Looking for fun things to do this half-term? The team at The Living Weald (err that’s me..!) have pulled together an action packed list to suit most kids (and adults!) Don’t forget to head back to ‘The Living Weald’ and let me know how you got on!

1. Indoors

Try out Clip ‘n Climb in Tonbridge Booking required
SourcePark Hastings – a huge underground skatepark facility situated under the Seafront in the heart of Hastings
Trampolining: FlipOut Ashford or Gravity Maidstone
Bowling: Hollywood Bowl Tunbridge Wells
Amazing milk shakes & award winning brownies Cocolicious, Cranbrook
A21 Diner – american dining at its best! Hurst Green
Movie releases: Tad the Lost Explorer, Early Man & Coco – listings as yet unknow but try Kino Hawkhurst, Kino Rye, Odeon Tunbridge Wells, CineWorld Ashford

Booking advised to avoid disappointment!

2. Craft

Get busy pottery painting or try out deco-patching – totally addictive Slap’n’Dash, Hawkhurst
Half Term baking courses – Bake and Crafthouse, Cranbrook
Glazy Daisy, pottery painting in Tunbridge Wells

3. Outdoors

Highway Rat Activity Trail – Bedgebury Pinetum and play trail
Junior Go Ape and Go Ape – High wire fun at Bedgebury Pinetum
Cyclopark – Gravesend Half term cycling adventures
LaserTag and adventure playground at Bewl Water (£2 entry to site and cost of activity)

4. Historic

Leeds Castle – Half Term Explorers
Bodiam Castle – castle trail featuring the importance of women in medieval society
Scotney Castle – family art trail, photography courses for kids
Penshurst Place – enchanted garden trail and a chance to swot up on the Tudors

***The Living Weald cannot be responsible for any closures or changes to the advertised activities. Booking is advised and please check the links for latest information.***

Thanks!

Blog

12 Festive Things To Enjoy In The Weald

November 15, 2017January 2, 2018 the living weald

1. Eat and drink and be merry!

Enjoy a delicious festive coffee and cake at Cocolicious Cafe in Cranbrook
Savour the Christmas menu in the beautiful Vinery Cafe, The Walled Nursery, Hawkhurst
Enjoy a delicious festive lunch at The Hub, Quarry Farm, Bodiam
Cosy up in the warmth for dinner in The Three Chimneys Biddenden
No one does cosy, festive pub better than the Bull in Benenden with its fires and festive decorations
Take the stress out of Christmas Day by eating at the Plough in Udimore
Best kept secret in East Sussex – a restaurant with a view Boat House Bistro – Bewl Water
Check out the new chef Gary Jarvis at The Curlew in Bodiam

2. Cut your own Christmas Tree

Hole Park Gardens – come and choose a tree cut from the estate. Open 10 – 4pm from the last week in November
Bedgebury Pinetum Trees – To highlight the importance of sustainable forestry, you’ll receive a free Christmas tree sapling with every purchase! Keep it well watered, and care for it well, and that sapling will grow into a big, strong Christmas tree. We will be trading: 1st, 2nd & 3rd December & 8th – 20th December. Times and parking: Open 10:00 – 16:00 & free admission for one vehicle per tree purchased on the day of purchase only.
Biddenden Christmas Trees – Frogs Hole Farm open from Sat 25th Nov

3. Visit some Festive Animals

The Reindeer Centre, Bethersden – open every day from November 11th – lots of festive fun, reindeers, grotto and more.
Rare Breeds Centre – A Truly Magical Christmas with Santa’s Grotto at The Rare Breeds Centre Woodchurch 2^nd, 3^rd, 9th, 10^th, 16^th, 17^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd December and ‘Wiley Wolf Productions’ are performing Dick Whittington the pantomime, with all the usual jokes, fun and interaction
Port Lympne – a NYE party with a difference New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Dance 31st December 2017
Lovely Llamas, Wych Cross – Santa’s Grotto and Christmas shopping

4. Wander around a Christmas Market

Leeds Castle Christmas Market – Visit the Christmas Market on the Cedar Lawn overlooking the Castle to discover a splendid array of seasonal gifts, toys, festive decorations, specialist food and drink. Children and adults alike will be enchanted by the reindeer and birds of prey while traditional fun fair rides and live music keep everyone entertained.
Goudhurst Village Christmas Fair 24th November 4-9pm – the church and village will be open for a special Christmas evening – this annual event of Christmas shopping, refreshments and activities will be scattered around the village
Festive Pop-up – Lime Wharf Cafe, Newenden 30th November 8.30am-12 – skincare, jewellery, kid’s clothing, fashion, gifts, candles, food and more
Tenterden Christmas Market 24th-25th November Over 70 stallholders, festive food, fair and Christmas lights switch on.

5. Go Ice Skating

Skating in the Park –Tunbridge Wells http://www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com/
Bluewater – The undercover outdoor ice rink will return to Bluewater this year, which means you can skate whatever the weather.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens The skating rink will be open daily in December, and there will also be special ‘skating under the stars’ sessions under a clear roof.

6. Watch Festive Movies

At the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, families will be able to enjoy a week of festive films at a Kent drive-in cinema this Christmas. Moonlight Drive-in is set to present a week of Christmas cinema experience, with a variety of classics for the whole family to enjoy.

