Parish Newsletter

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Parish Newsletter Parish Newsletter June 2020 Issue 551 http://fordcombechurch.org Delivered to every home in the Parish—free of charge ST. PETER’S CHURCH, FORDCOMBE fordcombechurch.org Rector of Penshurst & Fordcombe The Revd. Tom Holme, MA. The Rectory, Penshurst 870316 CHURCHWARDENS Mike Gilbert Rockydene, Chafford Lane, Fordcombe TN3 0SH Email [email protected] 740371 Peter Waghorn Woodpeckers, The Green, Fordcombe, TN3 0RY Email [email protected] 740645 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Hon. Secretary Linda Naidu 740724 11 The Drive Hedge Barton TN3 0SL Treasurer/Gift Paul Reeves Queens Spinney, Ashurst Road 740837 Aid Recorder Ashurst, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9SU Deanery Synod Representative John & Christobel Sworder 740345 Electoral Roll Officer Vacant PCC. MEMBERS June Gilbert 740371 Helen Morrison 740211 Isobel Smith 740404 Vacancy Organist & Director of music Bob Wilson 01732832444 St. Peter’s Fellowship Peter Waghorn 740645 Sunday Club Leader Mrs Hayley Collins 01892544458 Church Flowers Mrs. June Gilbert 740371 Mrs. Sandra Arnold 740283 NEWSLETTER - PLEASE NOTE THE COPY DATE IS 16th OF EACH MONTH Newsletter copy by e-mail please to: [email protected] Neither the Editor nor the Newsletter can be held responsible for its content. Editor and Advertising: Mike Gilbert. Rockydene, Chafford Lane, Fordcombe. TN3 0SH 740371 Advertising rates per annum: £100 full page, £60 one half, £40 one quarter, Printer: St. Mary’s Church, Leigh 01732-832236 ALL PHONE NUMBERS ARE PREFIXED 01892– ... UNLESS OTHERWISE SHOWN 2 FROM THE RECTOR Trinity Sunday - 7th June. This festival in older times simply marked the end of the week following Whit Sunday or Pentecost. It became more prominent even- tually as representing the culmination of the full Christian story. Centuries ago Trinity was particularly popular in this country partly because Thomas Becket was consecrated Bishop on Trinity Sunday 1162. I mentioned Becket in a recent talk, quoting the line from T.S.Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. As the knights approached his locked cathedral he gave the in- struction “Unbar the door!” The horrible event in Canterbury of 1170 was also brought to my mind when reading a facsimile edition of some lectures given 150 years ago given by The Revd W.Nicholls on the subject of Pendragon Castle in Westmorland. Hugh de Moreville, one of the four knights in question, was the first recorded lord of the manor there. Mr Nicholls is eager to deal lightly with Hugh de Moreville, and to point out that he was more gentle, less brutal than the others. “…every allusion to De More- ville is, to his credit, that whatever blame may be awarded to the perpetrators of this crime, the lightest share must rest on him. One only of the four knights had struck no blow. Hugh de Moreville throughout retained the gentler disposition for which he was distinguished, and contented himself with holding back at the en- trance of the transept the crowds who were pouring in through the nave”. We all hope that in the months to come that word blame will not be subject to over use. Yesterday 18th May the President of the United States referred to his predecessor’s incumbency as incompetent! Not that those who clearly are guilty of anything should expect to avoid blame. There will be no more historical exoneration of Hugh De Moreville for example. Kindness, courtesy and gentle- ness we hope to be in good supply, and as for our churches, whether or not they will have re-opened by 7th June, we shall celebrate on Trinity Sunday a definite unbarring of the door - to hope, to love and true protection. I bind unto myself today The power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his might to stay, His hand to guide, his shield to ward, His heavenly host to be my guard. I bind unto myself the name, The strong name of the Trinity. Tom Holme 3 FORDCOMBE LUNCHEON CLUB Fordcombe Luncheon club usually meets on the second Thursday of each month at 12-30pm. We have space for new members to come and join us for food and pleasant conversation with old and new friends. LUNCHEON CLUB WILL OF COURSE NOT TAKE PLACE AT PRESENT For more information please contact Mrs Kate Hargrave Tel 861047 CHURCHYARD TIDYING NO CHURCHYARD AT PRESENT Helen Morrison 740211 CHURCH COFFEE MORNING NO COFFEE MORNINGS WILL TAKE PLACE AT PRESENT Christabel Sworder 740345 WI Hello everyone, in taking it forward into the future. CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO WI MEETING PLANNED Best wishes Angie 4 Tier 1 individuals, of whom 404 requested and have been receiving regular food deliveries, including 23 new requests over Easter weekend. SDC has been ful- FROM THE CHURCHWARDENS PEW Church Services