, however, complete an Expression of Wish 

to nominate who you would like to receive your pension 

benefits. The Pension Trustees will take note of your wishes, 

but they are not bound by them. Each pension provider 

will have their own beneficiary nomination form which 

needs to be completed, and any nomination can be changed 

in the future by completing a new Expression of Wish. 

What else can I do to supplement my 

pension, e.g. investments? 

Whilst pensions are generally the most tax-efficient method of 

saving for retirement, you can also generate an income from 

investments or property to supplement pension income in later 

life. Using your Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance 

each year is a good way of keeping funds exempt from Income 

Tax, and building up funds within an ISA provides flexibility 

if monies are needed. You can hold cash deposits within a 

Cash ISA, or for longer term savings, a Stocks and Shares ISA 

allows investments to be held in a tax advantaged wrapper, 

which also avoids Capital Gains Tax on future disposals. 

Who should I speak to for clear advice? Is 

there anything I should avoid doing? 

Using a Financial Adviser can help you reach your goals, but 

it is important to choose the right adviser. An Independent 

Financial Adviser (IFA) will be able to look across the market 

at a range of different solutions, whereas a Restricted Adviser 

can only advise on a limited range of products or services. 

Using a firm that is Chartered, such as FAS, means that 

you will be advised by highly qualified and experienced 

financial planners. With investment scams on the increase, 

you should always be sure who you are dealing with, and 

treat any direct approach from an adviser with suspicion. If 

in doubt, always speak to a regulated Independent Adviser. 

financial-advice.co.uk 


What’s On in April 

COURSES 

Sun 23 Apr 

Near Ticehurst, East Sussex 

(precise location to be 

confirmed after booking) 

FORAGE AND FERMENT 

WITH ISOBEL SPENCE 

Learn how to forage safely and 

sustainably to create a seasonal 

ferment to take home. Isobel 

will take you on a short walk 

in this beautiful little corner 

of East Sussex. You will meet a 

range of different wild plants and 

learn about their uses for food, 

medicine and craft. Along the way, 

you’ll be gathering some seasonal 

wild greens and flowers that will 

be added to your ferment. After 

a seasonal light lunch Isobel will 

guide you through the simple steps 

to create your very own ferment. 

The course cost includes a jar 

for your ferment, a worksheet, 

light lunch and refreshments. 

Entry: £135 

curioushouse.net 

Fri 21 Apr 10am-3pm 

Brockham Village Green 

RH3 7LA and Nower 

Wood Education Centre 

WILDLIFE GARDENING 

FOR BEGINNERS WITH 

SURREY WILDLIFE TRUST 

This one day course will begin on 

Brockham Village Green where 

your tutor, Paul Ritchie, has 

developed a thriving community 

garden with local people. Discover 

how they have introduced all 

of the vital components for any 

wildlife gardening project. After 

that, you will return to the Nower 

Wood Education Centre (just 10 

minutes down the road) for the 

rest of the day. There, you will 

learn the principles of wildlife 

gardening, what to consider when 

planning and developing, and the 

best ways to create/enhance your 

own green space to achieve your 

botanical goals. 

Entry: members £45/ 

non-members £60 

surreywildlifetrust.org 

EASTER 

Sat 1 – Sun 16 Apr 10am-5pm 

Ham House and Garden, 

Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, 

Surrey, TW10 7RS 

EASTER AT HAM HOUSE 

Follow in the footsteps of 

Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of 

Lauderdale, on a trail of activity 

and discovery. Ten themed stations 

around the garden’s Wilderness, 

colourful formal lawns, kitchen 

garden, courtyard and north 

terrace lead to a chocolate egg 

prize. Get competitive in the 

fresh air with friends and family 

in traditional games including 

hoopla and wheelbarrow races 

and learn about Elizabeth’s life 

in the 17th century. Finish your 

day in the Orangery Café for 

hot drinks, lunches or snacks. 

