Experience Thj e the Garden Darling of - s perfick! Budsj of Mayj j Goodfood,goodfriends,love,laughter It’snocoincidencethatKentishfood The s andbeautifulcountryside: TVseries, andproducealsoplayastarring ,captureslife roleinTheDarlingBudsofMay. Darling TheDarlingBudsofMay of s ,where TheDarlingBudsofMayseries Budsj inanidyllicrural,1950 Mayj lifewiththeLarkinfamilyisneverdull. capturestheKentwayoflife,and theenjoymentoflocalproduceis Main cast infront of table © ITV When it first aired in 1991, the feel-good verymuchpartofthat. Oneofthe Kent’s association with growing hops has The series was based on a novel of show was an instant hit and it took top position led to oast houses becoming an instantly earliestepisodesshowstheLarkin the same name by author H.E. Bates. in the overnight ratings. Three series later recognisable symbol of the county and in He was born in Northamptonshire, it became a firm favourite nationwide.To this womenpickingstrawberries,and the 19th and early 20th centuries, 80,000 tbut it was Kent that captured his day the series has remained in the hearts of amajorstorylineseesMarietteand people would have been involved in the heart when he moved to Little audiences as well as the hearts of the Charleygoontobuyahopgarden annual harvest at hop-picking time in Chart with his wife in 1930. locals, who still enjoy fond memories September. s andbreweryoftheirown. Andnot of seeing the filming and being involved. It was some years later when the author As well as growing hops, the county has forgettingtheLarkinfarm,which and his wife stopped at a village shop Follow this trail and step back in time to a strong brewing heritage. Faversham to buy sweets when inspiration struck. those idyllic days portrayed in the series isoverflowingwithhomegrown is home to Britain’s oldest As he waited for his wife in the car, the shop and experience all the sights, smells and andlocalfoodatalltimes! independent brewery, j door suddenly opened and an extraordinary tastes that rural Kent has to offer. Shepherd Neame, family burst out onto the street: mother and Kent has long been celebrated as which was used father with a large brood of children hugging the Garden of England and has been in the series for bags of crisps and sweets and licking cones famous for its orchards and hop exterior shots of of multi-coloured ice-creams. Laughing and gardens since the reign of King Bristow’s Brewery. shouting, they piled into a big blue truck Henry VIII. and disappeared into the summer haze. Kent has proudly During Henry’s reign, vegetables, The Larkin family was born. carried forward this

Ma and Pop picnic © ITV previously considered poor man’s food, tradition and today, you can

The Darling Buds of May novel was first became increasingly popular with the still find a vast array of local

published in 1957 and the now much-loved nobility.The King was especially partial produce from traditional TV series first aired in April 1991. The cast to artichokes, loved fruit and, together orchard fruits to baked goods, line-up is led by David Jason as Pop Larkin, j with Anne Boleyn, shared a passion for meat, award-winning wines and even tea. with Pam Ferris as Ma Larkin and Catherine strawberries and cherries.The Garden Restaurants and outlets throughout the Zeta-Jones, who has gone on to become of England proved a fertile larder for In the words of Pop Larkin himself: county are proud to serve and stock a Hollywood name, as the beautiful his wants and in 1533 the royal fruiterer, Ihad suchawonderfultime Kent produce and there are more than Mariette. Richard Harris, planted apple and fruit j filmingsucha greatseries 30 farmers markets, so you are never orchards at Teynham.The East Kent Pluckley in Kent was chosen as the and enjoyed mystayin Kent without an opportunity to try the taste ‘fruit belt’ had been born. base for the filming and nearby Buss enormously.Thereareso many of Kent for yourself. Farm with oast-house, out-buildings “lovelyplacestovisitand enjoy and a paddock became Home Farm, andthehospitalityextendedto the residence of the Larkin family. thecastand crewwasjust lovely. Ihopetheweatheris kindand thatyouallhavea perficktime. Withverybestwishes from j SirDavidJason ” The Darling Buds of Maytrail bringstogetherthe idyllic sights, smellsandtastes of ruralKent thataresowonderfullycaptured

intheLarkinfamily’slifestyle. CZJ with Strawberries © ITV Whetheryou’ve gottwo days or two hours,thetrailincludes plenty of choice forthings The Darling Buds to seeand do. of Maytrail

n the village of Pluckley,you can take a look at the church where IMariette and Charley got married and where Primrose flirted with the young vicar.The village primary school opposite became the village hall in the series.

Or perhaps stop off at Pop and Ma Larkin’s local,The Black Horse pub, before setting off on the circular Pluckley walk, which will take you through Kent’s famous fields and orchards.