At present I am sure everyone understands that the Church cannot be opened at present to allow services to take place. However the Reverend Bill MacDougall at Chiddingstone is conducting weekly services each Sunday on YouTube and indeed daily thoughts. These videos are extremely good and I am sure many would find them most helpful. Please take a few moment to check them out. If you go to YouTube and search under Chiddingstone you will find them. St Peter’s Fellowship - Peter Waghorn Fellowship meetings are suspended for the time being We pray: Heavenly Father, Keep us under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Support for the Parish Volunteers Over 20 volunteers have kindly come forward to help anyone in need of help with shopping, collecting medication, running errands and importantly perhaps having a chat. If you or anyone you know needs help please do not hesitate to contact me, my details are below, or our other Church warden Peter Waghorn. The calls for help have not been that great so far and therefore not all of the volunteers have been called to help but as time goes on of course that may change. However many thanks to those who have unstintingly given of their time to help. Email list I have a village Email list of 68 so that information can be disseminated and messages have already been sent out on initiatives to help with food supplies. This message and all future ones will be carried on the Church website. (http://fordcombechurch.org) If you would like to be included on the list please do make contact with me Please also see the centre pages for more information on local initiatives Best Wishes Mike Gilbert 740371 [email protected] 5 District Councillor’s article for June Parish Magazines Another month, another world! Last month I updated you on Sevenoaks District Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic whilst we were all ‘confined to bar- racks’, this month we are all planning furiously to slowly restart our lives. The gradual easing of lockdown measures is to be welcomed and SDC has been playing its part to help local businesses ‘bounce back’. At the time of writing, SDC has paid out £21.1m under the small business grant schemes, benefiting 1720 local businesses. A further £1m has been allocated for discretionary grants to small organisations that fell outside these schemes; such as those shar- ing premises, charities and B&Bs – if you think this might apply to you please apply via the SDC website. The council has also launched a Sevenoaks District Business Board, combining local business leaders and civic officials in collabora- tive local action planning to accelerate economic recovery, particularly in the town centre/retail, rural businesses and tourism (when allowed!) sectors. As part of this drive SDC has committed to sustaining its capital investment to build pri- vate sector confidence and is willing to use its statutory powers (planning, licenc- ing etc) to the fullest extent possible to promote our local economy. In which regard, all planning applications are continuing to be considered digitally even though site visits are suspended. A quick reminder that the volunteer service continues to operate: across the dis- trict we have 4614 shielded residents, of whom 762 have requested and are re- ceiving food parcels, and a further 1342 vulnerable residents (or those self- isolating with symptoms) have been receiving help with shopping and prescrip- tions. Government advice that we must continue to self-isolate if we have a fe- ver or dry cough means that the local volunteer networks will continue, so as before if you need help do please contact your Coordinator [me for Chidding- stone/ Bough Beech on 01892 870435]. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 84 Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone residents who volun- teered – you really are the best, thankyou on behalf of everyone you’ve helped, and thankyou from me for showing how caring our villages are! Continuing this caring theme, I would like to draw attention to a local NHS/Kent County Council development of a new Help to Care app which offers guidance, advice, and training videos to make people even more effective carers. It is available to download via the App Store on your Apple or Android phone and I commend it to you. In closing, as we have heard a thousand times before I know, I encourage you all to ‘stay alert’, ‘stay apart’ and spend money, locally!! Sue Coleman, 870435 6 7 VILLAGE HALL MONTHLY DRAW FEBRUARY Prize Ticket No Name First £30 424 N Weaver Second £15 39 A Barnett Third £10 321 Mr Pelly Fourth £5 274 Mr Gable Fifth £5 640 Mrs Elliot IF YOU ARE NOT IN IT - YOU CAN’T WIN IT! “If you want to join please ring Bob on 01892 740307" Distribution of prizes will be delayed until social distancing measures allow.