7. Visit Santa in his Grotto

Bewl Water 9th – 24th December Santa will once again be taking up residence in his waterside grotto, giving out presents to children before they embark upon their adventure of helping save Christmas! Jump aboard the Santa Express and help the elves find all the missing Christmas items.
Groombridge Place – Join the elves at Groombridge Place this Christmas for storytelling, Christmas crafts and to meet Santa in his grotto where children will receive a festive gift. Weekends throughout December
Kent Life This December Santa will be taking time out of his busy schedule to stop off at Kent Life. Jump on board the Land Train driven by the head elf and hear the Christmas tales, and don’t forget to grab your chance to meet Santa in his magical grotto and take home a special gift. Adults can also enjoy a cheeky mince pie and sampling of hot Cider.
Penshurst Place The popular Narnia grotto will be returning to Penshurst Place, with Santa waiting to greet visitors in the enchanted forest.
Take a magical steam train journey to meet Santa this Christmas with our popular Santa Special trains. At Tenterden Station the beautiful Victorian carousel provides unlimited free rides for the young and young at heart alike

8. Make Some Festive Crafts

Make Christmas crafts and gingerbread houses at the lovely Bake & Crafthouse
Christmas Wreath Making – The Walled Nursery, Hawkhurst

9. Take the Family on a Festive Walk

Get into the Christmas spirit with a family walk around the grounds of Hever Castle – Christmas at the Castle
Walk off the Christmas excesses on the Boxing Day Walk at Bodiam Castle – tickets

10.Have Fun at a Festive Sporting Event

Snow Tubing – Grab your friends and family and experience the thrill and exhilaration of storming down a slope at great speed in a giant rubber ring at Betteshanger Country Park, near Deal, this Christmas. From Thursday, December 21 through to Monday, January 1 you can get your heart pumping and adrenalin flowing as you speed down the 18m-long artificial slope on a large inflatable ring.
Curling – Fenton’s Curling Rink is an ideal venue for a fun sporting experience with a difference. Curling is a winter Olympic sport and the rink at Fenton’s is a full sized ice pad, exactly then same as played on by top athletes. But it’s a game that is easy for beginners to pick up and have fun from the start!
Running – Christmas parkrun at Bedgebury 23rd December 5km – dress up in your best festive outfit and bring your elf dogs and some Christmas nibbles to share afterwards. Also in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells & Hastings

11. Volunteer at Christmas

Help the Salvation Army with their Christmas Appeal
Get involved with Crisis at Christmas
Donate unwanted clothes or gifts to Hospice in the Weald shops or volunteer
Give some extra food to the Hastings Foodbank

12. Sing some Carols

Carols at Christmas with Hospice in the Weald, 08th December 2017 at 6:30pm, Tunbridge Wells’ historic Church of King Charles the Martyr and hosted by journalist, broadcaster and writer Sian Williams.
Christmas Carols in the courtyard – Ightham Mote NT Enjoy a warm glass of mulled wine on arrival, then sing along with the choir in the medieval courtyard. Tickets.
Charity Carol Concert with Sir Willard White All ticket sales go to Fidelity’s Charities of the Year – Hospice in the Weald and Taylor Made Dreams.

That’s it from me at ‘The Living Weald’ for this year!

Apart from to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year xx

Blog

Introducing ‘The Living Weald’

November 14, 2017 the living weald

‘It’s A Kid’s Weald’ is now ‘The Living Weald’!

We hope you enjoy it as much as you did before – we will now be sharing a broader spectrum of information and lots of events for grown-ups as well as kids and families!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for more up to date news and events.

Keep an eye open for our new Christmas blog post coming soon!

Blog

What’s it all about?

September 24, 2017November 14, 2017 the living weald

Oh my – this Summer has been amazing! I have been on a journey and I feel you have been on it with me. I haven’t been very open about who I am – but this is me! I am Susie, a mum of 2, living in Benenden, Kent.

I started ‘It’s a Kid’s Weald’ at the beginning of May 2017 – and as some of you don’t know, this was Week 6 of my course – Setting Up your Social Media Platforms. There, it’s out!

‘It’s a Kid’s Weald’ was my coursework for the amazing Social Media Management course run by Digital Mums. I have been studying hard since March and am now in the final report writing stage and will soon be waiting for my results.

I have had so much fun posting about everything going on in the Weald on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram and chatting to so many of you on a daily basis!

I have spent many hours tripping over in the fields, trying to walk the dog and tweet at the same time; sent so many WhatsApp messages to my amazing peer group that I got ‘scrolling thumb’ (- a real condition you know) and driven my family mad photographing everything we have done all Summer!

If you have been following me on Instagram @itsakidsweald you will remember some of these lovely things we got up to!

But now I need to focus on setting up my own business and Social Media agency and I shall be taking a well-earned holiday from ‘It’s a Kid’s Weald’ for a few weeks.

I spent most of my actual Summer holiday tweeting and learning so feel I need a digital detox! I intend to come back with an exciting rebrand so that I can offer you more of the same and some new content too.

I would love it if you would tell me what you liked about what I have done so far and what you would like to see more of! Please follow me on my other platforms and look forward to more fun soon!

Please email me on susie@socialwize.co.uk with any enquiries!

Blog, Reviews

Review: Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs Normandy, France

August 31, 2017September 2, 2017 the living weald

This August we packed up the car with kids, roof box and dog and headed from the Weald of Kent to Dover for our crossing to Calais for our summer break. Our first week was spent in Batz-sur-Mer on the Loire Atlantique coast and the second week we headed with excitement to Les Bois-Francs, one of France’s 5 Center Parcs, an hour or so north west of Paris.

We have done about 4 short breaks in UK Center Parcs specifically Longleat and Elveden Forest and love them. We were looking forward to the same unique experience.

Arrival seemed pretty efficient and we motored around to our accommodation which was a VIP Pagoda sleeping 4 in zone 9 of the park to unpack the car. The accommodation was relatively newly renovated and the landscaping showed this by not being too established but inside the pagoda was a pleasant surprise with spacious living area and nice bathrooms and a sauna.

The open plan living room and kitchen was comfortable and well equipped. However we found the remote missing a back and batteries. Our decking was also damaged. The living room opened to a patio and garden space with sun loungers but we were disappointed to find there was no brick BBQ like in the UK ones. TV had BBC News but everything else was in French or German. The kitchen has plenty of plates, cups and utensils and a Dolce Gusto capsule coffee machine. We had a kitchen welcome pack and beds made up in our package but often not included.