Entry: Normal admission plus 

£3 per trail (includes a chocolate 

Rainforest Alliance Easter egg) 

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ 

london/ham-house-and-garden 

Sat 1 Apr – Sun 16 Apr 

Brooklands Museum, 

Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, 

Surrey KT13 0SL 

READY TO RACE AT 

BROOKLANDS MUSEUM 

Return to the track and get 

Ready to Race in the Easter 

holidays. Drop-in to the free 

family workshop to make a 

downhill racer and see how far it 

can go (recommended for over 

5s). Explore the magnificent 

Concorde. Hop on a vintage 

bus for a relaxing ride out and 

around Brooklands. Uncover 

the lesser-known facts of the 

museum with a new free discovery 

trail through the outside spaces 

around the race track, aircraft 

park and historic buildings. And 

for under 5s, it’s never too early 

to inspire future race drivers 

or pilots with pedal planes and 

pedal cars running every day 

throughout the holidays. No need 

to pre-book. Subject to weather. 

brooklandsmuseum.com 

A wonderful day out with over 150 craft stalls to discover 

29th April – 

1st May 2023 

Penshurst Place, 

Tonbridge 

SAVE £2 

with early bird tickets* 

Adults £8 

Kids go free 

Free parking 

Artisan shopping | Alfresco dining | Workshops & demos | Family fun 

www.thecraftshows.co.uk 

* online tickets 

before 23/04/2023 


88 

ICHF-WealdofKentShowWT251-Surrey.indd 1 03/03/2023 10:55

What’s On in April 

Sat 8, Sun 9 & Mon 10 Apr 

Lullingstone Castle, 

Eynsford, Kent DA4 0JA 

EASTER EGG QUIZ 

Lullingstone Castle and The 

World Garden kicks off its 2023 

season with plenty of family 

fun starting with their Easter 

Trail and Quiz. Aspiring plant 

hunters will be able to scour the 

beautiful landscaped grounds 

and The World Garden for 

Easter clues and then report 

on their discoveries to claim a 

tasty surprise, plus the chance to 

meet some Easter characters! 

Entry: adults £12.50, under 16s free 

lullingstonecastle.co.uk 

MUSIC & THEATRE 

Sat 22 Apr 7.30pm 

Trinity Theatre, Church Road, 

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1JP 

TALES FROM ONE 

THOUSAND AND 

ONE NIGHTS 

Scheherazade tells stories, 

exhilarating stories full of fun, 

danger, wonder and passion… but 

will it be enough? Can her stories 

save her life? With their stylish 

brand of ensemble storytelling, 

puppetry, mask and live music, 

Dragonboy Productions breathe 

new life into some of the funniest 

and most entertaining folk tales 

found in The Arabian Nights. 

This is a feast of story-telling, 

suitable for the whole family 

and woven into a production 

that simply cannot be missed! 

Entry: £16, children £13, 

concessions £14 

trinitytheatre.net 

Sun 23 Apr 7.30pm 

Richmond Theatre, 1 Little 

Green, Richmond TW9 1QH 

SUSIE DENT - THE SECRET 

LIVES OF WORDS 

Take a journey into the curious, 

unexpected, and downright 

surreal origins of the words we 

use every day. Susie will retell the 

adventures that lie hidden within 

such words as lasagne (involving 

a chamber pot) and bugbear (a 

terrorising monster), and explain 

such oddities as the silent h 

in ghost and the mysterious 

disappearance of kempt, gormful, 

and ruly (and yes, you really can 

be gruntled). She will look to the 

lexicon of the past to fill some 

of today’s linguistic gaps – such 

as the frenzied fit of tidying we 

all do just as guests are about to 

descend (that’s a scurryfunge). 

Entry: £33.45 

atgtickets.com/venues/ 

richmond-theatre 

Tues 25 Apr 7pm 

EM Forster Theatre, 

Tonbridge TN9 1JP 

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: 

OTHELLO (ENCORE) 

Filmed live on the Lyttleton 

stage of the National Theatre, an 

extraordinary new production 

of Shakespeare’s heart-breaking 

tragedy, directed by Clint Dyer 

with a cast that includes Giles 

Terera (Hamilton), Rosy McEwan 

(The Alienist) and Paul Hilton 

(The Inheritance). She’s the bright, 

headstrong daughter of a senator. 

He’s a refugee of slavery who has 

risen to the top of a white world. 

