The Onion magazine - June 2015 issue

June 2015

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Super

Shops

INSIDE: WORLD CLASS GIN PERFECT PESTO KENT SHOW

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Advertising and Editorial:

01797 253668 Publication date: 1st of the month Entries for Noticeboard email: noticeboard@onionpublishing.co.uk To send editorial/advertising material email: carol@onionpublishing.co.uk For advertising sales enquiries email: advertising@onionpublishing.co.uk www.onionmagazine.co.uk Twitter: @OnionMag1

The Onion magazine is published by Onion Publishing Limited, The Studio at Friars Cote Farm, Crockers Lane, Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6PY. Editor & Publisher: Carol Farley Director & Publisher: Nicholas Farley

June seems to be an action packed month; there’s so much going on and we have been hard-pressed to pack all the Noticeboard information and articles in.

This month and next we are featuring local food and drink products and where to buy them. The amount and the quality of local food production is remarkable and while you might expect that in such an agricultural area, it’s the sheer volume and variety of drink that’s produced that I find really surprising. Beer I would expect to find, this was after all the hop growing centre of the country at one time, even if all that remains of that heritage now are the oast houses, the hop gardens themselves having virtually all disappeared in the last thirty or forty years. What is more surprising is the amount of wine that is being made here. In the time of Henry VIII the banks of the Medway near Rochester were a major wine producing area but now it all seems to be happening further South around us, and everywhere one looks there are grapes growing. However, even more surprising to me was the discovery that we make gin here too: there is a gin distillery in Marden and a world-prize-winning gin distillery at that. The gin is made in that beautiful copper gin still that appeared on the cover of last month’s Onion and the full story is on page 6 this month.

Next month’s magazine will be full of local wine and cheese and will be out in w/c June 29th by which time we shall be nearly half way through the year. Terrifying thought.

Carol Farley, Editor

Contributors: Dawn Allen, B. Dalziell, Jack Hebden, John Doig, Alex Thomson, Jessica Harding

COMPETITIONS

Print: Buxton Press

Greenall’s Gin Hamper A Johns, Hastings

Cover picture: Haymaking in Northiam Designed and produced for Onion Publishing Limited by Vantage Publishing Limited, Godalming, GU7 2AE.

June 2015

Competition Winners for the April 2015 competition

Kino Ticket Voucher A le Gassick, Hurst Green

Dunecraft ‘Carnivorous Creations’ T Gilbert, Hawkhurst D Hawes, Robertsbridge C Solly, Rye

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www.onionmagazine.co.uk

COUNTRY Markets EVERY TUESDAY 09:00 to 11:00 Wittersham Wittersham Village Hall, The Street EVERY WEDNESDAY 10:00 to 13:00 Rye Farmers’ Market Strand Quay, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7AY EVERY THURSDAY 09:00 to 12noon Rolvenden Farmers’ Market, St Mary’s Church, Rolvenden, TN18 5PN Rolvenden Village Hall, Maytham Road, Rolvenden, TN17 4ND EVERY FRIDAY 10:00 to 12noon Brede Brede Village Hall, Cackle Street, Brede, East Sussex, TN31 6DX EVERY FRIDAY 10:00 to 11:30 Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, Rye EVERY FRIDAY 09.30 to 11.30 Tenterden (Formerly the WI Market) St Mildred’s Church Hall, Church Road, Tenterden TN30 7NE EVERY FRIDAY 07.00 to 15.30 Tenterden Market Square, behind Savannah Coffee Shop, Tenterden & Tenterden High Street from 08:30 to 14.30 2ND & 4TH FRIDAY 10:00 to 15:30 Sissinghurst Plain outside the entrance to Castle Gardens SATURDAY 6 JUNE 10.00 to 12noon Robertsbridge Village Market, Station Road, Robertsbridge, TN32 5DA SATURDAY 13 JUNE 10.00 to 12noon Beckley Beckley Village Centre, Main Street, TN31 6RN

Contents 5

Noticeboard What’s on in your local community

6

Local Gin and Beer Two award-winning local drinks

11 Super Shops Some great places to buy local food and drink

16 The Kent Show 18 Sounding Off 22 A Good Book 24 Eat 28 Pesto Recipes 31 Letters to the Editor 32 Dog Behaviour 34 June Gardening with Jack Hebden 36 Walk Alfriston, Wilmington and Jevington

42 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

43 Win Enter our giveaway competitions

SATURDAY 20 JUNE 09:00 to 12:30 Heathfield Co-Op car park, 110 High Street, Heathfield TN21 8JD SATURDAY 27 JUNE 09:30 to 13:00 Cranbrook The Vestry Hall, Cranbrook SATURDAY 27 JUNE 10:00 to 12noon Brightling Village Hall, Brightling

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The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisements printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Onion Publishing Limited.

onionmagazine.co.uk

Noticeboard...

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

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Don’t forget, the Noticeboard is your opportunity to promote your events, memberships and messages for FREE if you are a charity, club, society or non-profitmaking venture, or are promoting a charity event.

taking everyone through the garden year. There will also be an AGM at this meeting. Coffee will be available after the meeting. Venue: British Legion Hall, High Street, Hawkhurst. Nonmembers also welcome.

The deadline for you to send information to noticeboard@onionpublishing for July’s Noticeboard is 5th June.

Miriam McGuirk’s book launch for Kent Deaf Children Society Thursday 4 June 18:00 The Townhouse Hotel in Maidstone is hosting the launch of Miriam’s book entitled ‘Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight’. Miriam is using this opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for the Kent Deaf Children Society.

This is the first time that Miriam has published under her own name, she’s always written before under the name of Josie Maguire. Venue: The Townhouse Hotel, 74 King Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1BH.

Cranbrook Museum and June Exhibition Throughout June 14:00 to 16:30 The Cranbrook Museum is now open each Tuesday to Saturday at the above times. Admission is free for 2015. The exhibition this month is from the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum at Headcorn.

St Michael’s Hospice Open Gardens – Bexhill Old Town Tuesday 2 June 10:30 to 16:00 Visit Bexhill Old Town for a chance to explore four attractive gardens, each with its own outstanding qualities. For more information go to www. stmichaelshospice.com/get-involved/events.

‘A Garden for All Seasons’ in Hawkhurst Thursday 4 June 10:00 David Fitton, a Wisley-trained professional gardener is giving a talk for the Hawkhurst U3A,

19th Annual Exhibition in Winchelsea Friday 5 June to Monday 8 June 11:00 to 17:00 This is the Hayesland Painters and Potters Annual Exhibition at which there will be original works of art for sale at reasonable prices. Venue: Court Hall, High Street, Winchelsea, TN36 4EA. ‘Edith and I: on the trail of an Edwardian traveller in Kosovo’

YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD IS FOR LOCAL EVENTS AND INFORMATION. TO FEATURE HERE FOR FREE, PLEASE EMAIL US AT NOTICEBOARD@ONIONPUBLISHING.CO.UK

Delivered by the Royal Mail to 23,000 local homes every month in Appledore, Benenden, Brede, Brightling, Broad Oak, Burwash, Camber, Cranbrook, Cripps Corner, Etchingham, Hawkhurst, Hurst Green, Icklesham, John’s Cross, Northiam, Peasmarsh, Robertsbridge, Rye, Salehurst, Sandhurst, Staplecross, Tenterden, Udimore, Winchelsea, Wittersham and surrounding villages.

June 2015

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Clean Hay Free!

By Nick Farley

Gin was once the drink of the poor and was apparently responsible for bringing many people down. Hogarth’s famous 1751 engraving of ‘Gin Lane’ depicts a society destroyed by this evil foreign (Dutch) spirit: in Gin Lane there is suicide, murder, disease and destitution on an epic scale with people gathered outside the gin distillery forcing gin into themselves, into each other and into their children. The sign on the gin cellar in the bottom foreground of the picture says “Drunk for a penny, Dead drunk for twopence, Clean hay free”. Happy days.

Things are a little different in our smart 21st century ‘gin and tonic’ society and it has become very fashionable to try ever more expensive and obscure brands of this delectable spirit, but I never thought that I would find gin actually being distilled in my own backyard, nevertheless that is exactly what has happened. Anno Gin is distilled in Marden in the beautiful copper still which was our cover picture last month, and if you haven’t heard of Anno that’s because it’s only been around for about 18 months. I suggest however that it will soon be making quite a name for itself. The company was started by two chemists who worked for pharmaceutical giant, ‘Smith Kline Beecham’, but when SKB suggested that it would be a good idea for the two chemists to move to Stevenage, or somewhere, they decided it would be far better to distill gin in Marden, and thus Anno Gin was born. The name Anno, by the way, is simply a combination of the chemists’ names – Andy and Norman. I know you were hoping for something a little less prosaic but it’s that simple and obvious.

On the morning that I visited the distillery there was some rejoicing because they had just heard that Anno Gin had won a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which is a sort of Olympic Games for drinks, and it is incredible when you think that they were up against the best and most experienced distillers from all over the world who had been making gin probably since Hogarth’s day. This Gold was some compensation for the broken leg which one chemist, I can’t remember which one, had sustained while ski-ing.

Although gin and tonic is my drink I had never drunk gin on its own until visiting Anno, but it is the way to appreciate the difference between various gins. For example, the Editor and I - at home I emphasise, and in the interest of pure research conducted a taste test of neat Anno and neat Bombay Sapphire and the difference was marked: the Anno was decidedly smoother and somehow ‘quieter’ than the Bombay which had a harsher bouquet and was more astringent in the back of the 6

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Top: Gin Lane Above left: ‘Patience’ the Anno gin still in all her glory Above right: A winning beer

throat. Anno is not cheap, but it is very good.

So there you have it: Anno Gin, distilled in Marden, and winning Gold in San Francisco and all within 18 months of starting up.

Incidentally, you can buy it at Eggs to Apples, Silcocks Farm Shop and at The Hartley Farm Shop. (See them all on page 11.)

Interestingly, Hogarth’s much less well known picture, ‘Beer Lane’, is the companion picture to ‘Gin Lane’ and it depicts a prosperous, healthy and successful society that thrives because it drinks excellent English beer, so it was appropriate that after escaping the debauchery of a gin distillery in Marden I found myself in a healthy and life-enhancing brewery in Tenterden. The Old Dairy Brewery is situated behind Tenterden railway station and is miles away from any dairy, new or old, but until last year it was in a milking parlour at onionmagazine.co.uk

Above: The very shiny Old Dairy Brewery

Hole Park near Rolvenden. After making 1700 brews there its success, since starting in 2010, meant that it outgrew those premises, hence its move last year to bigger non-dairy premises in Tenterden. At Rolvenden the capacity was about 1400 pints per week and now it is 14,000 pints per week and this excellent beer is available in about 400 outlets.

What an amazing success story. I’m not sure quite what I expected a modern brewery to

June 2015

be like; my only previous brewery experience was being shown round Fremlin’s Brewery in Maidstone when I was a member of The Young Farmers Club, and my most vivid recollection of that visit was the amount of beer the Fremlin’s lorry drivers drank before setting out on their rounds. Modern breweries are very shiny places with a lot of stainless steel in evidence but listening to the description by the brewer of what was happening inside the stainless steel and subsequently tasting the result made for a very interesting afternoon. What I found most surprising was the huge range of beers that The Old Dairy brews; it really is quite incredible – there are bitters, pale ales, stouts, seasonal ales and various speciality beers, some of which are 11% abv.

