Community Kent Women cricketers Issy Kirby & Jodie Hobson officially unveiled Kemsing Cricket Club’s brand-new practice nets Issy & Jodie cut the ceremonial ribbon and then faced some of the bowlers from Kemsing’s girls they then bowled at some of the players as well as delivering some coaching tips to the young aspiring players Kemsing Cricket Club received support from the ECB County Grants fund to help with the total project costs after the club led a very successful fundraising campaign sponsorship from local businesses as well as utilising a crowd funding platform across the club and the wider community Get yours here All-action T20 cricket is back in Canterbury this June & July Get the best seats in the house and enjoy exclusive access and benefits with a Kent Cricket Membership for 2025 The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury Download all upcoming fixtures and add them to your calendar Download a PDF of all upcoming Men’s & Women’s fixtures Site by: TILT Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters we're all after something a little different Some may be looking for a place in the middle of a thriving town with excellent transport links while others are after a quiet abode in a secluded settlement It can be difficult to find a hybrid between the two wherever you look With solid links to London across the county but also golden beaches and rolling hills in the countryside Kent is undoubtedly a convenient place to live for many people That has become all the more paramount since the COVID pandemic with many looking to commute to London on set days while spending the remainder of the week at home With a keen eye on finding the best transport links property searches bring prospective buyers to the Sevenoaks area Read more: Happy Valley star James Norton's quiet life near Kent with famous actress But when it comes to those who are looking for something a little more remote than the bustling town centre the village is well-connected with one train per hour to London Victoria There's also an hourly service for Ramsgate which travels in the opposite direction. Although that may not seem like many, it's not bad considering Kemsing is the county's quietest railway station With the parish lying on the scarp face of the North Downs there are some breath-taking sights on offer - even if you're waiting for a train You'll also fall in love as you stroll along the quaint High Street with village convenience stores on one side and the historic St Ediths Well further along the village is also home to a popular cosy pub The Bell is appreciated by TripAdvisor reviewers racking up a 4.5 star rating from 79 reviews Peter R was full of praise for the pub's "great" Sunday roast "There was quite a variety on the menu from the standard roast options through the a la carte menu to a variety of specials of the day almost too much to choose from," he said He continued: "The food was lovely the beef simply melted in the mouth and the lamb was excellent as well a good variety of vegetables even the fussy eater was happy with the choice The only downside was the main courses were so filling that we had to forgo a dessert The landlord and landlady plus all the staff were very friendly and I highly recommend the pub." The village is also home to Kemsing Primary School which received a 'good' rating from Ofsted The mixed community school has pupils aged 5 to 11 and was last inspected in July 2022 Considering the rare hybrid of the accessibility to London but also the secluded lifestyle it may come as no surprise to see the average house price in Kemsing come in at £733,266 according to Rightmove it is still slightly less than the current average price of a home in Sevenoaks Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE . Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Some of Ken's first memories of tennis are with wooden racquets on grass courts near Beckenham By InYourArea Community · 6 August 2022 MENS DOUBLES PARTNERS: Ken Fowler at Kemsing tennis club with Frank Baldwin Submitted for publication by Frank Baldwin Kemsing Tennis Club served up a special day recently for Ken Fowler who is still playing tennis at the age of 97 gathered to take part in a special American tennis mixed doubles tournament organised to pay tribute to Ken The tournament was meant to have been held two years ago to also celebrate his 95th birthday but had to be postponed because of covid who still plays tennis at least twice a week with a group of ‘mature’ club members In a speech during the tea break at the tournament he recalled how he had started playing tennis in the early 1940s on public courts at Eden Park close to where he lived in South London Ken joined the Old Dunstonians tennis cub near Beckenham where he played on grass with wooden racquets and white tennis balls When Ken and his late wife Pam moved to Shoreham They settled on Kemsing LTC and both became important members of the club’s Kent League doubles teams Ken did not make it to the final of his tournament He and his partner Sue Glass were narrowly defeated by Pippa Stalberg and Toby Uffindell-Phillips Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from Kemsing's dedicated InYourArea feed LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Sign up for a weekly travel round up and all the latest breaking news from the roads rails and beyond delivered straight to your inbox One of the main things attracting prospective buyers to Kent is the accessibility to London Ever since the COVID pandemic many workplaces have taken up a hybrid way of working where staff spend some days in the office while being at home for others people have the