Building Connections

After nearly a decade of planning, Dominic and Eve were finally given permission to convert a pair of derelict barns, linking them together to create one very beautiful dwelling Words: Jo Arnell Photographs: David Merewether The story arc of an...

Change it up

Neil and Sharon Maidment’s reconfigured family home is the result of a very successful partnership with OPEN architecture, who opened their eyes to a new layout they never imagined was possible Words: Fiona Patrick Photographs: David Merewether The green modular...

Go with the Flow

Sue Whigham shares some valuable new-to-gardening advice I’m sure that by now we should be used to the rain but I’m not entirely sure that we are. We had a dry, sunny day the other day and how everybody’s mood...

Take me to… a UK Staycation

We’re kicking off our new travel feature with a collection of ideas to get you trying something new with explorative and adventurous trips Cornish Escape The Park, Cornwall is an award-winning holiday village, just a short stroll from Mawgan Porth...

Rhubarb & pistachio loaf cake

Serves 10Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: 55 minutes A great way to make the most of rhubarb season – this easy loaf cake pairs beautifully with crushed pistachios and a rosewater syrup. Serve it with a dollop of crème fraîche...

Spring onion, walnut & sundried tomato sourdough

Serves 8-10Prep time: 4 hours (45 minutes hands on time), plus overnight proofing.If using instant yeast: 2 hoursBaking time: 4 minutes Bread is a great excuse to bring people together, and this enriched sourdough loaf is a wonderful accompaniment to...

Rhubarb & pistachio scones

Makes 8-10Prep time: 15 minutesBaking time: 25 minutes Scones are the perfect excuse to get everyone together around the table with a cup of tea. This recipe comes together quickly, resulting in an easy-to-handle dough that you can mould into...

Kale & radish panzanella salad served with a honey & mustard vinaigrette

Serves 4Prep time: 15 minutesCooking time: 10 minutes There’s nothing quite like panzanella for a quick and easy meal. And when it’s made with seasonal curly kale, pickled radishes, feta and chunky toasted breadcrumbs – you know it’s going to...

Brain power!

Sarah Maxwell explores how exercise affects your grey matter Exercise has long been recognised for its positive impact on physical health. However, many recent studies have shown that exercise also has many transformative effects on the brain, so if you...

Perfect Pitch

Mike Piercy, education consultant and former Head of The New Beacon, sings the praises of music in education What exactly is it that drives parents to make huge sacrifices by sending their children to independent schools? Different families have different...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard gets to the bottom of why so many ponds have disappeared across the High Weald I have a new passion, almost an obsession, it’s about ponds. And there’s a distinct possibility I might become a bit of a...

Cut to Fit

Deborah Harrison downsized to a three bedroom house, which she renovated and reconfigured, reinstating the original Victorian features and editing family heirlooms to suit her new home and lifestyle "As William Morris says, ‘Everything has to be beautiful or useful,’”...

In praise of maximalism

Sarah Jane Morris is not afraid of pattern, colour, doing it herself – or anything really – as can be seen in her St Leonards house which sings as joyously as she does In one of the rooms in Sarah...

Easter Nests

Makes 8Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: approx 1 hour Symbolic of the season, packed with goodness and so versatile, eggs are the highlight this month. As any hen keeper will know, eggs are plentiful right now – and may well...

Spring Frittata

Serves 4Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: 40 minutes This is a flexible frittata, so a range of early season vegetables can be used. If you grow your own veg and also keep chickens, it could end up as a ‘free...

Broccoli, pancetta & cheese pancakes

Serves 4Prep time: 20 minsCooking time: 40 mins Almost like cannelloni, or less spicy enchiladas, these simple savoury pancakes are stuffed with vegetables and pancetta and topped with tomatoes and cheese. I have used high protein buckwheat flour in the...

‘It’s not fair!’

Mike Piercy, education consultant and former Head of The New Beacon, explains the importance of winning and losing with good grace The beefy second row lay prone, groaning, as the pack lumbered away. “Get up, Darling!” I cried. Opposition spectators...

Hedge Issues

Sue Whigham takes a meander along nature’s verdant and vital corridors Recently the BBC’s Today programme carried a feature about England’s hedgerows which created a lot of interest among listeners. On the strength of that, Martha Kearney interviewed one of...

Farm Fables

Jane gathers some fascinating honey bee facts as she checks the Coopers Farm hives before their very busy year ahead April… the evenings are longer, the countryside greener and the birds louder. Bliss. Spring has arrived and nowhere is this...

Small house,big ideas

Architect Sophie and civil engineer Sarah certainly brought their work home with them when they took on the tricky extension of their own Victorian end-of-terrace. Making use of every centimetre of space possible, they designed side and rear extensions which...

Performance Power

Eastbourne College and Bede’s School discuss opportunities which give their students time to shine Director of Music at Eastbourne College, Dan Jordan, sings the praises of music at the school. It is 6.30pm, the night before a well-needed half-term holiday....

True Grit

The Granville School talk us through their positive approach to developing resilience As a predominantly girls’ school (we only have boys in our Pre-school), resilience is high on our list of skills to develop in our pupils. Although we’d like...

Meet the Head: Sophie Bradshaw, Head of Dulwich Cranbrook

We get to know Sophie Bradshaw, Head of Dulwich Cranbrook Tell us about the changes at DulwichThis is an extremely exciting time at Dulwich with the opening of our senior school. Our Year 9s are already thriving in their new...