The kids had a good sized twin bed room with a bathroom with a lovely walk-in shower and we had a double room with an ensuite with 2 sinks and a spa bath. Towels and hand towels were included. There was one loo which was by the entrance hall which was sufficient but 2 would have been nice as kids had to walk through the living room in the night to wee.

All good so far generally. We returned the car to the car park which was close by and easy to access at all times during our stay and it was easy to leave the park which we did a few times.

Shop:

We hadn’t yet done a shop for the week as our car had been too full so after a brief look around the on-site Carrefour Express we decided to head out to the nearest village Verneuil-sur-Avre to a big Intermarche. The onsite shop was empty of milk and other supplies and had a big queue when we visited but had a good bakery. Don’t rely on it. After a big shop, it was back the cottage to unpack and get some bikes sorted.

Bikes:

As in all Center Parcs you rely on bikes especially if your living space is on the edge of the parc like ours was. We found the bike center and set about sizing up bikes. Most were city bike style but plenty of choice and a few staff on hand to help. But there were also golf buggies for hire. Whilst this is a necessity for less able bodied people, we found loads of families hired these to get about rather than cycling which was a shame. There were times when my daughter on her bike with stabilisers was nearly run off the road by a teen driving their parents about in a buggy. Detracted a little from being ‘traffic-free’.

We picked up 4 bikes, kids helmets free to use and after a rather steep €109 for the week, we cycled off around the parc!

The layout and design of the parc felt familiar from the UK ones and we headed to the Dome to book some activities. One annoyance we had had since booking was that if you come from the UK and have a UK Apple App Store, you can’t download the French app.

Activities:

So…this means you can’t prebook activities, check availability, book restaurants or have the useful calendar facility that tells you where to be when! Very frustrating. We queued at the reception desk and the chap who served us spoke good English. But. We were given very confusing information about what activities were available at the parc and the timings and what we could use our 3 free vouchers for. After a long time studying the information it became clear that there aren’t many kids activities at all. They also tend to run one at a time so not possible to put one kid in one whilst the other does something else. It slowly became apparent that it was virtually impossible to put our 7 year old girl and 9 year old boy in something they would both enjoy so we could grab some spa time! We booked daughter into ‘Train to be a circus artist’ and went back to the pool a bit disillusioned. The sign at the pool told us 795 people were in the water with us 😱 Check out their board for less busy times.

Pool:

It was the usual changing room, locker, shower hell that I have experienced in all the Parcs . Centerparcs please sort this experience out; it’s horrid. After a freezing footbath we were in. Looks just like the pools in all the Parcs and we headed to the lazy river for an ease in! We were relieved to find the pool really warm, warmer than in the UK which made it more comfortable for younger kids. There was a wave pool, a little climbing wall, a great kid’s area, an outdoor pool, 4 water slides and a tobaggan ride. Lots to go on but pretty busy and queueing in the cold air is hard. Oddly there was a solarium with loungers for sun-bedding. Thought it a bit outdated in this day and age knowing the risks of them. All in all the pool was fine but I always have hygiene concerns in the pools as they are so large. Also, I was very concerned about the coconut hanging from the real palm tree above the pool….surely if that dropped into a busy pool there could be issues!

We still hadn’t sorted the activities. I persuaded the kids to do one activity together ‘Wannabe a Park Ranger’ later on in the week. We adults could then enjoy 2 hours together in the Spa. We decided to not book a treatment as they were expensive especially with the state of the pound/Euro!

The end of a long first day and we decided to grab a burger from Quick – just don’t. Shocking. Messy floor, awful nuggets, lousy burger. But the beer worked for us!

It had been a challenging first day after the initial good first impressions. We returned to BBC News and a comfy bed and shower.

Dog:

We had brought our dog and paid an extra €90 for the privilege at Center Parcs. Dogs have to be walked on the lead and there are dog poo-parks all around the parc. These were on the whole empty and fine although no one seems to clean up after their dog there. We were at the back of the park so often walked the dog through the woods and round the perimeter fence off the lead to give him a good run. There wasn’t much wildlife about apart from stray cats so the dog wasn’t really a threat to anything. Beware if they go in the hotel lake, they will stink!!

Kid’s clubs:

We were assured at reception that English was widely spoken and there was one girl who spoke OK English but the kids said they mainly spoke French and at times they had no idea what was going on. Luckily my daughter befriended a bilingual girl who helped out. They enjoyed it, they were park rangers in camo waistcoat for 2 hours and outdoors having fun!

Spa:

We dropped the kids at their club and ran for our 2 hrs in the Spa. We arrived to a queue.. we were asked if we had a treatment booked and said no we just wanted the spa visit. The receptionist then proceeded to deal with a customer for 15 minutes who was booking for another time despite me explaining we had the kids in kid’s club and wanted to make the most of the time. She was shirty with me. She asked if we have our own towels with us. I said no, I didn’t know and didn’t recall needing my own towels in the UK. Thought for €49 for 2 people, they could provide a towel. I told her I didn’t want to go in anymore and started to leave. I was now not in the mood for a relaxing spa after a terrible start. She gave us towels and we went in, grumpy. Nice loungers, some detox tea and a read of my book and some stress eased away. The pool was ok with some bubbly parts but nothing to lie on in the pool and the sensory showers were ok. It was supposed to be adult only but kids were in there with their parents despite it not being family hour. They behaved well but this was not expected. After a brief 1.5hrs break it was back to collect the kids. Relaxing…not really.

