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It is a busy year in Kent this year, for golf fans there is the Open Golf being held at the Royal St. George's Golf Course in Sandwich from the 12th to the 19th July.

For those interested in history this year is the 850th anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket, with lots of connected events being held throughout the year, full details and dates are on https://becket2020.com/events

Fancy a day at the races? – Kent Point to Point season starts at Charing on February 17th. British Eventing Horse trials are at Chilham Castle twice this year, on the 18th and 19th April and the 25th and 26th July.

Love cartoons? – Anifest returns to Canterbury from the 28th February until the 1st March, hosted by Canterbury Christ Church University https://www.canterburyanifest.com/

and Bayfest with the Herne Bay cartoon festival in August. https://hernebayfestival.com/

Events at the Kent Event Centre at Detling, near Maidstone include

Build It Live on the 8th and 9th February; FFX Tool show on the 28th February to the 1st March; The Holiday and Leisure Show on the 15th March; The Heritage Transport Show on the 5th April; The Kent Garden Show on the 23rd to the 25th May; Tiny Tots Big Weekend on the 6th and 7th June; The Kent County Show on the 10th to the 12th July; there are also various antiques and collectors fairs throughout the year. Detling is an easy half hour drive from us.

Further details and times of all the events can be found at https://www.kenteventcentre.co.uk/whats-on

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham has many events on this year, with Mission Explore, on during February half term from the 15th to the 23rd. Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed on from the 21st March until the 14th June. Festival of Steam and Transport on the 12th and 13th April. “Call The Midwife” location Tours from the 4thMatch until the 31st October. All events, dates and times are on their website. https://thedockyard.co.uk/

Brogdale Collections, the home of the National Fruit Collection has festivals and fairs throughout the year, including the Hanami Festival on the 18th and 19th April, (Hanami is the Japanese Festival dedicated to cherry blossom), the Cider Festival on the 29th and 30th August and the National Apple Festival on the 17th and 18thOctober. https://www.brogdalecollections.org/festivals-events

Other events being held in Kent this year include

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It’s February the days are getting longer, the sun is shining and thoughts start to turn to holidays or just time away for a bit of R&R and catching up with friends.  Here in East Kent close to Faversham and Canterbury, we seem to have the best of everything – but then I’m biased! The great cities of Canterbury and Rochester; interesting towns like Faversham, Whitstable and Ramsgate and the villages of Chilham, Wye and many others.  Each in their own way unique.

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Add in both coast and countryside, ancient woodlands and rolling Downs and Kent offers everything you could wish for in a holiday or short break.  Choosing a farm for your visit means that you will be offered the very best of local or homegrown produce and Kent’s not called the Larder of London for nothing!  On our own farm at Brenley we always say we grow alcohol!!  Hops and cereals for beer, red and white grapes for still and sparkling wine, apples for cider and pears for perry.  Come and stay with us in The Garden of England.

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1. Heritage – Kent is the oldest county in England Canterbury is among the oldest cities with a continuous history – trace its rich heritage through the architectural styles of buildings along its narrow cobbled streets and visit St Martin’s, part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site, the oldest working parish church in England. Wander the atmospheric streets of Sandwich and you’ll come across the highest density of listed buildings of any town in England, Sandwich also has more medieval buildings than anywhere else.

 

2. Cathedrals – Kent is home to the two oldest Cathedrals in England As soon as you step into the magnificent interior of Canterbury Cathedral you can sense the deep stirrings of history and worship stretching right back to AD 597. The Mother Church of the Anglican Communion has a rich tradition of welcoming visitors, ever since medieval pilgrims were drawn to the spot where in 1170 Thomas Becket was murdered. Rochester Cathedral, founded in AD 604, is the second oldest cathedral in England. The Cathedral recently unveiled the first real fresco to be painted in an English cathedral for nearly 800 years.

 

3. Castles – Kent has more castles and historic houses than any other county Dover Castle, commanding the shortest sea crossing to the Continent, has been known for centuries as the Key to England. At Dover you can experience life from Roman times to World War II, while the Secret Wartime Tunnels include the only underground barracks ever built in Britain. Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, echoes with romance – not least from the time Henry VIII came a-wooing his second wife. Other castles in include Walmer Castle, Deal Castle, Leeds Castle, Rochester Castle and Upnor Castle.

 

4. Gardens – Kent is the Garden of England and its gardens are world renowned. With 180-plus to choose from, there’s one to match your every mood. Explore one of the world’s most celebrated 20th-century gardens at Sissinghurst, the spellbinding creation of writer/poet Vita Sackville-West and her husband, diplomat/writer Harold Nicolson. Scotney Castle Garden is pure fairytale! Created in the 1830s by Edward Hussey, in ‘Picturesque’ style around the ruins of a small 14th-century moated castle. Emmetts Garden is relaxed and informal, with many rare trees and shrubs from across the world. You’ll also find the highest treetop in Kent here!