Artistic Achievement

Art is in itself such an abstract topic, so open to interpretation, that teaching it to a high standard can be an art form in itself. So we asked one high-performing local school how it’s done. Taught in their newly...

A Day in the Life

… of a boarder at Millfield Prep – named Independent Schools of the Year Awards’ Prep School of the Year, for proactively teaching about pupils’ mental health Pastoral care and wellbeing is at the heart of Millfield Prep School. Boarding...

Get with The Times

The world is changing apace, so how do our schools equip children for the future? Somerhill tell us about their innovative engineering tuition. Recent experience during the Covid pandemic made it clear how vital scientists and engineers are to our...

Green Shoots

Radnor House Sevenoaks is raising the next generation of eco-heroes Radnor House Sevenoaks, a day school for ages 2-18, is leading the way in environmental education by empowering students to make impactful changes. Already students have planted over 100 trees,...

Sensible Seniors

Joff Powis, Headmaster, tells us how Vinehall’s Year 7s and 8s learn leadership skills In today’s rapidly changing world, leadership has become a pivotal trait. Prep schools are instrumental in shaping young minds, fostering an environment that nurtures and develops...

Planning Ahead

We hear about how Parkside School empowers the next generation of leaders If one was to ask a Parkside pupil about Leadership, they could give you an abundance of situational evidence and skills that are used on a daily basis...

Young Voices

At Hilden Oaks, giving pupils an opportunity to speak and be heard is considered key to growing leadership skills It has long been a tradition at Hilden Oaks Prep to give pupils a ‘voice’ and for them to be heard....

Something to say: Sevenoaks Prep School

We hear all about the advantages of learning languages from Sevenoaks Prep School Sevenoaks Preparatory School incorporates three foreign languages into its curriculum, broadening students’ horizons and aiming to instil a lifelong love for languages. French – the language of...

Something to say: Claremont Senior School

Catherine Mower, Head of Modern Foreign Languages at Claremont Senior School, tells us about their international outlook and opportunities At Claremont Senior School, we believe in providing students with enriching experiences that extend beyond the classroom, broadening their horizons, and...

Something to say: TASIS The American School in London

Chantal Gordon, Head of Modern Foreign Languages at TASIS The American School in London, gives us a glimpse into their approach to language education As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of education, language acquisition stands as a cornerstone in preparing...

Reaching out

Kat Portman-Smith, Tonbridge School’s Director of Community Engagement, takes a look at some of the initiatives and partnerships that form part of their students’ all-round education At Tonbridge we ensure our students are connected to the wider world: an important...

How to Revise

Reed’s School is a leading independent school in Cobham, which continues to evolve its approach to teaching, particularly the essential skills needed to learn, retain, and apply information independently. We asked them how it’s done Build a realistic timetable Include...

Cod Puttanesca

Fry the onion in some olive oil until soft, add the diced carrot and finely chopped garlic, and allow to cook down for a few minutes. Then throw in the finely chopped anchovies and chilli flakes. Stir, then pop in...

Chocolate & rum mousse with lemon & rose shortbread hearts

For the mousse: Makes 6 mini cups (but can be doubled easily) Melt the chocolate over a pan of barely simmering water. Beat the eggs whites until stiff, then add the sugar a tablespoon at a time. When the chocolate...

Take your pick!

Sarah Maxwell explores Pick‘n’Mix fitness If you struggle to maintain a regular exercise routine, feel bored with your current fitness schedule, or have a hard time fitting exercise, healthy eating, stress reduction and proper hydration into your busy life, then...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s kale Loaded with important micronutrients and antioxidants, kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available. It is abundant...

Retiring Naturally

Jo Arnell speaks to Pegasus Homes CEO Steve Bangs and floral designer Jonathan Moseley about the wellness benefits of interacting with plants, especially as we age As we age, our need to connect with nature and with plants remains a...

A few of my favourite things…

Sue Whigham chooses a few firm plant favourites that have left a lasting impression A girlfriend and I spent a few days in New York a decade ago. It was rather like being in a film set to be honest...

Joined Up Thinking

Not shy of a serious challenge, Emma and Terry Hazelwood undertook a complicated listed barn conversion, successfully blending old and new to create a stunning family home House renovation, like many other adventures, is not for the faint-hearted, requiring not...

A Place in the Country

A true labour of love, Ian and Penny Ledger have tirelessly renovated their idyllic farmstead in Mayfield to be able share a slice of their beautiful, rural seclusion with groups who hire their multi-award winning retreat venue Tucked away in...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s chia seeds Chia seeds are highly nutritious tiny black seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant that make an incredibly versatile...

Don’t Look Backin Anger

Mike Piercy, education consultant and former Head of The New Beacon, explains the importance of healthy self-reflection and learning from our past in order to move forward positively 'You’ve never been to Rome? Really?’New year’s resolution: book long weekend in...

Griddled Harissa Chicken

Place all the harissa ingredients in a blender and blitz to a paste. Spread over chicken and leave to marinate for 30 minutes. Heat griddle pan and cook the coated chicken for 5-10 minutes on each side, until chicken is...

Jewelled Salad

Combine salad leaves, sliced oranges and pomegranate seeds in a serving bowl, add dressing and toss together gently. Sprinkle with crumbled feta and walnuts to serve.