The week went on, we didn’t eat out as the restaurants didn’t appeal and we struggled to find activities to do. There was a lack of outdoor playgrounds like in the UK, no sports bar to talk about, the bowling was fun but no bumpers so hard for kids. The arcade change machine ate my money and games didn’t work.

We managed a day trip to Disneyland Paris from there. Went of the first train to Paris and back on the last. It was the highlight of our stay but that’s for another blog post.

Overall the kids enjoyed our stay but they needed more activities for the age 8-14 category. The pool was overcrowded because there isn’t enough else to do. It was impossible to plan ahead due to the issues with the app and not being able to book activities online.

We met another English family as we packed the car up and the first thing he said was that he would pack the French management off to the UK Center Parcs to show them how it should be done. I think that summed up our experience too.

It is marginally cheaper than the UK summer prices but we still paid €1617 after a 10% early bird discount for the week.

Overall, mixed feelings. We made the most of family time together but didn’t feel the usual Center Parcs love.

This review is entirely my own opinion and our visit was not paid for or endorsed by Center Parcs, we were simply on a hard-earned holiday!

Blog, Kids Activities

Goodbye 8, hello 9! How to plan a perfect party!

August 7, 2017September 28, 2017 the living weald

Parties for kids can always be really stressful for parents to plan and it is hard to please everyone! There is so much pressure to have an original party, the best party bags, the easiest ‘drop & run’ for the parents, never mind the party food snobbery.

My kids have birthdays in the same month and this always caused me a degree of stress as it was in the Summer holidays so invitation delivery options and availability of friends etc was also more of a challenge than in term time.

This year I was determined to make things easy!

Here are some of my tips for a successful party and what we did for our 9 year old boy! I made it even easier by sharing the party with another boy from my son’s class so immediately it was job halved!

Make a list of options for your child to choose from

We looked at 3 for our list that I had either heard about or my son had already done through another friend:

Nerf gun wars in our local village hall
Laser tag challenge at Bewl Water
Outdoor activities and river play in Bodiam

On a dog walk, I emailed or called them all and got them to check 2 possible dates for availability and email me all the information and booking forms.

2. Set a budget

Once I had spoken to the other mum we agreed our budget and this helped when we looked at the options, as well as helped determine how many friends we could invite between us.

Other things to consider when budgeting are not only the party and venue costs, but food, refreshments, cake and of course party bags! *groans*

So, this is how our conversation went ‘Do you think we need party bags?’ ‘No, they are always just full of useless tat!’ ‘How about a couple of mini bags of Haribo instead?’ ‘Bingo!’ Savings: about £25-40!

3. Involve the children

Once we had some options we spoke to the boys about them so they felt they had some input into the planning. There was a clear preference and it was the middle priced option, so we were quite happy with that.

Their choice was Laser Tag Challenge at Bewl Water.

We contacted the venue and paid our deposit for 8 kids which was the minimum, with an individual price for each extra child to pay on the day over and above. This gave us some flexibility on numbers.

4. Invitees

Children often feel under pressure to invite the whole class to their parties and so we felt if we took control of this area then it would remove some of the pressure. We had a price that we thought was acceptable and within budget for 10 boys so we drafted a list including a non-class friend too and ran through it with the boys. Is there anyone who should be on there who isn’t. One name came up and our message was if one of the others can’t make the party then he will be invited. Job done!

5. Invitations

Luckily, term hadn’t quite finished so I was able to hand out the invitations in the last week to the mums. It is often hard to get responses or RSVP’s so always make it easy for people to contact you. Include mobile numbers and email addresses so people can text or email as often mums do their admin at all hours of the night and don’t want to call late. Don’t buy expensive invitations – try some software like https://www.canva.com/ who have great invitation templates. I whipped up an invitation in about 10 minutes with full camouflage background and great fonts!

Print out the invitation and if necessary, any disclaimer forms or medical forms for them to fill in and put them in an envelope. Often parents don’t have printers at home. Or ink, or paper! Invitation DONE!

6. Present ideas

It is always useful to ask the parent what the child might like and if you want to stretch your budget further then maybe join up with a group of other parents and all contribute to a larger gift. We find this often helps find a more exciting gift like a larger Lego set or a Nerf gun etc. The mums in our school spend about £10 individually per child on gifts but tend to drop that to £7 if many contribute together so it can be a great way of saving more money and still getting a great gift!

7. Planning

A quick phone call with the other mum was all we needed, bar a few texts nearer the time, to sort out all the food buying. Luckily we had chosen a venue where we could have a picnic afterwards for free. So we agreed on the following shopping list which we divvied up:

10 ham rolls – made that morning
10 cheese rolls – made that morning
Variety packs of crisps
Mini cheddars
Cocktail sausages
Cucumber bits
Sports water bottles for during activity
Water and Capri-suns for lunch
Fudge brownie bites
Flapjack bites
12 cupcakes – I made them but can be bought
Paper plates
Bin bag
Camouflage tarpaulin for them all to sit on
Camouflage facepaints
Haribo

The boys just needed refuelling after 2 hours of running about. Parties aren’t the time for pushing healthy eating so easy options work best to keep all happy! We wanted minimal mess and rubbish so this list worked well.

A quick reminder email was sent out two days before as it was the holidays and people lose track of time and a little reminder to take the disclaimer form too.

8. On the day

Arrive a little earlier to sort any outstanding admin and be there to meet the parents dropping off. make sure they know the pickup time and place if the venue is large or parents don’t know it.

This party was fully run by Bewl Water so we handed the boys over with their forms and didn’t see them for 2 hours whilst they had so much fun in the woods!

9. Thank you!

The only thing left to do is thank everyone for the gifts! I chose to do a thank you on Canva again with some photos of the party and email it to the mums.

Oh and settle up with the other mum to ensure costs were divided equally!