Heady stuff. But best of all they use Kentish hops – there are still some grown here I’m pleased to say.

So whether you want to be ruined by gin or to prosper on beer you can do it with local and yet award-winning products, neither, however, provide free hay for sleeping it off.

FIND OUT MORE

www.annodistillers.co.uk Anno Distillers Ltd, Unit 4 Crest Industrial Estate, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent, TN12 9QJ. Tel: 01622 833278 www.olddairybrewery.com Old Dairy Brewery, Tenterden Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6HE. Tel: 01580 763867

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

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Friday 5 June 14:30 The Weald U3A are hosting Elizabeth Gowing’s account of her travels in Kosovo. £3 entry for non-Members. www.u3asites.org.uk/weald or contact Richard Sargent 01580 764239, r.sargent@btinternet.com. Venue: The Zion Baptist Church, High Street, Tenterden, TN30 6BB. The Ted Bundy Project in Margate as part of UK tour Friday 5 June The Ted Bundy Project is a solo performance about Greg Wohead’s relationship to Ted Bundy, one of the world’s most notorious serial killers.

Rated 4-stars by the Guardian, the show is part confession (both Wohead’s and Bundy’s), part reconstruction and part exploration of the power of suggestion. Venue: Tom Thumb Theatre, 2A Eastern Esplanade, Margate CT9 2LB. An introduction to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Saturday 6 June 10:00 to 13:00 This is the second of the series of introductory walks by Barry Yates, the nature reserve’s manager. You will be taken through Castle Farm, past Camber Castle and into the birdwatching hide at Castle Water (about 2.5 miles). Meet at Brede Lock. No booking necessary. Donations appreciated. www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/ whatson.

Charity Garage Sale in Northiam Saturday 6 June 10:00 to 16:00 To be held at Forge House Northiam (the old Post Office) - opposite the Muddy Duck pub. Items for this sale have been kindly donated by local people. All proceeds will go to Starfish Malawi to help with the projects at Chitiwiri School and Community. Any good quality bric-a-brac would be welcome. For details please call Sally or Richard Bickersteth on 01797 252108.

St Michael’s Hospice Coffee Morning and Bazaar Saturday 6 June 10:15 to 12:00 Browse stalls, pick up a bargain and treat yourself to a homemade cake. Entrance is 50p which includes tea/coffee and biscuits. Organised by 8

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the Hastings and St Leonards Support Group.

For more information email fundraising@ stmichaelshospice.com. Venue: St Michael’s Hospice, Arthur Easton Centre, Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 0LB. Icklesham Craft Fair Saturday 6 June 10:00 to 14:30 As well as a large selection of locally-made crafts, there will be refreshments including homemade cakes. They assure us all of a warm welcome.

There is plenty of free parking next to the children’s play area. Venue: Icklesham Memorial Hall, situated on the A259 between Hastings and Rye. Contact Maureen Thompson 01424 813928.

Antique Maps & Prints Fair in Rye Saturday 6 June 10:00 to 16:00 Genuine antique maps and prints – framed and unframed – decorative and topographical, plus some ephemera. Free admission. Contact Patricia Wheeler 01424 882153. Venue: Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, off Cinque Port Street.

Concert at Smallhythe Church by the Marsh Warblers Saturday 6 June 19:30 Featuring music and readings describing the customs, fairs and notable events from May Day to Michaelmas in Georgian England, performed in period costume. Tickets £8 from Smith’s of Tenterden, 16 High Street, Tenterden 01580 761356. Venue: Smallhythe Church, TN30 7NG. Louis Lortie (Piano) at Vinehall Saturday 6 June 19:30 Lortie has attracted critical acclaim throughout Europe, Asia and the USA. The Daily Telegraph says “Lortie is one of perhaps half a dozen pianists who is worth dropping everything to go and hear”. His programme this evening is Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ and Liszt’s Sonata in B minor. £19 per adult ticket, child/ student tickets £10. This is the last concert in the International Classical Concerts series. To book contact Geoffrey Whitehead 01580 883092, 01580 880413 or email geoffreywhitehead@ onionmagazine.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

vinehallschool.com. Venue: Vinehall School, Robertsbridge.

Jazz at Stone Church with Dr Jazz and Lynn Falvey Saturday 6 June 19:30 Tickets for this event are £10 (which includes a drink on arrival). Wine, real ale and supper plates are available on the night too. Tickets available on the door or telephone 01233 758441. Venue: Stone Church, TN30 7JT. Iden Open Gardens Sunday 7 June Organised by Friends of Iden Church. For more details contact Mr J Harrison on 01797 280240.

Breeding Birds at Rye Harbour Sunday 7 June 15:00 to 17:30 See how the breeding terns, gulls and waders are doing this year in their struggle to raise chicks.

The walk is around 2 miles. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. No booking necessary. Donations appreciated. www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/ whatson.

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Meadow Gardening Study Day with Fergus Garrett at Great Dixter Monday 8 June The study day includes a lecture in the house as well as a talk and demonstration in the garden.

Refreshments and lunch are provided and there is a 10% discount to attendees on plant sales in the nursery on the day. For more details and to book contact Perry Rodriguez on 01797 252878. www.greatdixter.co.uk St Michael’s Hospice Open Gardens – Hastings Old Town Tuesday 9 June 10:30 to 16:00 With eight beautiful gardens open to the public today, there will be plenty of opportunity to explore and take inspiration for your own gardens. For more information visit www. stmichaelshospice.com/get-involved/events.

‘Some New Archaeological Discoveries in Sussex’

by Casper Johnson Tuesday 9 June 19:30

Saddle up for ‘Davina’s Big Sussex Bike Ride’ Sunday 7 June Davina McCall is inviting all willing cyclists to join her and raise funds for sick babies and children at the East Sussex National Hotel and Golf Course near Uckfield. This event is for Action Medical Research. There are three route options so you don’t have to be super-fit to enter. Sign up at http://www.action.org.uk/davinas-big-sussexbike-ride.

E

ACH HOU CO CLINIC S OSTEOPATHY

The Coach House Clinic, Tenterden, TN30 6JS ACUPUNCTURE PHYSIOTHERAPY

CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY OSTEOPATHY, ACUPUNCTURE MASSAGE PHYSIOTHERAPY, MASSAGE

01580

763 763481 481 01580 www.jstevensosteomed.com June 2015

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NOTICEBOARD <9

IT’S TIME TO PICK-YOUR-OWN at

Tibbs Farm Udimore, Rye, TN31 6AX Come and experience the fun of picking your own fruit in the wonderful surroundings of the Tillingham Valley.

Our full range of soft fruits will be available as usual from mid-June to the end of July.

A fun time out for all the family here at Tibbs Farm.

07710 246302 www.tibbsfarm.com Tibbs Farm

OWLET

Fine quality Kentish juices available in 250ml & 1litre bottles.

41 Awards Celebrating 30 years as fruit growers.

t: 01892 890553 e: hello@owletfruitjuice.co.uk

owletfruitjuice.co.uk

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The County Archaeologist will talk about the latest ‘finds’ including those found during the building of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road. Members £2 and guests £3. Refreshments and raffle approx.

8.45pm. Heather Stevenson 01797 224650.

Venue: Rye Castle Museum, East Street, Rye. Fund-raising Strawberry Cream Tea and Talk Wednesday 10 June 14:00 Friends of Westview are hosting this event at the London Beach Hotel, Tenterden. There will be a talk by local doctor, Roy Isworth on ’40 years of NHS Surgery’ at 2.30pm. Tickets £10.50 and must be bought in advance form Dinah Thomas 01580 761806 or Emma Isworth 01580 765518. Venue: London Beach Hotel, Ashford, Tenterden, TN30 6HX. ‘Waterloo and the balance of power in Europe’

by John Guyatt Wednesday 10 June 14:30 This talk is hosted by the Winchelsea Second Wednesday Society. Held at the New Hall, Winchelsea. Non members are welcome at £4 for each talk and tea. For details contact Richard Feast on 01797 222629.

Brede Friendly Circle Thursday 11 June 14:00 This month the meeting is earlier at 2pm. Wiltshire Farm Foods will be doing a tasting presentation of ready meals. Visitors £3. Annual membership £10 per annum. For more details contact the Chairman Wendy Reynolds 01424 882686. Venue: Village Hall, Brede.

Design with Flowers in Brede Thursday 11 June 13:30 to 15:30 This month’s project will be to make an arrangement in a box. Flowers, greenery and floral foam will be needed. Go along to learn, or continue to practice, how to make beautiful flower arrangements for your home, family and friends. The second Thursday of each month.

Contact Rhiannon Oliver 01242 882037 or Sue onionmagazine.co.uk

Super Shops

By Nick Farley

Ah, the heady delights of the supermarket: the merry sound of children disobeying their parents, the mellifluous tones of the tannoy telling Deirdre she’s required to help at till 96, the ‘fresh’ beans from Africa, the apples from Chile, the potatoes from Egypt, the milk and eggs from Poland and the meat from gawd knows where – don’t you just love it?

Look, I’m not stupid enough to deny the convenience of the supermarket and the weekly visit is probably a chore we just have to endure, but it is, nonetheless, a chore. Nor is this article intended to be some ‘green’, food-miles rant. I realise that, despite climate change, a local orange crop is likely to be a bit thin and that banana growers on Romney Marsh would also be pushed to make a decent living. Of course some stuff does have to be imported…but potatoes? Have we gone mad? You’ve probably noticed that potatoes and sheep actually seem to do quite well on Romney Marsh.

Anne Clarke deftly feeding three lambs at once June 2015

I don’t want to get all moist-eyed over this but I am just staggered at the amount of good locally produced food there is and, just as important, the number of good shops there are in which to buy it. If we lived in some areas we should have no alternative but to shop in the big supermarkets, but here fortunately we do have other choices. Here we have some super-shops which are not only selling locally produced food that is not available in Watasco Megastores, but these supershops make the necessity of food buying an interesting, even exciting, pleasure.

In some cases the distance between the local producer and shop is measured in yards rather than in oceans because the producer is also the shop-owner: for example, Park Farm Butchers in Hawkhurst. I am a long-time supporter of the Park Farm butchers shop and was therefore interested to see what lies behind it, and so I went to see Andrew and Anne Clarke who own the shop and Park Farm itself, which is the source of most of the meat in the shop. The Clarkes farm 300 acres just outside Hawkhurst where they raise Sussex cattle, Romney sheep and free-range pigs, and talking to them, and seeing the farm, you cannot be in any doubt about the quality of the food they produce and their concern for their animals’ well-being.

Park Farm operates a sort of virtuous circle: they make their own hay, haylage and silage which provides the main winter feed for the animals and they also grow their own barley and beans which they mill to provide food for the animals too. In the summer months the animals graze the pastures, and by using animal fertiliser Park Farm maintains good quality grass.

The animals themselves are mostly born on the farm and when I visited they were right in the middle of lambing which, unusually these days, is all done outside as Andrew believes it is both healthier and cleaner. Anne and Andrew’s commitment to the environment is highlighted by their membership of the The Onion magazine 11

Higher Level Stewardship scheme which among other things entails leaving wide unploughed margins around the edge of arable fields and managing areas of grassland to produce wild flower meadows. And don’t think that just means letting the meadows get on with it; I know to my cost that managing a wild flower meadow is hard work and it’s definitely not just a matter of letting it grow unchecked.

