Safari and Tea at the Plat

 The previous day had been overcast; the following day was the hottest of the year but the day of the Safari was very nice indeed.  But it was clearly a bit too hot for some - or else there was just too much going on on that particular weekend -  as the turnout of walkers and cyclists was not great.

Volunteers and, in some cases, owners were stationed at each plat where signs had been strategically placed indicating the way to go.

Badgers' Plat on the footpath near Stone Street

Waiting

On duty outside Bewley House Plat

                                                                But cyclists did appear and this family visited three plats,

 before arriving for well-earned tea at the Mote plat.

When it came to the Tea and Cakes the numbers, not surprisingly, improved.  The gazebo and tables, on loan from Ightham Mote, looked decorative and provided welcome shade. At four o'clock the visitors began to arrive for tea and cakes and a good crowd assembled. 

The array of cakes, home-baked by the Nutters was varied and delicious. Fruit cakes, brownies, lemon drizzle and sponge cakes.....

Some visitors came from as far afield as London and the youngest of the walkers was aged six.

It turned out to be a  relaxed and sociable occasion with visitors admiring the plat and taking an interest in the display of photos that showed the progress of restoration work so far.  On display also were letters from schoolchildren who had visited during the year as well as old maps of the plat dating back to 1871.  Visitors were most generous in their donations to the ongoing work and the afternoon raised a good sum which will go towards the autumn and winter work.









FOOTNOTE!
Readers of country lifestyle magazines can find our plat featured in the August issue of 'Country Homes and Interiors' where their regular item, 'My Kind Of Country',  features GJ at home, on the plat, at the Shipbourne Farmers Market and elsewhere, complete with beautiful photography of all these familiar places.

Cobnut Plats Safari

 On July 21st we'll be holding a fund-raising event for on-going work on the plat.  Details are below including telephone and phone number for further information and a map.

           Ightham Mote Plat:- Restoration Walk

           Please contact Gillian Jones for more details or just turn up

           Email: snow.drops@yahoo.co.uk Telephone: 01732 761 466           

Join us for an afternoon of walking or cycling from 1pm on Sunday 21^st July

visiting the beautiful cobnut orchards (plats) of TN15 AND TN11

-   Ightham, Ivy Hatch, Stone Street, Plaxtol   -

Start your walk anywhere, finish anywhere and visit as many or as few as you like.

Then join us for Tea and Cakes from 4pm at Ightham Mote Plat in Ivy Hatch

A number of private and commercial properties have opened up their plats for you to visit and learn a little bit about the history of Cob Nuts in the area. A number will have their owners or a volunteer present to provide some background.

We suggest a minimum donation of £5 (Under 10’s go free) and any sponsorship money you raise towards the project. This can be donated to any of the volunteers or at the Ightham Mote Plat

Please help us estimate numbers by letting Gillian know if you intend to join us  - or you can still just turn up

To receive a map please email: snow.drops@yahoo.co.uk

A          Ightham Mote Plat             The Restoration Project               

                      1300 Cobb Nut trees planted 100-150 years ago over Approx. 8 Acres leased from the National Trust and in the process of being restored by local volunteers. Open on request for School visits and outdoor activity days.  There will be Tea and Cakes available between 4pm and 5pm and a tour of the plat and a talk on the restoration project and local wild flowers.

                      Access            Access by foot or cycle only via farm track off High Cross Road and through right-hand gate.  Follow line of trees down to the open space and the shed at the bottom of the plat.

                      Guide              Gillian Jones

B          The Dell  Private Residential Plat
Ancient plat at the beginning of the restoration process

                      Access            From Stone Street – take track marked (footpath no. MR425) do not take the drive way for Dell House. The path will lead past the Plat (aprox. 300m). The path then drops very steeply down to Mote Road. The reverse route is also possible

                      Guide              Juliette Evans

C          Bewley Lane House           Private Residential Plat
A traditional plat hidden away down a quiet lane. Organically cultivated and with a variety of interesting flora.

                      Access           Signs will be posted on the day

                      Guide              Owner/volunteer

D          Cob Orchard          Private Residential Plat

                      A small traditional plat with 57 fine old trees, incorporated into a garden setting

                      Access            Signs will be posted on the day

                      Guide              Volunteer

E          Beech Tree Cottage           Private Residential Plat
The Plat was probably planted about 200 years ago when the house was built to provide a cash crop for the tenants.

                      Access            Turn left along Sandy Lane from Coach Road. Beech Tree Cottage is about 50 yards on the right after the white sided bungalow

                      Guide              Carole or Richard Holden

F          Oldbury Farm House         Private Residential Plat
Traditional old cobnut plat, cared for organically, with ‘Pick Your Own’ available at harvest time.

                      Access            Follow Common Road across the A25 and onto Spring Lane
Turn left at the end of Spring Lane onto Oldbury Lane and then first right (50m). Oldbury Farm House is on the right

                      Guide              Dr Meg Game

G         Badgers Plat          Private Commercial Plat
Commercially run plat, planted within the last two decades, with nuts harvested annually for Cob Nut oil and other specialist products.

                      Access            From Stone Street – take track marked on the map (footpath no. SR126). The plat is at the top of the hill on the left before the path drops very steeply for about 500m onto Mote Road. The reverse route is also possible

                      Guide              Jonathan Green