need for good transport links to London high up on their priority list when looking to buy a new home Luckily here in Kent we have plenty of areas which can offer just that One of the best places in the county for accessibility into the city is Sevenoaks where frequent trains can get you into the capital in under 30 minutes Surrounding villages within the district are unsurprising filled with commuters who drive to the station as part of their journey into London READ MORE: The 5 Kent schools named the best in the south east But one of those villages has a station of its own and it's in fact the quietest in the county Situated four miles north east of Sevenoaks lies Kemsing a beautiful picturesque village with spectacular views of the North Downs Its station was opened on June 1 back in 1874 and was part of the Maidstone Line connecting Swanley to Maidstone freight facilities were withdrawn and the station has been left unstaffed since February 1985 The typical off-peak service sees one train per hour to London Victoria with one train per hour to Ramsgate heading in the opposite direction With the village said to have a population of around 4,000 people it may not surprise you to learn that the station has served the fewest passengers in the county in the past year The latest statistics show the station had a total of 9,478 passengers pass through it from April 2021 to March 2022 That's an average of just 26 passengers every day Kent's busiest station is Dartford which served 3,152,900 passengers during the same time period That's more than 8,600 passengers a day on average Here's a list of the county's five quietest stations so you can see how Kemsing compares to other areas All data was taken from April 2021 to March 2022 Snowdown - 10,460 passengers (28.6 per day) Beltring - 10,560 passengers (28.9 per day) Ashurst - 18,842 passengers (51.6 per day) Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE . A stroke of luck united the actors with a suitable band By InYourArea Community · 22 April 2022 Members of Kemsing Players at a recent rehearsal of Brassed Off Kemsing Players will be adding another new chapter to their 70-year history when they perform with the aid of the Tonbridge 17th Scout and Guide Band in a production of the comedy drama Brassed Off which was adapted for the stage by Paul Allen from Mark Herman's screenplay was scheduled to be directed by Yvonne Watt in 2020 but covid restrictions meant it had to be put on hold Yvonne said: “We wanted something a bit special for our 70th year and as we have never combined with a brass band before we all agreed that Brassed Off seemed just right.” There was also a stroke of luck involved in finding a brass band to perform with It transpired a work colleague of one of the Kemsing Players is Martin Rapley the bandmaster of the Tonbridge 17th Scout and Guide Band I told Martin the music we needed for Brassed Off and the band set to work rehearsing the pieces The members recently performed a concert in Tonbridge Baptist Church when they featured the Brassed Off pieces including Concierto de Aranjuez for which the play and film are so well known.” Performances of Brassed Off are taking place in St Edith Hall Doors and the bar open at 7.30pm and the curtain goes up at 8pm There is also a matinee on April 30 when doors open at 2pm for a 2.30pm start The box office is now open and tickets are £10 (£8 concessions on April 28) Tickets can be booked by phone on: 07811 465061; in person from Kemsing Dry Cleaners, or by email: boxoffice@kemsingplayers.com Get all the latest news, updates, things to do and more from Sevenoaks's dedicated InYourArea feed Kent has been an attractive place for prospective buyers for one specific reason - the transport links With many people now going into the city on a few occasions each week most days are spent working from a home office That means people have been looking for a place to live which offers them the best of both worlds with the flexibility of largely being based at home while also being close enough to travel into London on occasions Those requirements often bring their property searches across to the south east The county boasts some excellent direct train services into the heart of London. Whether it's a 30-minute journey from the popular town of Sevenoaks or the more scenic High Speed route from Thanet READ MORE: The house on town's millionaires' row left unfinished and frozen in time But among those stations, some have been a lot quieter than others over the past year. In fact, the quietest of them all can be found four miles east of Sevenoaks in Kemsing Kemsing saw a total of just 9,478 people pass through its station between April 2021 and March 2022 That's perhaps not too surprising given the rather scaled-back timetable compared to other stations in the county Typical off-peak service here sees one train pass per hour bound for London Victoria There's also an hourly service destined for Ramsgate which travels in the opposite direction A scenic drive through the village itself left me with an early taste of what to expect upon my visit it was almost as if life was non-existent here as I weaved through the winding country lanes my trusty SatNav was telling me the station was approaching on my right side as I began to slow but I found myself taking a second glance in disbelief With just a handful of parking spaces to the side of the road this was a station like no other I had seen I was fortunate enough to squeeze into one that was available before making my way towards the stairs up to the platform Immediately to the left as you enter is a ticket machine The station is said to have been left unstaffed