a taste of Kent

Cherry RipeLife is just a bowl of cherries

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This leaflet provides a summary history of cherry farming in Kent. A circular walk in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty showing the contrast between the traditional old cherry orchards farmed under Defra’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme with a modern commercial cherry orchard. Details on the health properties are included and also where to buy award winning cherry products as well as events and festivals based on the county’s cherished cherry heritage.

Kent has long been associated with the cultivation of cherries. Indeed, the county’s fame as the Garden of England springs from its heritage of growing cherries and other fruits. William Lambarde wrote in his Perambulation of Kent – 1576, ‘This Tenham with thirty other parishes extending from Rainham to Blean Wood be the cherry garden of Kent. But as this at Tenham is the parent of all the rest.’ Perhaps this was the origins of Kent as ‘The Garden of England’

Spring time in the early 20th century was greeted with over 5000 hectares of delicate billowing blossom as observed through the words of Alfred E Houseman in his poem The Shropshire Lad –

‘Loveliest of trees, the cherry nowIs hung with bloom along the bough,And stands about the woodland rideWearing white for Eastertide.’This profusion of cherry blossom had declined by ten fold towards the end of the century. Yet still from the founding of the first commercial cherry orchards at Teynham, Kent remains the County for cherries and today gate sales for these favoured berries are booming.

‘Kent, sir – everybody knows Kent – apples, cherries, hops and women’Charles Dickens

From Roman origins to the King’s nursery

Kent’s cherry heritage

Traditional old cherry orchards are characterised by tall spreading, wide spaced trees with sheep grazing beneath. Often sad forlorn limbs are left to succumb to the rigors of disease and a slow death by misadventure. Today, the traditional orchard stands majestic. In a traditional orchard the farmer often grew about twelve varieties of which a few are shown on the list, thus giving continuity of ripening throughout the season.

Modern commercial cherry orchards contain many smaller trees grown on dwarfing rootstocks, with a smaller mix of modern varieties. Just before picking you may notice covers or netting over the trees to protect the crop from the birds and weather. Rain will split the cherries deeming them unfit for market. The cherries are picked either from the ground or small tripod ladders.

The Gean, Dwarf or Wild Cherry are native to Kent as wild trees, they were found growing here by the Romans when they invaded Britain. It is believed that the Romans introduced the sweet cultivated cherry to Britain.

John Ludgate (1370 -1451) in his poem London Lickpenny tells of a poor man of Kent who goes to seek his fortune in the big city and see cherries on sale in the streets.

‘Strabery rype’ and ‘cherryes in the rise!’

And bade me come near to buy….

‘Cherries in the rise’ is the cry of the street sellers. A ‘rise’ in Kent dialect is a twig. The sellers tied cherries on a twig to advertise their wares allowing their customers to pluck a sample and taste. This is immortalised in a folk song Cherry Ripe written by the English poet Robert Herrick (1591-1674), which contains the refrain,

Cherry ripe, cherry ripe,Ripe I cry,Full and fair onesCome and buy.

Cherry ripe, cherry ripe,Ripe I cry,

Full and fair ones

Come and buy.

Cherries were grown in the service of the Church as documented by the ‘Reeve’s Account of the Manor of Teynham, 1376,’ which quotes, ‘twenty pence as payment for cherries sent to the lord’, the lord being the Archbishop of Canterbury.

During the reign of Henry VIII, his head fruiterer Richard Harris was ordered to propagate sweet cherry varieties with greater vigour brought over from Flanders to England. The site chosen to establish a fruit nursery was at Teynham. Land stretching to 105 acres around the area of Oziers Farm in Teynham and the New Gardens was given to Harris by the King for this purpose.

