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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.

Art of the Home

There’s more to interior designer Charlotte Luxford’s suburban semi than meets the eye, with its charming, art-filled interiors – not to mention the view On the face of it, Charlotte Luxford’s 1930s home in central Sevenoaks is much like any...

Symmetry & Balance

This Kentish kitchen beautifully balances warm and cool, industrial and elegant, modern and classic The owners of this new build property in Kent, already had plans and designs created with an alternative high-end kitchen manufacturer, when they stumbled across Poggenpohl’s...

Colour Theory

The inspiring bathrooms of a Sussex manor show how to embrace vibrant colour This magnificent Georgian manor house in rural Sussex has undergone extensive renovation work in recent years, benefitting from Catchpole & Rye’s distinct brand of luxury in both...

Past is Present

Miscellanea show us how to breathe new life into a historical kitchen while respecting and enhancing original features What was the brief behind this project? Our clients’ main criteria was that as well as being fully functioning – offering all...

Going Home

I didn’t have much information about the person I was going to meet, just a name, address and a few emails arranging our interview, so it was with more than a bit of intrigue that I travelled to north Kent’s...

Jumping for joy 

Bounce your way to better muscle mass with  Sarah Maxwell, as she explains the benefits of one of her favourite forms of exercise – trampolining  As a child I always wanted a trampoline but it wasn’t until my twenties that...

Nourish to Flourish – the effects of alcohol on our bodies

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau takes a look at the effects of alcohol on our bodies For some, drinking alcohol can be part of a balanced lifestyle and a way of celebrating and marking social occasions. But everyone is...

Herb Appeal

Sue Whigham explores the rich history of herbalists So where to start. Perhaps with John Gerard, 16th century naturalist and herbalist (1545-1612) who had responsibility for many important British gardens including the Physic Garden at the College of Physicians in...

Up from the ashes

Jo Arnell picks drought-tolerant plants to soothe a parched summer garden It was a gruelling summer this year – nothing in comparison to what is happening in some parts of the world, but the fierce combination of extreme heat and...

Meet the Head – Mr Mark Scholey: Head of Sutton Valence Prep School

We get to know a bit more about the brand new Head of Sutton Valence Prep School, Mr Mark Scholey What are you most looking forward to about joining SVPS? As I join SVPS, I am especially looking forward to...

Dark & Interesting

A former shop in Horsham has been given a complete makeover by creative couple Calum and Jen No one wanted to buy it,” Jen says of the beautiful period home in Horsham that she and husband Calum have lived in...

Designer’s World

We speak to Ben Stokes – founder of KAGU in Tenterden – about his opinions on the latest trends, life as an interior designer, and design process What inspires you? Everything and anything. I love staying at hotels, drawing inspiration...

Changing Rooms

Berni and Peter Leach constantly tweak and switch up their house in Hastings Old Town – and their wonderful shop too The usual set-up for interviewing people about their beautiful houses for this magazine is one-on-one, because in the vast...

Keep Your Cool

With the climate hotting up, Sarah Maxwell get to grips with exercising safely in the heat Today I’m enjoying basking in glorious sunshine, contemplating doing a lunchtime workout. The usual excuses come to the surface, ‘it’s too hot to exercise’,...

Nourish to Flourish – tips for eating well on a budget

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau gives her tips for eating well on a budget With the cost of food increasing every month, and with shoppers trying to save money in all areas of our lives, buying habits are set...

Skandi Style

Sue Whigham reflects on the natural beauty of Sweden Rain at last and I think that we’re all sighing in relief and that goes for our gardens too. We were in Rye when it started yesterday and we passed a...

Totally Tropical

Work with nature to create a lush oasis in our unpredictable climate, as Jo Arnell explains   Making a tropical garden or border means choosing plants that will give the impression of the humid tropics – a lush-leaved oasis dripping...

Working Together

ACS International School Cobham STEM Club joins forces with disability charity, MERU ACS International School Cobham’s High School STEM Club has been working on a project to support disability charity, MERU. The charity helps disabled children and young people with...

Round and Round the Garden

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook tell us about their wonderful Sensory Garden project During our wellbeing week in January 2022, Dulwich’s SEN team looked at additional projects which could enhance our wellbeing and the seed of an idea took root – to...

Meet the Art Teacher

Meet Ellie Greenwood, artist and Art Teacher at Eastbourne College What inspired you to become an art teacher?   My degree course was very collaborative. I often led workshops for other pupils, but it was my experience as an artist-in-residence at...

A Recipe for Success

Claire Baker, Head of Lower School at Mayfield School tells us about their Cookie Project Dealing with the opportunities and challenges of life requires well developed soft skills, especially in the workplace, and Senior School provides a vital opportunity to...

Settling In

Laura Leigh-Hill, Head of Nursery at Bede’s, shares her guide to starting school in September It is that time of year again! Your four-year-old’s time at pre-school has come to an end and they will begin their school journey, starting...

Books Club

Find your next favourite read with recommendations from students and teachers The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell follows the story of Vita, who moves to New York after her grandfather was robbed of everything he owned. With the aid of...

Natural Identity

A unique family home – which also doubles up as an impressive holiday rental through Bloom Stays – caters for the needs of multiple generations in the idyllic Kent countryside  Over the past two years it has been the lack...

