insideKENT Magazine Issue 87 - June 2019 | Page 72

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
Kent’s Top 100 ARTS & CULTURE HOTSPOTS
CONT.
98. A New Day Festival
Mount Ephraim Gardens, Hernhill,
Faversham ME13 9TX
www.anewdayfestival.com
A New Day Festival is a new music festival
at Mt Ephraim, near Faversham, shortlisted
for Best New Festival, bringing you the best
in prog, rock, blues and folk in a truly
wonderful setting.
99. Kent County Show
Kent Showground, Detling,
Maidstone ME14 3JF
www.kentshowground.co.uk
The Kent County Show is the region's
showcase event for farming, countryside
and rural life. The three-day show brings
together the very best of Kent with animals,
food, fun and excitement giving a true feel
of what The Garden of England has to
offer for the whole family.
WEALDEN LITERARY FESTIVAL
A NEW DAY FESTIVAL
100. Wealden Literary Festival
Boldshaves Garden, Woodchurch TN26 3RA
www.wealdenliteraryfestival.co.uk
Running from 29-30th June this year, the Wealden
Literary Festival features a lineup of award-winning
nature writers, authors and conservationists.
The festival celebrates books, art, crafts and produce
inspired by the natural world. Amongst the authors
appearing are Raynor Winn, Horatio Clare, Isabella
Tree and Mark Cocker.
Raynor Winn will talk about her bestselling book
The Salt Path. It tells how, just days after discovering
her husband Moth was terminally ill, the couple lost
everything and impulsively embarked on an epic
and life-affirming journey along the South West
Coast Path.
Leading figures from the world of nature,
conservation and agriculture will take part in a panel
debate on the relationship between people and the
land. Isabella Tree from Knepp Estate in West
Sussex is one of the speakers. Her book Wilding
tells the story of the pioneering rewilding project
she and her husband undertook to banish intensive
farming and let nature take over their land.
The children’s programme features authors including
Lucy Strange, Chris Lloyd and Katherine McEwan.
Alongside literary events, festival-goers of all ages
can learn rural skills such as fire-building and willow-
weaving and take part in a nature safari. Artists and
makers will be on hand to demonstrate their talents
and showcase the best in local art, crafts and produce.
Wealden Literary Festival was founded by husband
and wife team, Andrew and Laura Willan, as a way
for people to escape the pace of modern life and
embrace the simplicity of the natural world.
Andrew said: “The festival is about bringing together
some of the things we love and creating a magical
weekend where we can all pause and take time to
appreciate what is around us.”
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