Our party at Bewl Water was not sponsored or free, but fully paid for by us and they are not involved with It’s a Kid’s Weald. The party came in at around £95 each family (£192 total for 9 boys), which I felt was good value for nearly 3 hours entertainment including lunch!

10. Pour yourself a well deserved glass of wine!

You got through it for this year!

Check out our little video of the boys having fun!

Video of Laser Tag party!

Blog

Where in the Weald…Sissinghurst

July 17, 2017July 18, 2017 the living weald

This is the third post in my blog series exploring the lovely villages in the Weald and showcasing local businesses & suppliers. I am hoping to entice you to visit these areas, shop locally and enjoy the area as much as I do!

Please feel free to comment and feedback on what you have enjoyed on your travels with me!

⭐️The official bit…!

Sissinghurst is a small village in the county of Kent in England. Originally called Milkhouse Street (also referred to as Mylkehouse), Sissinghurst changed its name in the 1850s, possibly to avoid association with the smuggling and cockfighting activities of the Hawkhurst Gang. The name was changed to a derivation of De Saxingherste, a former family name at Sissinghurst Castle.

Situated between the town of Cranbrook and the village of Frittenden, Sissinghurst makes the perfect stop on a tour of the Wealden countryside in Kent.

Although, it is a small village, it has everything one needs to have in an English country village: a church, a school, an independent local grocery shop, a restaurant, a pub, a collection of pretty white clapboard cottages, including a stripy one, as well as a handful of shops for browsing.

But from visiting it again, I found so much more…on the main street all of the houses were well maintained with beautiful little maintained gardens. There are signs that the residents are proud of their vicinity to Sissinghurst Gardens and clearly are influenced by their wonderful plantings!

Sissinghurst

There is a fairly newly built primary school http://www.sissinghurst.kent.sch.uk/ with a ‘Good’ Ofsted and preschool The Learning Tree.

The nearest commuter station is Staplehurst offering a route into London Bridge (50mins) and Charing Cross (60mins) and Ashford International.

From Sissinghurst between the houses you can spot amazing views on a clear day across the Weald and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty!

⭐️What’s there for the kids?

Sissinghurst Gardens NT

Sissinghurst Gardens – National Trust

History:

The site that Sissinghurst Castle Garden sits on was once a Saxon pig farm, it would have been originally called ‘Saxenhurst’, with ‘hurst’ having meant woodland.

The tudor buildings were used as a prison for up to 3,000 French sailors who were captured by the British during the Seven Years War, between 1756 – 63. The sailors referred to Sissinghurst as ‘le chateaux’ hence ‘castle’ being adopted in to its name, although not a direct translation.

In 1796 the Cranbrook ‘Councillors’ took out a lease on Sissinghurst from the owners at the time, the Mann-Cornwallis family and it was used as a poor house for the able bodied. Around 100 men were offered housing, employment and food.

When the estate reverted back to the Cornwallis family in 1855 it was the beginning of a great period of Victorian ‘high farming,’ the Sissinghurst farm was deemed to be the best on the whole of the substantial Cornwallis estate.

Sissinghurst Gardens NT

When Vita Sackville-West and Harold purchased Sissinghurst in early 1930 it looked quite different to the present day. The buildings were used to house farm workers, the current famous garden had yet to be laid out and was mostly growing vegetables for the workers. The surrounding farm was growing cereals as well as having well established orchards and hop gardens.

Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson were the last private owners of Sissinghurst Castle. After Vita’s death in 1962, Harold decided that Vita’s beloved Sissinghurst should be given over to the care of the National Trust. It has been looked after by the National Trust since in 1967.

[Extracted from the NT website]

What you can enjoy:

Climb the tower for fantastic views over the gardens and Wealden countryside
Explore the White Garden
Enjoy a scrumptious cream tea in the great cafe on site

Sissinghurst Cricket Club

Junior cricket at Sissinghurst CC is really popular and there is often a waiting list for new members especially in the U9s, U11s & U13s. Coaching runs from April – July on Sunday mornings and is really well run and great for parents to get to know each other too!

http://sissinghurst.play-cricket.com/

⭐️Focus on a local business – Sissinghurst Pigs & Supperclub

It’s always exciting when new businesses appear and this focus is on one that covers off not just adding value to a community and village but also our favourite topic, shop local too. Find out a little in my interview with Sally from Sissinghurst Pigs & now Supperclub too (as well as little flower stall!)

🐷Tell me a little about how your businesses started?

In 2014 we (Sally & Andy) and our two children made the move from South London to Crossways in Sissinghurst, Kent with the plan to embrace country living and make a great life for our family while continuing the daily grind!

We restored a 16th Century Country home and have made a start on the gardens, but more recently we ripped up the original plan, quit the London rat race and we are now farming a herd of rare breed pigs and growing as much on site as we can.

SISSINGHURST PIGS – Having had a long-term dream to rear a couple of pigs for ourselves, we started with 2 rare breed British Saddleback Pigs. Following lots of interest from friends we decided to rear a few more to help cover our costs, increasing to 4 pigs then to 8 and to 12 and before long we had a small herd of rare breed pigs of 30+.

Our herd are predominately British Saddlebacks, though we also have a few other rare breeds for specific cuts/meat such as Tamworth’s (slightly gamier in flavour), Landrace (great bacon), Large Black’s (ham) and The Mangalitza (aka The Sheep Pig) which is great for making charcuterie.

All our rare breed pigs are free range reared all year round with plenty of space to roam around and forage in the grassland and under the trees in the woods. Our pigs are not given any antibiotics or growth stimulants in their feed, they are all fed on a diverse diet of East Sussex made pig nuts, locally sourced fruit & vegetables and as many acorns and cobnuts as we can lay our hands on!