since 1985 and the machine appeared to be in good working order although one would question how much use it actually gets on a daily basis As I made my way up the stairs to platform 1 it came as no surprise to see I was the only person at the station The electric board above me indicated the next service to London Victoria was just under an hour away while the service on platform 2 had been delayed having been left with no passing trains to keep me company as I strolled up and down the eerily-quiet platforms I thought I might as well admire the view and walk over the bridge which passes over the tracks Over to the left appeared to be a few office buildings while the train track ran right beneath my feet and off into the distance I could see the North Downs in all its glory with the vast green space providing a perfect backdrop to the scenic village station The setting winter sun also made for the perfect scene one I can't compare to any other I've come across at a station before While life also appeared to be rather non-existent as I descended down onto platform 2 an announcement quickly caught my attention this train will not be stopping here," it blurted out to the deserted station The two trains due into Kemsing were both around an hour away what could possibly be passing through here Would it be a southeastern service bombing its way up to London or down to the coast it's safe to say I was in for a surprise An old train came chugging towards me and gave me a 'toot' as it passed through the station Positioned with my phone grasped in my hands recording a video I thought that was it and had my thumb hovering over the button to end the recording I found myself still recording in utter disbelief as the never-ending freight train made its way through the station While I'd had in my mind that Kemsing station was going to be quiet during my visit I most certainly didn't expect to be leaving having seen more cars than trains While it was the least-used due to its secluded location my trip to the station was one like no other I had experienced what could possibly be better than admiring the spectacular North Downs while waiting to catch a train You may get lucky and be in for a surprise during your visit too Kemsing CC in Tonbridge have this season committed to starting a women’s softball cricket section and have seen some immediate success Kent’s Women’s & Girls’ Cricket Manager attended a recent training session to find out a little more about what has been happening at the club and commented “this season we have seen the most noticeable growth in Women’s Softball Cricket and Kemsing Cricket Club are the latest to achieve their goal of getting a section up and running It is fantastic to see the growth at the club and our challenge is now to link them in with the ever growing women’s cricket network across the county” 23 ladies attended for some softball cricket drills and game play and were gifted some New Balance Softball Cricket bats Despite only being a small village club with 4 junior age groups: U9 the club now has a number of women & girl’s enjoying some form of cricket at the club and it’s an exciting time to be a female member Click the video above to hear from some of the members about why they joined Flash cars including a top-of-the-range Bentley, a Mercedes and some BMWs were seen among the party. Around 40 caravans took up residence in Kemsing, near Sevenoaks, Kent, arriving on Saturday night. Onlookers said the ground had been badly torn up by the flash cars. In a tweet sent to Sevenoaks District Council, David Global wrote: "Come and see the gypsies in Kemsing, hundreds of them, human waste everywhere [...] some Xmas." Sevenoaks District Council said the removal of the campers was the responsibility of Kemsing Parish Council - who own the land said it was not known why the group - thought to have travelled from Brussels - had made the trip We have taken all the legal steps in readiness to have them removed but we understand they left on their own today." Last month we reported on an angry stand-off after a group of travellers threatened a team of bailiffs during a five-hour eviction. We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Contact Retro to Go Drew & Partners-designed modernist property in Kemsing This could be a 1960s dream with a minimum of work More details and images at the WowHaus website and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Get the Retro To Go Newsletter - the best of the week's post plus some added extras Check out our pick of retro retailers, makers and tradespeople online in our Retro Retailers Directory A Kemsing parrot popular with punters was discovered dead clutching his favourite pub snack in his claw – a pork scratching was a regular at The Rising Sun in Cotman's Ash Lane for more than 40 years until three weeks ago Landlady of the pub Michelle Hunter said: "I have been with Charlie for the best part of 23 years "So it's such a shame he's gone The pub doesn't feel the same without him." but Mrs Hunter believes he was well into his forties She inherited Charlie as part of the pub when she took over with her late husband Peter in 1993 but it is believed the parrot moved in alongside the previous owner in 1973 "We didn't know we'd get the parrot as well as the pub when we moved in but didn't realise it hadn't left with the previous owner," she added "He was listed as an item in the inventory And it appears over the years he had become part of the furniture Charlie would greet customers with nothing other than a classic "hello" as they walked into the pub "He will be missed," said Mrs Hunter But spending all his time in the pub bred unhealthy