Out of the village, you’ll find the home of the Larkins, Buss Farm, and if you fancy the beach, a trip to Folkestone will reveal the location of the Larkin’s day at the seaside and the cable car lift that was used for Pop and Charley’s heart to heart. Ma with Geese © ITV You can step back in time at agricultural museums, get hands on experience at a working windmill and admire historic vehicles. Or just sit back and take in the To treat your tastebuds to the Kent Kent countryside as you travel on the Kent and experience, take your pick from a range of options from ice cream and cheese East The trail can also be viewed online or www.kent.gov.uk/filmoffice makers to wine and fruit juice producers, Sussex Railway. downloaded from: or stock up at one of the local farm shops. Thj e s And why not stay a while? Relax, enjoy Darling a slice of Darling Buds of May tranquility Budsof and wake up refreshed in the Garden j of England.

Mayj

olOeig©RgrHolmes © Roger Opening Pool oc n ryRlsat Rolls Grey And Coach SEE AND PLACESj TO 8 LEAS LIFT, FOLKESTONE SH 12 EPHERD NEAME VISITON THE TRAIL... Leas Lift Folkestone, Kent CT20 - England BRE UK Phone: +44 (0)1303 250 906 WERY leasliftfolkestone.co.uk Shepherd Neame Brewery, 1 BLACK HORSE PUB The Victorian Leas Cable Car Lift was used 17 Court Street, Faversham, ME13 7AX © Explore Kent as a backdrop when filming on Folkestone's Tel: 01795 532 206 The Street, Pluckley, Kent TN27 0QS Tel: 01233 841948 j beach for the Larkins' seaside holiday. It is shepherdneame.co.uk 5 Shepherd Neame was used as the Known as the Hare and Hounds in the FOLKESTONE HARBOUR still operational and carries weary tourists to The Leas for a fine view across The Channel. exterior of Bristow's Brewery. The oldest Darling Buds of May, The Black Horse folkestoneharbour.com was Pop Larkins' local. Today it still offers When Mlle. Dupont arrives for Oscar's working brewery in Britain, it offers tours and tasting. For opening details please a typically friendly country hospitality Christening, she arrives at Folkestone 9 CHART CRICKET CLUB LITTLE visit the above website. and hearty fayre. Harbour. The Larkins first met her during their holiday to Brittany in the previous The Forstall, Rams Lane, , 2 BUSS FARM season. Ashford, Kent TN26 1ES 13 ST Nothing says ‘British Summer’ better than NICHOLAS - PLUCKLEY Green, Bethersden, Kent 6 HALDEN PLACE a game of cricket on the village green, St Nicholas Pluckley, St. James Vicarage/ [email protected] Known as Home Farm to most, Buss Farm Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4JG enjoying strawberries and Champagne, Glebeland, Ashford TN27 9DH Tel: 01233 756 224 is the most iconic of all the locations: the Mrs. Kinthley's hop garden was a or even Kent's award winning sparkling home of the Larkin’s! Remaining virtually particularly hard find! But with the white wine from Chapel Down Winery. g7benefice.org/churches/pluckley/ The church was used for the filming of unchanged you can visit the farm during help of the series location manager we Little Chart cricket pitch was used in the Mariette and Charley's wedding, as well the annual Darling Buds of May Classic tracked it down. Not much is visible from episode ‘When The Green Woods Laugh’. as the scene where Primrose tries to Car Show or for groups over 25, you the road but the distinctive Oast Chimney LEY CHURCH OF PLUCK seduce Mr Candy. can arrange visits by emailing is a dead giveaway. This is a private 10 ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL residence. [email protected]. 14 SWAI Pluckley Church of England Primary School, N ROAD H GATES COTTAGE KEN 3 CHURC 7 T AND EAST SUSSEX The Street, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0QS Wentwood, Swain Road, St Michaels, RAILWAY Tel: 01233 840 422 Nr TN30 6SH Pluckley Village Having undergone quite a few changes Church Gate Cottage became Edith Kent & East Sussex Railway,Tenterden pluckleyprimaryschool.co.uk since it appeared in the series, Wentwood Pilchester’s home and has changed little Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Pluckley’s primary school doubled for cottage, Marriette and Charley's bijou in the intervening years. It is now a private Kent TN30 6HE the village hall. It was here that Mr Mason, a home, saw Charley trying to become the residence but from the pavement you can Tel: 01580 765 155 recently escaped prisoner, disguises first man to freeze strawberries and Pieter easily visualise Pop leading Edith up her kesr.org.uk himself as Santa to see his children before the German visitor proving his worth by garden path. The Kent and East Sussex Railway heading back behind bars in 'Christmas brought tax man Charley into the lives of is coming.' fixing the leaky tap. This is a private TAGE 4 FIG TREE COT the Larkins, as well as taking Ma, Charley residence. 11 PLUCKLEY VILLAGE Pluckley Village and Mariette to find the perfect wedding The exterior and garden of Fig Tree dress. The railway still hasn't run out of Pluckley Village Cottage were used as the Brigadier's steam and operates much as it did during pluckley.net garden. Die-hard fans of the series will the series. A train timetable can be The small village of Pluckley was the no doubt remember the Brigadier walking downloaded from the website: heart of the Darling Buds territory. The out into the street as the Larkin's test drive kesr.org.uk/timetable local butchers in the square featured and the new Rolls Royce. This is a private the local post office was turned into the residence which can be seen from Larkins’ local grocery shop. the pavement. Behind the scenes blue truck © ITV j 'S PRODUCTS 19 FARMER PALMER