Recommended publications
  • EPHRAIM Written by Michael Skinner I Do Not Suppose
    EPHRAIM Written by Michael Skinner I do not suppose many people in Penshurst will know me – or remember me, but my name is still just visible on the board over the entrance to the Post Office (formerly The Forge): I am described as SMITH & COACH BUILDER, Agent for agricultural implements. How much longer that inscription will last I cannot imagine, having been painted more than 100 years ago. Illustration by kind permission of Richard Wheatland www.richardwheatland.com Allow me to introduce myself: my name is John Ephraim SKINNER. I was born in November, 1872, at Wadhurst, East Sussex, the eldest son of a couple of farm workers. My father, Thomas, was a ploughman; my mother was just 20 years old when I was born. To be the eldest of 13 children gives anyone some position in life, and so it is no surprise that I grew up feeling rather responsible, not to say patronising towards my younger brothers and sisters. Look at me in the photograph, which I reproduce here. I could not help wearing a suit and butterfly collar – it was prescribed for me, but I did not object. Mind you – it was Sunday wear: we are in the days when everyone had to attend church, and had to dress formally – collar and tie, waistcoat, boots. How on earth do you think an agricultural worker and his wife could feed and clothe such a large family on their pathetic income? I cannot remember passing down clothes to younger boys when I outgrew them; I cannot ever remember having new clothes bought for me.
    [Show full text]
  • Hever Church of England Aided Primary School: Admissions Policy for September 2018
    HEVER CHURCH OF ENGLAND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOL: ADMISSIONS POLICY FOR SEPTEMBER 2018 Hever Church of England Aided Primary School has a distinctive Christian ethos which is at the heart of the school and provides an inclusive, caring and supportive environment where children learn and flourish in a setting shaped by our core Christian values of Love, Respect and Wisdom. We welcome applications from all members of the community and we ask all parents to respect the Christian ethos of our school and its importance to the local community. This does not affect the right of any parents to apply and be considered for a place for their child at Hever Church of England Aided Primary School. Parents wishing to send their children to the school are advised to make an appointment to meet the Headteacher for a tour of the school. To apply for a place at Hever Church of England Aided Primary School, parents will need to complete and return two separate forms. The school’s Supplementary Information Form should be completed and returned to the school (along with a letter from the Minister for faith priority places), and a Kent Reception Common Application Form (RCAF) also needs to be submitted online or returned to Kent County Council by the January deadline. Usually all children will enter school at the beginning of September. Once the children start at Hever Church of England Aided Primary School they will attend full time within the first three weeks, following three short visits in the term preceding entry. However, parents do have the right to defer their child’s school place or to take up the place part-time until the start of the term in which their child reaches compulsory school age, if they wish.
