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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.

Knock on Wood

The combination of bespoke woodwork and choice mid-century pieces creates chic sophistication in this St Leonards maisonette When it comes to the dream team of people to transform a run-down maisonette into an apartment with the kind of quiet sophistication...

Home at Dormestone

Kim Partridge's vision for a Grade II listed farmhouse has seen its tranfsormation from a dark and gothic interior to an informal and relaxed space with a strong family vibe The dream of finding an idyllic rural retreat steeped in history and...

August Activities

August Activities Sue Whigham makes a plan of action to tackle this month's gardening tasks and reflects on the impact a changing climate is having on our own outdoor spaces What a strange year it has been so far and...

Planting Plans

Planting Plans Jo Arnell gets ahead of the bulb game with fuss-free picks for every part of the garden I had an aunt who, as soon as the longest day was over, would start talking about Christmas. ‘The nights are drawing...

Haven Sent

Belinda Benton’s home is as elegantly calm and welcoming as the interiors she designs for others By the time you have wound your way along the almost impossibly beautiful country lane that leads to Belinda Benton’s house, you are already...

Meet the Headteacher at Manor House School: Tracey Fantham

Tracey Fantham, Headteacher at Manor House School, reflects on her life-long passion for sport and many happy memories of her own school days What was your favourite subject at school? My favourite subject was geography as we had an excellent teacher and...

Recipe for Success

Vinehall School, Brighton College and Reed’s tell us about the famous former pupils inspiring the students of today "Sir Tim Smit KBE is a much celebrated member of the Vinehall alumni. Sir Tim is known for his work on the Lost Gardens...

Keeping Up Community Spirit

How have schools been maintaining their bonds with the local community during a very difficult and isolating year? We find out how a pandemic hasn’t stopped The King’s School and Sevenoaks School staying connected A brother and sister team from...

Meet the Executive Head at Shrewsbury House School: Mrs Joanna Hubbard

Mrs Joanna Hubbard, Executive Head at Shrewsbury House School chats challenges, achievements and how she helps her students to thrive What did you enjoy doing most at school when you were a student? Most of my time was taken up on...

Inside out

Dulwich Prep Cranbrook explains the success behind its new PSHCEE program As every child’s inner world colours how they approach life, we believe it makes sense to start with the inside and work out, which is why in September 2019...

Meet the Art Teacher

With a BA Hons in Fine Art, Bansted Preparatory School’s Mr Matt Ayling has designed and adapted an excellent Art & Design curriculum, which makes full use of the school’s fantastic facilities and resources When and why did you become...

A World of Opportunity

Giles Perrin, Principal of Claremont School tells us how joining the International Schools Partnership is broadening its pupils’ horizons The independent schools landscape in the UK is changing. Challenged by an increasingly competitive market, new school groups up and down...

Meet the Head of Spring Grove School: Mrs Therésa Jaggard

Mrs Therésa Jaggard, Head of Spring Grove School, chats skill sets, hobbies and school values Why did you choose a career in teaching? I enjoyed a range of subjects at school and thought a career where I could both use...

Show Time

EM Forster Theatre is at the heart of the Tonbridge community, and is delighted to be opening its doors once again It is great to be open again. There is nothing quite like live performance, and the excitement and buzz...

What’s Cooking?

Benenden School describe their impressive food offering which has won them a Tatler School Award Can you run us through the school’s dining offering? Benenden is renowned for its excellent food – in fact it won the Best Food Award...

A moment of science

Dr Darragh Corvan, Head of Physics at Mayfield School shares his experiences as a science teacher When and why did you become a science teacher? When I was about five years old, my uncle bought me an encyclopaedia that contained a section...

Starting small

Deputy Head & Head of Early Years at Parkside School, Mrs Madeline McMurdo explains how to ease a child into their first experiences of school Can you tell us a little about your pre-school offering at Parkside? Parkside nursery is...

Meet the Music Teacher

Introducing Miss Sophie Brack, Director of Music at Lingfield College Have you always been musical? Since a young age I just knew I wanted to do something with music. My family are all musical, so it was always around me growing...

How does your garden grow?

Cranbrook Primary’s kitchen garden project is revolutionising how their pupils look at nutrition, teaching them about the natural world and giving them time to enjoy the outdoors, so how do they do it? Judith Caustin explains How has Cranbrook Primary's...

Which extra-curricular activities will look good on my UCAS application?

Just how important are impressive lists of hobbies and copious amounts of volunteer work to universities? Dr Kirsten Dickers, Higher Education, Careers and Research Leader at Ashford School explains In nine years as an admissions tutor, this was probably the...

Endive, orange & mozzarella salad with balsamic dressing

Endive, orange & mozzarella salad with balsamic dressing This easy salad is so quick to put together and is utterly gorgeous. The slight bitterness of these small red endives complement the sweetness of the orange. Add beautiful creamy mozzarella, and...

Oven roasted cod with feta & Mediterranean vegetables

This one-dish gorgeous garlicky fish recipe is packed with Mediterranean flavours, all prepped in 15 mins! It can happily be assembled in advance on the day and sit in the fridge until you are ready to cook. This serves 4...

Butternut squash with roasted Mediterranean vegetables & goats’ cheese

This is a stunning vegetarian main course that can be made in advance and sat in the fridge ready to go in the oven. You can even roast the squash and veg a couple of days before your guests arrive,...