Given all our pigs grow at different rates we can’t say the exact size that joints will arrive to you, we will try to be as close as possible to the stated or requested weight.

www.sissinghurstpigs.co.uk

Sissinghurst Pigs

SISSINGHURST SUPPER CLUB – We have set up Sissinghurst Supper Club (SSC) which will be hosted in our warm and friendly kitchen/diner that can seat up to 30 people with the aim of offering you an evening and meal to remember.The ethos of SSC is to try and use as many ingredients as possible grown at Crossways or sourced locally from trusted suppliers. We are pretty much self sufficient with vegetables & salad from the end June through September.We want SSC to be relaxed and fun. We have a Games Room where you can play pool, table tennis and darts. We have a record player with a substantial collection of vinyl (please bring your own to play too) and also Spotify where you can select your own playlist.

We can cater for all allergies but the kitchen is not a nut free environment.

www.sissinghurstsupperclub.com

🐷What do you love about Sissinghurst?

We love our friendly neighbours
We love our local pub
We love all the walks we can do from our door
We love that there are so many different forms of outdoor activities so close by i.e. Bewl water, Bedgebury, Sissinghurst Castle etc
We love how friendly everyone is
We love Sissinghurst Tennis Club
We love Sissinghurst Cricket Club
We love Biddenden Squash Club

🐷What suppliers locally do you use & love?

Our kitchen garden which I try to make us self sufficient from mid June until end Sept
Chittenden Farm Shop for all our fruit and veg (that we don’t get from our own garden)
Fishmongers at Hartley Dyke
Wilkes or Hartley Dyke Butcher – obviously apart from pork!
Wylde & Shrub for all our preserves and condiments (once you’ve tasted you will never go back)
Bardsley Farm – fruit juices
Turners Cider – you can’t beat their rhubarb cider – mmmmmm

Note from Editor: Totally agree on the cider!! Thank you for sharing all about your business!

⭐️Shop Local & other businesses:

Sissinghurst

TN17 Food and Wine

This well run local shop is a fantastic offering for Sissinghurst and the surrounds. It is open good hours until 8.30pm weekdays and Sat and even on Sundays until 8! That’s amazing for the Weald and satisfies my husband’s need for evening sweets! They have a great selection of local produce and a good choice of wines and are knowledgable about them too which is helpful. #shoplocal

The Milk House

The Milk House is a village pub with a lot to offer! When we first moved to the Weald it was derelict and a real eye-sore in the village. Luckily, it was bought and renovated incorporating 4 bedrooms, a restaurant, great bar and outdoor space. In the Restaurant the food is kept simple and is locally sourced and follows the seasons. It is unfussy with a mix of high quality pub fare and a more adventurous a la carte menu to suit all.

In the Summer, the garden comes to life and has a traditional wood-fired pizza oven and outside bar huts inspired by hop-pickers huts from the past as well as an all-important play area for the kids!

The versatile space allows for music and bands as well as the infamous Milk Fest on the August Bank Holiday.

Bootfair: Sissinghurst CC

This very popular bootfair runs through the Summer and the next event are listed below. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for weather cancellations!

Sunday 23rd July
Sunday 20th August
Sunday 24th September

Website: http://sissinghurst.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/186000

Ning’s Kitchen

A fantastic addition to the local area! The last Friday of every month is Ning’s Kitchen Thai night! It’s simple – order the set menu online, pay by paypal, let Ning know your anticipated collection time and hey, presto, Thai food in the Weald! Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/ningskitchen/

Rankin’s Catering

http://www.rankinscatering.co.uk/ Outside Catering or in-house dining for up to 30 but specialising in canapé receptions

Sissinghurst Farmers Market

http://www.kfma.org.uk/Sissinghurst The market will be open this year on the second and fourth Fridays, May to September: 10.00am to 3.30pm

Local and seasonal produce as well as craft items and artisan breads

B&B – If I have enticed you enough then come and stay in this delightful B&B http://www.sissinghurstcastlefarmhouse.com/

Sissinghurst

Sissinghurst Tandoori

The boring bit: All views are my own and I cannot be held responsible for any incorrect information.

Blog, Local Business, Reviews

The Hub @ Quarry Farm, Bodiam UK

July 10, 2017July 17, 2017 the living weald

Focus on a local business – The Hub at Quarry Farm

The Hub Bodiam

The Hub at Quarry Farm can be found just over the railway line and past the station from the Castle. As a visitor, you are unaware of what really lies down the track until you have parked and you wander around.

Eating

The Hub Bodiam

First up there is a fantastic cafe and shop open all day serving great coffee, breakfast, lunch and lovely cakes. The cafe is totally family friendly and kids are encouraged to play with Mr Potato Head or the train track and leave their parents to have a little me-time! There is plenty of seating outside for you to enjoy a bit of sunshine and you can bring your dog along too. There are delicious breakfast options like Eggs Benedict and plenty of lunch choices including soup, lunch platters, paninis and sandwiches. The rocky road cake is totally delicious and way too big for one and kids can wash it down with a hot chocolate with marshmallows for that total sugar rush!

In the evenings there are occasionally pop-up events so keep an eye on the website for information about those.

The great thing about the Hub is that it is home to a few different businesses, with other people using the versatile space for regular or one-off classes or events.

Sleeping

The Original Hut Company http://www.original-huts.co.uk/ has 8 beautiful handcrafted huts on site as well as glamping bell tents and additional camping options for bringing your own. The huts are often used by wedding guests, hen parties wanting something different away from the cheesy nightclub and tourists wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of their normal lives. The huts are along the river bank and the site has fantastic views over Bodiam castle and beyond. Perfect for a restful break in the beautiful Wealden countryside.

Get active

Adventure Activities Sussex The Hub

Quarry Farm is home to one of the other on-site businesses, Adventure Activities Sussex www.adventureactivitiessussex.co.uk which offers many activities including paddleboarding, kayaking, archery & bushcraft. There are also kid’s holiday and after-school clubs which are guaranteed to give your child a sense of adventure. My kids and their friends enjoyed an hour of archery at half term and the instructor was brilliant! We followed with a delicious lunch in the cafe!