Wed in secret, Desdemona and 

Othello crave a new life together, 

but as unseen forces conspire 

against them, they find their 

future is not theirs to decide. 

Entry: £15, students £13 

emftheatre.com 

OUT AND ABOUT 

From Mon 27 Feb 

Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks 

THE LOST WORDS 

TRAIL & EXHIBITION 

AT IGHTHAM MOTE 

Rediscover nature’s disappearing 

words with this exhibition 

inspired by Robert Macfarlane 

and Jackie Morris’s beautiful 

spellbook, The Lost Words. Then 

put all you leanred into action 

and encourage children to 

expand their vocabularies with 

a free outdoor eye-spy trail, in 

which you can discover hidden 

animals around the garden 

in their natural habitats. 

Entry: Free with admission. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/ 

kent/ightham-mote 

Fri 14 Apr 9:30am-12:30pm 

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve 

& Jeffery Harrison Visitor 

Centre, Bradbourne Vale Road, 

Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3DH 

GUIDED WALK: 

SPRING BIRDS 

Join Kent Wildlife Trust for 

a guided walk of Sevenoaks 

Wildlife Reserve, to observe the 

birds found there during early 

spring. You may spot grebes, 

herons, lapwing, little ringed 

plover, singing warblers, and the 

martins and swallows feeding 

over the lakes. Your guide for the 

walk will be one of the reserve’s 

dedicated volunteers, who knows 

exactly what to look out for! 

They recommend you bring a 

pair of binoculars to make the 

most of this walk. It could be 

muddy underfoot, so sturdy 

footwear is also a good idea. 

After the walk the Visitor Centre 

will be open so you can enjoy a 

hot drink or browse the selection 

of wildlife books and other 

items in the shop. This walk is 

recommended for over 12s only. 

Entry: £8 

kentwildlifetrust.org.uk 

Selected dates from Fri 21 Apr 

– Sat 26 Aug 5.30-8.30pm 

Wisley Lane, Woking, 

Surrey GU23 6QB 

WALKIES AT WISLEY 

Walkies at Wisley events are a 

fantastic opportunity for you and 

your dog to enjoy this worldfamous 

garden. Explore the 

breathtaking outdoor areas with 

your canine companion, and 

you can even treat your dourlegged 

friend to a lick-smacking 

Scoop’s doggie ice cream or 

puppacino. Two dogs permitted 

per person, and dogs must be 

kept on a lead at all times. 

Entry: adults £8.25, children 

£5, members free 

rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 

Fri 21 – Sun 23 Apr 10am-5pm 

(last entry 4pm) 

Firle, Near Lewes, East 

Sussex BN8 6LP 

THE GARDEN SHOW 

AT FIRLE PLACE 

Spring is on its way and whilst 

we await the daffodils, primroses and 

bluebells to bring joy to countryside 

and gardens alike, it’s time to start 

planning ahead. The hardy perennials 

at The Garden Shows are getting 

ready to bring a plethora of plants, 

garden furniture, artisan designs, 

homeware products, sundries, fashion 

accessories and the most delicious 

country foods to your garden and 

home. There will be plenty of good 

garden advice, talks and walks, 

and family entertainment to keep 

everyone happy. Join the show and 

enjoy a great day out Firle Place. 

thegardenshows.com 

LOOKING FORWARD 

Sat 27, Sun 28 & Mon 29 May 

10am-4pm 

All Saints Church, Biddenden, 

Kent TN27 8AH 

‘A MOMENT IN TIME’ 

FLOWER FESTIVAL 

Save the date for this year’s Flower 

Festival in Biddenden! This year, 

the Flower Festival’s theme will be 

“A Moment in Time” and will be 

held on the late May Bank Holiday 

weekend. This event always has 

a lovely sense of community. In 

addition to the beautiful floral 

displays decorating the 13th century 

church interior, this year’s festival 

will continue with favourites such 

as a plant stall, locally baked cakes 

and treats, and musical interludes. 

All Saints tower will also be open 

(for a small charge of £1) to visitors, 

with its spectacular views across the 

parish and the landscape beyond. 

Entry: free (donations welcome) 

Listings are correct at time of going 

to press but may be subject to change. 