Jesse’s Farm, Wanden Lane, Egerton, 18 Ashford TN27 9DB ELVEY FARM HOTEL 21 H Tel: 01233 756 609 ARBOURNE VINEYARD Elvey Farm Country Hotel, Elvey Ashford TN27 0SU farmerpalmermeats.co.uk Tel: 01233 840 442 The Harbourne Vineyard, , Specialising in the production of quality Tenterden, Kent TN30 7NP elveyfarm.co.uk beef, lamb and pork processed on their Tel: 01797 270 420 Enjoy some real peace and quiet surrounded by own farm, Farmer Palmer meats can DENS seventy five acres of Kent countryside. The nine harbournevineyard.co.uk 15 BEECH COURT GAR be purchased at various outlets in the A small family owned and run vineyard rooms are the closest you can get to a rural idyll area, including farmers markets. Check and winery using traditional methods. Beech Court Gardens, , and there is a restaurant on site serving locally the website for details. Drop into the on-site shop open on an sourced food. Nr Ashford, Kent TN25 4DJ evening or at the weekend to buy the wine. Tel: 01233 740 735 20 FROGSHOLE FARM beechcourtgardens.co.uk Frogshole Farm, Sissinghurst Road, 22 HEREFORD OAST Beech Court Gardens are a nationally , Kent TN27 8EY Hereford Oast Bell Road, renowned 10 acre oasis of tranquillity The Darling Buds Tel: 01580 291 196 Smarden, Ashford, Kent TN27 8PA and beauty. The beautiful English gardens frogsholefarm.com Tel: 01233 770 541 can be visited in the summer months, please of May - A WALK Farm producing local Asparagus which herefordoast.co.uk go to the above website for further details. AROUND PLUCKLEY is sold at the farm shop seven days a week Hereford Oast is a single oast built in ARD 16 BIDDENDEN VINEY in season - mid April to early June. 1876, set within 21.5 acres of wooded grounds including a charming English Gribble Bridge Lane Farm Gribble Bridge country garden. Breakfast for guests Lane, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8DF staying in the two rooms is served in Tel: 01580 291 726 the original Victorian Roundel, formerly biddendenvineyards.com used for drying hops, and includes This is Kent's oldest family-owned home made preserves and local produce. Vineyard, located just outside the picturesque village of Biddenden. It produces award winning wines alongside farm pressed apple juice and deceptively Centre of Pluckley Village strong Kentish cider. To plan your visit, Black Horse please go to the above wesbite. Pub 17 CLEARLY JUICE

Clearly Juice Limited, Great Tong Farm, Church Gate Headcorn, TN27 9PP Pluckley CoE Cottage Tel: 01622 891 352 Primary School St. Nicholas’ clearlyjuice.co.uk Church 200 years of fruit growing, has produced a range of single variety apple juices with a distinctive style. Unfortunately there is no access to the orchards, but you can purchase juice from suppliers listed on Fig Tree Cottage

the above website. ©CrownCopyrightanddatabaseright2011.OrdnanceSurvey100019238

'To find out about more walks in Kent please visit www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent Ma Painting Victoria With Lamb© Roger Homles j 31 THE AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM

The Agricultural Museum, Brook, The Street, Brook, Ashford, Kent TN25 5PF DING COMPANY 23 KENT TEA AND TRA 27 PLUCKLEY FARM SHOP agriculturalmuseumbrook.org.uk j The museum hosts a variety of collections Kent Tea & Trading Co, Pivington Mill, Weeks, Smarden Road, Pluckley, charting farming history, including j Pluckley, Ashford, TN27 0PG Ashford, Kent, TN27 0RF j ploughing, seed sowing, harvesting Tel: 01233 840 265 Tel: 01233 840 400 j 34 THE DERING ARMS and associated crafts. For opening times kenttea.co.uk pluckleyfarmshop.co.uk The Grove, Pluckley, Kent TR27 0RR Pluckley Tea is one of over 200 different A farm shop and fine food store please visit the above website. ON Tel: 01233 840 371 teas and coffees roasted and blended on site selling Kent produce to local people. 32 THE C.M. BOOTH COLLECTI deringarms.com For opening times please visit the ICLES and sold at this unique shop. For opening OF HISTORIC VEH The Dering Arms houses an award times please visit the above website. above website. C.M Booth Collection, Falstaff Antiques, winning seafood restaurant, serving 24 KINGCOTT CHEESE 28 up some of the finest seafood dishes RARE BREEDS CENTRE 63-67 Highstreet, , Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4LP in Kent. Known locally for its high quality Kingcott Cheese Ltd, Iden Manor Farm, Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch, fresh food, you may also enjoy the fine Cranbrook Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0ES morganmuseum.org.uk Ashford, Kent TN26 3RJ selection of local ale and cider and the Tel: 01580 892 478 Tel: 01233 861 493 A private collection specialising in three guest rooms. kentishblue.co.uk rarebreeds.org.uk Morgan cars dating from 1909 to 1936. Kentish Blue is an un-pasteurised, mould Apart from getting a chance to see There are early motorcycles, cycles, garage 35 W ripened, blue, handmade cheese using some of the British rare and heritage equipment, Automobilia, as well as toy and INDMILL milk straight from their Holstein-Friesian farm breeds, the centre offers 120 acres model cars on display. For opening times Willesborough Windmill, Ashford, Kent Tel: 01233 661 866 herd. This exclusive produce can be of woodland, ponds, fields and play please visit the above website. purchased from numerous Kent shows, areas. For opening times please visit DOWN WINERY willesboroughwindmill.co.uk 33 THE CHAPEL A working windmill where the traditional listed on the website. the above website.. The Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden method of producing stone ground flour 25 KENT LIFE 29 SILCOCKS FARM SHOP Vineyard, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent,TN30 7NG can be observed and children are in- vited to try their hand at making a small Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Silcocks Farm Shop, Grange Road, Tel: 01580 763 033 sample of flour using quern stones in Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AU St Michael’s Tenterden, Kent TN30 6TL englishwinesgroup.com Tel: 01622 763 936 Tel: 01580 763 351 Award winning winery in the heart of Kent. the traditional way. Open Weekends and Bank Holidays as well as Mon and Wed kentlife.org.uk silcocksfarm-organics.co.uk The Wine and Fine Food store sells a full s 10.00 - 17.00 in July and August for Museum located in the Weald of Kent Farm shop retailing their own organic range of Chapel Down wines and has a including oast houses, barns and a herb and rare breed produce: beef, lamb, dedicated tasting area. Tours are available guided tours. garden. Within the 28 acres there are animalsport and rose veal. There is also an on daily from June to Sept and weekends only 36 WOODCHURCH WIN to cuddle, tractors to ride, play areas to go site butchery. Open from 09.00 - 16.00 in May and October. Call to confirm DMILL wild in, fascinating historic buildings to Tuesday to Saturday. availability before your visit. The on site Ashford, Kent TN26 3QW Tel: 01233 860 288 explore and cafés to relax in. For opening ‘Tochard Phillips at Chapel Down’ 30 SIMPLY ICE CREAM times please visit the above website. restaurant has a south facing sun terrace woodchurchwindmill.co.uk The windmill has extensive views over AGE B & B Simply Icecream Ltd, The Nook, overlooking the beautiful vineyards and 26 PARSONAGE COTT the village and countryside towards , Ashford TN25 7BA herb garden. Tel:01233 720 922 Parsonage Cottage Bed and Breakfast, the English Channel. It is a fine example Station Road, Pluckley, Ashford, Kent TN27 simplyicecream.co.uk0QZ of a Kentish smock mill. For opening Tel: 01233 840 118 Hand made, using the freshest local times please visit the above website. ingredients, Simply Ice Cream can be parsonagecottagebandbpluckley.co.uk s Parsonage Cottage is one of the oldest purchased all over Kent. A full list of houses in Pluckley, with parts dating back suppliers can be found on the above for over 400 years. It is set back from the website. KENTISH FARMERS' MARKETS road, so if you are looking for some peace and tranquillity, you will find it here. www.kfma.org.uk There are many farmers' markets in Darling Buds of May Country for all you foodie fanatics to enjoy. Why not pop along to savour the flavour of real Kentish produce straight from the fields? Visit the Kent Farmers' Markets Association website for locations and opening times. j For more information The s on the darling buds of may trail, including Darling special offers, behind the scenes images Budsof and more, go to: j www.KENT.GOV.UK/FILMOFFICE Mayj

Behind the Scenes family in garden © ITV

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