Another super-shop where the supply line from farm to shop counter is literally measured in yards is Silcocks Farm and Shop near Tenterden where David and Julia Fenton have a similar ethos to Park Farm. All the meat sold at Silcocks is from animals born and raised to Soil Association organic standards on Silcocks Farm: the cattle are Herefords, the sheep are Romneys and the pigs are Gloucester Old Spots. Ask them in Watasco Megastores what the origin and breed of their meat is and I’m afraid they won’t know, and you may well think that it doesn’t matter, but it does: by buying from these local shops you are buying beautiful meat from animals that you know have had a good life and have been well cared for and, as a bonus, you are supporting the local economy and the environment, but even if you care not a fig for any of that ‘fluffy’ altruistic stuff you’ll still find the meat tastes better than anything else. At Silcocks too you will find organic milk, cream, cheese and ice cream all made on the spot in their own dairy using milk from their own cows.

Unlike growing oranges we’re quite good at producing milk and its derivative foods, although Watasco Megastores seem intent on driving our dairy farmers out of business by paying them less for their milk than it actually costs to produce.

Top: The meat counter at Hartley Farm Shop Above: Silcocks’ own organic cheese

There was a time when a farm ‘shop’ was actually more farm than it was shop and usually involved no more than a rudimentary stall somewhere in a farm outbuilding, but not any more: Silcocks is definitely not that with its well equipped and well stocked shop and its comfortable restaurant, and near Cranbrook on the road to Hawkhurst there is the beautiful new Hartley Coffee House and Farm Shop – it seems de rigueur these days to have a place to eat and drink attached to a farm shop – which is a completely new building designed from the ground up to be a ‘farm’ shop. It opened only last October and is owned and run by the Levett family who have been farming here for eight generations. A huge amount of research went into the design and building of this magnificent new shop and the Levetts have set their standards very high. Their aim is to sell local produce, preferably award-winning local produce, and importantly they have invested a lot of time in choosing and training their staff, and it shows. In fact it is the staff in all of these shops that are outstanding and it is one of the things which sets them apart and which makes the shopping experience so much nicer than in the supermarkets.

Not far away in Hurst Green you will find another spectacular and completely new farm shop that has been built solely to be a farm shop: it is the oddly named ‘Eggs to Apples’ situated on the edge of Hurst Green right beside the A21. Its name alludes to the path through a meal which the ancient Romans might have taken and which would have begun with eggs and ended with fruit. The point being that ‘Eggs to Apples’ can supply you with everything you need for a complete meal and like the other shops here its raison d’être is to provide an outlet for the best local produce.

Does the man on the wet fish counter in the big supermarket go down to the Fishmarket in Hastings every day? No he doesn’t, but Chris Munson of ‘Eggs to Apples’ does. And that’s the whole point: these people care about what they are doing, and while I’m not suggesting that supermarket staff don’t care, the fact is

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As a customer I find it is so good to be in a shop that is not trying to be all things to all men. None of these shops is trying to sell washing powder and razor blades and Rice Krispies, that’s Watasco territory and it’s territory they occupy well. No, these super-shops are selling the things which you won’t find in the supermarkets because the supermarkets don’t understand them or don’t deal in the amounts which the small local producers can handle.

When you walk around these farm shops you will be amazed at what is available and when you try it you’ll be amazed at how good it is.

FIND OUT MORE

Park Farm Butchers, 2 The Colonnade, Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Kent. TN18 4ES. Tel: 01580 753 558 www.parkfarmbutchers.co.uk Top: Eggs to Apples Above: Beautiful fish at Eggs to Apples

Silcocks Farm Shop, Grange Road, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6TL. Tel: 01580 763351 www.silcocksfarm-organics.co.uk

that they are so removed from the head office ordering process that they can’t have the direct influence on and knowledge of what is sold which the staff and owners of these local shops can have.

Hartley Coffee House and Farm Shop, Hartley Dyke Farm, Hartley Rd, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3QG. Tel: 01580 715233 Eggs to Apples, London Road, Hurst Green, Etchingham, East Sussex. TN19 7QQ. Tel: 01580 860566 www.eggstoapples.co.uk

Hartley Dyke Farm, Hartley, Cranbrook, Kent. TN17 3QG 01580 720444

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The Onion magazine 13

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

Sturmey 01424 882544. Venue: Parish Room, Waterworks Lane, Brede (opp St George’s Church).

‘A Policeman’s Lot can be quite an Interesting One’ by Neil Sadler Thursday 11 June 19:30 A talk hosted by Tenterden and District National Trust Association. Members £4, non-Members £5. Visitors welcome. For further information 01580 764791. Venue: Tenterden Junior School, Recreation Ground Road.

Dracula comes to Cranbrook Friday 12 June 19:45 The team that brought you the award-winning ‘Great Expectations’ have got their teeth into Bram Stoker’s classic tale of the vampire. Writer Andrew McPherson, director Simon Harvey and ‘outrageously versatile’ actor David Mynne stage a one-man performance of Dracula. Tickets £10 and £6. Box office 01580 711856. Book online at www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk. Venue: Queen’s Hall Theatre, Cranbrook, TN17 3JD. Summer Flower and Produce Show Saturday 13 June 14:30 The Iden and Playden Garden Society’s Summer flower and produce show. Teas and plant stall. All welcome. Venue: Iden Village Hall.

Annual Rose Show Saturday 13 June 14:30 The Ewhurst, Staplecross and Bodiam Garden Society will be holding their annual Rose Show at the Staplecross Village Hall. Most classes are open to non-Members as well as Members. Schedules are available from the Staplecross Post Office.

Refreshments, including homemade cakes, will be available. Contact Gill Neal 01580 830551. Venue: Staplecross Village Hall.

Photographing Summer Wildlife at Rye Harbour Saturday 13 June 10:00 to 13:00 Take your digital camera along for some top tips on photographing wildlife – from close-ups of tiny flora and fauna, to using your binoculars or 14 The Onion magazine

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telescope to bring distant birds closer. Meet at Rye Harbour car park. Booking essential. £10 per person. www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/ whatson.

Open Gardens in Robertsbridge and Salehurst Saturday 13 June 11:00 to 17:00 Eight lovely and varied gardens open for St Mary’s Church, Salehurst. Tickets £5 per person, accompanied children free, available in advance from the Floral Boutique and Belle Flowers in Robertsbridge, or on the day at the Mill and the Salehurst Halt. Tea, coffee and cakes will be available at the Salehurst Halt. For more details 01580 880361.

‘The Ménage à Trois in Ellen Terry’s Garden’ by Ann Rachlin Saturday 13 June 18:00 A Bohemian trio of feminists who defied Victorian prejudices. With private photographs taken from their personal album, Ann reveals the hidden lives of the three women who cared for Ellen Terry in her last years. A lavishly illustrated talk.

Tickets £5. Tel 01580 762334 or 0844 2491895.

Venue: Ellen Terry Barn Theatre, Smallhythe, TN30 7NG. The Occasional Consort perform Baroque and Blues for Charity Saturday 13 June 19:30 The Occasional Consort, leader Anne Whiteman, perform Baroque & Blues – Handel Birthday Ode to Queen Anne, and Chilcot – a little Jazz Mass.

Soloists Grace Constable (Soprano), Rebekah Gilbert (Mezzo), Gary Dyer (Bass). Tickets £10 on the door. Profit share to St Michael’s Hospice. For information and booking contact Lin Westcott 01424 435185. Venue: St John’s Church, Pevensey Road, St Leonards.

Pride and Prejudice at Sissinghurst Castle Garden Saturday 13 June 19:00 to 21:00 The Pantaloons perform their adaptation of the Jane Austen classic. Adult £15, child £8. Booking essential on 08442 491895. Venue: Sissinghurst onionmagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

STAMP DUTY CHANGES – HOW MUCH WILL YOU SAVE?

Kerry Carter, of Tenterden law firm Pengelly & Rylands, looks at the government’s recent changes to Stamp Duty.

What is Stamp Duty?

Stamp Duty is a tax on land and property transactions. Its full name is 'Stamp Duty Land Tax' (SDLT). In residential property transactions, Stamp Duty is payable when you buy a property over £125,000. The amount of Stamp Duty you will be liable for will depend on the value of the property.

Last year, the Chancellor announced changes to the Stamp Duty system and these came into effect on 4th December 2014. He has claimed that 98% of homeowners in England and Wales will pay less under the new system and some property experts have predicted a boom in sales of houses between £250,000 and £280,000 as a result of the changes.

The old system: The previous system had been criticised by many for creating odd price distortions. A seller with a property which should have been worth between £251,000 and £275,000 usually had to resign themselves to only achieving £250,000 for the property, as buyers would be unwilling to pay an additional 2% in Stamp Duty for a property just over the £250,000 threshold. For example, buyers paying £250,000 would pay £2,500, or 1% in Stamp Duty. However, if the price was £260,000, the buyer would pay 3%, or £7,800.

What has changed?

The new system is more like the system of income tax. The new rates of Stamp Duty only apply to the amount of purchase price falling within the particular duty band, smoothing out the jumps in the previous Stamp Duty thresholds. For example, someone buying a house for £275,000 will pay nothing on the first £125,000, 2% on the next £125,000 (amounting to £2,500) and then 5% on the balance of £25,000 (being £1,250). So the total amount payable would be £3,750, a saving of £4,500 against the old system. The new rates are:Up to £125,000: £125,001 to £250,000 £250,001 to £925,000 £925,001 to £1.5m Above £1.5m

0% 2% 5% 10% 12%

Kerry Carter – Chartered Legal Executive Purchase at £185,000 Stamp duty payable under the old rules Stamp duty payable under the new rules

£1,850 £1,200

Purchase at £325,000 Stamp duty payable under the old rules Stamp duty payable under the new rules

£9,750 £6,250

Purchase at £510,000 Stamp duty payable under the old rules Stamp duty payable under the new rules

£20,400 £15,500

If you have any questions regarding Stamp Duty, or about buying or selling a property, please telephone Kerry Carter or Elizabeth Connell on 01580 762248 who will be happy to help you.

The Kent Show

We were surprised to have a great day out, by Nick Farley.

Last month I was talking about the Heathfield Show but let me start this month with a humble confession: for some years now I have rather snootily dismissed well, very snootily if I’m confessing with any honesty - the big shows, like The South of England Show and The Kent County Show, as being just ‘fairgrounds’ which have little or nothing to do with the agricultural world which surrounds us. As a young boy the annual trip to the Kent Show with my father was one of the

year’s highlights. I clambered over the new tractors and I marvelled at the animals. I suppose that the stifling ‘Elf n’ Safety’ regulations preclude young boys falling off tractors these days, but in the proper world if you did that it was considered to be your fault and you got a thick ear to add to any injury sustained in the fall. Anyway, I was not expecting to recapture my youthful enthusiasm for the show when in snootily dismissive mood the Ed and I turned up to The Kent Show on a moist Friday in July last year, but against all expectations we had a ball!

