Wealden Times | Events | Wealden Times Midsummer Fair

indoor stands at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair

The first Wealden Times Midsummer Fair, sponsored by Philip Cornish at NFU Mutual in Tenterden, was held at Brick House Farm in High Halden. It really was the 'Darling Buds of May' idyll that we'd dreamed of at Wealden Times when we started to make plans back in the dark days of a bitterly cold January. We were certainly helped by the glorious weather (two days of sunshine, even in mid June, was a real bonus) but the star of the show was Brick House Farm - a perfect toy farm with duck ponds, ancient barns and free-range hens roaming amongst the hay bales, marquees and visitors.

There was lots to do and see: Two large marquees were filled with stands selling contemporary and vintage finds for house and garden, plus artisan jewellers, leather workers and textiles. A third tent showcased food and drink and visitors left laden with goodies.

Lunch, tea and elevenses were all provided by the Cowan family, Brick House Farm's owners: Caroline - a talented caterer - provided delicious sit-down meals in the pole barn and teas, coffees and sandwiches in a pretty vintage tea tent, while her husband, Rob, spit-roasted a rare breed pig - reared nearby at New House Farm in Biddenden - in front of the lake.

Outside the tents, open stands satisfied every keen gardener's wildest fantasy and our guests browsed amongst shepherd's huts and herbs; bantams and ducks; croquet sets and garden statuary in the bright June sunshine. Meanwhile, on the lake, the skiff builder was taking clients out on his little wooden boats and the shack, which sits Huckleberry-Finn-like on the edge, was attracting interest from customers who wanted to order one for their own gardens.

entrance at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair

We always knew our readers were a lovely bunch and it was great to meet them in the flesh. Thank you to all 3,000 of you who joined us and we're delighted that Brick House Farm has invited us back next June for another Wealden Times Midsummer Fair. But we hope to see you before then at our Midwinter Fair, which will be held at Sissinghurst Castle on 3rd and 4th December. Details to follow in next month's Wealden Times!

To get a flavour of the fair, click here to view a 3-minute film of Wealden Times Midsummer Fair on YouTube
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