Next on my list to try is paddleboarding!

If you want to be active whilst staying, why not hire an electric bike on site and explore the area further!

Relaxing

Spa The Hub

There is a shepherd’s hut currently being developed into a Spa with The Natural Spa Factory which will offer treatments and holistic therapies – perfect for some mum relaxation time!

Spa treatments will be a great addition to a hen party here where you can then add on an evening with Wild Feast and their popup wild cocktail bar and the weekend is sorted.

Creative

Bring the kids to enjoy a range of different classes on offer from pottery by Bekky May or Jitterbugz, a new music and dance activity class from 4 months.

There is so much going on at the Hub and this focus just scratches the surface. Anna is doing a fantastic job making the Hub a place to meet the needs of the local community as well as a great destination for visitors to the Weald!

Blog

Where in the Weald…Bodiam

June 29, 2017September 25, 2017 the living weald

This is the second post in my blog series exploring the lovely villages in the Weald and showcasing local businesses & suppliers. I am hoping to entice you to visit these areas, shop locally and enjoy the area as much as I do!

Please feel free to comment and feedback on what you have enjoyed on your travels with me!

⭐️The official bit…lots of facts I didn’t know!

Bodiam (/ˈboʊdiəm/) is a small village and in East Sussex, in the valley of the River Rother near to the villages of Sandhurst and Ewhurst Green. There is a 12th-century church, which contains a brass of a knight with the arms of the de Bodeham family, one of the first lords of the manor.

Originally it was a port and crossing point from Battle to North Kent. During the medieval period a great moated castle Bodiam Castle, was built which is now a popular National Trust visitor attraction.

Although famous for its castle, Bodiam was also in a main hop-growing area in the last century and was famous for growing hops for Guinness. Reginald B. Levett of Court Lodge Farm would sell part of his land to Guinness to grow hops.

A railway was built to provide transport for the hoppers, the Kent and East Sussex Railway, which is now another tourist attraction.

There is a small primary school, Bodiam CE School with a Good Ofsted rating.

⭐️What’s there for the kids?

Bodiam Castle NT – the crown jewels of castles!

Recently coming 2nd in the Top Ten Best-loved Castles; we all know why! Anyone who has seen the 14th century Bodiam castle falls instantly in love with the fantastic ruin surrounded by a moat. It is so picturesque and since being taken over by the National Trust 90 years ago, offers loads of activities for kids of all ages!

Bodiam Castle

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There is so much to explore, towers to climb, ducks to feed and cream teas to share. If you want, you can picnic on the lawn around the moat and often see falconry or archery going on.

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle

Kent & East Sussex Railway

KESR

Go back in time and travel on this amazing piece of track between Tenterden, Rolvenden, Northiam, Bodiam & Wittersham Road. There are Santa Specials and Thomas and Friends regularly can be seen for the little ones! Next Thomas visit is 22nd-24th July – book online now! Make a picnic or enjoy a cuppa onboard and just relax and enjoy the sound of the train and the view from the windows.

Website: https://www.kesr.org.uk/

⭐️Focus on a local business – The Hub at Quarry Farm

The Hub Bodiam

Eating

The Hub Bodiam

In the evenings there are occasionally pop-up events so keep an eye on the website for information about those.

The great thing about the Hub is that it is home to a few different businesses, with other people using the versatile space for regular or one-off classes or events.

Sleeping

Get active

Next on my list to try is paddleboarding!

If you want to be active whilst staying, why not hire an electric bike on site and explore the area further!

Relaxing

There is a shepherd’s hut currently being developed into a Spa with The Natural Spa Factory which will offer treatments and holistic therapies – perfect for some mum relaxation time!

Spa treatments will be a great addition to a hen party here where you can then add on an evening with Wild Feast and their popup wild cocktail bar and the weekend is sorted.

Creative

Bring the kids to enjoy a range of different classes on offer from pottery by Bekky May or Jitterbugz, a new music and dance activity class from 4 months.

⭐️Shop Local & other businesses:

There are a few local businesses around Bodiam which are well worth a visit:

Mad Hatters Fancy Dress – an amazing emporium of fancy dress items! There are original and reproduction items to ensure you look fantastic for that special party. There are also period costumes for all eras and film outfits for young and older! You can visit the shop by calling ahead or shop online but I would say it is well worth the visit to see their full range! You will find it just passed the railway on the left hand side opp. The Hub
Web Site : https://www.madhattersfancydress.com/

National Trust Cafe and shop Bodiam Castle – a lovely cafe full of the usual NT foodie options and it can be visited without castle entry although parking isn’t free. The shop always has some lovely books, gifts, blankets and local products for sale.

The Castle Inn

A local Shepherd Neame pub in the heart of the village on the green. Offers breakfast and lunch and has a garden for those summer days.

The Curlew

My favourite restaurant in the Weald!

In a previous life The Curlew Restaurant at Bodiam, was a coaching inn where travellers rested their weary, moustachioed heads and warmed their spirits while on rain-sodden route from Hastings to London.

Now it is Modern British dining for the Modern British diner. Recently it had a change of ownership and Gary Jarvis has taken over as Head Chef; we look forward to many more stunning evenings here. Enjoy a G&T in the cosy seating area with a wood-burner in the winter and high-backed tweed and leather armchairs. Eat canapés whilst deciding what you want from the locally sourced menu which is cleverly thought-out and creative. The locally sourced cheeseboard is a great choice to end the meal.

Web Site : http://www.thecurlewrestaurant.co.uk/

Sean’s Swim School – teaching children who are complete beginners through to an advanced level, after which they are able to be considered for entry into a swimming club or continue on the Rookie lifeguard courses. The aim is to have no more than 8 pupils per class; ensuring that the teachers are able to give each pupil the individual attention they deserve.