    [Show full text]
  • Beautifully Presented Oast and Barn of Excellent Proportions with Delightful Gardens and Grounds
    Beautifully presented oast and barn of excellent proportions with delightful gardens and grounds. Slaters Oast, Hever Road, Bough Beech, Kent, TN8 7NX £1,550,000 Freehold SET IN DELIGHTFUL SOUTH -FACING GROUNDS OF ABOUT 1 ACRE WITH COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS • Entrance Hall • 4/5 Reception Rooms • Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Utility Room & Cloakroom • Principal Bedroom with En Suite • 4/5 Further Bedrooms (one with en suite) • Family Bathroom • Landscaped Garden • Gated Driveway • Ample Parking Local Information for Chiddingstone Primary • Slaters Oast is set within the School. hamlet of Bough Beech, • Sporting Facilities: Golf at about 15 minutes away from Hever Castle, Knole and Sevenoaks, with local places Wildernesse in Sevenoaks of interest including the and and Royal Ashdown Reservoir/ Nature Reserve, nearby. Fitness – Nizels Golf Hever Castle and Chartwell. and Country Club in Hildenborough. Edenbridge • Mainline Rail Services: Leisure Centre. Nearby Hildenborough (5.3 miles) & Sevenoaks (7.4 All distances are approximate. miles) to Charing Cross/London Bridge and About this property Cannon Street. Edenbridge Slaters Oast is an attractive (5.6 miles) to London Victoria. converted oast and barn with • Shopping: Sevenoaks and many ‘character’ features, set Tunbridge Wells have in delightful grounds. The extensive shopping facilities, property offers spacious living plus there is a handy accommodation which would Waitrose in Edenbridge (4 also be suitable for a modern miles). home- working lifestyle. • Schools: There is easy access to an excellent • The entrance hall has an selection of schools. oak staircase rising to the first Sevenoaks School, which floor and provides access to offers the IB syllabus, the downstairs cloakroom, a Tonbridge Boys School, study and a family/TV room, Walthamstow Hall (girls), or sixth bedroom.
    [Show full text]
  • Hever Ce Primary School: Admissions Policy for September 2016
    HEVER CE PRIMARY SCHOOL: ADMISSIONS POLICY FOR SEPTEMBER 2016 Parents wishing to send their children to the school are advised to make an appointment to meet the Headteacher and look around the school. To apply for a place at Hever CEP School, parents must complete and return two separate forms. The school’s Supplementary Information Form should be completed and returned to the school (along with a letter from the Minister for faith priority places), and a Kent Reception Common Application Form (RCAF) also needs to be submitted online or returned to Kent County Council by the January deadline. Usually all children will enter school at the beginning of September. Once the children start at Hever they will attend full time within the first three weeks, following three short visits in the term preceding entry . However, parents do have the right to defer their child’s school place or to take up the place part-time until the start of the term in which their child reaches compulsory school age, if they wish. Children born between the 1 st April and 31 st August (also known as ‘summer born’) must start school at the beginning of the April term if they wish to keep their offer. Where parents wish for their summer born child to defer entry until the start of Year 1, they must refuse their offered place, which may be offered to a different child, and then reapply through the In Year process, recognising that a place may not be available. These applications should be made during the last month of Reception Year.
    [Show full text]
  • Hoath Cottage Leigh.Docx
    Charming and stylishly presented semi-detached cottage with delightful gardens, a paddock and woodland, located in a semi-rural position. Hoath Cottage, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8HS £795,000 Freehold • Stylishly presented family home • Edge of village location • Character features • Total of about 0.9 acres • Attractive south facing gardens, paddock and woodland • Hildenborough station approx. 2.6 miles Local Information • The triple aspect sitting room • Comprehensive Shopping: features an exposed brick Tonbridge (5.5 miles), Sevenoaks fireplace with wood burner and (6.0 miles), Tunbridge Wells (8.7 double doors leading to the rear miles) & Bluewater (23.7 miles). garden. • Mainline Rail Services: • The light and spacious double Hildenborough (2.6 miles) to London aspect kitchen/breakfast room Bridge/Cannon Street/Charing Cross. comprises a range of wall and Penshurst (1.3 miles) & Leigh (1.1 base units with granite worktops miles) provide a direct service to extending to form a breakfast bar London Bridge via Redhill where and a range of integral connections to London Victoria & appliances. Gatwick Airport are available. • Completing the ground floor is • State Schools: Primary- Various in the family room featuring an Leigh, Hildenborough & Tonbridge. exposed brick fireplace with wood Secondary- Weald of Kent & burner. Tonbridge Girls Grammars & Judd • On the first floor, there are three Boys Grammar in Tonbridge. Various bedrooms, one of which benefits in Sevenoaks & Tunbridge Wells. from a built-in wardrobe, and • Private Schools: Preparatory- another has access to eaves Fosse Bank in Hildenborough; Hilden storage. Oaks, Hilden Grange & The Schools • Completing the accommodation at Somerhill in Tonbridge; Various in is a modern family bathroom with Sevenoaks & Tunbridge Wells.