With Harris’ nursery flourishing, Kent was emerging as the UK’s premier cherry growing area. A great expansion of the cherry growing industry took place during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries along the North Kent Downs and the Faversham Fruit Belt was born. This area covered from Rochester to Canterbury with the deep loams of the Thanet sands, chalk and brick earth. The Medway Valley on the alluvial soils, sand and clay to the High Weald also planted up extensive areas of cherries. Transportation of these cherries to the City was via the River Medway, the Swale and Conyer Creek.

misadventure. Today, the traditional

modern varieties. Just before picking

eating cherries means

possession of something de-

sired

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Cherry orchards or gardens as they were known stretched in size from two to five acres although there were some exceptions. The trees were planted in rows on a diamond formation like the five on a dice with twenty to thirty feet between the trees. Initially, since the trees were so small, the land between the trees was cultivated and crops of corn or soft fruit such as strawberries or blackcurrants and gooseberries were grown. This was known as intercropping. Once the trees matured, the growing of crops between them ceased and grass was sown as pasture for sheep to graze.

Trees often reached heights of 60 feet and long ladders were needed to pick the fruit. The ladder length was indicated by the number of rungs. Ladder length varied from 20 to 65 rungs, being wide at the bottom and tapering at the top. The ladder boy, a specialist job, ensured the ladder was secured in the trees. It was placed where there was a heavy setting, so that time was not wasted moving from tree to tree. Pickers had to pick cherries fast but not take them off the ‘strig’ or stem, as this made them go bad quickly. On no account were they to ‘brut’ the tree: break off the small shoots. A joke often told amongst pickers was that ‘If the ladder falls through a tree don’t waste time but pick the cherries you pass on your way down!’ The fruit was picked into kibsey baskets which weighed about 12lbs when full of cherries although baskets varied in size. When they were marketed different baskets were used, such as chip baskets for local stores and half sieve baskets for Covent Garden, London.

By the end of the nineteenth century the cherry auction sales were well established. The farmer having grown the crop and achieved a good quality may have decided he did not have enough pickers to harvest the fruit.

Fruiting down in Kent

At this point the crop would be auctioned during May or June at cherry auctions held in Sittingbourne and the surrounding villages. This custom continued until the end of the twentieth century.

Sweet, sour and dukes, (a cherry, halfway between the sweet and sour cherry) were grown in orchards in Kent. Fittingly, Kent is home to the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale. Over 300 varieties of cherries can be found growing here providing a stunning display of blossom in the Spring and a delicious feast in the Summer. For further details of the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale visit www.brogdale.org

‘…that a ripe strawberry or cherry is as pleasing to the eye as to the palate,...’ Charles Darwin

The story of Cherry Downs starts back in the late 18th century when a distillery in Limekiln Street, Dover was owned by three partners. Thomas Grant of Sutton Valance was one of the partners who took over the business totally in 1847 and handed it to his son Thomas Grant Junior. Whilst Thomas was a noted distiller in Dover he had a package of wild Morello cherries sent to him as present from a local fruit grower. Mr Grant was intrigued by their qualities with a very distinctive flavour and rich colour. From this stemmed an idea that they could be used for producing a delicious liqueur and then Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy was born.

Grants Morella Cherry Brandy was first produced in Dover until disaster struck and the cliff face overhanging the distillery collapsed and enveloped the whole site. Despite this catastrophe, Grants found new sites in Maidstone and Lenham; both sites were developed next to the new railway which was being built in the 1880’s, enabling direct transport from the distilleries by rail.

Within the villages of Lenham and Lenham Heath, Morello cherries grew in orchards and hedgerows, the source of the cherries used for the production of the cherry brandy. In 1892, over 20,000 trees furnished Grants with most of the fruit needed to produce their cherry brandy. George Bunyard a orticulturalist and fruit breeder from

Maidstone wrote in 1911 ‘apart from its qualities as a beverage, it is also a fine medicine in cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, it is not made from the Morello’s such as grow on walls, but from a local wild Morello’.

The manufacture of the cherry brandy continued until the 1960’s when E Leslie Grant, the great-great-grandson of the founder died and the company was taken over. Grants Morella Cherry Brandy is still available today through Shepherd Neame of Faversham.