habits and they probably took their toll on the feathered friend Mrs Hunter said: "He did all the things which were bad for him "His favourite foods were cashew nuts and pork scratchings "One morning I found him lying in the bottom of his cage So he must have been happy at the time he died Mrs Hunter said there will not be a replacement pub parrot "There's only one Charlie," she said Plans to build 300 homes on the historic St Clere Estate have been condemned as "underhand" and "bonkers" by opponents fighting the scheme Members of the newly formed "Save Kemsing Countryside" group say the controversial plan to build on 24 hectares of green belt land would set a precedent putting the north downs at risk of creeping urbanisation And they have lodged a formal complaint with Sevenoaks District Council claiming landowner Eliza Ecclestone used the council's logo on her publicity material falsely giving it official status Now members of the group have called a public meeting on Monday (January 14) to work out a strategy to fight the proposal which will be submitted as part of an attachment to the local plan when it is sent for examination by a government planning inspector in the spring Group chairman, Martin Clews, said villagers felt they had not been given enough time to give their views on the proposal which was submitted to the council after the local plan's first consultation in September And he said the situation was making people "very nervous" "We just feel this has been submitted before we have a chance to do anything about it Everything has been done at the last minute," said farmer "It is definitely flawed in planning terms but we feel we have not been given a chance to do anything about it." who has been growing fruit on 60 acres of land about half a mile from the proposed development site for more than 30 years said if the plan gets the go ahead it would have a "big impact" on landscape classified an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) "The population of Kemsing could increase by as much as 25 per cent the roads and lanes already under pressure will become gridlocked lots more children will seek local school places that aren’t currently available and residents will have longer waiting times for GP appointments." The public meeting is being held at Kemsing's St Edith Hall at 8pm and will be live streamed to those who unable to attend said she understood residents concerns but the government had made it clear local authorities must build more homes "Without a viable and sound local plan Sevenoaks will be vulnerable to speculative development well planned development is the only way to deliver the funding needed to improve infrastructure landowners were asked to put forward potential sites for assessment by the council has been identified as having the potential to provide social and community infrastructure benefits that would help address infrastructure needs in the area The council is now asking residents to provide feedback on these sites as part of the local plan consultation until 3rd February “Our consultation leaflet included the Sevenoaks District Local Plan logo on the inside page as well as the St Clere Estate logo on the front and back cover The leaflet makes clear the site is being considered for inclusion in the plan and no final decision has been made to avoid further confusion we will not use the logo going forward I’d encourage residents to come to one of our site walks or consultation events Thursday 17th and Saturday 19th January to see the site and our proposals for themselves.” A spokesman for Sevenoaks District Council said the authority was aware of the issue over the logo He added: They [St Clere's] did not seek our permission nor did they receive our permission to use it we have not endorsed their publication and we are not working in partnership with the estate to bring their proposal forward." DON\u2019T MISS THIS YEARS ALTERNATIVE GIFT GUIDE Get the \u2018cene CULTURE SHOT straight to your inbox on each release By using this website, you agree to our T&C\u2019s, privacy policy & use of cookies. We use analytical data to provide you with an enjoyable experience and to help our website run effectively has been named at the Asian Restaurant of the Year – Home Counties at year’s Asian Curry Awards The other successful Kent restaurant at the Awards was Everest Inn in Ashford  These are the UK’s only national restaurant awards which cover the entire spectrum of all Asian cuisines.  London Mayor Sadiq Khan praise the Asian restaurateurs contribution to our society saying: “By bringing the best of Asian culinary traditions to these shores these restaurant owners have expanded not only the choice of food available to the British public Receiving his award Tamarind owner Suna Meah said: “This is the best moment in my 30-year career in the hospitality business.”   Since opening Tamarind four-and-a-half years ago Meah was invested more than £200,000 refurbishing the property transporting it from a takeaway to a 70-seater restaurant employing five kitchen staff and seven front of house.  He has ambitious plans to extend the building to cater for up to 120 customers with a private dining area and a bae for pre-dinner drinks and takeaway customers  Tamarind made to shortlist following the votes of hundreds of customers – mostly from local regulars but a significant numbers of motor sport fans visiting the area to attend events at nearby Brands Hatch The Asian Curry Awards judges who visited the Kemsing restaurant in October commented on the “exceptionally friendly service who has worked with Suna Meah for over 20 years particularly the “perfectly rendered” Tandoori Salmon Tikka The restaurant receives fresh daily deliveries from local suppliers including nearby Chart Farm and Dennis of Bexley fine dining menu using more local produce including Chart Farm venison and “a massive celebratory party to thank our local customers for the villages of Kemsing  The Asian Curry Awards shortlist was determined by over 100,000 votes from spice-loving members of the public.  