© Oyinkansola of YINKSPLATFORM
SEPTEMBER
SPECIAL FEATURE
A Fresh Start
For many, September often feels like the real new year. While January’ s anticipated start often results in unrealistic resolutions and a sense of‘ new year, new me’ dread, the post-summer shift sparks an implemental mindset, allowing us to reset routines and feel ready to begin the new season with a fresh start.
Kicking off September with the brilliant annual Faversham Hop Festival( favershamhopfestival. org), one of the largest free street festivals in the South East, this year it will run from Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 September. Starting in 1990, the event marks the noticeable shift to autumn, celebrating the town’ s historic hop-growing heritage with parades and live performances across the weekend including Morris dancing alongside artisan stalls and local ales crafted by Britain’ s oldest brewery and Kentish favourite, Shepherd Neame( shepherdneame. co. uk).
At this time, the shift in the season sees large numbers of birds migrating across Kent, with the Oare Marshes Nature Reserve( kentwildlifetrust. org. uk) holding a migration walk on Friday 11 September. You can embark on a 3-4 mile walk around the reserve, where you will observe in the field, learning about resident wetland birds, with high tide serving as an ideal opportunity to observe species that use the reserve’ s floods and scrapes for roosting and feeding.
Discover how these birds navigate during autumn migration and learn about the incredible journeys they endure. The migration walk offers a chance to learn about how the shifting season not only becomes a reset for us but also for the wildlife around us.
Around this time, the annual Heritage Open Days( heritageopendays. org. uk) also begin, recognised as England’ s largest community festival and running this year from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 September. The annual festival is set to see thousands of venues across the UK celebrating diverse cultures and communities, and here in Kent, a number of historical estates will offer free entry across the festival dates.
Starting off, Cobham Wood and Mausoleum( nationaltrust. org. uk) will be opening their doors with free entry on Sunday 13 September. Enjoy exploring the restored woodland found within the historic Cobham Park. Alongside a guided tour of the
Knole Park
243-year-old Darnley Mausoleum, set on the highest point of the site and recently restored to its former grandeur, the 18thcentury, Grade I listed monument is only open on select days through the year- over the season, the Heritage Open Day offers a rare opportunity to take a look inside this historic landmark.
On Tuesday 15 September, you can head to Knole Park( nationaltrust. org. uk) in Sevenoaks; again free to all visitors, this open day will offer a chance to explore the showrooms, gatehouse tower and extensive grounds. There will also be a free guided walk- The Changing Faces of Knole: An Archaeology Walk- where you will learn about the parkland’ s history and peek inside the historic icehouse, with elevated views from the newly installed viewing platform. running from Saturday 3 to Sunday 4 October, the fair will offer the chance to discover a variety of rare and heritage apples grown on the farm, many of which you would never find in a supermarket. At the fair, you will be given a free tote bag to fill generously with apples alongside apple tasting and guided tours of the National Fruit Collection.
OCTOBER picking from the classic orange pumpkin and Munchkin mini pumpkins to the lesserknown white Polar Bear pumpkin and Autumn Crown squashes; all serving as excellent Halloween mascots!
Canterbury Festival
Autumn Traditions
Deeply rooted in tradition, the month of October sees autumn come into its own, with crimson leaves and harvest traditions taking hold across Kent’ s landscape. At the same time, the annual spooky season begins to emerge, with fancy dress celebrations and ripe pumpkins ready for picking and carving.
At the start of the month, visit Brogdale Apple Fair( brogdalecollections. org);
The month of October also sees the much-loved Canterbury Festival( canterburyfestival. co. uk) returning from Friday 16 to Saturday 31 October. The festival will celebrate all things art and culture, with classical concerts and theatre productions such as the Festival Evensong held in the historic Canterbury Cathedral taking place alongside country walks and family-friendly events including clay-based creative activities and poetry competitions for budding young poets.
Throughout the month, in the lead-up to Halloween, Lower Ladysden Farm( lowerladysden. co. uk) is holding their annual Pick Your Own Pumpkin event. Just in time for the spooky season, put your wellies on and head down to the fields where a wide variety of pumpkins are available for
Lower Ladysden Farm is also bringing back their much-loved pumpkin nights, where you can wrap up warm, bring a torch and pick your pumpkin in true Halloween spirit. The events will have food and drink vendors, and, whether you come as a witch or spider, dressing up is of course heavily encouraged!
Heading into the week of Halloween, Kent sees a number of All Hallows’ Eve events, with Hever Castle & Gardens( hevercastle. co. uk) delivering its popular Halloween Half Term Fun programme running from Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November. Families can embark on the Hever’ s Mad Scientist Trail, where they can set foot through the haunted grounds searching for spellbinding creations and uncovering hidden letters to solve the final puzzle and claim a frightfully fun reward.
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