NEWS
CELEBRATE FOOD , FLORALS , FASHION & FINE ART AT LEEDS CASTLE ’ S FESTIVAL OF CRAFT & DESIGN THIS SEPTEMBER
Created to appeal to visitors of all ages and interests , Leeds Castle ’ s Festival of Craft & Design features everything from an outdoor animal-themed sculpture trail through the over 500-acre estate and a new giant floral jungle exhibition in the castle ’ s Tudor Courtyard , to behind-the-scenes tours , fabulous fashion and costume displays , sustainable art workshops and celebrity design guest experts .
A selection of Kent and wider UK ’ s artisan woodcrafters to textile artists and homeware designers to food and drink producers are also being showcased as part of the new Artisan & Food Fair ( 8-10 September ) on the castle ’ s Cedar Lawn .
Over the weekend , visitors will have the opportunity to sample delightful treats and shop from 80 artisan makers and street food sellers , all whilst enjoying a range of workshops led by practising artists as they tap their toes to live music .
The Festival of Craft & Design runs throughout September , with the Artisan & Food Fair on 8-10 September . Both events are included as part of the admission ticket .
600 FUNDRAISERS DASH THROUGH A RAINBOW FOR WE ARE BEAMS !
We Are Beams , the charity which supports disabled children and their families through family advice , respite care and summer play schemes , have seen a huge success of their Colour Dash event across Kent , raising £ 13,000 for their vital services .
This year ’ s fully-inclusive , family-friendly , rainbowcoloured events , at Jeskyns Park and Swanley Park , saw over 600 participants complete the 5k fun run and get messy for a great cause . Runners , walkers and wheelchair users made their way around the completely accessible course including many of the disabled children and families supported by the charity .
David Ribi , actor and television presenter and the charity ’ s patron who took part commented : “ I ’ ve just experienced my first Beams Colour Dash , the event was packed with people of all ages ready to run and the energy was electric ! I am so proud to call myself patron of Beams ; I have seen firsthand all the fantastic support Beams give to the disabled children and their families . A huge well done to everyone who took part raising money for such an important cause .”
Each year Beams need to raise £ 2 million to continue their vital care services , for more information visit www . wearebeams . org . uk .
SHEPHERD NEAME RAISES £ 30,000 FOR ITS CHARITY OF THE YEAR : KENT WILDLIFE TRUST
Faversham-based brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has raised £ 30,000 for its Charity of the Year , Kent Wildlife Trust ( KWT ), the county ’ s leading conservation charity based in Sandling , near Maidstone .
Shepherd Neame chose KWT as its Charity of the Year at the start of 2022 , and fundraising activities by team members at the brewery and across its pub estate have included taking part in the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge in Dorset last May , organising a Royal Brewery Bake Off competition as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations , sponsored pub walks , photography competitions and a series of summer beach cleans at four of its coastal sites .
Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame marked the end of the partnership by presenting a cheque to KWT ’ s chief executive , Evan Bowen- Jones . They met at Oare Marshes Nature Reserve – just a couple of miles from the Faversham Brewery – as the funds raised by Shepherd Neame during the past year are being put towards a new green energy project at the site .
Jonathan Neame said : “ We have really enjoyed partnering with Kent Wildlife Trust during the past year to help raise awareness of their fantastic work to protect and improve habitats in the countryside , coast and town for the benefit of the wildlife and people of Kent . We are incredibly proud to present them with this donation , which is going towards a fantastic project just a stone ’ s throw from our brewery . I would like to thank the many customers and team members who have supported our fundraising efforts during the past year .”
SHEPHERD NEAME CHIEF EXECUTIVE JONATHAN NEAME OFFICIALLY HANDS OVER THE FUNDS TO KENT WILDLIFE TRUST CHIEF EXECUTIVE EVAN BOWEN-JONES
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