WELCOME
There is a certain amount of irony , or perhaps British expectation , attached to writing about our great Kentish summer whilst in the midst of a relentless downpour . Oh how we laughed (* read cried ) as we celebrated the end of the hottest day of the year so far with a week ’ s worth of rain ...
Yet as I sat frantically increasing my screen brightness to overcome the gloom , I took a moment to look outside and was reminded of the simple pleasures of the garden .
As I took in the rain dancing off of leaves , the kaleidoscope of colours bursting through for summer , the haphazard discarded chairs from our latest outdoor friends rendezvous , our resident wild rabbit which has returned with babies this year , and , because this is real life not fiction , some knee-high weeds and a half submerged Fireman Sam who appears to have become the latest ritual sacrifice to yet another bleedin ’ hole that has appeared courtesy of my toddler and his digger , it reminded me just how wonderful it is not just to have my own outside space but also to live right in the heart of the Garden of England .
Great produce aside , us Kentish folk are also the proud guardians , visitors and appreciators of some of the most spectacular outdoor spaces in the country , if not arguably beyond , so it is fitting that we have dedicated our July issue of insideKENT to all things great in the garden .
From not to be missed gardens to visit on p27 to those with their own story to tell on p34 ; meeting the gloves behind the garden in Meet the Gardener on p36 to those using our flora for botanical healing on p99 ; we have all you need to plan your own garden-based adventure this summer .
As we all gear up for a ‘ Staycation Summer ’ we bring you the must have summer fashion essentials on p94 ; and some inspired glamping hotspots to really make a stay of it courtesy of Kent Staycation on p39 .
The staycation theme continues with our guide of how to spend 48 Hours in Sevenoaks on p47 ; our review of the beautiful and now reopened Eastwell Manor on p55 ; and our showcase of a great fun-for-all-the-family day out at the incredible The O2 on p53 .
Of course we will be continuing to spend more time at home this year , so it ' s only right we shift our focus from indoors to out . Prepare to embrace outdoor living and uplift your outside space with our exterior design guide and the latest outdoor trends from p107 ; and discover the considerations and joy of installing your own pool thanks to our friends at XL Pools from p123 .
Get ready to turn your fingers green with our top gardening tips and trends from local gardening and landscaping experts from p143 ( apparently wild flowers and nettles are great for wildlife and my shocking attempts at gardening are now justified as my ‘ wildening space ’...); discover the wonder of the kitchen garden from p59 ; and prepare to entertain in style this summer with our outdoor kitchen musthaves on p137 . We have even rounded up and chowed down , some deep-flavoured BBQ recipes ,
‘ READY TO ROCK ’ THE GARDEN LOOK AT ICON AT THE O2
all ready to really get you entertaining in style this Summer too ! Get ready to get hungry from p71 .
Speaking of green , July is also plastic-free awareness month , so to help you help the earth we have some eco-friendly swaps on p104 .
And of course we have more … arts , entertainment , the best of what ’ s on in Kent , and the latest news and reviews just awaiting your attention !
I ’ m off to try and blag another spin in the all new Ford Mustang Mach-E ( see p166 ) and escape the weeding for another month ( at least !)!
Be sure to show us your garden go tos and gatherings this month .
Get Green Kent !
www . insidekentmagazine . co . uk
@ insideKENT
Publisher Adam Ready Editor Samantha Ready Features Editor Lucy Mohr Editorial Assistant Alison Kettle Features Writer Jess Marshall Features Writer Ashleigh Britten Features Writer Olivia Riccini Senior Designer Dave Leo Yogore Graphic Designer Lorna Morris Graphic Designer Kareena Ross-Cumming Senior Account Manager Jerry Barrett Account Manager Nadene Weed Account Manager Anna Lockyer Administration Manager & Fashion Editor Karlene Gannon Contributors Daniel Prendergast , Dawn Rose , Declan Kingsley-Walsh , Glenn Mackett , Josh De Haan , Jules Dervaes , Julius Ainsworth , Karen Bell , Kedel , Laura Davie , Lynsey Abbott , Milena Moore , Morgan Brown , My Tool Shed , Stephen Harries , Taylor Gathercole , The Middle Sized Garden , Jo Thompson , Ivy & Whyte , Pearson ’ s Landspaces , Lucy Wright , Ripley ’ s Garden Centre , Mike Piercy , Rick Schofield Cover : The Old Kent Barn © Olegs Samsonovs Photography
insideKENT Magazine is published by Sideways Media Ltd , Coachworks , Dover Place , Ashford , Kent TN23 1HU www . sidewaysmedia . co . uk For general enquiries , please contact hello @ sidewaysmedia . co . uk or 01233 226519
For all advertising enquiries , please contact Adam Ready on 01233 226519 or email adam @ sidewaysmedia . co . uk For all editorial enquiries , press releases or news stories , please contact insidekent @ sidewaysmedia . co . uk
© Copyright 2021 . The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher . Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine make any guarantees , warranties or claims as to the accuracy , currency or truthfulness of any of the contents of this magazine . No part of this magazine may be copied , reproduced or transmitted in any form without the publisher ’ s written consent . No responsibility is taken for unsolicited editorial , images or photographs published . While every care is taken , prices and details are subject to change and the publisher takes no responsibility for omissions or errors . Publisher is not responsible for any variation in image colour due to printing processes .
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