The Open Weekend Visit

By Jane Bonsall.

Many thanks to Susannah, Keith and Florence for their hospitality and the hard work they put in, to make the weekend such a success and make us feel so welcome.

I was expecting good company, lovely cattle and beautiful surroundings, add to that, the weather and good food.

I arrived mid afternoon on Friday, then headed to St Margaret's at Cliffe, just a few

minutes drive away, quaint village with a beautiful secluded beach, there is a very impressive white house built right on the beach underneath the White Cliffs, once owned by Noel Coward and let to Ian Flemming .(I bet it could tell a few tales!!). Miriam Margolyes also owns a property there.

Then back to Alkham and settled into my very pleasant comfortable accommodation. Slept like a log.

Saturday.

After a hearty breakfast provided by Keith, we headed for the cattle, what a joy, lovely quiet cows and calves grazing lush green pasture. (I was jealous.)

Susannah had written up family trees so it was great to put names to faces!!

After our farm walk, we had a delicious lunch, Florence made halloumi from Albion milk, followed by cottage pie made with Albion mince.

We then had a productive open meeting.

Zelda provided us with a home cooked 5 course dinner, including home made bread! A lovely pork dish from her own rare breed pigs.

A great time was had by all.

Sunday Morning.

Another delicious breakfast provided by Keith, after which we travelled the short distance to Dover, and visited Samphire Hoe. Made from nearly 5 million cubic meters of Chalk Marl dug out when making the Channel Tunnel, is an area of Conservation Grazing carefully managed by cattle and sheep.

We spent a very interesting few hours here, an abundance of flora and fauna together with a very informative guide made a great end to the weekend.