Above all, and the most surprising thing to me, was that despite its size and the proliferation of non-agricultural stands (Hot Tubs?) this is still fundamentally a country show. Without its strong agricultural and rural base there would simply be no point to it, there would be no reason for it and it would have no focus or foundation. First, and most important, I was delighted to see that there are oodles of animals, and what I like about these shows is that everyone can get close to the animals. What’s more the animals that you see are the very best of their type and they are all immaculately groomed as they compete for the various cups and prizes. You simply cannot be other than in awe of the huge cattle when you are near to them, and walking through the animal pens is a delight for everyone no matter how accustomed you are to farm animals, and it is a wonderful experience for children too. In many cases the animals in the parade rings are being shown by children, albeit teenagers, from the Young Farmers clubs or from the schools which have farms.

The Editor walks through the cattle line 16 The Onion magazine

The main ring is obviously the centre of the show but there are several others and it is in the rings that you will see not only the animals but all the other things that make these shows such a good day out; you will see parades of old vehicles and displays by stunt onionmagazine.co.uk

Most men like a good big old tractor

motorcyclists; there are carriage driving competitions, including my favourite the double harness scurry class, and showjumping and heavy horses. This year at Kent there will also be displays by the mounted branch of The Metropolitan Police, while overhead there will be the peerless Red Arrows on Friday and every day a Spitfire will be flying over the Detling showground which was a Spitfire base in World War II. The show spreads out in all directions from the main ring with all kinds of stands selling just about everything and I was amazed at what one can buy at an agricultural show these days. There are apparently 500 trade stands, (which reminds me that for every trade stand I shall want a visitor sit so, note to self, remember to take shooting stick or some other lightweight, portable seat) but perhaps the most relevant stands are those displaying and selling the speciality and award-winning foods, wines and beers that are produced locally. The range is at once mind-boggling and mouth-watering.

Immaculately groomed for showing

Every little boy will want to try these miniature motorbikes

The pole climbing contest is not for the faint-hearted

We had a great day out: we saw animals, we saw machines old and new, we picnicked, we bought stuff, we watched displays and demonstrations and parades, and we simply had a lot of fun. So with snooty dismissiveness now itself dismissed we shall return to Kent this year and will go to The South of England Show at Ardingly which we have also mistakenly neglected for many years. If, like us, it is a few years since you went to either show go this year and the best tip I can give you is go early â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both shows open at 8am.

FIND OUT MORE

South of England Show - 11th, 12th and 13th June

South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TL Tel: 01444 892700, Email: info@seas.org.uk, www.seas.org.uk

Kent County Show - 10th, 11th and 12th July

Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, ME14 3JF Tel: 01622 630975, Email: info@kentshowground.co.uk www.kentshowground.co.uk

June 2015

The Onion magazine 17

Soundingoff Litterally rubbish As I cycle my way around Kent and Sussex I cannot help but notice the colossal amount of rubbish consisting of bottles, plastic bags, fast food packaging, police tape, car bumpers, piles of building waste, crisp packets, coffee cups, and a multitude of other items which are carelessly and needlessly tossed on to our verges. Termed ‘rural litter’, it is given little consideration for a number of reasons: it is not very noticeable to passing motorists, it doesn’t lie on private property and it is situated alongside busy roads in what is considered to be a high risk area to clean. About a month ago I litter-picked a quarter mile stretch of road in the heart of the Weald and picked up an incredible twelve black sacks of rubbish. As an example of how bad this problem is the same stretch of road is already returning to its original littered state, only a month later. And this is not just a local problem. On my travels around Britain, both as a cyclist and motorist, I notice rubbish lying on almost every road I travel along. The motorways are lined with the stuff, whilst ‘A’ roads and many ‘B’ roads are not much better. Next time you have the opportunity to do so safely, I encourage you to take a look for yourself and see how much roadside junk you notice. If the litter is not picked up then natural processes work it down through the various layers of soil, embedding it in the eco system where it will lay hidden for many thousands of years.

Sadly, and despite the efforts of many dedicated individuals and organisations, this is a battle which is being lost. There is simply not enough people-power to counter it. Current

preventative measures clearly don’t work, and with the increase of consumerism, coupled with the increasing population and road traffic this epidemic looks set to get a lot worse. So why should you care? Because it looks awful, it poses a great threat to our ecology and it is a stark example of the very traits that society as a whole attempts to discourage: inconsideration, wastefulness and carelessness, to name a few. It’s fair to say that something radical is in order, so in response I’ve created an online petition, one which asks local councils to organise litter pick-ups which will be carried out by volunteers. If you feel affected by and/or care for what you’ve just read then please take five minutes to have a look at www.letsdothisthing.info. It is vital to the success of this campaign that you do what you can to spread the word. There are links on the webpage that make this easy. If we truly value the beauty of where we live then we must get out there and clean up this shameful mess, and in doing so not only set an example to each other, but also to future generations on how to take better care of our environment.

Alex Thomson If everyone who reads The Onion signed this petition it would be over halfway towards its target of 100,000. Ed.

If you would like to Sound Off about anything please feel free to do that here. Email Carol@onionpublishing.co.uk or post to the address on page 3.

18 The Onion magazine

onionmagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Time to think about your finances and tax One of the most unpredictable political elections in years has left many people uncertain about the implications for them and their financial situation.

The questions are endless – what should I do with my pension, should I or can I buy property, is it a good time to start a new business, how will inheritance tax affect my family?

At least things have moved on from the 1960’s when there was a staggering 136% top rate of income tax and the 1970’s weren’t much better when an investment income surcharge inflicted on some tax payers, brought them into a 98% tax bracket. The government of the time sought to “squeeze the rich until the pips squeak” which triggered an exodus of entrepreneurs and highlypaid stars such as David Bowie and the Rolling Stones who sought refuge in Switzerland and the South of France respectively.

Due in part to privatisation issues and the growth of pension savings, the majority of us are now members of the share-owning classes and it is no longer the prerogative of the “rich”. It could be argued that the position has reversed where there is, in effect, a surcharge on earned income – in the form of increased employees’ national insurance contributions (NICs)

instead of a surcharge on unearned or investment income.

Trying to maximise your income and minimise your tax liabilities while at the same time planning for your future and that of your family is something we should all face rather than burying our heads in the sand.

In a time of uncertainty it makes sense to approach Begbies Accountants, a local firm of accountants with an exemplary track record, a dedicated team of accountants and the advantage of an experienced certified financial adviser.

From 1986 we have built strong, caring relationships with our clients, many of whom have been with us since the opening of our office in Cranbrook. Whatever your income or business turnover, you can be sure that Begbies is here to advise you on the management of your personal finances and those of your business in the most straightforward, uncomplicated manner. We are a friendly bunch and our fees are competitive. We understand finance but we understand people too.

Why not call us on 01580 713055 for an initial chat. Or you can e-mail us at cranbrook@begbiesaccountants. co.uk.

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> Audit & accounting > Business start-up > Business tax > Capital gains tax > Charities > Company secretarial > Corporate tax planning > Financial planning > Inheritance tax planning > Investment advice > Management accounts > Payroll > Personal tax > Trust & estate accounts > Valuations > VAT

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

Castle Garden, nr Cranbrook.

googlemail.com.

Little Mockbeggar Farm and Moonrakers Open Gardens Sunday 14 June 13:00 to 18:00 Open for Hospice in the Weald, these two gardens are absolutely charming. Crammed with herbaceous perennials, annuals, shrubs, roses and climbers, plus a kitchen garden and wildlife ponds and orchards. Cream teas and ice-creams, raffle, country crafts, animal corner.

Plants for sale. No wheelchair access or dogs.

Plenty of parking. Entrance by donation. For more information Sue East 01580 291311 or Fiona Chapman 01580 291292. Venue: Mockbeggar Lane, Biddenden, TN27 8ES.

Auto Rally at the Recreation Ground, Punnetts Town Sunday 14 June 10:30 to 18:30 Free admission to see steam engines, steam organ, vintage and veteran vehicles of all kinds. Tea, coffee and licensed bar available. Also, Fun Dog Show from 1.30pm at £1 per class, and fastest recall all day and agility from 10am to noon. For more details 01435 831653. Venue: Recreation Ground, Punnetts Town.

Tillingham Valley Charity Horse Ride Sunday 14 June 09:30 to 13:00 Ride 5 or 10 miles in the beautiful Tillingham Valley. For details and entry forms contact 07930 759398 or 07951 572259 or email wheelersflp@

20 The Onion magazine

Open Garden in aid of NGS Sunday 14 June and Sunday 19 July 14:00 to 17:30 Entrance £4, children free. Teas, free parking.

Wheelchair accessible. Venue: Townland, Six Fields, Tenterden, TN30 6EX. ‘My Grandfather and the German Resistance’ by Kate Tym

onionmagazine.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS ... THINGS TO DO

Monday 15 June 14:00 This is the fascinating story of a family’s act of resistance in Germany during WWII told for the U3A’s monthly meeting. They meet on the third Monday of the month. New members are welcomed. Contact Sheila 01797 224339 or June 01797 226380. Venue: Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, Rye TN31 7LE.

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start at St Nicholas Church, Sandhurst. 7.5 mile, grade 3, circular walk with a lunch stop. For more information contact Sue Clark 01797 253428.

‘Security and Online Backups’ by Phil Birch Wednesday 17 June 19:30 The Weald of Kent Computer Club’s talk this month is on the subject of security and online backups by Phil Birch of Training Highway. Annual membership costs £10 and covers free admission to all 10 meetings. Visitors welcome at £2 per visit. Enquiries to secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk.

Gardening at Sissinghurst Tuesday 16 June 09:30 to 16:30 This is a hands-on day with the team at Sissinghurst learning about successful gardening.

Lunch and tea is provided. Booking is essential.

Cost £75. Telephone 08442 491895. Venue: Sissinghurst Castle Garden, nr Cranbrook 01580 710700.

‘Droughts, Deluges and Dust Devils’ by Ian Currie for Tenterden U3A Thursday 18 June 14:00 There is a monthly meeting with a guest speaker on the third Thursday of month at St Mildred’s Hall, Church Road, Tenterden at 2pm. Members and guests welcome. Details of further speakers can be found at www.tenterdentown/u3a.

Northiam Footpath Group Wednesday 17 June 09:45 This walk’s theme is ‘No Carping Please!’ Leave Northiam Surgery car park at 9.45am for a 10am

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The Onion magazine 21

A GOOD Book

In this column we feature books that we, and our reviewers, like. They may not necessarily be new books, but they’ll be fiction and non-fiction books that we have enjoyed. We’ll always include at least one children’s book in the selection each time. We’d love to hear your thoughts on anything you feel we should be reading and sharing with others.

London for Foodies, Gourmets & Gluttons

By David Hampshire and Graeme Chesters Published by Survival Books Hardback £11.95

I loved this book. If you like a calorie or two then this is one of those books that makes you want to drop everything immediately and rush off to visit the places it’s talking about, because the places this book is talking about are food shops, food markets and eateries in London. “Oh yeah,” I can hear you groan, “that’s just what the world needs, yet another guide to eating in London.” Well, normally I’d agree with you but this book is different and it fired me up the moment I opened it. The first section is a guide to specialist food shops and markets and there are some real tempters in here: there are places where you can buy the specialist food of practically every country you’ve ever heard of and some that you haven’t; there are cheese shops, chocolate shops, fish shops, patisseries – oh, the patisseries – there’s even a specialist biscuit shop. Imagine that, a shop specialising in biscuits! There are 22 The Onion magazine

butchers, honey specialists, ice creamists and, of course, bakers, and in this beautiful little book they all look so inviting and irresistible that I see no point in trying to resist. Just give in.

