August 31, 2012

Badgers Hill Farm, Chilham, Canterbury

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...
Chilham Kent
 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 Kent
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).
Shottenden, Kent
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.
Chilham, Kent - A family destination
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.
Apple Cidery at Chilham Kent
Chilham Kent
 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.
Chilham Kent with cakes, tea, and ploughman's lunch
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:
Chilham Kent
 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! 
The Best Ploughman's in Kent
Chutneys and pickles are all available to buy, piled high upon the oak bookshelves.
Chilham Kent
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.
Chilham Kent Lunchtime
Peekaboo!
Places to Visit, Kent
Tea Rooms in Kent
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:
An afternoon tea in Kent
Chilham Kent

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.
Gifts at Badgers Hill Farm, Kent
You can simply lose yourself in this place.
Chilham Kent
Chilham Kent
  
Chilham Kent

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.
SHARE:

August 30, 2012

Sally's Perfect Day, Barcelona

Sally's Perfect Day, Barcelona
Hi hi hi! Well, for those of you that are pals with me via the medium of Facebook, you'll know that I was pretty excited last night ab...
SHARE:

August 29, 2012

Three Things I Love #1

Three Things I Love #1
Good day, dears! Today I want to share three things that I love with you. In fact, I think I might even do so on a regular basis just to s...
SHARE:

August 26, 2012

How Barcelona Stole My Heart

How Barcelona Stole My Heart
I chuckle when I cast my mind back to the year 2008 when I said "God, I could never live in Barcelona. It's loud and dirty and grey...
SHARE:

August 24, 2012

Suculent, Rambla Raval, Barcelona

Suculent, Rambla Raval, Barcelona
On a Sunday afternoon, my loved one and I often like to go for lunch. It's a great way to catch up after a week of passing like ships in...
SHARE:

August 21, 2012

Memories of Zamora, Window Shopping #3

Memories of Zamora, Window Shopping #3
Living in Zamora took a little getting used to. Having come from a culture which is sometimes a little 'go! go! go!' it was strang...
SHARE:

August 15, 2012

Dinner Parties at 19 Joaquin Costa, Barcelona

Dinner Parties at 19 Joaquin Costa, Barcelona
It is sad to think that in less than a month, I will no longer live in my little flat on Joaquin Costa and all the fun times we had here wil...
SHARE:

August 15, 2012

Memories of Zamora, Those Crazy Storks #2

Memories of Zamora, Those Crazy Storks #2
What do we have here then? A damp stone stairwell leading into the sun? What light through yonder gate breaks! Let's investigate! ...
SHARE:

August 14, 2012

Memories of Zamora, Smelly Street #1

Memories of Zamora, Smelly Street #1
Did you know I used to live in a little city called Zamora in the West of Spain? Well, I did. This street was steep and had steps all the ...
SHARE:

August 13, 2012

Coming Home to Grandma, The Grandma Project Part Two

Coming Home to Grandma, The Grandma Project Part Two
The thing that I miss the most about my Grandmother was coming home to her after a long day. When you are a child, routine is everything. Yo...
SHARE:

August 11, 2012

Riding the Storm

Riding the Storm
It is really hard to put things into words at the moment. Change is rumbling through my every day like the threat of a thunderstorm long ove...
SHARE:

August 09, 2012

Caj Chai, Barcelona

Caj Chai, Barcelona
Following along the theme of tea from earlier this week, allow me to introduce to you another of my favourite little places in the '...
SHARE:

August 06, 2012

MOMO, Japanese Ceramics, Barcelona

MOMO, Japanese Ceramics, Barcelona
In my favourite part of Barcelona, the old Jewish quarter, there are narrow streets, looming doorways with dark, secret history and murky ...
SHARE:
Blogger Template Created by pipdig