 

5. Coast – tour the Kent coast, following The Maritime Heritage Trail Whether you’re after traditional family entertainment, adrenaline watersports or somewhere to chill out, Kent’s varied coastline has just the beach or resort for you. Head for the captivating sandy bays of Broadstairs, Charles Dickens’ favourite holiday resort, wind down, have bucket-and-spade fun, flex your limbs pursuing watersports. Joss Bay is popular with the surfing fraternity, while the safe, secluded environment of Viking Bay is perfect for families and swimming. Whitstable and Herne Bay, nestling on the north Kent coast, also have distinctive characters.

 

6. Maritime Heritage - The most complete dockyard of the Age of Sail, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, spans over 400 years of maritime history and was the place where the ships that defeated the Spanish Armada and Napoleon’s forces were built. The intriguing remains of the world’s oldest known seagoing boat are on show at Dover Museum. Visit Ramsgate, the country’s only Royal Harbour, a title it earned from King George IV and look out for the full-size replica Viking Ship at Pegwell Bay, commemorating the arrival of Hengist and Horsa in AD 449. Richborough was the main entry port for legions invading in AD 43 and you can relive the early stages of conquest amid the evocative ruins of Richborough Roman Fort. The ‘Iron’ Duke of Wellington was once Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, which granted him residence at Walmer Castle. You can still see his original Wellington Boots there.

 

7. The White Cliffs of Dover - Amazing but true: it took 80 million years to form the White Cliffs of Dover from the crushed remains of billions of tiny sea-dwelling plants and animals. The area now provides the habitat for many species of flora and fauna, including some that are rare, and it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Bring your binoculars, your camera and limitless curiosity. With a visitor centre, shop and café, the White Cliffs make a fabulous family day out.

 

8. Countryside – Some 6,876 km of footpaths criss-cross the Kent countryside Walk, wildlife-spot or just relax in a wonderful Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The eastern half of the North Downs is known as the Kent Downs and they stretch 878 sq km (339 sq miles) across nearly a quarter of the county, from the White Cliffs at Dover to the Surrey and London borders.

 

9. Food and wine – The Garden of England is renowned for its fruit production Treat yourself to a genuine taste of Kent with a tour of award-winning Chapel Down Winery at Tenterden Vineyard, the country’s largest producer of English wines. Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewer and you’ll find its characterful pubs scattered throughout the county, where you can sip handcrafted ales full of spicy Kentish hops. Or go behind the scenes at its brewery in Faversham to discover the processes behind the making of the perfect tipple.

 

10. Famous connections, authors and artists - Follow the 17th-century Indian Princess Pocahontas to St George’s Church, Gravesend and Dickens to locations for Great Expectations and The Pickwick Papers in Rochester. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales was the first book to be printed in England, in 1476 and Jane Austen was a frequent visitor to Goodnestone Park Gardens, near Canterbury. The artist JMW Turner lived in Margate and claimed the area has ‘the loveliest skies in Europe’. Surprisingly for such a tranquil county, you’ll also uncover the source of all-action tales and sinister goings-on. Have a drink in The Duck Inn at Pett Bottom where – You Only Live Twice – 007’s adventures took shape, or dare to enter Arthur Conan Doyle’s Valley of Fear!

 

 

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It is a wonderful spring for wild flowers this year. So many out at the same time – the purple orchids have just appeared amongst the white wild garlic and anemones, dead nettle, dainty stitchwort, vivid pink ragged robin, delicate tiny wild geraniums, blue bells, creamy yellow dead nettle, cowslips, bright yellow celandines and dandelions that shine like the sun.

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Blog - 27/04/2017

The lightly scented aromas of the garlic and bluebells waft in the air as I ride my pony Harry around our local bridleways and lanes. Some prime places to see all these are Spong Wood at Elmsted, Yockletts Bank and Park Gate Down nature reserve near Stelling Minnis and Blean Woods near Canterbury. I love to see the fields full of sheep calling to their lambs as they gambol around , it’s fun to baa back at them too! There are lots of lovely gardens open to the public as part of the National Open Garden Scheme in Kent, raising money from donations for nursing and caring charities. Most gardens offer delicious tea with homemade cake.

Visit them online at www.ngs.org.uk

Lewana, Great Field Farm, Stelling Minnis

 

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I’ve just returned from an enjoyable walk in the Weald of Kent countryside, with all the blossom starting to appear and the beautiful bluebells in our local wood, with friends from the Chart Sutton walking group.

We had our lunch in the Lord Raglan pub before walking back to the village via the Old Roman road.

Sue, Brick Kiln Cottage