Staggering from these halls of temptation heavy laden with classy comestibles you will be in need of the restoring snack and beverage and this book is right there guiding you unerringly to cafés of equal delight. Fully fledged restaurants are covered just as temptingly as are the places where you can get the best street food. London used to be such a dreary place to eat, and outside of Soho there weren’t too many interesting food shops either, but now – wow!

Reviewed by B. Dalziell

Quilting: Patchwork and Appliqué Published by Dorling Kindersley www.dk.com/crafts Hardback. £25.

As soon as I saw this book my fingers were itching to get going on one of the projects.

It is a really lovely book, in true Dorling Kindersley style with clean, readable pages and lots of

illustrations which are clearly and carefully placed on the page. If you don’t know a fat quarter from a jelly roll this might be the book for you. It explains what equipment you need to get started, the different sorts of patchwork there are, and it describes the appliqué and quilting styles. There are over 40 things to make, from simple things for beginners like me, to slightly more adventurous projects termed as ‘medium’ difficulty.

There are templates at the back of the book too so you won’t have to make wobbly-shaped birds and hearts (or am I just showing up my own lack of skills here?). I’m off now to hone my trapunto skills …

Reviewed by Carol Farley

Tender: Volume l A cook and his vegetable patch

By Nigel Slater Published by: Fourth Estate Hardback, £30

I was really pleased to have the opportunity to review this book. Any book which claims to be the definitive guide to vegetables and backs up that claim with 600 pages of vegetable gardening and vegetable cooking, gets my attention. onionmagazine.co.uk

Nigel Slater is a good food writer and I have always liked his TV programmes too. They are invariably sensible and practical and never of the ‘fain daining’ type, but it turns out that he’s a good gardener as well and in this book he combines his knowledge of cooking and gardening to elevate the vegetable to its proper position in the kitchen, a position that most other TV cooks ignore.

They all go to great lengths to tell you how to cook a dish but always ignore the important detail of naming the variety of vegetable or fruit which they are using. To them, presumably, all tomatoes are the same. Slater is also guilty of this to some extent by telling you the tomato varieties to grow but then failing to name them in the recipes in his 25 page section on tomatoes.

However, you know you’re on sure ground when he says of the potato that, “nowhere else in the vegetable kingdom does (using) the right one for the right job matter quite so much.” There are 54 pages on potatoes covering what varieties to grow or buy, how to grow them and how to use them. There are even 15 pages on the humble swede, a vegetable about which I am not too excited and which up to now I have only used in stews, yet Slater makes it sound quite different and he has changed my perception of this unglamorous old root. “It (the swede) is rarely treated with much respect, “ he says, but I shall certainly pay it more attention from now on, although nothing Nigel Slater can say will ever persuade me that aubergines are fit for human consumption.

June 2015

Apart from being a good gardening book and cook book this is also just a good read too because of Slater’s writing style which if sometimes a tad affected is always weighted with racy humour and his description of the aubergine as a “big purple shlong” cannot not be bettered.

Reviewed by B. Dalziell

Christopher’s Caterpillars A tale of mini-beasts and mystery

by Charlotte Middleton Published by Oxford University Press (www.oup.com) Available in paperback and hardback Suitable for 2+ years Children’s. Hardback. £8.95

Christopher Nibble (a guinea pig) and his friend Posie (also a guinea pig) keep six hairy caterpillars as pets. They look after their pets carefully but, one day, the caterpillars disappear!

Christopher and Posie become the ‘detectives of Dandeville’ and, with the help of Mr Rosetti, they solve the mystery in a delightful tale.

The illustrations are absolutely charming - a mixture of drawing and collage. This would be a great way to encourage small children to make their own collage story. I particularly loved the guinea pig as Mona Lisa!

Reviewed by Jessica Harding

Barnett’s of Wadhurst is a bookshop with a difference.

“We really listen to what our customers say” It is a very friendly, personal service at Barnett’s.

Our Literary Lounge Spring Event Tuesday 23rd June: Karen Swan launches her new book “Summer at Tiffany’s” - with advance copies of the publication which comes out the following week.

Watch out for news of our Autumn season - including, we hope, Kate Mosse.

Meet at the shop at 7.30pm for drinks and nibbles. All events £10.

Tickets to be purchased in advance from Barnett’s.

Open: Mon-Sat 9-5 (Closed 1-2) Wednesday 9-1 only Gordon House, High Street Wadhurst, E. Sussex TN5 6AA Tel/Fax: 01892 783566 Enquiries@barnettsbooks.co.uk www.barnettsbooks.com Proprietor: Richard Hardy Smith

The Onion magazine 23

EAT

Sankey’s, Tunbridge Wells

BY JOHN DOIG

John Doig has written about food for various magazines including Cuisine and Gourmet and is now a charcutier.

Is romance dead?

In a huge, very popular London restaurant I found myself sitting with my young daughter one recent Sunday afternoon, her sipping a frothy and intense hot chocolate and me sucking on an Americano coffee, when I started looking at the room full of people. Every seat was taken, but there was a quiet hum about the place that was disconcerting and there was an absence of what you expect in a busy eating house: animated conversation with the occasional shrill shout, the kind of buzz that Sunday lunches generally produce in country pubs down here. Well it wasn’t really something missing so much as something added: surveying each table I realised that no-one was talking.

Everyone everywhere was gazing into a phone or a tablet.

They weren’t eating or talking, they were manipulating the keyboards of their various communication devices and only occasionally sharing something with the people beside them.

But let’s not get depressed, that’s London and there’s a place in Tunbridge Wells where you’ll find food and atmosphere to rekindle even the dullest relationship.

From the outside, especially in the evening, Sankey’s at the Old Fishmarket, in the heart of The Pantiles looks like it may have escaped from a fairytale. If you’re a stranger it will make you look twice. If you have a reservation it will cause a warm glow that will start your romantic juices flowing. You have a treat in 24 The Onion magazine

store. If it’s the middle of winter you’ll find the warmth inside welcoming. If it’s summer you may opt for a table outside where you can bathe in the envious glances of passers-by.

Either way, sit down, and before you study the menu, order a glass of fizzy from the list of more than a dozen options.

The oysters are for those of us with a physical need to close our eyes and allow the entire slippery mollusc to slide over our taste buds, taking the iodine-sharp flavours of the sea into our hearts. If that doesn’t get the two of you twitching then you’ll need to consider the richer stimulation of the fruits de mer platter with its array of shrimp, prawns, crayfish, mussels and clams. If you’re feeling especially flush and have a need to really impress then what you’ll need is The Works which includes dressed crab, native lobster and rock oysters.

Sankey’s is a very good seafood restaurant, due in no small way to the fact that they also own a fishmongers across town. So the fish is fresh and immaculately prepared by two chefs whose entire life is apparently seafood.

The wine list is smart, and for the most part, affordable. It acknowledges the need for whites that are potent partners for big fish flavours and stay fresh through a couple of courses. And it has a secret corner, something I didn’t discover until it was too onionmagazine.co.uk

late: it includes an impressive beer list, more than ten choices including the superb Chapel Down collection of ‘Curious’ brews.

On our last visit my daughter, in a moment of teenage optimism, opted to create her own appetiser platter including crevettes, scallops and, naturally, a lobster.

She was very happy to slurp on water, something I suppose I should enjoy while it lasts. We also fell in love with the bread, which, horror of horrors, they charged for. Bread has always struck me as a condiment. You don’t pay for salt and pepper so why pay for something to soak up the juices after a lusty dish? In any event we both loved the bread and it seemed to keep coming throughout the meal so there were no hard feelings seeing the £1.25 added to the bill.

We hadn’t paced ourselves very well and had filled up in a splurge of fresh seafood. If we’d had room left we would have opted for a main course, either the Moules Marinière or the Peterhead Cod roasted with bacon, peas and lettuce.

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01580 752 752 We propagate and grow our plants on site T H E WA L L E D N U R S E RY S T. RO N A N ’ S S C H O O L WAT E R L A N E H AW K H U R S T T N 1 8 5 D H

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I finished with a wee cognac and coffee and my young daughter opted for a hot chocolate. We were thoroughly sated, and kept looking around at the glass walls, the chefs just an arm’s length away and the tables replete with people leaning into one another, clearly sharing intimate conversation and occasionally stabbing an oyster or another crevette.

What makes Sankey’s such a romantic spot? I believe it’s a combination of food, service and an idyllic building in the beautiful royal heart of Tunbridge Wells. Oysters and fish have always been the fodder of courtship, both impressive and mythical in their contribution to passion.

Invisible and friendly service doesn’t hurt the process. But more than anything else it’s the unique building that is the Old Fishmarket that makes the whole experience of dining there so memorable. To say there’s nothing else like it in our neck of the woods is an understatement.

But please, whatever you do, switch off your phone and keep it in your pocket.

Sankey’s The Old Fishmarket, 19 The Upper Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TN. T: 01892 511422 June 2015

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5.30pm

BEAUTIFUL PLANTS IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING THE WALLED NURSERY ST RONAN’S SCHOOL WATER LANE HAWKHURST TN18 5DH

01580 752 752 www.thewallednursery.com The Onion magazine 25

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

Go-Go to the 60s Music Club in Tenterden Friday 19 June 19:00 – til late For one night only dig out your 60s outfits and dance all night to The Tuesdays 60s music club, disco and bar. Sing along to the live singing from The Tuesdays and more. This is a fund-raising event for Tentertainment. Tickets £10. Limited VIP tickets £25 available from Kensal & Gretel in Tenterden High Street. For more information www.thetuesdayspresent.co.uk. Venue: Tenterden Town Hall, Tenterden High Street.

Midsummer Dragon Festival Friday 19 June from 18:00 A Summer evening with tales around the bonfire, crafts, games and a dragon parade around the Castle. Adult £10, child £8. No booking necessary - you can pay on the door. Venue: Bodiam Castle, nr Robertsbridge. 01580 830196.

Auction of Promises at Robertsbridge Club Friday 19 June 19:00 This is the Robertsbridge Bonfire Society’s annual evening of bidding, barbeque and bar. Everyone is welcomed. They would be grateful if you could please donate an item, a voucher or a pledge that can be auctioned. If so, please contact Pete Claridge on 01580 880468 or Eric Vidler on 01580 880135. All donations would be gratefully received and all the funds raised go towards the big night and to local charities. Venue: The Robertsbridge Club, Station Road, Robertsbridge.

Midsummer Festival and Family Fun Day in Northiam Saturday 20 June from 11:00 This event features a craft fair, beer festival, live music, a fun fair, dog show, barbecue and a string of other events and activities for the Northiam Bonfire Society. www.northiambonfiresociety. co.uk. Venue: Northiam Playing Fields, Main Street, Northiam.

Midsummer Open Gardens, Playden Saturday 20 June and Sunday 21 June 13:00 to 26 The Onion magazine

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17:00 daily Explore Playden village and discover its beautiful gardens. Plants, produce and preserves to buy.

Teas, coffee and cake en route. A £5 ticket covers map and gardens for both days. Meet outside St Michael’s Church, Rye Road, (A268), Playden TN31 7UA. For details contact Peter on 01797 224606.

Some Enchanted Evening in Playden Saturday 20 June 19:30 Music for Midsummer from the worlds of Opera and Musical Theatre performed by talented young artists Angela Simkin and Sally Harrison, soprano; Anthony Flume, tenor, and baritone Ross Ramgobin, finalist in 2015 International Opera Awards Young Singer category. Tickets £15 in advance. Go early for pre-performance refreshments and a stroll around the grounds.