Past, Present, Perfect

The renovation of an early nineteenth century house was a labour of love for Caroline, Stephen and their family, who strove to keep the integrity of the building, whilst sensitively updating the interior for modern living  If you’ve found an...

Tomato Sauce

Having an easy and delicious tomato sauce on hand, or in the freezer, means that you will always be able to rustle up a quick pasta dish, pizza, or even a flavoursome tomato base for a ratatouille or caponata. Large...

Tomato Tarte Tatin

This is just an upside down tart, most often found in apple form, but for a simple – and it really is simple – savoury version, it works brilliantly with tomatoes, because (in theory at least), the pastry will stay...

Stuffed Tomatoes

The risotto in this recipe is a worthy dish on its own, but stuffing it into a big beefsteak tomato and baking in the oven turns it into something special. A stuffed tomato make a good starter, light lunch or...

Chef’s Table – The Stile Bridge’s South American chef, Oscar Fonseca Volkmar

Meet The Stile Bridge’s South American chef, Oscar Fonseca Volkmar, who gives British produce an exciting twist, cooking on an open fire and seasoning with charcoal and a generous sprinkle of inspiration from around the globe Who taught you to...

Chef’s table – Daniel Lee – Executive Chef at Seasons

Meet Daniel Lee – Executive Chef at Seasons, a beautifully bright space in Windlesham, Surrey that champions local ingredients with modern and fresh menus What’s your favourite cuisine?Asian, French, Italian and Middle Eastern flavours are all firm favourites. But my...

Farm to Fork

Shop farm-fresh produce to treat your tastebuds, reduce your carbon footprint and support local businesses Paley Farm Paley Farm is true farm to fork produce, with their butchery shop on site at the farm itself in Cranbrook, Kent, where all...

A Whole New World

Loving local doesn’t mean you can’t explore a whole world of global flavours and cuisines Curry Favour Rameeza’s Repetoire Indian Cookery Workshops are held by local expert Rameeza in her purpose-built kitchen in West Byfleet, and are designed to empower...

Happy Hour

Cheers to these tasty local tipples Old Dairy Beer Old Dairy Brewery is an award-winning brewery that uses only the finest English malts and hops to brew their beers in cask, bottles, keg and can. Sitting just moments from Tenterden High...

Home Grown

These eateries prove local ingredients make for the finest dining The Rose Inn has been brought to life by Chef and Publican Billy Stock, who vowed to bring his passion for food and community to the village of Wickhambreaux, in...

Eat Sleep Breathe

These local stays are great for an evening meal and a sound night’s sleep Bliss at the Bell - The Bell in Ticehurst Location: A public house on the Kent-Sussex border, in what was a rather showy Tudor property around...

Such a Perfect Day

Treat yourself to the perfect foodie’s day out For the Adventurer... From Afternoon Tea to Sunday Lunch, bespoke Heli-Dining experiences with Polar Helicopters are perfect for any occasion. Flying from Manston Airport to one of the company’s specially selected foodie...

Dine with a View

From the airy blue of a far reaching seascape to endless heaps of rolling hills, one of our favourite things about living in the South East is the amazing scenery. And what better way to enjoy the many sights our...

Walk it off

Round off a tasty pub meal with a circular countryside walk Enjoying a big hearty meal in a country pub is one of the great joys of British summertime, but it can leave you sat feeling weighed down by all...

Into the Blue

Sarah Maxwell dips into the world of blue health coaching At this time of year, many of us take to the water in one form or another. I love water (when it’s warm) but my swimming technique leaves a lot...

Nourish to Flourish – Heart Health

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explains how to protect your heart’s health through healthy lifestyle choices Heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death in the UK and worldwide. Encouragingly, however, the death rate from heart...

Boxing Clever

Sue Whigham visits Benenden’s Balmoral Cottage, home to Charlotte and Donald Molesworth  I think I might have taken Charlotte too literally when she suggested an early meeting in her garden last Saturday morning. And I must say that my dogs...

Pick of the Crops

Jo Arnell explains why it’s not too late to get growing for autumn and winter harvests If you’ve been growing your own this year, then this month all that hard work could be about to pay off, although sometimes the...

Education Directory

Our Education directory, focuses exclusively on Kent, Sussex and Surrey, introducing some of the south east's best and brightest preparatory academies, specialist colleges, independent schools and boarding schools.

Time To Shine

Liz Cruttenden has updated a much loved listed family home with her own skilled eye for interior design I’m not sure why this is, but country dwellers seem to use the back, or side entrances, to their homes rather than...

The G Plan Clan

A 20th century house in Rye has been made over with fabulous mid-century flair – groovy, baby In recent times, the ancient town of Rye has become something of a centre for home style, with lots of fabulous shops and...

Meet the Captain

Meet Ludo Kolade who balances sport, learning and a position as Captain of School at King’s School Canterbury What is your role as Captain of School? My role largely consists of coordinating my team of Purples (prefects) and acting as...

Forever Colour

Give your garden’s hues true staying-power by selecting blooms that will provide a vibrant display all summer Where have all the flowers gone? It seems like only last week that the borders were full of colour, and now they’ve faded...