WIN! HEALTH FROM THE A stay at & BEAUTY: ARCHIVES: DeVere’s The county’s Enid Blyton’s life latest hotel best spas in Surbiton
WdedOur surreylife.co.uk | October 2017
Meet the new countyWhere to find Surrey’s director of secret WOODLANDS :DWWV *DOOHU\
10 JEREMY VINE reasons The radio and TV presenter talks Strictly and his to love Cheam ‘rock’ days OXTED ahead of Guildford Book Festival
Our Olympic hockey £3.80 FROZEN champs on their in TIME post-Rio legacy Plus: How EH Shepard illustrated an icon 1 ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? CONTACT adeleparks.com @adeleparks With bestselling author Adele Parks
AS it’s Guildford Book Festival of England and many other this month and I’m a writer, I was interesting people over the years.” inspired to take a thematically “Like who?” asked Millie, appropriate trip this month. showing surprising interest for American friends were visiting an 11-year-old. Surprising and with their two daughters, (11 and somewhat inconvenient as I didn’t eight) and I thought they’d be have the answer. game for a column ‘appearance.’ “Oh, you should look it up,” I First observation, as we drove replied breezily, “That’s the way to Chipstead Downs Nature knowledge sticks.” (I since have, Reserve, the girls (unlike Terrible and if you’re similarly interrogated, Twins) did not at any point ask, the answer is Catherine of Aragon, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ This the founder of Barings Bank and could be because Americans the Spencer family). are used to travelling greater distances or it could be because Outdoor adventure the girls never paused for breath. On the trail, visitors can spot What I now don’t know about Lucy waiting by the lamppost, sneakers, glitter-customising meet Aslan and walk through clothes and cherry lip gloss, isn’t the wardrobe entrance to worth knowing. Narnia. We did all three. Millie Anyway, I appreciated their pointed out that the trail wasn’t enthusiasm when I revealed that in chronological order, which we were going on a walk in the suggested I had led them ancient Banstead Woods that backwards, but other than that included a Narnia-themed nature everyone was utterly delighted trail – where it was possible to with the fantastic adventure. The spot wood tree carvings of the figures are carved from standing iconic characters from CS Lewis’ deadwood by talented chainsaw classic children’s tale, The Lion, Adele heading through the wardrobe and into Narnia sculptor Ella of The Tree Pirates, the Witch and the Wardrobe – their making use of the site’s own excitement was unimaginable existing natural resources. and unequivocal. I like the outdoors and think Unfortunately, it wasn’t one Discovering it’s important that children are of those bright autumnal days, taught how to identify various when the skies are blue and the flora and fauna. If a character- red leaves crunch underfoot, themed trail helps induce them it was cloudy, a bit gloomy and out for a bit of fresh air, I’m all for unpromising. This somehow gave Nania it. Indeed, this walk was one of me the urge to transform into a This month, bestselling author Adele my favourite types – it concluded slightly annoying tour-guide, I in The Ramblers’ Rest pub, where started spouting interesting facts Parks takes some American friends to we enjoyed a hearty round of fish about the area. (I’d secretly and one of Surrey’s newest nature reserves and chips with the most delicious swiftly done a quick google before to seek out some rather familiar minted mushy peas. “This pub we set off). literary characters dates back centuries, you know,’ “Banstead Woods and I commented. Chipstead Downs has a long and “1301,” Millie said with a smile fascinating history,” I began. and a wink, “I read the plaque on “It’s alluded to in the Domesday the wall too, Adele.” Book 1086 and has been in the ownership of Kings and Queens GUILDFORD BOOK “It’s alluded to in the Domesday Book FESTIVAL For more on this year’s Guildford Book 1086 and has been in the ownership of Festival, turn back to page 26 and to discover what children’s events are taking Kings and Queens of England and many place in schools across the county as part of the festival, visit guildfordbookfestival. other interesting people over the years” co.uk/school
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