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.