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Wealden Times Magazine is the monthly lifestyle magazines for Kent & Sussex. Discover beautiful homes and interiors, read about their owners, find recipes for every occasion and delve into our pages on horticulture. Feel inspired by our fashion features and get the latest on health and beauty.

Kent College – An Outstanding Independent School

An outstanding independent school for boys and girls aged 0 - 18 Kent College offers care and education for boys and girls aged 0 - 18. Whether you are looking for wrap around care in our nursery or studying the...

Natural wisdom

Lea Tierney is co-founder and chief maker at Rosemary & Robert Chocolate, producing artisanal products from highest grade cacao, wrapped without plastic and sold only in small independent outlets and online. What one piece of seasonal wisdom helps you in...

Material World

Mix a touch of medieval with a helping of Georgian – and throw in some thoroughly modern touches. The result? A unique family home perfect for 21st century living. Tucked away in a pretty Kentish village, The Den has been...

Elegant imperfection

A textile conservator and an antique dealer combined to create a home where patina is prized. There is cold – as in chilly – and then there is cool. The Tunbridge Wells home of textile conservator Charlotte Casadéjus is definitely...

Winter’s promise

The days are lengthening and Jo Arnell is getting excited for the new gardening year. The light is slowly streaming back and I’m beginning to get excited for the spring. It’s usually a false spring, as one warm day in...

A Year of Wellness – The laws of energy

It’s not as simple as ‘sleep more’ – when it comes to energy, there’s a lot going on beneath the surface. Eminé Rushton looks into the sapping effect of stress and how we can help ourselves restore the spring into our...

Mini margarita cheesecakes

Preheat the oven to gas 4 (180°c). Prepare biscuit base by crushing biscuits (in a food processor, or use a pestle and mortar). Combine with the melted butter and then press a heaped teaspoon of the biscuit mix into each...

Pea dip

Mash the peas with a stick blender  – do not whizz them to a complete puree, but leave with a little texture. Mix in the other ingredients, decant into a dip bowl and serve with sliced pitta and vegetable fingers....

Prawn Shot-tails

Mix all but 6 prawns into dressing. Shred the lettuce and line each shot glass with a tiny handful. Carefully spoon prawns on top of lettuce, then top with a large prawn and a few slices of avocado. Wine+ Prawns...

Tiny tacos

Spice up your night with these bite-sized tacos. I’m not sure whether these are less messy to eat than the bigger version. I guess it depends how big your mouth is… Make mini taco shells from the tortillas by cutting...

Make Your Home Come Alive at Bagham Barn Antiques

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: There's nothing more thrilling than planning a new look for your home. Whether you're lucky enough to be moving into a brand new home and can create the dream rooms of your choice, you're thinking about redecorating your existing home...

A Year of Wellness – The Truth About Stress

Eminé Rushton gets real about the serious health dangers of sustained stress  – and suggests how to bring essential balance back into our busy lives. In 2016 the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Burden of Disease Survey estimated that by the year...

Natural wisdom with Sophie Parker

Sophie Parker is the founder of Betony and Sage, creating organic scented candles, incense, room mists and smudge sticks to keep your spaces (rooms and head...) naturally clear and fresh. Sophie is a keen environmental conservationist, passionate about the natural...

Sport outside the box

Not all kids love the classic team and gender-assigned games, so forward-thinking schools are introducing different activities to inspire a lifelong love of exercise. Dulwich Prep Cranbrook recognises that team sport is not for everyone The sport curriculum at Dulwich...

Discover the Gadget that Helped Battersea Re-home Anxious Dogs

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: If you're a pet owner you'll be familiar with the tug on the heartstrings as you leave your beloved furry friend at home and you may have experienced the worry of an anxious pet.   Separation anxiety can become a major issue for both...

Seeds of hope

The days are short, damp and dark, but Jo Arnell doesn’t care – she’s got her head deep in the seed catalogues. As soon as the last Christmas card is in the recycling, or even before, I am flicking through...

Lancashire Hotpot

Soften the onions in a tbsp of oil for 5 minutes before adding the lamb, salt and pepper. Colour on a high heat for 5-10 minutes before stirring in the flour. Add the wine followed by the Worcestershire Sauce. Let...

Vegan Black Bean Chilli with Avocado, Lime and Tomato Salsa

This is my vegetarian daughter’s favourite meal. It’s ready in 30 minutes is packed with flavour, plus the black beans are a great antioxidant and source of protein. Serve with rice and you have a perfectly balanced vegan meal. The...

House and garden

With a skilled eye for uniting inside with out, interior designer Lisa Evans has made a High Weald cottage into a sophisticated home. Using nature as an inspiration for interior design is appealing; many of us are drawn to prints...

Stairway to heaven

A gloomy 1930s chapel has been brilliantly converted into a light-drenched modern townhouse. Back in 2011, when Ian and Lisa decided to make the move from Tunbridge Wells to Hastings, they had an offer accepted on an old pub which...

Gooey Chocolate Cups with Salted Caramel Sauce and Cream

Gluten free, these easy peasy chocolate pots are made with no flour. The caramel sauce is worth making yourself if you have the time. If you don’t there are lots of salted caramel sauces available in supermarkets. For the salted...

Slow Cooked Beef and Beetroot Curry

Aside from giving this curry an amazing colour, the beetroot adds a sweetness and richness. Serve with rice, a dollop of yogurt and fresh coriander. Chop the beetroot into large chunks and in a food processor or blender whizz one...

