Natural Distractions

Normally early spring flowers are best appreciated in the sunshine. However, there was something romantic about how these snowdrops thrived in the shadow of a tree with the surrounding sunlight barely touching them. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford; it is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom. SOME FACTS: While snowdrops are known to bloom between January and March, the ones in Challock Church normally reach their prime in early February.

A popular local lake became a scenic landscape when rare snow descended in South East England. Despite thick gloves being no match for the bitter cold, the low temperatures had no bearing on the time spent in the wintry countryside thanks to its transformative beauty. LOCATION: The waterway is known as the River Stour. There are five in England, each in a different county. This river surrounds half of the perimeter of the Conningbrook Lakes Country Park in Kennington, a suburb of Ashford and civil parish in the county of Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom. Conningbrook Lakes Country Park is a 34.3-hectare (85-acre) nature reserve managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust and resides next to the Julie Rose Stadium.

It was a sunny afternoon walk by the River Stour a few days after the increasingly rare snow descended in South East England. Yet the weather didn't stop the sheep from doing their usual grazing. The cold did bite through thick gloves but there was no rush to leave the wintry countryside. It was both a chilly and beautiful experience. LOCATION: This waterway is known as the River Stour. There are five in England, each in a different county. This river surrounds half of the perimeter of the lakes within Conningbrook Lakes Country Park in Kennington, a suburb of Ashford and civil parish in the county of Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom.

A walk by this river is usually refreshing because it runs around a popular local lake and the area is surrounded by the countryside with the hills in the distance. What made it breathtaking was the snow, which is now rare in South East England, that majestically transformed the landscape. It makes one appreciate this aspect of nature even more and take in as much as possible because the next snowfall is never certain. LOCATION: This waterway is known as the River Stour. There are five in England, each in a different county. This river surrounds half of the perimeter of the Conningbrook Lakes Country Park in Kennington, a suburb of Ashford and civil parish in the county of Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom.

One year, after the rare snow fell in South East England, many areas of the Garden of England(Kent) underwent a wintry transformation. The scenic landscapes were very special for the locals since snowfall is both uncertain and unpredictable due to climate change. Despite the bitter cold biting through thick gloves, the few hours spent in the picturesque countryside was a pleasant experience. LOCATION: This waterway is known as the River Stour. There are five in England, each in a different county. This river surrounds half of the perimeter of the lakes within Conningbrook Lakes Country Park in Kennington, a suburb of Ashford and civil parish in the county of Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom.

In South East England, snow is increasingly rare. A combination of snow and flowers is even more rare. Fortunately, a church isolated in the countryside was blessed with a thin layer of snow, snowdrops in full bloom, and the sunlight trying to get a peek through the surrounding trees. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

During one winter, a local churchyard in South East England was blessed with light snowfall to help make the grounds whiter than the snowdrops could alone. What made the moment special was both the increasingly rare snow in the region and the very rare combination of snow and flowers. A true blessing indeed. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

This close-up of fully bloomed snowdrops was a very fortunate moment. Not only snow and flowers are a rare thing but also snow in general has become both uncertain and unpredictable in South East England. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom. SOME FACTS: While snowdrops are known to bloom between January and March, the ones in Challock Church normally reach their prime in early February.

Taking an afternoon wander in a churchyard, isolated in the beautiful countryside during the early arrival of spring, there were gorgeous snowdrops in full bloom met with delightful sunshine. This was the highlight of the long country walk. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

A favourite annual tradition is seeing the snowdrops around early February, usually abundant in churchyards. What’s nice about this yard is it’s romantically isolated in the middle of the countryside. Here we have snowdrops that thrived in the afternoon sunshine under an old tree. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

During a late winter stroll in the middle of the countryside, a well-kept churchyard not only had beautiful graves and tributes but an abundance of snowdrops in full bloom. Taking a closer look couldn’t be resisted. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom. SOME FACTS: While snowdrops are known to bloom between January and March, the ones in Challock Church normally reach their prime in early February.

Each year a long walk is made to admire the lovely snowdrops in a very well-kept churchyard at a popular local church, isolated in the middle of a beautiful countryside. For some, the flowers are the only reason for visiting a church. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

The "false spring" is a favourite seasonal period because a popular churchyard, isolated in the middle of the countryside, has an abundance of snowdrops that bloom without fail each year, which many locals go to see. With the sunshine to make each moment sweeter, it's a beautiful highlight signalling the end of winter. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

A sunny afternoon walk in the "false spring" was blessed with churchyard snowdrops in full bloom. Like bluebells in a forest, these white flowers always give a delightful character to the grounds they grow on. LOCATION: The snowdrops can be seen in the yard of the parish church of Saint Cosmas & Saint Damian(Challock Church) located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the large and modern village of Challock. Challock is a civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom. SOME FACTS: While snowdrops are known to bloom between January and March, the ones in Challock Church normally reach their prime in early February.