    [Show full text]
  • A Quaint and Charming Cottage in an Idyllic Rural Location with Impressive
    A quaint and charming cottage in an idyllic rural location withBayleys Hill impressive Road, Bough Beech, Edenbridge,views. Kent, TN8 £1,250 pcm, Unfurnished Available from 03.11.2019 Charming and characterful cottage • Stunning views across farm land • Spacious rear garden • Chiddingstone village approx. 2 miles • Sevenoaks station approx. 5 miles Local Information About this property This property is situated in a Set in idyllic Kentish countryside, superb rural setting this semi detached cottage offers approximately 2 miles from the a good sized accommodation with village of Chiddingstone, the added benefit of a large rear providing a village shop/post garden. office, tea room, church and The Castle Inn. Other neighbouring Opening into the entrance porch, villages include Weald and the living room boats an outlook Chiddingstone Causeway. to the front of the property and an open fireplace feature. Adjoining Comprehensive Shopping: is the well appointed kitchen with Sevenoaks - approximately 5 breakfast room which also miles, Tunbridge Wells - benefits from a Aga and access to approximately 8 miles. the rear garden. Mainline Rail Services: Fast From the living room, stairs rise to mainline services to Charing the first floor providing the 2 Cross/Cannon Street from double bedrooms and family Sevenoaks and Hildenborough. bathroom. Other services to London Bridge/Victoria from Edenbridge. To the rear of the house is the www.infotransport.co.uk/trains garden which is laid to lawn and backs onto open fields with rural Primary Schools: Chiddingstone views. and Penshurst.www.kent- pages.co.uk/education. Furnishing Grammar Schools: Weald of Kent Unfurnished Girls, Tonbridge Girls Grammar and Judd Boys Grammar schools Local Authority in Tonbridge.
    [Show full text]
  • Leigh in the War 1939-45
    LEIGH IN THE WAR 1939-45 Leigh and District Historical Society Occasional Paper No. 2 Foreword The Leigh and District Historical Society has been concerned for some time that there has been no record of the impact of the Second World War on the village and people of Leigh. Many years have elapsed and the memories of these events, though still clear in many peoples’ minds, are inevitably beginning to fade. We have been aware that time was running out. We have therefore been fortunate that Morgen Witzel, a Canadian researcher who has lived in the village for several years, has offered to pull together all the available information. There are many people still in the village who lived here during the war and a number of them, together with others who had moved away but were tracked down through the local media or by word of mouth, were interviewed by Morgen. We are most grateful to them for sharing their memories. Their information has been supplemented by material from the village ARP log, which was kept meticulously right through the war and had been retained by the parish council in their safe; this proved to be a fascinating document. Local newspaper archives, particularly the Tonbridge Free Press, and official documents kept at the Public Record Office in Kew provided further information, and more valuable insight into the period was gained from the diaries of Sir Eric Macfadyen who lived at Meopham Bank and owned land in the parish of Leigh. Information from all of these sources is included in this book and has been consolidated onto a map of the parish which is reproduced inside the back cover.