Website: http://www.seansswimschool.co.uk/

Claremont School

Claremont School in Bodiam is an independent Senior School founded in 2011 in the heart of the village.
Web Site : http://www.claremontschool.co.uk/senior/

If you are quick and want an extra excuse to visit Bodiam and I haven’t given you enough reason already, then visit the Bodiam School Fun Day and Dog Show!

The boring bit: All views are my own and I cannot be held responsible for any incorrect information.

Let's go explore

Where in the Weald…Marden

June 21, 2017June 22, 2017 the living weald

This is the first post in my blog series exploring the lovely villages in the Weald and showcasing local businesses & suppliers. I am hoping to entice you to visit these areas, shop locally and enjoy the area as much as I do!

Please feel free to comment and feedback on what you have enjoyed on your travels with me!

⭐️The official bit…

Marden (/ˈmɑːrdən/ or /mɑːrˈdɛn/) is a village about 8 miles (13 km) south of Maidstone, near Goudhurst, Staplehurst and Paddock Wood.

Marden is a quiet village with a station for commuter trains to London and Ashford International. Nearby is Marden Thorn, about a mile out of Marden. Very proud to be home of the Kent Air Ambulance https://www.kssairambulance.org.uk/

There is a well attended primary school called Marden Primary School with a ‘good’ OFSTED http://www.marden.kent.sch.uk, There is a thriving Cricket & Hockey Club (hockey known as Marden Russets), a youth football side and a village club.

The village has a mix of traditional Kent housing and newly built homes. It is popular with commuters due to its 50 minute train into London Bridge.

I enjoyed visiting Marden, had a joke with a local outside the supermarket who wanted to photobomb my shot and felt there was a real local community feel.

⭐️Snippets from a local:

1.Tell me a little about why you like living in Marden?

Marden is less well known than other villages and generally warm and friendly with little trouble. We live a mile outside of the village and our road is lovely and peaceful. We also like the convenience of being just 2 mins from the train station, 50 mins into London and 12 minutes to Tonbridge where my child goes to school.

2. In Marden there are a number of local businesses – which ones do you use and enjoy?

I mainly use the post office/village store, the farm shop, the Green Door beauty salon, Stanley’s petrol station/ DIY shop and Marden Tandoori. I use all the above because I want to support the village and because they are all friendly businesses that are not over priced.

3. What can Marden offer the kids?

We are members of both the hockey and cricket club. It’s a lovely community club and many of the children’s friends are members. We might join the tennis club next year too. We also go on walks and cycle rides locally and we are hoping to get a dog next year so we will get out and about even more. We love the countryside here and open landscape.

⭐️Shop Local:

There are a number of great local producers and businesses in and around Marden:

Anno Distillers – my favourite!! Producers of delicious gin & vodka. A new handcrafted artisan spirits manufacturer in Marden, producing a super-premium Kent inspired gin. Distillery tours and tastings are available there too.
Web Site : http://www.annodistillers.co.uk

Marden Farm Shop – is situated in the heart of the village in the historic Old Court House in Marden. They offer locally grown or locally sourced produce including: vegetables and fruit; organic alternatives; freshly baked artisan breads; local cheeses; creams and milk; free range eggs; home-made cakes; quirky preserves, chutneys and pickles; deli items; picnic ideas; and pet supplies. I picked up some delicious Kent cherries and then ate them in the car all the way home as the smell was too intoxicating!

Marden Farm Shop

Web Site : http://www.mardenfarmshop.co.uk

Tanner Farm Park

Quality award-winning touring Park in idyllic rural surroundings for caravans, motorhomes and camping. Now offering glamping pods. Ideal spot for visiting the area and the many attractions in the region
Web Site : http://www.tannerfarmpark.co.uk

Turners Craft Cider

Turners make craft cider from 100% Kentish apples all grown in and around Marden. The cider is available to buy direct and in Hartley Coffee House & Farm Shop http://www.hartley.farm/ Perfect served cold on a hot Summer’s evening!
Web Site : http://www.turnerscider.co.uk

⭐️Other local businesses:

John’s Marden

The Green Door Marden

Munchies Marden

Marden Tandoori

Stanleys Marden

Unicorn Marden

Marden Village store

Ken Ballard Butchers
The Taj of Kent
West End Tavern Pub and Restaurant
Marden Tandoori
Munchies Bakery
The Unicorn pub
John’s hairdressers
Marden Village Store
Stanley’s petrol station

⭐️What’s there for the kids?

Marden Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club (newly formed) incorporating Marden Russets – a local, well run hockey club for ages 6 and up. Next season sees newly built facilities and clubhouse to enjoy http://www.mardenrussets.com/

Soon to be merged with Marden Tennis Club
Marden Library Stories and Rhymes in the Library on Fridays 10 – 10:30 am, led by parents

Marden Pre-School Playgroup http://www.mardenpreschool.co.uk/
Marden Children’s Centre:
An interactive stay and play group for 0-18months, our Stay & Play group is a great chance for children to take advantage of our great play room and all our wonderful toys. Each week we provide different, exciting and stimulating activities that are tailored around your children. This group aims to encourage development and give parents and their little ones an opportunity to meet other families.

⭐️Stay Healthy:

The Green Door Marden

Maredn Pharmacy

The Green Door
Mini Day Spa http://thegreendoor.co.uk/

Marden Medical Centre Church Green, Marden, TN12 9HP – 100 per cent of patients rated their overall experience as good

Marden Pharmacy
Web Site : http://www.mardenpharmacy.co.uk
Please support your local village pharmacy for all your medical needs.

The boring bit: All views are my own and I cannot be held responsible for any incorrect information.