A close-up of the bluebells with a vibrant sunset horizon in the background. The delightful setting was experienced towards the end of an evening spring walk in a popular local forest called King’s Wood, in an area where many sweet chestnut trees were recently coppiced which allowed innumerable bluebells to thrive. A refreshing way to end a stroll. LOCATION: King’s Wood is a forest located in Challock, a large village and civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

Before a spring walk drew to an end, there was a lovely view of the horizon as the evening sun set over the beautiful coppiced bluebell woodland. Normally coppiced trees are frustrating because in order to explore a forest you need acres of trees. However, an exception was made with the stunning landscape that could only be appreciated during spring. LOCATION: King’s Wood is a forest located in Challock, a large village and civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

As a spring walk on a woodland hilltop began to wind down, there was an abundance of bluebells in a nice contrast of evening sunshine and shade. A beautiful reminder that not only a seasonal change of flora can transform the character of a forest but the time of day as well. LOCATION: King’s Wood is a forest located in Challock, a large village and civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

This lovely shrub was a delightful distraction during a spring walk in a local bluebell woodland. As a lot of its flowers were draped over a fence, a closer look was necessary. SOME FACTS: The Camellia Japonica, known as common camellia or Japanese camellia, blooms between winter and spring. Like many flowers, Japanese camellias don't always cope with very cold weather. There are over 250 species of camellia with over 30,000 cultivars of camellia japonica in a diverse range of forms and colours. They are native to China, Korea, and Japan. Some Japanese camellias, around the emperor's palace in Japan, are known to be over 500 years old.

On the way back to a local forest on a spring afternoon, this evergreen shrub, leaning over a fence, was one of the unexpected distractions that caused a delay in returning to the bluebells. It’s no surprise these vibrant red flowers pulled that off. SOME FACTS: The Rhododendron ‘Taurus’ is a high-impact evergreen shrub that can be enjoyed all year round. Its flowers bloom in the spring. The Rhododendron genus is a part of the heath family(Ericaceae) with over 1000 species. They can be either evergreen or deciduous. They are mostly native to eastern Asia but smaller numbers also grow in North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia.

Some hard-to-find Lady orchids were stumbled upon during a bluebell woodland walk in the evening. As they only grew in a particular part of the forest, curiosity demanded a closer look. If only they were as abundant as the bluebells were. SOME FACTS: The Lady Orchid is a part of the Orchidaceae family and Orchidoideae subfamily. It is native to most parts of Europe, northern Africa, Turkey, and the Caucasus. It prefers to grow on sloping woodlands, particularly in mixed deciduous/oak forests but can occasionally be found in meadows. Unfortunately, deer also like to eat these lovely flowers.

With the sun out, an evening stroll in the rapeseed fields was on the cards. Though the rapeseed was 'overgrown' to the point of making one’s clothing yellow, the beautiful setting made the walk worth it. LOCATION: These stunning fields are located in the Kennington suburb of Ashford in Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom. They are owned and managed by Hinxhill. Kennington is blessed to have its western, northern, and eastern areas surrounded by the countryside, thus, giving many options for dog & nature walkers, runners, and horse riders.

With some last-minute sunshine, an evening stroll in the rapeseed fields couldn't be resisted. The setting sun seemed to have added some colour to the grey clouds making the rapeseed landscape more romantic. LOCATION: These stunning fields are located in the Kennington suburb of Ashford in Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom. They are owned and managed by Hinxhill. The hills in the distance are part of the Kent Downs, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB). Kennington is blessed to have its western, northern, and eastern areas surrounded by the countryside, thus, giving many options for dog & nature walkers, runners, and horse riders.

One year there were multiple rapeseed fields within five miles of the Wye Downs. This sort of thing doesn’t happen each year so this spring was special. Passing through expansive yellow fields with the Wye Downs in the backdrop was nothing short of spectacular. LOCATION: The fields are located 1-2 miles northeast of the village of Wye. They are managed and owned by Hinxhill. The Wye Downs is comprised mostly of the Wye Crown and the Wye National Nature Reserve, located in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Beauty(AONB). Wye is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Wye with Hinxhill, in the Ashford district, in Kent the 'Garden of England', in the United Kingdom.

An evening spring walk was gorgeous with expansive rapeseed fields overlooked by the Wye Crown on the hills during a golden sunset. Moments like these are appreciated even more when you know they don’t happen every year. If only rapeseed fields were as certain as the bluebells. LOCATION: The fields are located 1-2 miles south of the village of Wye. They are managed and owned by Hinxhill. The Wye Downs is comprised mostly of the Wye Crown and the Wye National Nature Reserve, located in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Beauty(AONB). Wye is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Wye with Hinxhill, in the Ashford district, in Kent the 'Garden of England', in the United Kingdom.

Typical sheep behaviour is to trot along when people are close by. Luckily this moment was captured on the Wye Crown, during the prime of spring when the rapeseed fields occupied the landscape below. For some reason, the sound of sheep trotting off added to the peaceful atmosphere. LOCATION: The Wye Crown is a part of Wye which is located in the Kent Downs, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB). It sits next to the Wye National Nature Reserve. Both sites form part of the commonly known Wye Downs among the locals and enthusiasts. Wye is a former civil parish, now in the parish of Wye with Hinxhill, in the Ashford district, in Kent the 'Garden of England', United Kingdom.