Finding cherry downs

Not far from Lenham next to the North Downs Way stands a community picnic site

called Cherry Downs. Take a diversion whilst walking along the North Downs Way and as you cross Rayners Hill you will see a gate, nestling high on the bank. Enter through this gate and discover the chalk downland wildflowers. Follow the beautifully carved oak way markers to the top of the hillside. A new traditional Morello cherry orchard has been planted by the Mid Kent Downs Orchards Project to celebrate the history of Lenham’s Cherry Brandy. Stand on the scarp and admire the fantastic view which has changed so much in 100 years.

Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy

Cherry Downs

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Cherry delicious recipe

Ingredients450g (1lb) cherries coarsely chopped

1 fresh chilli finely chopped1/2 red onion chopped

2 spring onions chopped

1 tomato chopped

1small yellow pepper chopped

7g (1/4oz) coriander finely chopped

Dressing 1/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp raspberry vinegar

1 tbsp orange juice

1 tsp honey

1 tbsp olive oil

MethodMix together the chilli, red

onion, spring onions, tomato,

yellow pepper and coriander.

Put the dressing ingredients

into a jam jar and shake well

together. Pour the dressing

over the chilli mix. Add the

cherries and combine gently.

Leave to stand for 3 hours at

room temperature.

Fresh Cherry Salsa

Hot cherry stones were used in bed

pans to warm beds.

cherry timeline

Cherries arrived in Kent, Britain with the Romans

The site of Augustine’s abbey is believe to have stood where there is a cherry orchard.

Richard Harris, fruiterer to King Henry VIII plants a mother nursery at Teynham to distribute trees to other growers.

The folk song Cherry Ripe written by the English poet Robert Herrick

There was an extensive planting of cherry gardens in the Faversham Fruit Belt and Medway Valley.

The Tradescant Cherry introduced to Hatfield House England by John Tradescant the elder

Duke cherries which are a cross between sweet Prunus avium and acid Prunus cerasus were first mentioned

1st century AD 15331591-1674

1600–17001611

1629

First record of the Gean (Prunus avium) growing in Kent

16661783

18151829 - 1896

1860

Black Tartarian was imported from the region of Circassia, at the eastern end of the Black Sea after the conquest of the Crimea

The Waterloo Cherry was named after the battle of Waterloo

Cherry Ripe was painted by Sir John Everett Millais, an English painter and illustrator

Dr Robert Hogg wrote The Fruit Manual with comprehensive description of fruit varieties including cherry.

1880s

1880s - Grants Morella Cherry Brandy Factory was built in Lenham

20042008

Park Farm Cherry Orchard, Lynsted, Kent a traditional orchard was established as community orchard

National Cherry Day Established as the 3rd Saturday in July

1904

The National Fruit Collection established at Wisley by the Horticultural Society under the guidance of Thomas Andrew Knight

The debut of The Cherry Orchard by the Moscow Art Theatre on 17th January (Chekhov's birthday)

1940 - 501952 - 54

The breeding of self fertile cherries began in British Columbia

National Fruit Collection relocated to Brogdale, Kent

1951 1958

5193 hectares of cherries grown in Kent

Colt the dwarfing cherry rootstock was bred

19641994

1994 – 554 hectares of cherries gown in Kent

1921

75% of cherry plantings were in Kent

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Health properties of cherries

Cherries: A Super-Fruit

• Research shows that cherries are a delicious summer snack with exceptional health benefits so much so that they are known as a ‘super fruit’.

• Sweet cherries are a good source of the fibre and vitamin C; they are low in fat; sodium and cholesterol free.

• Sour cherries such as Morello, Montmorency and Kentish Red contain amongst the highest level of antioxidants compared to other fruits and are a natural source of vitamin A.

Here are some of the incredible health benefits you could gain from eating cherries regularly!

1. Blood Pressure Cherries are a good source of potassium which can help control blood pressure and reduce the risk of a stroke.

2. Jet Lag Melatonin which is found in cherries is an effective means of promoting overall healthy sleep patterns and reducing jet lag.

3. ArthritisStudies suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries may help to control arthritis and gout.

4. Heart DiseaseIt is well known that fresh cherries contain powerful antioxidants which may help to reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease.