Hazelnut meringue gateau with strawberry Chantilly cream & berries

This glorious nutty gateau is perfect for entertaining as it can be made a couple of days in advance, and simply assembled before serving. It is not a pavlova, so do not expect a crunchy meringue, but something more chewy....

Let’s Go Wild!

Sarah Maxwell takes the plunge and braves the chill of wild swimming Something which has caught my eye over the last year is open water swimming, or cold-water therapy, gaining lots of media attention and there is a good reason...

Seed Collectors

Sue Whigham’s top tips for gathering and storing for the next generation of blooms Well, today’s been a bit of a disaster as I’ve just realised that I am about to lose another mature tree to what I assume must...

Fruitful

Jo Arnell picks the juiciest soft fruit for a summer of plentiful natural sweetness I must grow some more fruit next year. I’m saying this as I sow seed and set out yet more little vegetable plants. Most vegetables are annuals...

Slow, Grow, Eat

Hairdresser-turned-shepherdess, Zoë Colville farms nearly 100 acres of land near Maidstone with her partner, Chris Woodhead. With prime focus on their animals’ wellbeing, together they rear cows, sheep, goats and pigs, eventually selling their meat through The Little Farm Fridge....

Life in Colour

Brimming with pattern, colour and panache, Charlotte Guercio’s Kentish oast house is an interior to remember Charlotte Guercio loves colour, she loves print and she most definitely loves interior design, which is lucky for the large Kentish oast house that...

Room at the Top

Clare’s spacious apartment in the centre of the historic town of Cranbrook is certainly more house than flat. Retaining its plentiful character and charm, she has sensitively created an interior to suit her needs whilst experimenting with her own tastes...

Safety first

Sarah Maxwell explains how all is not lost if you pick up an exercise injury You finally manage to get into exercising regularly – cycling, running, walking, exercise classes, or whatever – and it’s all going well until you injure...

Grow your own medicine cabinet

Jo Arnell investigates the healing properties of plants Tense, nervous headache? Try chewing on a piece of willow bark. Indigestion? Difficulty sleeping? Just pop into the garden for some fennel to settle your stomach and a bit of lavender to...

Keep it contained

Sue Whigham gives her guidance for container planting success Last year I ordered a salvia collection from one of the national newspapers. The plants arrived but they really were miniscule and looking unlikely to survive until the end of the...

Welcome to The Writing Club

After a challenging year, Griffin Teaching’s Hayley Hobbs explains why she and her team decided to set up a club dedicated to strengthening and improving children’s writing skills Why did you decide to set up The Writing Club? My first head...

Artful Restoration

Utilising the skills of a hand-picked team of talented local trades, Tim and Eve have realised their dream of a home to grow old in with the carefully considered renovation of a pair of cottages with huge potential Down a...

The House That Instagram Built

Kooky, unique and oh-so-memorable, Margate Suites’ collaboration between local artists, interior designers and tradespeople has resulted in a vibrant collection of holiday apartments which provide the perfect place from which to explore this seaside town, alive with creativity For some...

Case Study: The Time Warp

Clague Architects recall one of their favourite Kentish restoration projects, a house trapped between two eras, brought into the 21st Century Our first impression of the Parsonage was that of a 17th century home that had once been extended with...

Case Study: Vintage Outlook

Urban & Grey talk us through a fabulous project installing vintage style windows into a Surrey home Claire McFadyen, owner of Louisa Grace Interiors, approached us with an exciting brief, a clear vision, and some design requirements, for the glazing...

Form & Function

A classic verandah is a stylish and worthwhile feature to add to a renovation, striking a pleasant first note for all those entering a property Porches were originally created hundreds of years ago to offer shelter when entering a property....

SCL’s 6 steps to take
before starting a new project

SCL Groundworks share advice for getting a clear idea of what it will take to get you your dream new-build or extension, before you start out sclgroundworks.co.uk 1 To prepare land for a new-build or extension, the preferred starting point...

How to: Personalise a new build

Transforming a white-walled, brand-new tabula rasa of a new-build can be a real mission! So we asked SGS Architectural Interiors for some expert advice We are fortunate enough to work with clients who are constructing architect-designed new-build homes, but it...

Karl Terry’s Top 10 tips
to revamp your roof

Renovating your roof can really transform an older property, but it’s worth making sure you get advice and work from trustworthy sources, so we asked Karl Terry for some tips kentpegs.com Check with your local conservation officer if Listed Building...

Case Study: Bringing Back the Barn

Architects Theis + Khan tell us the tale of a recent masterpiece of a barn conversion Burwash Barn was a real project right from the offset, it had enormous potential but was obviously going to require lots of work to...

Body Loving Goodness

Sarah Maxwell stresses the importance of learning to take care of yourself The idea of what constitutes the perfect body has changed frequently over the decades, from Kate Moss (90’s chic) to the touched up images of perfectly sculpted bodies we...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the link between food and mood... The brain, a powerful but fragile organ that accounts for just 2-3% of our body weight yet makes up for around 20-25% of our daily energy requirement....

Forget-Me-Not

Jo Arnell explores how biennials are the often overlooked heroes of a successful planting scheme Imagine a plant that looks after itself, one that will flower early, that will grow in difficult shady situations, that after flowering will quietly, sometimes...

Let’s go Wild!

Sue Whigham takes a look at the charity Plantlife’s initiatives to study the nation’s wildflowers This week I managed to book myself into two Zoom lectures at the same time. I’ve obviously been at home too long. But the one...