For tickets and more information contact Viv on 01797 224606. Enquiries fopc@outlook.com.

Venue: St Michael’s Church, Playden TN31 7UA. Midsummer Walk and Supper at Bateman’s Saturday 20 June 18:00 to 22:00 Join the ranger for a guided walk of the estate followed by supper. You are advised to wear walking boots or wellies. Tickets £20. Booking essential on 01435 882302. Venue: Bateman’s, Burwash, Etchingham.

‘Owlers’ a play about smuggling Saturday 20 June 19:30 This play set on the Romney Marsh, features the legendary Dr Syn and some real smuggling heroes, performed by the horse-drawn Sabotage Theatre Company in The Barn Theatre, Smallhythe Place.

The grounds of Smallhythe Place will be open from 6pm for picnics prior to the performance and for viewing the Company’s horse-drawn wagon. Tickets £10 adults, £5 under-16s available from Smith’s of Tenterden, 16 High Street, Tenterden 01580 761356. Or from Smallhythe Place 01580 762334. onionmagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Discover inspirational local art Welcome to South East Open Studios 5th - 21st June

If you enjoy art and would like free days out with a difference, visiting an Open Studios event can be a truly unique and enjoyable experience. Discover countryside you have never driven through before and stop off at a pub for lunch. Our aim is to help bring artists and local people together.

South East Open Studios was established to help promote artists, encourage networking and provide a means of selling art and craft by both professionals and those who have not yet exhibited in a gallery.

Some studios have several artists showing a variety of art and craft.

Visitors have the opportunity to see behind the scenes, find out about techniques used and the passions that inspire our participants to create works of art. Artists will make you feel welcome and will be glad to chat to you about their work, often demonstrating and passing on hints and tips - perhaps helping to inspire budding artists!

You are not obliged to make a purchase at every studio you visit however we are supporting the JUST A CARD Campaign which encourages a very small purchase of a card.

2015 has seen a record number of artists become members of SEOS, there are over 320 for visitors to choose from, showing a wide range of work both traditional and contemporary - paintings, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, glass and jewellery.

All the details can be found in our Free full colour Guide available in many local shops, galleries and Kino Cinema or browse through our website www.seos-art. org and pick up a Guide on your first studio visit. The guide is also available in flip book and PDF formats on the website.

Unfaulty Basil By Carol Farley Pesto is quite delicious and has many uses in dressings, in sauces, or for stirring into pasta and even for simply spreading on toast. But however lovely the pesto is that you buy pre-made in jars in a shop, be warned, once you have made your own pesto you may never go back to buying shop pesto again. Every time my two year old granddaughter visits she devours masses of my homemade pesto on bread and absolutely loves it. And it really couldn’t be easier to make …

Ingredients 50g sweet basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum) 2-3 mint leaves (optional) 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 50g pine nuts 75g Parmesan or Gran Padano cheese, finely grated Juice of half a lemon (50ml) 150ml extra virgin olive oil or extra virgin rapeseed oil (plus a little extra to seal the jar) Salt to taste

Method

Some people pound all the ingredients together with a pestle and mortar. I really don’t see the point of that at all, so I simply whizz everything together, apart from the salt, in an electric blender for a couple of minutes until it becomes a soft mixture which has blended together well.

Taste it and add a touch of salt as necessary.

Then spoon the mixture into a sterilised jar or two and pour a little oil over the surface to exclude any air. This seals the pesto and helps it to keep its lovely grassy green colour. And that’s all there is to it.

If you don’t have any pine nuts you can always use walnuts, and a mature, strong Cheddar is an acceptable alternative to Parmesan too.

So, apart from using lashings of it simply stirred into some fusilli pasta with some grated Parmesan on top (which is how we eat it all the time), here are a few more recipes using Pesto...

28 The Onion magazine

Pancetta-Pesto Peas Cook 100-125g diced pancetta in a frying pan with olive oil until they’re just crispy. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. Add 350g of frozen peas (I usually use frozen petit pois) and 225ml water to the pan and simmer until tender. Drain the peas and pile them back in the pan with the pancetta and 3 tablespoons of pesto and heat through. onionmagazine.co.uk

FOOD

the mussels open which takes around 4 minutes. Then stir in 3 tablespoons of pesto.

Pesto Salmon Cakes Mix 450g of cooked, flaked salmon with 225g fresh breadcrumbs, 50ml pesto, 1 beaten egg and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest in a bowl. Form this mixture into patties/round fishcakes, and cook in an oiled frying pan for two or three minutes each side. Serve with tartare sauce mixed with a little pesto in it.

Pesto Frittata

Lemon-Pesto Dip

Cook 1 grated medium-sized courgette in butter in an ovenproof frying pan. Stir in 50g of chopped parsley and 2 tablespoons each of pesto and grated Parmesan.

Add 6 beaten eggs and cook until almost set which takes just a few minutes. Bake in a 180 degree oven until it’s just set – it takes about 12-15 minutes.

100ml sour cream 50ml mayonnaise 50ml Parmesan 50ml Pesto 2 tablespoons capers 2 teaspoons lemon zest 2 teaspoons juice

Pesto Mussels Sauté 4 sliced garlic cloves with olive oil in a high-sided pot until they’re golden, add 900g of mussels and 250ml of white wine. Cover and cook on the stove until

Whisk all together in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

Father’s Day at Scotney Castle Sunday 21 June 10:00 to 16:00 Free entry for dads this Father’s Day at Scotney.

They will also be serving a tasty hog roast in the tearoom courtyard. Venue: Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst. 01892 893868.

Father’s Day at Bodiam Castle Sunday 21 June 12:00 to 14:00 Make your dad feel like King of the Castle with a special Father’s Day barbecue. There’s even a chance for him to try on some of their armour!

Venue: Bodiam Castle, nr Robertsbridge. 01580 830196.

Cranbrook Garden Safari Sunday 21 June 10:30 to 17:00 12 proud Cranbrook gardeners are pleased to display their efforts as part of Britain In Bloom.

The Smock Mill & Museum is also open with light refreshments and plants for sale. Tickets £5 (children free) are available from signposted gardens on the day. 01580 712385. www.cranbrookinbloom.co.uk Arts and Craft Fair in Peasmarsh Sunday 21 June 10:30 to 16:30 Stalls include paintings by Peasmarsh and Rye artists, pottery, cushions, jewellery, hand-made soap, bunting and bags, cards and many other things. Refreshments will be available. For more information contact David 01797 230205. Venue: Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, Main Street, TN31 6YA. Grand Boot Fair - Northiam Sunday 21 June 11:00 to 14:00 Northiam Bonfire Society thinks you can enjoy a Boot Sale without having to get up at the crack of dawn! Pre-booked pitches £8, £10 on the day.

Van/truck £5 extra. Barbeque, bar, teas. To book: bonfirecarboot@gmail.com, telephone 01797 253798. Venue: Northiam Playing Fields, Main Street, Northiam.

Father’s Day Tea at Bateman’s Sunday 21 June 14:30 to 16:30 30 The Onion magazine

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Treat your father to a delicious, but hearty, tea.

Cost £15. Booking essential on 01435 882302.

Strawberry Tea for Charity in Icklesham Sunday 21 June 15:00 to 17:00 Strawberry tea with sandwiches, little cakes, scones cream and jam. Cost £8 per person. Held in the walled garden, but served in the house if the weather is unkind. Fund-raising for Breast Cancer Care. Tel Kate or Syd 01424 813787. Venue: Manor Farm Oast, Windmill Lane, Icklesham TN36 4WL. Robin Hood – the musical Sunday 21 June 18:00 to 20:00 The Cambridge Touring Theatre presents Robin Hood & His Merry Men in the Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place, Tenterden. Adult £15, child £8.

Booking essential on 08442 491895.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice at Scotney Sunday 21 June Celebrate the longest day, enjoy a picnic and watch the sun set over the Castle. How romantic.

Entry after 5pm £5. Venue: Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst. 01892 893868.

‘An Evening with Steve Bradley from Radio Kent’ Wednesday 24 June 19:15 for 19:30 start This will be a chance for you to ask questions and take along your problem plants to the Biddenden Horticultural Society’s event. Members £1.50, non-Members £2.50. Annual membership £5.

New members always welcome. Contact Irene 01580 291777 or Lesley 01580 291931. Venue: New Village Hall, Biddenden.

Opening Concert of the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival Thursday 25 June 20:00 Includes works by two of the great Czech composers and resident composer Huw Watkins.

Beethoven Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op16; Watkins Piano Trio (2009); Janacek Sonata for violin and piano; Dvorak String Quartet No12 in F major, Op96. Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@ onionmagazine.co.uk

Letters to the editor Dear Onion,

Dear Onion

Reading the letter of the person in the wheelchair, I wholeheartedly sympathise. (see ‘Sounding Off’ in May issue. Ed.) When we had children buses were a nightmare, they didn’t cater for baby buggies let alone a full size wheelchair. You had to fold up the buggy climb two or three steps with child under one arm and buggy on the other. Now the bus lowers itself so all you do is wheel straight on.

In response to Liam Griffin being fed up with people taking their dogs into pubs and restaurants -most dogs are well behaved and sit or lay with their owners, it is only the occasional bad owner that allows their dog to pester someone else. (I am not a dog owner). Far worse are the children who are allowed to run riot, screaming and shouting, all because the parents have no control and fear being accused of bad parenting if they discipline their offspring. Publicans and restaurateurs and Mr Griffin should realise it is badly behaved children and their parents that don’t mix with good food.

These people have made a lot of places no-go areas if you want to eat a meal in peace.

And a word about dog owners. It seems every household has at least one dog and that’s OK if they are controlled but not if they are allowed to bark with no thought for neighbours. Whether sitting or working in the garden you are bombarded with constant barking. You can purchase a collar to stop this and it works. It’s like naughty children - if it’s allowed to go unchecked, people just accept it as the norm.

Sandie, Rye. Dear Onion, What I want to ask Liam Griffin, who wrote the letter (last month) about dogs being allowed in pubs and restaurants: where are these pubs and restaurants (that allow dogs)? This is a dog-loving nation but they are like finding a needle in a haystack. A local restaurant that allows dogs….forget it!

I have an idea for Mr Griffin, ask before booking a table (whether dogs are allowed)! And please let me know where all these places are.

Beryl Bryan

Kay Carter Dear Onion, Cranbrook and Hawkhurst Rotary Club thank everyone who supported our Kino Evening on 25th March. We raised almost £1400 for Hospice in the Weald and other local charities.

Jaqueline Schalburg

GET IN TOUCH

Do write to us, we’d love to hear from you either by letter or email. Letters Page, The Onion magazine, The Studio at Friars Cote Farm, Crockers Lane, Northiam, TN31 6PY or email carol@onionpublishing.co.uk.

MINT MILITARIA RYE Militaria and Vintage clothing

55 The Mint, Rye, TN31 7EN Call Eddie 07905 747791 or Mark/Tracey 07896 502936 Please also check out this website www.timemilitaria.com June 2015

The Onion magazine 31

Please don’t Stare

Some tips on how to interact with dogs by Dawn Allen, a professional trainer qualified in dog behaviour and communication.