Sheep are pretty common on a popular hill known as the Wye Crown. This evening walk in the late spring was no different. Perhaps it's easy for them to get hot with their thick coats which may explain their place of rest. LOCATION: The Wye Crown is a part of Wye which is located in the Kent Downs, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB). It sits next to the Wye National Nature Reserve. Both sites form part of the commonly known Wye Downs among the locals and enthusiasts. Wye is a former civil parish, now in the parish of Wye with Hinxhill, in the Ashford district, in Kent the 'Garden of England', United Kingdom.

Walking along a popular hilltop known as the Wye Crown has more interesting sights than just a stunning view of the southeast of Kent in England; sheep with unusual behaviour can also be found. It can be assumed that this one has been approached by members of the public many times. LOCATION: The Wye Crown is a part of Wye which is located in the Kent Downs, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB). It sits next to the Wye National Nature Reserve. Both sites form part of the commonly known Wye Downs among the locals and enthusiasts. Wye is a former civil parish, now in the parish of Wye with Hinxhill, in the Ashford district, in Kent the 'Garden of England', United Kingdom.

During a British summer, a crop field was unexpectedly engulfed in oxeye daisies. The warm sunshine and the abundance of white flowers made it feel like spring again. LOCATION: The field with these flowers was stubbled upon in the civil parish of Kennington, a suburb of Ashford, in the county of Kent known as the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom. The farmland is 1-2 miles east of both the Boughton and Eastwell Cricket Club, and The Flying Horse Inn.

Spending a warm summer day at the beach is understandable, especially for the British. The countryside has its selling points too. In Kennington, locals get to enjoy blue skies, green fields, and a nice view of both the Wye Crown and the Wye National Nature Reserve in the distance. But why a summer's day in the countryside and not the beach? Fresh air and peace. LOCATION: This part of the countryside is 2 miles east of a popular cookhouse & pub, The Old Mill, in the civil parish of Kennington, a suburb of Ashford, in the county of Kent, the Garden of England, in the United Kingdom. The Wye Crown and Wye National Nature Reserve reside on the Wye Downs which is part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB).

On the way home from a refreshing walk on a unique and historical clay beach, one look back revealed a beautiful sunset giving the stone-saturated coast a golden touch. LOCATION: Warden Point is on the northeast shore of the Isle of Sheppey, next to the more beautiful and popular Leysdown Beach. The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, the Garden of England, and is part of the local government district of Swale. Warden Point is one of the most popular sites for collecting London Clay fossils in the United Kingdom.

During an evening walk on a clay beach, the sun set on a low tide shoreline that not only revealed the typical innumerable stones and seaweed but debris from the ruins of the World War II pillboxes that collapsed from the ongoing coastline erosion. A beautiful setting with plenty of history. LOCATION: Warden Point is on the northeast shore of the Isle of Sheppey, next to the more beautiful and popular Leysdown Beach. The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, the Garden of England, and is part of the local government district of Swale. Warden Point is one of the most popular sites for collecting London Clay fossils in the United Kingdom.

This walk along the coast had many historical relics from World War II submerged into the clay shoreline. During low tide, some of them could be easily seen. Unfortunately, others weren’t noticed until multiple wrong steps led to each foot sinking several inches into the clay, sometimes cutting and grazing the shins and ankles. However, the minor wounds didn’t wane the admiration for the shoreline’s unique beauty. LOCATION: Warden Point is on the northeast shore of the Isle of Sheppey. The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, the Garden of England, and is part of the local government district of Swale. Warden Point is one of the most popular sites for collecting London Clay fossils in the United Kingdom.

An autumn walk in the woods ended on a colourful note with clear blue skies and shrubs showcasing their seasonal vibrance in the afternoon sun. It was elating because at that time the trees lost a lot of their colourful leaves, so not as much was missed as previously thought. LOCATION: King’s Wood is a forest located Challock, a large village and civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

Wondering in a vibrant landscape of vivid leaves in the afternoon sunshine coupled with the seasonal breeze was soul-soothing. Spring was the typical favourite season to admire nature’s beauty due to its flowers but that Autumn afternoon was a mind changer. It makes one realise we actually have two colourful seasons of tranquillity to look forward to each year. LOCATION: King’s Wood is a forest located in Challock, a large village and civil parish in the Borough of Ashford, which is a part of the county of Kent commonly known as the Garden of England. United Kingdom.

An early afternoon walk in a local forest saw multiple living and fallen trees smothered in moss. It was the first woodland walk in autumn that year. The trees lost a lot of their vivid leaves which initially evoked the feeling of having missed out. However, the mossed trunks in the sunshine swiftly swept away the disappointment. While many may see moss as a practical problem, for those passing by, it gives trees more colour and life, especially to the fallen, long after the vibrant leaves are taken by the seasonal winds.