5. Diabetes It is suggested that some of the compounds in cherries appear to aid diabetes control and help in reducing the complications associated with this disease.

6. Alzheimer’s Anthocyanins a pigment in cherries may help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

7. Anti-agingStudies also suggest that these powerful pigments possess anti-aging properties.

While there’s no established guideline on how many cherries it takes to benefit from these health properties, experts suggest that 1-2 servings of cherries daily, whether they are fresh, dried or in the form of juice, can help.

Some of this research has been undertaken by the University of Michigan.

Health properties

4. Heart Disease

Modern Cherry Varieties

colney is a very large true black variety; it has superb quality and is very sweet. It is one of the very late ripening modern commercial varieties and worth waiting for. This variety was bred in Norwich.

stella has large fruit which are dark red to black with a very sweet flavour and the flesh is very juicy. The fruit ripens in late July. It is a very good tree to grow in the garden since it is a self fertile tree (needs no pollinator). It was raised in British Columbia in the 1960’s.

Van has large true black fruits, a very firm flesh with a flavour which is sweet and considered to be superb. This variety is a regular heavy cropper and extremely reliable, an excellent variety from Canada and was used in the breeding of many of our modern self fertile varieties.

Penny is an outstanding quality black cherry that is firm, very sweet and large. It is a very late variety, has excellent quality and reliable cropping. This cherry was bred at East Malling Research, Kent in 2001 and is now one of the best commercial cherries.

sunburst is a variety with a spectacular large black sweet fruit with gorgeous rich flavour. This variety is self fertile and was introduced from Canada in 1984. This variety won the first prize at the Cherry and Soft Fruit Show at Maidstone in 2004.

Merchant has large sweet dark red or near black fruits with a very good flavour. It is a heavy cropping cherry and was raised at John Innes Institute, Norwich and introduced commercially in 1976.

Lapins ‘cherokee’ was bred in Canada in 1984. It has large dark red/black juicy fruit with dark flesh with good split resistance. It is a heavy cropper which ripens later in the season. The tree growth is upright and strong. This variety is self fertile and a garden favourite.

Cherry varieties

cherry blossom and the cuckoo appear at the same time. evidently the cuckoo needed three good meals of ripe cherries before it stopped calling in June.

Traditional Cherry Varieties

early rivers was raised in 1872 by the Bedfordshire nurseryman, Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth. It is the earliest black variety to ripen in the orchard, a very good cropper with good fruit size. The fruits ripen in succession giving two or three pickings. This is a very fine cherry which was extensively planted in the early 20 Century.

Merton Bigarreau is a black cherry with a firm flesh and superb outstanding flavour. It is a very heavy cropper ripening early to mid season. It was raised by the John Innes Horticultural institute in 1924 as a cross between Knights Early Black and Napoleon Bigarreau.

roundel is a large heart shaped sweet red to dark red cherry which ripens mid season. It is one of the excellent varieties which was bred in Kent.

Florence is a white variety with a very sweet flesh which tends to be pinkish

red. It is a very large and late ripening cherry. Back at the turn of the century this variety was also

known by Bunyard, a famous fruit breeder, as Wellington.

Waterloo is a black cherry which has firm dark red flesh and is medium in size with an extra fine delicious flavour. It is ripe at the end of June to early July and does not crack in wet weather. It was bred by Thomas Knight by crossing Bigarreau with May Duke. The cherry first fruited at Elton Hall a few days after Napoleon had been defeated at the battle of Waterloo hence its name.

Bradbourne Black is a black cherry with dark flesh, a large heavy cropper and ready for picking at the end of July. This variety was bred in Kent at East Malling Research Station in the 1950’s and was named after Bradbourne House part of the research station. It is a very popular variety.

Gaucher Bigarreau a variety bred in Kent 1907, it has large round black juicy fruits with a sweet flavour and dark red flesh. It is a good cropper with vigorous, upright growth and very high quality and is ready for picking mid to late July.

napoleon Bigarreau is generally known as Naps to generations of local people in Kent. It is a fine white cherry flushed with yellow and orange skin. It is renowned for its firm very sweet flesh and ripens early August.