During a recent dog walk we were ambling along when, suddenly, my dog stopped and stood very still. A woman appeared walking towards us with a very young child who was just learning to walk with the support of his mum’s hand to guide him. The child was not afraid but was mesmerised by my dog and simply stared at him. The dog looked away, licked his lips and dipped his head. These are known as calming signals in dog language. The child continued to stare. The dog blinked and licked his lips and yawned which, again in his language, meant that he was trying to communicate to the child that he felt uncomfortable but that he meant no harm. To help my dog and to break the child’s stare I stepped forward calmly to create a natural barrier between them. My dog sniffed the ground and picked at some grass and although the child was still staring it was a less intense experience for the dog. He could no longer see the child’s eyes although he was still experiencing a sense of being stared at.

There was plenty of space between the child and my dog, who was on a lead. The mum and child were

walking parallel to the dog and not towards him which is a more positive experience for dogs. Many dogs feel uncomfortable or threatened by a direct stare.

However, it is natural for a young child to stare and to be inquisitive. All children can be taught about good behaviour around dogs. Very young children though rely much more on their parent or adult guardian to supervise them because they are unable to make appropriate choices for themselves.

Recognising a dog’s body language and communication skills, observing when our dogs might be feeling uneasy and supporting them is good practice. Dogs rely on their owners to be aware of when they feel uncomfortable and to take appropriate action to help them and to put them at ease.

There are sometimes opportunities for supervised children to interact appropriately with a dog that has good skills, but there are times when interaction or close contact might be inappropriate. Here are some tips for dog owners and for parents which might be helpful: Four Positive Tips for dog owners Understand your dog’s body language Recognise when your dog needs space Support your dog by providing a natural barrier Be child and young person aware Four Positive Tips for parents Avoid staring and head-on approaches Avoid touching without permission Don’t run up to dogs Give a dog space Signs of fear and anxiety:

Pictures: Dr Sophia Yin FIND OUT MORE

For more information, please visit www.fourpositivepaws.co.uk 32 The Onion magazine

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Waggiest Tail “In times of joy all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.” W H Auden.

As a sheer expression of joy it is hard to beat the wagging tail of a dog. I just have to look at my collie Ted for his tail to start a steady beat from side to side. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without his joyful presence I am, as you may have guessed, a dog lover – in fact I don’t think I’ve ever met a dog I didn’t like – but there have been times in my life when owning a dog was simply not practical so I took to borrowing one from a friend whenever she went on holiday. Now, many years later and with two dogs of my own, I find myself the owner of the local branch of Wagging Tails, a home from home dog boarding agency that matches dogloving carers to holidaying owners throughout the TN postcode area. My dog carers open their homes to friendly well-behaved canine guests and get their ‘doggy fix’ without the long-term commitment and expense of dog ownership.

The dogs get to stay in a loving home with walks and cuddles, barely missing their owners, who can relax and enjoy their trip without worrying that their much loved pet is pining away. Such a simple idea and yet one which works well for owner, carer and most importantly for the dog. My own dogs are rescue dogs who started their lives in kennels and, as a consequence, would suffer anxiety if left in a kennel environment however wellrun and caring. If they could talk I know they would

choose a domestic home with loving humans any day!

If you are thinking of a home board for your dog always make sure that the boarder is licensed and insured. With Wagging Tails you can rest assured that all of our carers are licensed, insured and have been vetted firstly by me, secondly

by Wealden or Rother Council and thirdly by my pooches, Ted and Mabel, who may not be pedigrees but are extremely fussy nevertheless.

If you would like to welcome canine guests into your home or if you have a dog in need of a family to stay with while you are away, contact me, Lesley Birch, on www.waggingtailsuk.co.uk/ tn or call 01424 814695.

Dog lovers wanted: Welcome a dog into your home for his holiday!

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JUNE GARDENING By Jack Hebden

We hear much these days about how the ‘wicked’ farmers are spraying everything in sight and that as a result the bees and butterflies are practically being wiped out. I find that very hard to believe and on the evidence of my own eyes it doesn’t seem to be true: my garden including a patch of wild grass always seem to be covered with bees and butterflies. Farmers do have to control some pests, and this does mean that non-pests are also killed, but there are zillions of acres of gardens and woodland where butterflies, bees and all manner of insect life can thrive. And we gardeners are not entirely guilt-free: many of our plants are not at all insect friendly and we could actively encourage a lot of insect activity simply by growing plants which attract them.

You may think that your garden is a haven for bees and butterflies, but many of the flowers which we grow

today have been bred to be ‘double’ – that means, in effect, that they have been bred to have twice as many petals as they were originally intended to have because that makes them bigger and more attractive to us. More attractive to us, yes, but it makes them totally unattractive, in fact downright ugly, to bees. The extra petals which we like are actually formed from stamens which, by breeding from mutations, have become petals – that’s the doubleness. The result is that without stamens the plants are sterile and so as a source of food for insects they are completely useless.

Most of the modern roses which we grow today fall into this category. However, I’m not suggesting that you dig up all your roses, but I am suggesting that we all grow some plants which do attract bees and butterflies and everything else. Wild flowers are an obvious choice because, by definition, they haven’t been part of any breeding programme. Grasses too, if left uncut, are very attractive to butterflies.

Buddleia is always touted as the plant for butterflies and it certainly is, but it is such an ungainly plant that I haven’t given it garden space myself. Butterflies, as you can imagine with their large wingspan, quite like the broad umbelliferous flower heads and flowers like sedum which they can land on rather than in.

Fortunately, there are a host of plants which are attractive to us and which are also attractive to insects so it’s not as if we need to make any sacrifices in order to please them. The list of wildlife-friendly flowers and shrubs would fill the magazine but going for single rather than double blooms is a good starting point. Try: Aubretia, Foxgloves, Lavender, Achillea, Honeysuckle, Scabious, Cranesbill and Helenium and a wild flower seed mix.

Top left:Cornflower, corncockle, ox eye daisies in a ‘wild’ corner of my garden Far left: Bumble bee in the ‘single’ flower of a Potentilla Left: Red Admiral sitting on Buddleia 34 The Onion magazine

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NOTICEBOARD

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gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS. ‘As You Like It’ in Tenterden Thursday 25 June 19:30 to 21:30 East 15 Acting School perform this Shakespearean class in the Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place, Tenterden. Tickets £8. Booking essential on 08442 491895.

Education Concert at the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival Friday 26 June 13:00 During June, students at local primary schools will work with Sam Glazer composing short works.

This concert offers the young composers the chance to hear their works performed live and enjoy a live performance themselves. Tickets are free but please reserve your place. Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS.

Capture the beauty of Merriments Photography and Drawing Competition Capture the beauty of Merriments in the month of June. Adults may enter a photograph and children a photo or drawing. The winner will see their art grace Merriments brochure. 1st and runner up prizes. To enter and for the competition rules, visit our website. www.merriments.co.uk

Hawkhurst Road, Hurst Green, E.Sussex TN19 7RA 01580 860666 Merriments garden is open daily 10am- 5pm (Sunday 10.30am)

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ in Tenterden Friday 26 June 19:30 to 21:30 East 15 Acting School students perform this wellloved classic in the Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place, Tenterden. Tickets £8. Booking essential on 08442 491895.

The London Mozart Players visit the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival Friday 26 June 20:00 The London Mozart Players are one of the most respected ensembles in the UK classical music world and appear in the Festival for the first time. The programme for Anthony Marwood, Richard Lester (soloists), London Mozart Players, conducted by Jaime Martin, includes Watkins, Schumann, Dvorak and Beethoven. Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: St Mary’s Church, Rye. Tenterden Book Fair Saturday 27 June 09:00 to 15:00 June 2015

The Onion magazine 35

Alfriston – Wilmington – Jevington – Alfriston Extensive downland views are just one feature of this lovely circular walk. There are several churches, two villages (apart from Alfriston), a 1600 year-old tree, close examination of the famed Long Man of Wilmington and, in summer-time at least, paths lined with wild flowers.

From Alfriston the walk begins alongside the Cuckmere River, then breaks away across lowlying fields to Wilmington. After pausing to absorb the delights of this fine village, the way continues towards Wilmington’s noted chalk figure, makes a traverse of the downland slope at mid-height in order to reach Folkington church, before cutting round the flank of Folkington Hill to Jevington. The return to Alfriston is achieved by climbing up to Windover Hill above the Long Man’s head (with a magnificent panorama), followed by a gentle descent to the Cuckmere. All in all, this is a glorious walk.

The walk From the church, go down to the Cuckmere, bear left and follow the river upstream until you come to a brick-built road bridge (Long Bridge). Cross to the east side, and go through a kissing gate on the left where a footpath cuts through two fields. A second kissing gate then gives onto a minor road. Once again, bear left and, about 200 yards later, opposite Milton Court, cross a stile on the right into a field corner. In a few paces go into the adjacent field where a footpath cuts directly ahead, crosses the road and continues to a gate located to the right of a Dutch barn. At a path junction in the next field, maintain direction towards the right-hand end of farm buildings and, once again, come onto the minor road in Milton Street (grid ref: 535041).

Cross the road to a stile, and over this follow a footpath across a large sloping field with the spire of Wilmington church seen ahead. At the head of the slope the Long Man of Wilmington (1) comes into view.

The track leads directly to Wilmington churchyard, and you walk through this to the village street, passing between the church of St Mary and St Peter (2) (grid ref: 544043) and a huge, ancient yew tree (3). The church of St Mary and St Peter was founded in the 11th century, about the same time as the priory next door, but it has been much restored.

36 The Onion magazine

Nearby, the yew tree, beside Wilmington church, is thought to be about 1600 years old. It is huge – its ancient limbs are supported by timber props and chains.

The Long Man of Wilmington is a giant outline of a figure cut into the Downland chalk below Windover Hill, facing north. In each hand the figure (which can be seen from a considerable distance) holds a staff about 250 feet long. Although his origin is unknown, he was traditionally thought to have been created in the Bronze Age, about 4000 years ago. Others speculate that he was carved by Saxons. But whoever was responsible for this, the most famous of all chalk figures in Sussex, they cleverly designed him in such a way that he is never seriously foreshortened from wherever he is viewed, despite the steepness of the hill.

Route A This shorter option does not go to the Long Man, but climbs the slope opposite the church. On emerging from the churchyard cross directly ahead onto a bridleway. This is eventually joined by the Main walk at the start of a woodland section, marked as The Holt on the map (grid ref: 551040).

Main walk contd: Bear right along the road to pass Wilmington Priory (4), then take the footpath on the left, which at first parallels the road before veering left towards the Long Man. Wilmington Priory was founded by Robert de Mortain, the Conqueror’s half-brother, soon after the Norman invasion: it was dissolved 400 years later by Henry VIII. It is now open to the public by the Sussex Archaeological Society. In the wall surrounding it is the village pound, formerly used for holding stray

onionmagazine.co.uk

The walk continues among trees for about ¾ mile, and follows a section of the Wealdway (5), eventually coming to a track by St Peter’s Church, Folkington (6). The Wealdway is a fine, 82-mile long-distance route which links the Thames with the English Channel, beginning at Gravesend in Kent and finishing on Beachy Head outside Eastbourne.

animals. Just below the chalk figure go through a gate. Here the path divides. Take the left branch, which is less obvious than the other. This skirts the lower slope of the Downs with huge views across the Low Weald, while off to the left the continuing escarpment of the South Downs fades into the distance. The way rises gently and, at a junction of paths, goes through another gate on the edge of woodland to join the direct bridleway of Route A at what is known as The Holt (grid ref: 551040).

