There are many things that you could
say to describe Badgers Hill Farm. A den of delights; full of fancy; a
treasure trove peppered with pleasure or simply as they put it
themselves...
As
an independent business, Badgers Hill Farm is quite simply
incomparable and has served more than twenty years in its quiet rural
location of Chilham, Kent, just over five miles short of the charming
city centre of Canterbury.
Chilham
itself is a medieval village with a Tudor square surrounded by 15th
century timber-framed houses. Known as the 'Garden of England' Chilham
is one part of Kent that really lives up to its title and sits nestled
among acres and acres of orchards. Just the walk from the station to the
farm will endow you with blackberries, plums and apples spilling from
the hedgerows (time of year depending).
Location
aside, Badgers Hill Farm is a place to which I am always sending
people. Regardless of age or gender, it would seem that there is a
little something for everyone. For children, the farm animals, which
include a family of wallobies and pesky runaway cockerels, will keep
them in awe.
The
on-site cider press or local bottled ales will keep the gents amused,
while the rest of us can get busy marvelling at the generous array of
treats.
Failing
my generalisations, there is one thing that we can all agree upon and
that is the matter of lunch. Hand on my heart, Badgers Hill Farm is
without a doubt, the greatest purveyor of the almighty ploughman's lunch
and cake cravings. You ain't seen nuffin' like it.
Just
look at this selection! I can tell you, there's coffee and walnut,
chocolate, millionaire's slice, victoria sponge, bakewell tarts, rocky
road and spiced apple- that's just to name a few. Take a closer look:
As
for the ploughman's, well, rather generously they offer cheddar,
stilton and brie alongside a warm loaf of bread, a salad bursting with
pickled onions, sticks of celery, apple, beetroot and pickled cabbage.
If you thought that wasn't enough, you'll also get a tray packed with
chutneys and pickles galore to bring out the best in your cheese. I
can't begin to desribe how flamin' big the thing is and so it's a good
idea to share. All hands on deck!
Chutneys and pickles are all available to buy, piled high upon the oak bookshelves.
Failing
a large appetite, you can also choose from a good old cream tea, to
crumpets to tea cakes. My friends and I like to go on a Sunday afternoon
and sit in the greenhouse with steaming mugs, a cheddar
and onion toastie, rounds of toast and catch up on the week gone by.
Peekaboo!
Just sometimes, I like to pop in by myself to pick up some eggs laid by the resident hens and have a secret cream tea:
If
you're in the market for lovely things, the gardens promise a plethora
of treats to choose from. You could say that Badgers Hill Farm is
somewhat of a nursery rhyme or story that has sprung to life. It reminds
me of Pickity Place- the inspiration for Elizabeth Orton Jones' 1948 illustrations for Little Red Riding Hood.
You can simply lose yourself in this place.
You can simply lose yourself in this place.
Currently,
the farm is only open at the weekends but is still a must-see. The
glasshouse is snug and cosy and a mug of tea is sure to warm your
cockles. In the spring, the hours extend to 6-days a week (closed
Mondays) meaning plenty of time to wander through the acres of grounds,
feed the chickens and goats and also to have a chat with the
delightfully chaotic proprietors Claire and Bruce and their handy pal
Perry.
If you love Kent, you're sure to love Badgers Hill Farm.