    [Show full text]
  • Sevenoaks District Council 5 Year Supply of Deliverable Housing Sites 2019/20 to 2023/24 Addendum: September 2019
    Sevenoaks District Council 5 Year Supply of Deliverable Housing Sites 2019/20 to 2023/24 Addendum: September 2019 1.1 This addendum has been prepared to supplement the 5 Year Supply of Deliverable Housing Sites [SDC008] submitted alongside the Local Plan in April 2019. 1.2 The 5 Year Supply of Deliverable Housing Sites [SDC008] has been calculated against the local housing need of 707 units per year, in accordance with paragraph 73 of the NPPF. However, the housing requirement set out in the Local Plan is 9,410 units and this figure will replace the local housing need on adoption of the plan, in accordance with paragraph 73 of the NPPF. 1.3 This addendum therefore sets out the calculation of the 5 year supply against the Local Plan housing requirement of 588 units per year. All other aspects of the calculation (application of a 5% buffer, the number of deliverable sites, the qualifying elements of supply) remain as per document SDC008. 1.4 The calculation of the 5 year land supply requirement is set out in the table below. Component Calculation Result (units) A Annual local housing requirement N/A 588 B 5 year requirement A x 5 2,940 C 5% buffer 5% of B 147 D 5 year requirement plus 5% buffer B + C 3,087 1.5 This five year supply of deliverable housing sites assessment identifies a healthy supply of specific deliverable sites in Sevenoaks District that have the capacity to deliver 3,087 residential units in the next 5 years, and 9,410 residential units over the whole of the plan period.
    [Show full text]
  • HC1 Bus Time Schedule & Line Route
    HC1 bus time schedule & line map HC1 Sundridge - Westerham - Edenbridge - Hugh View In Website Mode Christie School The HC1 bus line (Sundridge - Westerham - Edenbridge - Hugh Christie School) has 3 routes. For regular weekdays, their operation hours are: (1) Cage Green: 7:00 AM (2) Westerham: 3:00 PM Use the Moovit App to ƒnd the closest HC1 bus station near you and ƒnd out when is the next HC1 bus arriving. Direction: Cage Green HC1 bus Time Schedule 43 stops Cage Green Route Timetable: VIEW LINE SCHEDULE Sunday Not Operational Monday Not Operational Dryhill Lane, Sundridge Tuesday Not Operational Twenties Corner, Sundridge Wednesday 7:00 AM The White Horse, Sundridge Thursday Not Operational Recreation Ground, Sundridge Friday Not Operational New Road, Sundridge Saturday Not Operational The White Hart, Brasted Chart Lane, Brasted HC1 bus Info West End, Brasted Direction: Cage Green Stops: 43 Trip Duration: 75 min Brasted Lodge, Brasted Line Summary: Dryhill Lane, Sundridge, Twenties Corner, Sundridge, The White Horse, Sundridge, Hartley Road Recreation Ground, Sundridge, New Road, London Road, Westerham Civil Parish Sundridge, The White Hart, Brasted, Chart Lane, Brasted, West End, Brasted, Brasted Lodge, Brasted, The Flyers Way Hartley Road, The Flyers Way, The Green, Glebe London Road, Westerham House, Hosey Hill, French Street, Hosey Hill, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Hosey Common Road, The Green Crockham Hill, The Royal Oak, Crockham Hill, Post 8 The Green, Westerham O∆ce, Edenbridge, Edenbridge Town Railway Station, Edenbridge, Leisure
    [Show full text]
  • To Let: Office Suite Suite 2 Chequers Barn, Chequers Hill, Bough Beech
    Chartered Surveyors · Commercial Agency To Let: Office Suite Suite 2 Chequers Barn, Chequers Hill, Bough Beech, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7PD Floor Area: 93.65 sq m (1,008 sq ft) A ground floor office suite forming part of a detached purpose built office barn building situated in a semi-rural location with a generous amount of parking. EPC Rating B. Edenbridge 01732 622877 To Let: £15,500 pax + fees howardcundey.com Suite 2 Chequers Barn, Chequers Hill, Bough Beech, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7PD LOCATION Situated approximately 8 miles south west of Sevenoaks and a similar IMPORTANT NOTICE: Howard Cundey, their clients and any joint agents distance to the west of Tonbridge. Junction 5 of the M25 is approximately 6 miles to the north. The nearest train station with give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to make or give any connections to London is Penshurst, located approximately 2 miles representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or away. elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be PREMISES made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any A modern office suite on the ground floor within a multi let building offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or with shared use of the common areas, fully fitted kitchens and male and representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances are female WC's. Parking is provided to the rear of the building on a first approximate.