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Cherry Trail Doddington and Newnham Walk3.6 miles (5.8 km) - allow 2 hoursThis 3.6 mile (5.8 km) circular walk from Doddington Church follows footpaths and quiet country lanes, past traditional old cherry orchards and modern commercial cherry orchards. It winds it way through an avenue of wild cherry, Prunus avium, past a cobnut platt, through modern apple orchards returning through valleys and woods typical of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

This is a country walk and suitable clothing and footwear needs to be worn as well as taking all necessary care on the country lanes. The Street running through both Newnham and Doddington needs to be crossed twice with parked cars on the roadside so beware of traffic. This walk can be followed at any time of the year; it can sometimes be wet and muddy in places as well as slippery with some steep inclines. You will encounter stiles and kissing gates on this walk.

There are fantastic views particularly during blossom time in the Spring. During the Summer when the fruit is being picked, cherries are available for sale at farm gates nearby along with other local fruit products. Refreshments are available at Doddington Place (on Sundays and Bank Holidays seasonally), the Chequers public house, Doddington and the George public house, Newnham. In the village of Doddington there is also the renowned butchers, S. W. Doughty.

How to get there?

By car: The church car park opposite Doddington Church can be used if there are no services taking place. Parking is also available on the road in the village of Newnham where the trail can be joined by Newnham Church.

By bus: No 662 from both Sittingbourne and Faversham. Alight at the Chequers public house, Doddington walk left with the Chequers behind you and follow the road until you reach Church Hill. Turn left and follow up the hill to Doddington Church, notice the sign, ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’. Take a few moments to look to your left with wonderful views across the valley to Doddington village nestling in the bottom.

By train: to Faversham

Check times on the Traveline website www.traveline.org.uk Tel: 0870 6082608 or visit www.kentpublictransport.info

1 Immediately beyond the church is the entrance to Doddington Place. Notice the commercial cherry orchard opposite. This orchard has trees which are growing on a Colt rootstock, a dwarfing cherry rootstock. A rootstock determines the size the tree will grow, on to which the chosen variety is grafted.

2 Continue following the road until you reach Slips Cottage on the right, opposite you will see a cobnut platt where Kentish cobnuts are grown. Turn right immediately before Slips Cottage on to a footpath and pass over the log stile following the track through the wood. Look above and during the Spring this is an avenue of wild cherry trees, Prunus avium in blossom. In Summer the trees are laden with wild cherries, in the Autumn the leaves turn a rich vibrant shade of orange. Notice through the trees a modern cherry orchard planted at the edge of the wood on the Doddington Place Estate.

3 Follow the track through this ancient woodland which will be full of primroses, bluebells and wood anemones during the Spring turning left at the junction. This avenue leads from Doddington Church to the wrought iron gates of Sharsted Court. In the church there is a chapel dedicated to the squires of Sharsted dating back to the 13th century Notice the winged stone bulls on the entrance plinths either side of the gates and behind, the Queen Anne front to this romantic and rambling house. Follow past the brick and flint wall with the yew topiary peering over and continue down the road past the side entrance to Sharsted Court. In the far distance on the left notice some mistletoe in the poplar trees. Leaving the tennis courts on your left join the road and bear to your left.

4 Continue straight ahead taking the footpath immediately to your left across the corner of a new commercial orchard. Join the road again by some large cedar trees. The orchards are planted with Mondial Gala and Braeburn apples. Beyond the farmyard and barns, take the footpath on the right down a drive with an alder windbreak on the right and apples on the

left. Upon reaching the garage the path turns to the right. Then following round the garden to the left, notice the eucalyptus windbreak on your right, this is an unusual sight. The path then turns to the right at the orchard and follows the top of the hill with views across the valley to Eastling and to the south west nestling below is Newnham.

