At home with history

After looking at over 100 properties across Oxfordshire, Sussex and Somerset, artist and creative director Sean Joo finally fell in love with a country house near Lenham, bringing a dash of the South of France to a leafy corner of...

A home of light, life & joy

Peter and Sarah’s modern family home, built on the site of an old turkey farm, is a reflection of the couple’s passion for travelling and filled with all the things that they love There are houses you step into and...

Raspberry trifle

For the jelly: Add the jelly cubes to a large jug and pour over the boiling water. Whisk until the cubes have fully dissolved, then stir in the cold water. Pour the jelly into your trifle bowl and drop in...

Pork, apricot & sage pie

To prepare the pastry: Grease the loaf tin with butter and line with a strip of parchment paper, leaving the ends overhanging for easy removal. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one-third of the pastry to a strip about 5mm...

Barbury duck breast with fondant potatoes, beetroot relish, crispy kale & carrot purée

For the duck breast: Season the duck breasts generously with salt and pepper. Place the breasts skin-side down into a cold frying pan over a low heat. Slowly render the fat and cook until the skin is golden brown – this should take...

Postnatal Exercise

Sarah Maxwell gives her tips for getting back to feeling ‘you’ after a baby Becoming a mum can be a whirlwind of joy, chaos, sleep deprivation and hormone upheavals, and the idea of slipping back into your pre pregnancy clothes...

Small changes big results

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of getting outside before 10am As the days grow shorter and darker, it’s easy to feel a little more tired, a little less motivated and, for many, a little lower in...

Let’s go local

Jo Arnell gives her recommendations for plants that thrive naturally in the great British climate Our native plants are tough. Able to survive frosts, wet winters and – once established – short periods of drought too. They are the bedrock,...

Meet the…Head

Ashley Currie shares what’s winning Ashford Schoolrecognition in the national press Who or what has had the greatest influence on you as an educator?My greatest influence was my primary school headmaster, Mr Abrahams. He was a very kind man and...

Farm Fables

Jane checks the condition of her flock to ensure next year's lambs are happy and healthy At the end of October we put the rams in with the ewes and there we shall leave them for about four weeks. Female...

A Second Life

A collaborative parent-and-son design and build process has resulted in a multi-generational family home that couldn’t be more fit for purpose The original barn, from which this warm and welcoming family home has emerged, dates from around 1840. But this...

Harmony & unity

After spotting the work of interior designer Olya Lammas in a magazine, the owners of this 17th century farmhouse knew they’d found just the right person to carry out an extensive refurbishment on the home they had lived in and...

Sausage & apple rolls

Mix the filling ingredients – except the egg – together thoroughly in a large mixing bowl. Unroll the pastry within its greaseproof wrapper and place on a board. Cut into 2 equal sections lengthwise – so that you have 2...

Apple, cauliflower & Stilton salad

Blanch/steam the cauliflower florets for 1 minute and then plunge into a bowl of icy cold water. This retains the crunch and reduces bitterness. Make the dressing by combing all the ingredients and mixing well (I put them in a...

Hedgerow harvest cake

Beat sugar and butter together for a few minutes – until the texture becomes light and fluffy. Gradually incorporate the eggs – I usually leave one egg to be added with the flour to avoid any curdling. Add the rest...

20 mind tricks to get you moving

Sarah Maxwell shares her guide to upping your exercise motivation Ever planned to exercise after a quick coffee, a few emails, and sorting the cutlery drawer, only to find it’s dark outside and too late for a workout? You promise...

Small changes big results

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of eating a protein rich breakfast As the mornings turn crisp and the light shifts, it’s natural to feel a little slower to rise. But one small adjustment to your morning routine...

In Shrubs We Trust

Jo Arnell pays attention to some often-overlooked garden stalwarts Shrubs are back. I’m not sure that they ever went away to be honest, but drifts of perennials and meadow plants have been stealing the limelight in recent years. Perhaps it’s...

Intended Meaning

Former headteacher Mike Piercy fights punctuation’s corner Inscribed on the black / white / digital board (please delete as appropriate according to era): whats for lunch john asked pete The question to the class, ‘Who’s talking, John or Pete? Hands...

Farm Fables

Jane tots up this winter's feed bills as she preps Coopers Farm for the cooler months Winter is on its way and we’re getting prepared. The barns are now full of winter forage (summer grass cut and preserved for food)...

Underground treasures

Steven Short and David Clegg’s mid-terrace home has certainly provided the creative couple with their fair share of challenges and talking-points, from unattached staircases to breaking bathtubs. But one feature of this pocket-sized property is sure to stay at the...

Buy well, buy slowly

Sara Divsalar’s new build property in Surrey is a constantly evolving project for the interior designer, who is honing her skills and growing her client list symbiotically Buy well. Buy slowly,” so said Rita Konig, A-list interiors queen and former...

Get Reading!

The Duke of York’s Royal Military School explains how they inspire a love of books In an age dominated by digital devices and ever-shortening attention spans, fostering a genuine love for reading in young people is both a challenge and...

Meet the…Head

As ‘two become one’ we talk to Eddy Newton, Head of the new Malborough House Vinehall Can you share some career highlights and how your experiences have shaped your approach?I knew I wanted to be a teacher from the age...