Garden Machinery

Ernest Doe

St Peter’s Church, Folkington, dates from the 13th century. Like so many others along the Downs it has a squat shingle spire projecting from a flint-walled tower. Inside there are box pews and, among the memorials, there is one to Viscount Monckton who was an advisor to Edward VIII during the days leading to the abdication.

Veer slightly right to pass the church on your left, on a stony track which, some way beyond the church, narrows to a footpath. Avoid alternative paths to right and left and keep to this main route for about a mile, tracing the lower edge of Folkington Hill – at first heading south-east, then curving more to the south

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The Onion magazine 37

and south-west. In summer the hedge-lined path is adorned with wild flowers. Shortly before reaching Jevington come to a crossing track and bear left (grid ref: 561021).

The main road in Jevington (7) is situated opposite the Old Post Office. Here you turn right and soon come to The Eight Bells pub. (The Wealdway continues its journey to Beachy Head opposite the pub.) Walk a little further along the road and, when the path rises above it, follow this into Jevington churchyard through a swivel gate. Go through the churchyard to a small car park, and bear right on a footpath which forms part of the South Downs Way (8) (grid ref: 561015). The South Downs Way was officially opened in July 1972 and is the only national trail that is both a footpath and bridleway. It has two starting places in Eastbourne, and ends 102 miles later in Winchester. See The South Downs Way by Kev Reynolds (Cicerone Press).

Jevington is said to be the one-time haunt of smugglers who came inland from Birling Gap. The main village street has some attractive flint-walled houses and a popular pub (The Eight Bells). This was once owned by smuggler, James Pettit (known as Jevington Jigg) who was eventually sentenced to serve 17 years in Botany Bay. The church of St Andrew’s, tucked away in a side lane, has a Saxon tower thought to have been built about AD 900–950.

The north wall of the nave contains a Saxon sculpture of Christ defeating the dragon of Evil with a cross-shaped sword. One of the means of financing the church’s restoration in Victorian times was by the sale of its bells – as the following verse records:

St Andrew’s Church at Jevington

Jevington folk are very proud people, They sold their bells to mend their steeple And before they are left in the lurch, They would sell the steeple to mend the church.

At first fence-lined at the end of a series of paddocks, the path then rises through woodland and comes to a junction of trails.

Continue ahead to a broad path (an extension of the track which was joined shortly before reaching Jevington). Maintain direction, and emerging from the woods near the head of the slope at another junction, bear right. Soon a view opens off to the right to the Pevensey Levels as the path leads onto the open Downs. The way eventually curves left round the head of a deep coombe (Deep Dene) and passes through a gate. Bear left and wander along the side of Windover Hill, whose summit is the site of a long barrow. (Magnificent views from the hilltop, which is just above the head of the Long Man.) Beyond the summit the path curves right then left and slopes down to a narrow lane (grid ref: 532033).

Continue on a footpath opposite and, when this spills out at a junction of lanes, cross half-left ahead, go through a gate into a field and turn left. The Cuckmere flows through this field, and the spire of Alfriston church is seen ahead. On the far side of the field come to a crossing path just below a converted barn (Great Meadow Barn, formerly known as Plonk Barn and shown as such on the OS map, was built in 1698 and restored in 1985).

Turn right, cross the Cuckmere River and enter Alfriston.

START/FINISH: Alfriston parish church (grid ref: 522030) DISTANCE: 9 miles (or 8½ miles Route A) MAP: OS Explorer 123 Eastbourne & Beachy Head, 1:25,000 REFRESHMENTS: Pubs and restaurants in Alfriston; The Eight Bells pub and tearooms in Jevington ACCESS: By bus: from Seaford, a Ramblerbus also operates a summer service (weekends and bank holidays) from Berwick Station through the Cuckmere Valley; by rail: nearest stations are in Berwick and Seaford; by road: on minor road 3 miles north-east of Seaford PARKING: Public car park at northern end of Alfriston village (grid ref: 521053) This is Walk 35 reproduced from ‘Walking in Sussex’ with kind permission of Cicerone (www. cicerone.co.uk). Map ©Crown copyright 2015 Ordnance Survey. Media 060/15

Neither the publisher nor the author can accept any responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this route. Diversion orders can be made and permissions withdrawn at any time.

38 The Onion magazine

onionmagazine.co.uk

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EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

Free admission. Hundreds of books for sale from a number of book dealers. Refreshments available from the Highbury Hall Café. Enquiries Barry Williams 01634 235484, email barryjean. williams@btinternet.com. Venue: Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden TN30 6LE. Wild Woodland Weekend Club Saturday 27 June 10:00 to 13:00 Monthly adventures in the woods for ‘Wild Things’ aged 6 to 11. Parents not allowed! Build dens, cook on a campfire, play in the mud, learn some woodcrafts and play games. Each month is slightly different, so don’t miss the fun. Held in a private woodland in Beckley. Meet on the last Saturday of every month at Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley TN31 6TT. Booking essential £10 per child (£8.50 for members of Sussex Wildlife Trust). www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson.

Family Pond Dip and Birdwatch (around 2.5

June 2015

40>

miles) Saturday 27 June 14:30 to 16:30 Join Sussex Wildlife Trust and Sussex Ornithological Society for a walk to Castle Water to hunt for water-beetles, backswimmers and leeches in the ditches, then look for terns, gulls, ducks and waders from the birdwatching hide. Pond dipping nets and binoculars provided. Meet at Brede Lock. No booking necessary. Donations appreciated. www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/ whatson.

Benenden St Georges Church Fete Saturday 27 June 14:00 to 17:00 Plenty of local food and drinks to buy, fun activities for children (and grown-ups) and a raffle and silent auction.

Early Evening Concert in Peasmarsh Saturday 27 June 18:30 An evening of Stravinsky, Beethoven and

The Onion magazine 39

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

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Tchaikovsky as part of the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival. Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@ gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS. Late Night Contemplation Concert Saturday 27 June 21:45 Haydn’s String Quartet Op51, The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross, interspersed with poetry by Mark Strand. This version has become a well-loved cornerstone of the Father of the String Quartet’s extensive programme.

Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS. Head Gardener Walk at Sissinghurst Sunday 28 June 09:30 to 11:30 Go on an exclusive tour of the gardens before they open to the general public. Tea and cake will be included. Cost £25. Booking essential. Tel 08442 491895. Venue: Sissinghurst Castle Garden, nr Cranbrook. 01580 710700.

Trapping Sharks, Tigers and Elephants! at Rye Harbour Sunday 28 June 10:00 to 11:00 Chris, the warden, will be showing what was caught in the moth trap last night – will there be an Elephant Hawk-moth, Garden Tiger or a Shark Moth? Meet at Lime Kiln Cottage Information Centre. Wheelchair accessible. No booking necessary. Donations appreciated. www.

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sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson.

Wedding Fair in aid of Brownies and Guides Sunday 28 June 10:00 to 16:00 Free entry. All proceeds from sale of stalls and refreshments on the day go to 1st Peasmarsh Brownies and Guides. Tables £10 each and small raffle prize. For more information contact Louise Elliott-Grabowski 07543 400173. Venue: Peasmarsh Memorial Hall, Peasmarsh.

Coffee Concert Sunday 28 June 11:30 Trio Isimsiz have been much-praised for their performances in repertoire from Haydn to Schubert and beyond. This recital contrasts two piano works from Beethoven and Korngold. Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS. Book Sale and Museum opening Sunday 28 June 11:00 to 17:00 Free entry to the Museum. Donations appreciated. Free parking. Refreshments available. Books for sale include fiction, nonfiction, hardbacks, and paperbacks of all titles.

Various aviation magazine titles also for sale.

Venue: Robertsbridge Aviation Society and Museum, Bush Barn Farm, Robertsbridge TN32 5PA (north of Robertsbridge on the A21).

Car Boot Sale in Robertsbridge Sunday 28 June 12:00 Cost of pitches for car and vans is £10 if booked in advance, £15 on the day. For more information contact Pete Claridge on 01580 880468 or email secretary@robertsbridgebonfiresociety.com.

Garden Party with live music Sunday 28 June 12:00 to 15:00 Garden party with live music from Ricochet, treasure hunt, raffle, plants for sale, ploughman’s lunch (ham/cheese or pate) with a glass of wine or soft drink. £7 per person. Please book in advance as numbers are limited. Fund-raising onionmagazine.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS … CONCERTS … FETES & FAIRS … CHARITY EVENTS .. THINGS TO DO

for Breast Cancer Care. Tel Kate or Syd 01424 813787. Venue: Manor Farm Oast, Windmill Lane, Icklesham TN36 4WL. A Wittersham Wander Sunday 28 June 13:30 Leave Northiam Surgery car park at 1.30pm for a 2pm start at Wittersham Church. A 5-mile, grade 3, circular walk with the Northiam Footpath Group. For more information contact Sue Clark 01797 253428. www.northiamfootpathgroup. co.uk.

Composer Portrait – Huw Watkins Sunday 28 June 17:00 Artistic Director Richard Lester and Huw Watkins present some of Watkins’ recent compositions for cello and piano, and solo piano, exploring some of the ideas behind the works and their creation.

Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@gmail.com or 01797 253178. This is a free event as part of the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS. Finale Concert in the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival Sunday 28 June 19:00 A programme of Kodaly, Schubert’s piano fantasia for four hands, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak rounds off the Festival. Box office is peasmarshboxoffice@ gmail.com or 01797 253178. Venue: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Church Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XS.

for the series are Tuesday 15 September at 3pm and Wednesday 14 October at 3pm. More detail of these two performances will follow in future editions of The Onion.

Opera Evening in Hastings Saturday 25 July 19:00 for 19:30 Battle and Villages Lions Club presents an opera evening, with Glyndebourne singers Thomasin Trezise and Paul Hopwood, which includes a 3-course dinner. Drinks will be available at the bar but menu choices will be needed by 25th June along with payment of £45 per person. All money goes to Battle Lions. Contact Roy Chapman on 01424 870520 or Julia@chirpychappy.plus. com. Venue: Bannatyne Spa Hotel, Battle Road, Hastings.

60 S dreSS totally appropriate!

The first of the 7th Annual Richard Beattie Davis Sandhurst Musical events for Hospice in the Weald Saturday 25 July 15:00 Duo performance with garden party. The wellknown performers Oliver Davies (piano) and Adrian Bradbury (cello) will be playing a selection of Russian and ballet music. Tickets by donation (minimum £15). Reservations in advance only from Gillian Davis 01580 850384. Further dates June 2015

The Onion magazine 41

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WIN WIN! A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE ULTIMATE DOG’S DAY OUT! DogFest celebrates everything that is special and life changing about owning a dog. Hosted by Channel 4’s Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick, DogFest is an outdoor festival where dogs are welcomed with open arms and includes The Great Dog Walk, SuperVet Live and have-a-go sessions for dogs. Plus, talks and demonstrations on all aspects of a dog’s life, grooming sessions and a chance to enjoy food, drink and plenty of shopping! More information at: www. dog-fest.co.uk. If you are not a lucky winner, you can book tickets by visiting www.dog-fest.co.uk or calling 0844 581 4917.

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The Onion magazine 43

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