5 Pass a well clipped hedge with yew topiary and look back to your right at Champion Court built by Hugh de Newenham in the 12th century whose family took its name from the village. Follow down the drive until you reach the entrance to Mill Cottages. Turn left through the kissing gate and walk diagonally across the hill over traditional chalk grassland rich with herbs and wildflowers, descending to the village of Newnham. Ahead across the valley you can just see in the distance the remnants of Syndale vineyard where, many years before, a roman vineyard once stood. At the road turn left to the junction with The Street.

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6 Look to your right and you will see Calico House a timber framed building with red and white plasterwork. This Jacobean house was first recorded in 1617 in the will of Stephen Hulkes, a gentleman of Newham. The similarity of the red and white plasterwork on the outside of the house to the printed 'calico' fabric of the early 18th century may explain the house's unusual name. Other suggestions have been that calico was made there, or that 'Calico' was the name used for an alehouse run from the house!

7 At the junction with The Street turn left following the pavement to the George public house. Cross the road, carefully, just past the Church of St Peter and St Paul into Seed Road. Follow behind the church noticing the cherry trees in the church yard. Continue past the Tapster up the hill with high banks either side until you reach the top where there are extensive views towards Frith and Otterden. You will glimpse sight of Doddington Place on your right and some old traditional cherry

Countryside stewardship schemeAbout 100 traditional orchards in Kent are currently being conserved through Defra’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme. The scheme, now closed to new applicants, involved farmers and land managers entering a 10-year agreement to manage the countryside in an environmentally beneficial way. The on-going work aims to conserve and enhance the biodiversity and distinctiveness of the English landscape and its heritage through sustainable means for everybody to enjoy. Doddington Place is managed under this scheme, which has now been superseded for new applicants by a new agri-environmental scheme, Environmental Stewardship Scheme which is managed for Defra by Natural England.

Traditional cherry orchards, characterised by widely spaced standard fruit trees of old and often scarce traditional varieties, continue to be supported by four management options and associated capital items under the Higher Level Section within Environmental Stewardship. This scheme aims to manage the traditional orchard for cultural, historic, and wildlife objectives. In addition to their landscape value, orchards provide a wide range of wildlife habitats. They are particularly important for lichens, insects and birds such as the Noble Chafer beetle and Lesser Spotted woodpecker.

orchards standing majestic on both sides of the road ahead. These orchards are about 60 years old and are being farmed under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Sheep may be grazing beneath the trees to keep the grass down, a traditional way to help maintain the biodiversity in old orchards. In places new trees have been planted where old trees have died. Beyond the orchard on the left some new trees have been planted to extend the orchard.

8 Continue to the junction turning into Hopes Hill by Shullard Court. On your left you will see more old traditional cherry orchards. Notice the grease bands round the trunks of the trees. These were placed to help protect the trees from wingless winter moths crawling up the trunks to lay their eggs in the buds. Before you reach the bottom of the hill take the footpath to your right at an angle passing through the wood and across the field to the top of the hill. Here you have a clear view of the front of Doddington Place. Continue following the footpath to the road and turn left.

9 Cross the road carefully and join the pavement, mistletoe hangs in the horse chestnut tree to your right, in the late Winter snowdrops can be seen surrounding the base. Turn right into Church Hill and continue up the hill to where you started your walk.

Doddington Place has interesting gardens, the grounds are supported under the Conservation Walks, Countryside Stewardship Scheme and can be entered at any time from gates around the perimeter. Check for signs to ascertain this is still in place.

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If the wind blows in April

you’ll have your fill.

But if in May

they’ll go away.

