insideKENT Magazine Issue 100 - August 2020 | Page 96

PROPERTY Work-life balance and quality downtime: MAKE THE MOVE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE THIS SUMMER THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN HAS SEEN ALL OF US SPENDING MORE TIME THAN USUAL IN OUR HOMES, FOR MANY OF US IT’S BEEN A TIME TO APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE AND ENJOY REVITALISING OUR HOMES WITH NEW PAINTING SCHEMES, OR MAKING NEW AREAS IN OUR GARDENS FOR VEGETABLE PATCHES AND REDESIGNING PLANTING BEDS. But what if you’ve found sharing your house with your extended family members has made you feel the need for more space? Or you have a balcony but now long for a garden? Many people are reevaluating their lives following the lockdown, and know they don’t want to return to their daily stressful commute into London, or other large urbanised areas. They are now thinking about moving out to the countryside, perhaps to work more from home, which may be easier now that companies are realising that a workforce who have a better work-life balance can be even more productive, and they can save on spiralling office costs. Living in the countryside is appealing on lots of levels; wide green space, fresh air, the potential of an out-door lifestyle, and quality downtime with the family. Kent’s varied landscape offers charming villages, historic houses built in the local vernacular, miles of footpaths along coastal paths and through ancient woodlands and fields, cycle routes across the whole county, long stretches of pebble beaches and sandy coves, and the opportunity to enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits, both land and sea-based. Good commuter links to the major London terminals of Charing Cross, London Bridge, Cannon Street, and Victoria, including the fast service to St Pancras, makes it an easy trip to the office if it’s necessary. Forstal Mead, in the village of Coxheath on the outskirts of Maidstone, offers a delightful semi-rural setting in a country lane, with some of the new homes overlooking a vista of the River Medway Valley. Coxheath is popular with local buyers who move there for the schools; Coxheath Primary School (www.coxheath.kent.sch.uk) and Cornwallis Academy (at nearby Linton) (www.cornwallisacademy.com); and the good range of shops; including a Post Office, bakers, butchers, and local supermarket. Plenty of local clubs are active for indoor and outdoor pursuits for all the family. Forstal Mead, an Optivo in partnership with Westerhill Homes development, is open by appointment only for viewings of their two show homes and offers a mix of 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes with prices starting at £345,000 for The Betony 3 bedroom semi-detached house with two parking spaces. The Moving Made Easy scheme being offered at the development makes the move to the countryside even less stressful with agent’s fees paid and the whole process managed for you. To book a viewing appointment call the Sales Office on 07521 104198. www.forstalmead.co.uk 96