New attitude

Hilary Wilce suggests the month of high-minded resolutions is a good time to talk to children about their aspirations. It’s the start of the New Year – but not in schools. There the new start comes in September, when hopes...

Gothic glamour

Cinematic, dramatic, palatial... it’s hard to know where to start describing the bold interior style of this historic building and family home, inspired by the films of Jean Cocteau – and Hammer horrors. It was Valentine’s Day when fashion designer,...

How to age naturally

What does it mean to embrace the passage of time – gently, holistically and positively? asks Eminé Rushton. Ageing – as natural as breathing. So, why do we strive so very hard to stymie the passage of time? The Western take on...

Restore Your Feminine Wellness

:: SPONSORED CONTENT :: As a result of childbirth, and the natural aging process, experiencing looseness, dryness, and other symptoms in your vaginal area is common. The side effects of which can be diminished physical sensation during intercourse and urinary incontinence. Stress incontinence (releasing...

Parma ham and Gruyère gougères

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Place the water and butter into a large saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted. Turn up the heat, then pour in the flour and salt all in one go. Remove from...

Baked Camembert with cobnuts and honey

Preheat oven to 180C. Take the cheese out of the wooden box. Score the top of cheese crossways to make an ‘X’ pattern. This helps the heat penetrate to the middle. Wrap it in parchment paper and place onto a...

Salmon gravadlax with beetroot

Salmon preparation Finely chop the raw salmon, put in a bowl, add half of the chopped dill, the vodka and the salt, cover and leave in the fridge overnight.  Method for oatcakes (or buy a packet of mini oatcakes) Place...

Easy pea hummus canapes

Blitz in a food processor all the ingredients (except crackers and radishes). For a more rustic, less smooth finish mash with a fork. Place the hummus mix onto the crackers. Finish with a quarter of radish on each cracker. Wine+...

Smoked salmon and cucumber bites

Peel, then slice the cucumber into about 20 rings - 1cm thick. Place about ½ teaspoon of the cream cheese on each cucumber slice. Then take each slice of smoked salmon and cut them into strips, (with 200g of salmon...

Celeriac remoulade on a new potato base

In a bowl grate the celeriac and immediately add the zest and juice of the lemon to reduce the celeriac going brown. Add the mayonnaise and whole grain mustard and mix. Cover and rest in the fridge (this mix can...

Keeping it real

Ditch the plastic says Jo Arnell and decorate your home with boughs of real holly (and other lovely things). Our Christmas decoration box is full, we’re wading through clutter and I really do want to cut back on plastic and...

Pillow Talk

We are all born knowing how to do it, but can get worse at it as we age – Eminé Rushton takes a look at the all-important function of sleep and how to improve it We’ve all been there, desperate...

Bone broth

Makes approximately 1 litre* Use bones left over from a Sunday roast, or ask the butcher for some. If using a chicken carcass, make up the weight with added chicken wings. If you are using raw bones, roast them first...

Shining in the shade

It’s not all about the sunny spots – Sue Whigham celebrates the beauty of the darker parts of the garden. There has been a garden at the Inner Temple in London since the 12th century and mediaeval papers record an orchard...

Anatomy of a kitchen

Jones Britain The vision In a large space, in the middle of a converted barn, the homeowners were looking for a contemporary but traditionally inspired kitchen, with up-to-date functionality.  A working kitchen with a mass of storage, which is a...

Let the grasses grow

Not just something dull that needs endless mowing Sue Whigham exhalts the subtle effects of feature grasses in borders and for striking autumn colour. In 1871 William Morris travelled down from London to see a house near Lechlade and fell...

Sparkle and shine!

Sequins, shimmer and glitter – the party season is here and it’s time to shine A big thank you to Hire Love for their eclectic and fabulous props. For further information about prop hire and event styling search for Hire...

Dahlias, darling!

Sue Whigham celebrates and investigates the most joyous of late bloomers. Whether the name ‘dahlia’ was bestowed by the great Carl Linnaeus himself – the Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist who formalised ‘binomial nomenclature’, the modern system of naming organisms –...

Taking stock

It’s not the end of the gardening year, says Jo Arnell, but time to look back on the seasons gone by and plan for the next ones. November is a great month to reflect on the growing year gone by....

The new kitchen mood

Whether you prefer a country feel, or a more contemporary vibe, there is a fresh new mood in kitchen design, packed with great practical ideas. Trends in kitchens move much more slowly than in other areas of the house. Not...

The art of learning

Forget teaching to the test, the arts are more important in education than ever, says Hilary Wilce Have you noticed that many private schools are starting to advertise themselves differently these days? Out have gone pictures of pupils in white...

Vegetable stock

Makes approximately 1 litre   A flavoursome vegan broth can easily be made using a selection of seasonal vegetables. It is created in a similar way to a bone-based stock, but requires far less time to draw out the flavours. Place...

Butter Bean and Vegetable soup

If you are using dried beans, refer to the instructions on the packet – they may need to be soaked overnight prior to cooking in order to draw out any toxins and then cooked thoroughly. Tinned butter beans can be...

Hark, the little angels sing

Hilary Wilce celebrates school Christmas traditions – and everything they teach our children. Christmas is coming, with all its midwinter sparkle and cheer. It’s not unknown for parents to feel a little frazzled right now as they contemplate their present...

Recipe for your perfect kitchen

Putting in a new kitchen is very exciting – but with so many choices to make, it can be daunting. So we’ve asked expert kitchen designers for practical advice on how to ensure you make the very most of your...