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Local food producers and suppliers

s.W. DOuGHty

Family ButchersThe Street, DoddingtonSittingbourne, ME9 0BH

Contact: Stuart Doughty & Alison Church

Tel: 01795 886255

E-mail: swdoughty@btopenworld.com

www.swdoughty.co.uk

tHe tIDDLy POMMe

The Marketplace, Brogdale FarmBrogdale Road, Faversham ME13 8XZ

Contact: Debbie HickmanMartyn Cooper

Tel: 01795 531888

Fax: 01795 538652

E-mail: martyn@uberjuice.co.uk

PIne trees FArM

Bistock, DoddingtonSittingbourne ME9 0AX

Contact: Kevin Payne

Tel: 01795 886266

Fax: 01795 886266

E-mail: paynesfarm@aol.com

www.pinetreesfarm.co.uk

MOnKsHILL FArM

Royal School for Deaf ChildrenMonkshill Road, WaterhamFaversham ME13 9EH

Contact: Richard & Helen Stephens

Tel: 01227 752778

Fax: 01227 752778

E-mail: produce@monkshillfarm.org.uk

www.monkshillfarm.org.uk

snOAD FArM MeAts

Snoad Farm, OtterdenFaversham ME13 0DB

Contact: Julie Murray

Tel: 01795 890700

E-mail: snoadfarm@aol.com

www.snoadfarm.com

tHe ButcHer OF BrOGDALe

The Market Place, Brogdale FarmBrogdale Road, Faversham ME13 8ZX

Contact: Nicky OSullivan

Tel: 01795 533338

Fax: 01843 822215

E-mail: nicky.morecuts@yahoo.co.uk

Places to eat

tHe cHeQuers Inn

The Street, DoddingtonFaversham, Kent ME9 0BG

Tel: 01795-88636

tHe GeOrGe Inn

44 The Street, Newnham, Kent ME9 0LL

Tel: 01795 890237

114 West Street, Faversham ME13 7JB

Contact: Brian Booth

E-mail: bbooth@ardennesfaversham.co.uk

www.ardennes.co.uk

Tel: 01795 590008

Fax: 01795 539426

ArDennes OF FAVersHAM

The Plough, Stalisfield GreenFaversham, Kent ME13 0HY

Contact: Robert Lloyd

E-mail: theplough@stalisfieldgreen.com

www.stalisfieldgreen.com

Tel: 01795 890256

tHe PLOuGH At stALIsFIeLD Green

Egg Hill Road, Charing Ashford, TN270HG

Contact: Alan Paine

E-mail: info@bowl-inn.co.uk

www.bowl-inn.co.uk

Tel: 01233 712256

Fax: 01233 714705

tHe BOWL Inn

cherries are a symbol of fertility, merrymaking

and festivity.

In Victorian times small cherry trees grown in pots were brought to the table laden with

cherries on the branch to be picked at the table.

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Places to stayBrenLey FArM Brenley Lane, BoughtonFaversham, Kent ME13 9LY Tel: 01227 751203Mobile: 07860 505359 Fax: 01227 751203 www.brenley-farm.co.uk A member of Farmstay UK Brenley is an elegant, early Georgian farmhouse on a traditional Kentish working farm. Situated amidst the hop gardens, orchards and paddocks, yet with easy access to the many attractions the area has to offer. Whether you come for a short break to take life at a more leisurely pace, or a longer stay to explore the delights of Kent, we have something for everyone.

tHe OLD VIcArAGeChurch Hill, Doddington Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0BD Tel/Fax: 01795 886136 Mobile: 0792 2043292

www.oldvicaragedoddington.co.uk The Old Vicarage is located on the edge of the village of Doddington in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the North Downs. The Grade II listed property has been recently renovated to a high modern standard, while retaining core period features which date back to 1656. Locally sourced produce is used for our full English breakfast whenever available. Other dietary options can be catered for on request.

PALAce FArM HOsteL & cAMPsIte Doddington, Kent Bed and Breakfast accommodation, hostel style, quiet camping for tents only. Tel: 044 (0)1795 886200 Email: info@palacefarm.comwww.palacefarm.com Relaxing and flexible hostel style B&B on a family farm in a rural village with pub in North Kent Downs Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Ideal for cycling, walking and for those with a love of the countryside. Walk through the heart of the downland with its beautiful wooded valleys and mixture of farmland concealing many old and interesting villages. We are in a central location for you to explore Canterbury, Rochester, Chatham, Leeds Castle and the many other historic towns, villages and castles in Kent. We are convenient for day trips to London, by train or by car. Explore old country houses, ancient churches or relax in a quiet village pub or watch a local cricket team on the green at weekends.