Readers are advised to check with venues 

before making arrangements. We can list 

your event in the next issue of Wealden 

Times for only £75+VAT. Please supply 

up to 100 words that should include date, 

time, venue, contact for enquiries and any 

entry price to whatson@priceless-group. 

com or send with payment (cheques 

payable to Priceless Media Ltd.) to What’s 

On, Priceless Media, Kettle Chambers, 

21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent 

TN17 3HF. Priceless Media reserves the 

right to edit text to fit space allocated. 

Deadline for the next issue is 5 April. 


Jane Howard explains how 

they record the year’s new 

arrivals at Coopers Farm 

Some events in the farming 

calendar, such as lambing in 

April, are set in stone, while 

others are at the mercy of the elements 

– hay making, for example, can be 

anywhere from May to September. 

At Coopers Farm the rams go in 

with the ewes on Bonfire Night and some 

five months later, from April Fool’s Day, 

the lambs start arriving. And every year we look 

forward to it, completely forgetting the sleepless 

nights, tricky births and occasional disaster. 

Before it all kicks off, and rather like expecting a 

new baby, there’s a trip to the sheep equivalent of 

Mothercare to get stocked up with essentials. Rubber 

gloves (self-evident), gallons of 

lubricating gel (ditto), ropes to pull 

out the lambs that get stuck, marker 

spray (see later), castrating rings for 

tails and testicles and then tubes of 

some rather remarkable adrenaline 

paste that you smear on the lambs’ 

tongues if they look a bit dozy, being 

careful not to get it on your fingers! 

Then there’s husband Adrian (chief 

shepherd)’s famous chart which he 

draws up every year with pencil, ruler, 

care and precision muttering how fast 

another year has gone by, but which 

heralds the arrival of new life and 

provides us with an invaluable record. 

Once lambed, each ewe is recorded 

on said chart (and in case you were 

wondering they all have numbered ear 

tags as opposed to facial recognition). 

For each of four attributes – ease of lambing, mothering/ 

milking skills, twins and vitality of the lambs she can 

score minus one, zero or plus one, so a max of four 

points (all rather Eurovision) and anyone scoring two or 

less is unlikely to have a long-term future in the herd. 

And in terms of planning for the future we also clip 

the ear of all the ewe lambs that have a twin brother or 

sister. Carrying the twin gene is a definite positive so 

We spray a number 

on one side of the ewe 

and the same number 

on her lambs. If 

down the line the two 

should get accidentally 

parted, you can 

wander around the 

field with the lost no. 

27 lamb seeking the 

matching 27 ewe and 

effect a happy reunion 

when some eighteen months later we are selecting which 

females to bring into the flock as replacement ewes we 

will only choose from those which have a notched ear. 

So having acquired all the kit, drawn up the chart 

and brought the ewes into the shed 

we’re ready to go. They give birth in 

the large open-plan part of the barn but 

once delivered of their lambs they are 

moved to individual pens for about 24 

hours to ‘mother up’. As well as getting 

used to their mum’s smell and call we 

can check she has plenty of milk, that 

she likes both her lambs – sometimes 

a ewe will fixate on one and pretend 

the other is nothing to do with her 

(a definite minus one!) and that the 

lambs are lively and sucking well. 

Then we spray a number on one 

side of the ewe and the same number 

on her lambs. If down the line the two 

should get accidentally parted, you 

can wander around the field with the 

lost no. 27 lamb seeking the matching 

27 ewe and effect a happy reunion. 

Interestingly, without aerosol cans, the Victorians 

would cook up a dye paste to do the same job but used 

letters rather than numbers as this took less dye and 

less effort. Apart from that, little has changed in the 

lambing shed over the years – except we’ve rejected an 

idyllic but freezing shepherd’s hut in favour of a warm 

Alpine Sprite caravan – but regardless it remains one 

of the happiest times and always much anticipated. 

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


90

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the ones who get the best results. Work with us and you’ll see: who cares wins. 

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Surrey Homes | SH99 | April 2023 | Garden Supplement inside

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Surrey Homes | SH99 | April 2023 | Garden Supplement inside

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