    [Show full text]
  • Penshurst Circular Via Bough Beech Walk
    Saturday Walkers Club www.walkingclub.org.uk Penshurst Circular via Bough Beech walk Popular bird-watching site in the Eden Valley and attractive Kent villages Length Main Walk: 21½ km (13.4 miles). Five hours 15 minutes walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 9½ hours. Short Walk 1, omitting Penshurst village: 15½ km (9.6 miles). Three hours 45 minutes walking time. Short Walk 2, also omitting Chiddingstone: 14¾ km (9.2 miles). Three hours 30 minutes walking time. OS Map Explorer 147. Penshurst Station (in Chiddingstone Causeway, TQ519467) is in Kent, 7 km W of Tonbridge. Toughness 5 out of 10 (3 for the Short Walks). Features This walk starts through low-lying farmland interspersed with patches of woodland. At Bore Place it makes use of the farm's permissive trails to reach one of the few viewpoints over Bough Beech Reservoir, a large body of water which is surprisingly well screened from public footpaths in the vicinity. The reservoir was created by damming one of the streams flowing down from the Greensand Hills, but is now mostly replenished with water abstracted from the River Eden. The walk continues across the causeway at the northern end of the reservoir where there are good opportunities for bird-watching, but the site's status as a designated nature reserve is uncertain since Kent Wildlife Trust withdrew from its managment in July 2020. After a loop around the western side of the reservoir the walk comes to the first of two possible lunch pubs, in the hamlet of Bough Beech.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiddingstone/Penshurst Circular
    Walk 10: Chiddingstone circular A Kent Weald walk with views back to Ide Hill and Greensand Ridge from quiet farmland. Two great Tudor villages feature (although one’s a hamlet really), as does the Eden Valley Path START: St Mary’s Church, Chiddingstone 1 To Penshurst station (2 miles) 2 9 To Hever 2.5 miles 8 Turn right on lane 7 then left on path through field Bridge over Look for signed footpath river Eden on left just past a house Enter woods 3 Turn right on lane At Wat Stock Farm go straight on, ▲ Penshurst Place N 4 ignore path on right 6 5 Turn left off lane ½ a mile Bridge over river Eden rrive at the Tudor hamlet of walking on a low ridge among trees and hedges with How long? 1.5 hours (4 miles/6km) Chiddingstone, park by the polytunnels on your right and a nice view ahead and to Public transport: Just about doable by getting train church. Note the wonderful the left. The path descends to join a quiet lane. to Penshurst or Leigh (on Victoria-Tonbridge line), buildings and the two footpaths; Point 5-6: 800m. The lane goes over the river Eden, past or Hildenborough (Charing Cross-Tonbridge line) one marked ‘Chiding-Stone’ trees and lovely water meadows then slightly uphill until then a cab (Hildenborough Taxis or Green Line Aand the other ‘sports fields’. Have a quick you hit a busier road. You’ve arrived at Penshurst (turn cars) to Chiddingstone (or Penshurst village, two peep at the Chiding Stone, just 100 yards right if you want a cafe) and you’ll now leave the EVP.
    [Show full text]