national cherry Day is the 3rd

saturday in July

Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Kent Downs form the eastern half of the North Downs, following the chalk ridge from the London and Surrey borders through the county to the iconic White Cliffs at Dover. It is a diverse and vibrant landscape, one of drama and intimacy with its dramatic south facing chalk hillsides offering inspirational views across surrounding countryside, towns, estuaries and sea. This ancient landscape of wooded hillsides and secluded dry valleys gives a remote feel; the intimacy is to be found amongst the network of tiny lanes, historic hedgerows, ancient woodlands and traditional orchards. Amongst these nestle distinctive downland villages, isolated farmsteads, churches, and many sites of historic cultural interest. Opportunities abound to explore all corners of this AONB by foot, cycle or horseback. Don’t forget your wild flower and butterfly guide for the stunning chalk grassland where rare and beautiful orchids flourish and herbs tantalise the senses! In turn these plant species provide a habitat for an abundance of butterflies and moths as well as being a

sanctuary for many rare and threatened wildlife species.Explore, look and listen and you are sure to find some of the treasures of the Kent Downs.

Mid Kent Downs Projectthe Mid Kent Downs Project

covers 29 parishes in the AOnB,

between Lenham and Boxley, from

the A20 in the south to the M2 in

the north. the Project provides

an advisory service on

landscape

and wildlife issues and

helps community groups

and parish councils to

access grant money to

conserve local environments,

with an overall aim to ‘Link

People, Land and nature’.

For more information on this

nationally protected landscape

and the Mid Kent Downs Project

contact 01303 815170 or visit the

website www.kentdowns.org.uk

orchards. Amongst these nestle

an advisory service on

conserve local environments,

A cherry tree is an

omen of good fortune.

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www.producedinkent.co.uk

Produced in Kent The best of food,

drink, products

and services

from the garden

of England

Produced in Kent, supported through a joint venture between Kent County Council and Hadlow College, is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the best of food, drink and products to be found in Kent. We are committed to providing business and marketing support to raise the profile, provenance and reputation of products from Kent.

We support and promote the land-based and rural sectors within the county and continually look for ways to develop our membership offering, with a strong emphasis on assisting business development, diversification opportunities and joint sourcing projects. Our website aims to bring producers and the buying public closer together.

If you are looking for a farmer, producer or independent shop, or simply would just like to know what Kent has to offer across the seasons, then visit our website at www.producedinkent.co.uk.

Produced in Kent publishes a quarterly newsletter that can be found in libraries and Tourist Information Centres, farmers' markets and farm shops. It is also available direct to your door if you sign up as a Friend of Produced in Kent (for more details please see the website). support Kent – buy local!!Produced in Kent Limited

Bourne Grange StablesTonbridge RoadHadlow TN11 0AU

Tel: 01732 853170Fax: 01732 852521Email: info@producedinkent.co.uk

Sheldwich Fruit Map painted by local artist Cherryl Fountain, a Royal Academy Schools post graduate with 23 years of exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

“Cherryl is bang in line of English eccentric artists: Blake, Calvert, Samuel Palmer, Richard Palmer and Stanley Spencer. These painters have no doubts about their work because they have a skill which enables them to give full reign to their zest for their subjects. Cherryl’s sheer application is amazing.” (John Ward rA 1996)

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Cherry RipeLife is just a bowl of cherries

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the content of this leaflet is accurate and up-to-date at the time of printing, no liability can be accepted for any errors, omissions or misrepresentation of fact contained herein.

This is one of a series of themed brochures promoting Kent’s local produce and distinctive landscapes.

Researched and written by Pippa Palmar, Mid Kent Downs Project. Tel: 01303 814170 – www.kentdowns.org.uk.

Designed by Nakedvine Ltd, Chatham, Kent. Tel: 01634 847171 www.nakedvine.co.uk

Our thanks and appreciation to Alan Major, author of Cherries in the Rise, for allowing us to use quotes from his book.

Reading University and Defra National Fruit Collections