The News

Schools of the South East tell us about their latest news Sacred Heart School Report Card Sacred Heart School in Wadhurst is delighted with its latest ISI report, which confirmed the school has ‘met’ all Independent School Standards. The report...

Growing STRONG

Two schools tell us how they’re getting pupils to dig intohealthy living and eating Environmental stewardship is firmly embedded in the school culture at St Andrew’s Prep… After proudly achieving Eco-Flag status last year, we set ourselves the challenge of...

5 ways to Prep for Prep

Nerves are natural, but there’s so much to look forward to, says Helen Coombs, Headteacher at St Faith’s Prep! From making new friends to discovering new interests, school life offers a whole world of opportunity. Children thrive on routines, shared...

9 Steps to the New School Gates

Rowan Preparatory School’s tips for new startersto get off to a great start For all children: 1. Be enthusiastic about the new school year! Explore timetables, extracurricular activities and the school website or social media together so your child has...

Helping Your Daughter Settle into School Life

Notre Dame School tell us about their warm welcome for new starters and parents alike At Notre Dame School, we believe in preparing the whole family for a smooth and positive start. Starting a new school is a significant moment...

How to make friends & settle in at school

Starting at a new school can be daunting, so for those venturing into such unknowns we’ve gathered tips and advice from a few local schools To start us off, Saint Ronan’s School Head, Joe Lewis, shares advice Starting a new...

Saving for your Children’s Future

Wealth management experts at FAS provide some insightful tips on saving for your children’s future Parents and grandparents are often seeking advice on how to invest for their child or grandchild’s future, with the aim of contributing towards higher education...

Honestly?

Mike Piercy reminds us of the importance of being honest with ourselves as we venture into a new school year It was Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the nineteenth century writer, who coined the phrase, ‘The easiest person to deceive is one’s self.’...

Far Far Away

Ashford School’s tag line is “Adventurous Learning” and it shows in all of the exciting trips they offer Our students have many opportunities for long-distance travel but the adventure starts much closer to home in the Weald of Kent where...

To stick or not to stick?

Sarah Maxwell takes a look at fitness fads When I learned of my task this month, exploring fitness fads and if they actually work, my mind immediately revealed images of a dusty cross-trainer draped with laundry or a plastic gadget...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month she’s focusing in on blackberries and beetroot As the golden days of summer give way to cooler mornings and gentler routines, September...

Making Meadows

Jo Arnell takes a wander through wonderful wildflowers and marvellous meadows I have just come in from my field with a bag of Yellow Rattle seeds, having collected them for a friend to help her establish a meadow. It’s a...

Farm Fables

It's been a successful year for oak trees, and jays, as Jane Howard explains Have you noticed what an extraordinary year it is for acorns? Almost without exception oak trees everywhere are laden. It’s a phenomenon and it’s got a...

Hazelnut & raspberry mini pavlovas with strawberry Chantilly cream

Preheat oven to 170°C. Line a baking sheet or two with greaseproof paper.Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then whisk the sugar in, one spoon at a time. Finally, gently fold in the nuts and vinegar. Using a...

Roast lemon chicken traybake with oregano & garlic

Boil the potatoes in plenty of salted water until tender. Drain and allow to cool. Mix together 3tbsp olive oil, zest and juice of 1 lemon (keep the squeezed lemon), oregano, garlic and a pinch of sea salt. Put the...

Grilled courgette, smoked venison & Parmesan salad

Heat a chargrill pan, brush with oil, and add the courgettes. The heat gives them a lovely stripe. It takes between 2-3 mins each side. Put the dressing ingredients into a jam jar and shake like crazy until you have...

Broad bean, pecorino & mint croustades

Boil the broad beans for 4-5 mins until cooked. Drain and allow to cook. You can de-pod again, but I like the extra fibre from the skins. Put into a food processor with the pecorino, mint, olive oil, lemon zest...

A gift of a house

Interior Design Masters star Craig Masson has a Hastings home as chic and witty as his projects for the show One of the great joys of writing about houses for this magazine is meeting the owners, because people who have...

Re:Source Revolution

Art teacher and artist Lindsay Denning’s cedar-clad cabin is draped in a summer swathe of wisteria and houses many of the upcycled treasures she hunts down for her new venture Re:Source Wisteria cascades over the cedar-clad façade of this bungalow,...

Belly Matters

In the second of a two-parter, Sarah Maxwell addresses tummy fat facts It’s time to embrace self-care and give your belly the love it deserves. Here, you’ll discover practical strategies and an example to enable you to plot your journey....

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month she’s focusing in on plums As August progresses, the plum emerges as a standout fruit, representing the peak of summer produce and,...

Diorama & Rust

An enchanting and truly individual garden in Bethersden is opening this August in aid of Macmillian. Jo Arnell goes along for a special preview This month we are visiting a one-of-a-kind beautiful garden in Bethersden; an archetypal Kent cottage oozing...

Leisure Time

Former headteacher Mike Piercy ponders the summer holidaysand the importance of taking time out There’s nothing wrong with a cliché – taking into account several provisos. Is it apt? Is it perceptive? Is it well expressed and succinct?William Henry Davies...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard and select members of her herd prepare for the annual Edenbridge & Oxted Show Not long now till the August bank holiday which means it’s time to get ready for the annual Edenbridge & Oxted Show – the...