The wonderful thing about Cotchford

Previously home to Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, Cotchford Farm certainly has a story or two to tell. After an extensive and sensitive refurbishment by its current owners, the house is now available...

Roast pineapple with lime, toasted almonds & coconut yoghurt

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Top and tail the pineapple and stand on a board. Using a sharp knife, remove the skin by cutting down the pineapple. Take care to remove all the brown spots. While still upright, cut the...

Ginger chicken with lime & spicy bashed cucumber

For the chicken: Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add the chicken pieces and allow to marinate for a few mins, or longer if you can. Heat some oil in a large frying pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes....

Spicy red lentil & roasted pepper soup

Warm the olive oil in a large saucepan, add the onions and gently allow to cook and soften for 5 mins at least. Add the carrots, celery, garlic and cook for a further five mins, stirring to make sure they...

Prawn & chickpea harissa stew

In a large pan, gently cook your onion slowly in olive oil. When soft, add the garlic, coriander stalks, harissa and spices. Cook for a few moments. Add the tinned tomatoes. Cook for 5 mins, then add the cherry tomatoes....

Sporty fit

Sarah Maxwell explains how team sports can revolutionise your fitness This is the year for swapping boring monotonous treadmills for the real thing. Participation in team sport can pack far more punches for aspiring fitness fanatics as 2026 unfolds –...

Small changes big results

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores the benefits of a colourful diet February can feel like the greyest month of the year… and not just outside. Mood, energy and motivation often dips in these midwinter weeks, especially after the...

The Bravest Blooms

Banish the winter blues – cheer up pots and borders with some welcome early flowers with expert advice from Jo Arnell February is a short, sharp month – some years shorter (and sharper) than others – but the light is...

Farm Fables

Jane weathers a spell of bad luck at Coopers Farm as she and the animals recover from a fox attack, a robbery and a disappointing pregnancy rate amongst the sheep Well we’ve had a few unfortunate occurrences in the past...

A house reimagined

Antonia Deeson explores a home that’s filled with colour, character and craft on the outskirts of Maidstone Set on a quiet road just outside Maidstone, Tania Noble’s home doesn’t immediately hint at the imagination that lies within. Built just twenty...

A garden paradise

In the second part of our exploration of Sean Joo’s beautiful property, we take a look inside his guest cottage and go for a leisurely stroll around the expansive gardens Tucked behind the elegant south-facing terrace of The Dower House...

Is Your Relationship Suffering from Seasonal Fatigue?

Breakup & Divorce Coach Katie Woods shares her top tips on how to reset The festive season often encourages couples to “hold it all together” until January, setting disagreements aside in favour of cheerful gatherings and familiar family routines. But...

Strength from within

Sarah Maxwell explores bone density as she chats to OsteoStrong’s Ryan Ashford-Smit In the UK, approximately 22% of women and 7% of men over 50 have osteoporosis. Women are at far greater risk, as menopause causes a rapid drop in...

Small changes big results

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of setting one achievable goal January is often seen as a fresh start… but it can also bring a lot of pressure! New Year diets, gruelling fitness regimes and detoxes might feel...

Just one pruning thing

Jo Arnell tackles the complexities of this often dreaded garden task Pruning can seem daunting – and sometimes like one of the dark arts – every plant seems to need a different approach at some other time of the year....

Thinking of 2026

There’s much to be gleaned from the Harry Potter book series when it comes to language and emotional intelligence, explains former headteacher Mike Piercy How many of us watched a Harry Potter film over the Christmas period? Our children grew...

Farm Fables

Jane focuses in on the hens and cows as new life begins to arrive at Coopers Farm in the New Year So here we go again and welcome 2026! As January creeps along there are lots of things to look...

Take me to…A Whole New World

For those whose New Year’s resolutions involved travelling more, start the year with an adventure somewhere refreshing and exotic Twinning in Sri Lanka & The Maldives If you’re dreaming of a holiday that blends world-class relaxation, rich culture and breathtaking...

Get Your Glow

It’s a new year, and a natural time to look at ways to refresh so we have curated our list of top ways to look and feel your absolute best with an inner glow of confidence Revitalising Retreat After all...

Literary connections

In the heart of the historic Cinque Port of Rye, a newly refurbished Grade II listed Georgian property is now available to rent as a holiday home. Painstakingly restored by a local family, the house has undergone a sumptuous modern...

A Riot of Colour in Battle

Zingy hues and whimsy spill over from a vibrant shop in Battle’s Mount Street into the wonderful family home that it’s attached to In September 2019 home and giftware store DickieBird sprung open its brightly coloured doors to Battle and...

Savoury gingerbread & local Camembert (Winnie’s Wheel)

Preheat the oven to 165°C (fan) for the gingerbread.Simply add all the gingerbread ingredients to a mixer and mix until a smooth paste like dough. (If making by hand: Rub flour, butter, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices together...

Parma ham basket with labneh, truffle or herb oil & Jerusalem artichoke crisp

Make the labneh: Mix yoghurt with salt. Spoon into muslin cloth, place in a sieve over a bowl. Refrigerate overnight to strain. For firmer labneh, tie the muslin and suspend over a bowl. Prepare the herb oil (optional): Chop herbs...

Chilli beef, mozzarella & chilli jam bruschetta

Make the bread (optional):Mix flour and salt on one side of a bowl, yeast on the other. Add warm water and mix to form a rough dough. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled...

Beetroot blini topped with local crème fraîche, smoked salmon & golden nori

Prepare the blini batter:Combine all blini ingredients in a bowl. Leave in a warm place (not above 40°C) for 20 minutes to activate the yeast. Prepare the topping:Dice smoked salmon. Mix with chopped parsley, lemon zest, and black pepper. Chill...

Charcoaled quail eggs & aioli

Cook the quail’s eggs:Bring a medium pan of water to a vigorous boil. Add vinegar to help with peeling. Gently lower in the eggs and boil for 3½ minutes. While boiling, prepare a bowl of iced water. Transfer eggs to...

Small changes big results

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of daily mindful breaths As December gathers pace; with festive plans, full diaries and the year’s final push, it’s common to feel stretched, scattered… and running on empty! But one of the...

Festive Feelings

Sarah Maxwell gives her tips and exercises to help you relax during the hectic Christmas holidays Unwrap some calm this Christmas season with a wellbeing gift of Yoga poses and de-stress breathing techniques to keep you in top shape both...

In the bleak midwinter

Jo Arnell explains how to brave the dark and chilly winter blues with a little help from your garden Winter can be hard for some of us and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing, linked to the lack...

Myth Busters

We hear from ACS International School Cobham as the school celebrates its 50th anniversary, reflecting on how far it has come and setting the record straight on a few common misconceptions along the way From its origins as a school...

Added Value

Some vital aspects of education are not easy to measure, says former headteacher Mike Piercy Are we stumbling, blundering – even thundering – into a Wildean world? Oscar Wilde defined a cynic as someone ‘who knows the price of everything...

Farm Fables

Jane decides that she'll leave the foraging to the experts in future December is all about feasting and this year I’ve been busier than usual prepping some seasonal treats. As mentioned in the autumn, it has been a Mast year...

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...