A team of judges toured the country to determine the winners with preference shown to restaurants authentic regional dishes with modern gastro influences The full list of Asian Curry Awards winners can be viewed at www.asiancurryawards.com independent and multi-award winning magazine which focuses on sub-cultures in-and-around the county of Kent ‘cene endorses those who use their ideas and originality to revive the creative landscape of the South-East high-quality content and an approachable tone ‘cene continues it’s drive for inclusivity in the subjects and delivery of it’s free-to-take printed magazines and online platforms Get the ‘cene culture shot for updates on local offers Also don’t miss when the latest print edition is available to pick up or buy We won’t share details with third-party companies other than the Auditing Bureau of Circulation for proof of ‘cene’s annual circulation figures We may also send interesting updates about our partner’s news Please check your inbox to verify your email address We will keep you posted on all the good stuff Kent has to offer KENT PRESS & BROADCAST AWARDSMAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 2023Magazine of the Year 2022Magazine of the Year 2020Magazine of the Year 2019Magazine of the Year 2018Design of the Year 2017 SALES : +447510 066 610EDITORIAL + STUDIO © 2017-2025 CENE MEDIA LTD | All rights Reserved | All content on this website is not to be copied or distributed | ‘cene® and KEEPITKENT® are Registered Trademarks of CENE MEDIA LTD A SPACED AGENCY WEBSITE A wildlife photographer who lives in Kemsing has warned about a "thriving colony" of protected Roman Snails living on a field on which 300 homes are proposed has lived in the village all his life and is a well-known birdwatcher and photographer which were introduced to Britain by the Romans lives in the area including on St Clere's field which has been proposed for Kemsing Station Development by owner Eliza Ecclestone The field off Honeypot Lane has been put forward as a response to Sevenoaks District Council's "call for sites" which invites landowners to submit potential development areas A planning application has not been submitted Residents recently received a letter outlining the plans for the 24 hectare site by Kemsing Station But Mr Mathieson has tried to alert Sevenoaks District Council to the species of snail which are "massive" and protected under the Wildlife Countryside Act 1981 where he was put through to a wildlife officer But he feels his concerns were not taken seriously enough and he wants the existence of the Roman Snails put on official records in case the houses are given planning permission "They're so protected you can't even pick these snails up This is the countryside and it's on green field "I've photographed the snails many times No-one is taking any notice of the plight of the snails," said Mr Mathieson who has a centre spread of his nature photographs in the current The Well magazine in Kemsing He said he had known about the snails since he was a child They are hibernating now but if you go down there in the summer you can probably count a couple of hundred on the railway track on the left and right hand side and on the other side of Honeypot Lane," he said Mr Mathieson said: "The reason we have them is because years ago there was a Roman villa at Oxenhill Road which got filled in They brought them over because they ate them They also brought over edible dormice and ground elder which I believe they used as a salad leaf." He said he has become increasingly concerned about the field's future after the leaflet and then erection of a "10ft high galvanised fence" along the station side of the field even though "only about five locals use the station" A council spokesman said: "As part of the call for sites land close to Kemsing rail station was put forward by the St Clere's Estate to be included in new Local Plan "Once we have assessed the site in the coming weeks to evaluate if it meets our strategy and the aims of our new Local Plan we will decide if it should be included in the final version of the Plan that will be considered by the Government’s Planning Inspector Should the site be included in the Local Plan there will be an opportunity for residents to have their say and to raise any concerns with the planning inspector." St Clere Estate said it was unable to comment this week because the correct person was on holiday Fresh details about a controversial plan to build hundreds of homes on Kemsing's St Clere estate are set to be revealed this month Residents are being invited to a series of events about the plans for the green belt land near the village station Eliza Ecclestone wants to build a new village encompassing 300 homes in the grounds of her 3,000 acre St Clere estate A public consultation will enable residents to air their opinions on the Kemsing Station Neighbourhood proposals and share their ideas on how Kemsing's infrastructure could be improved Drop in sessions will take place at Sir Mark Collett Pavilion from 3pm until 7pm on Thursday Two separate site walks will also be available at 2pm and 3pm on January 19 to give people the opportunity to see how the plans will affect the site first hand Those interested are asked to meet in the Chequers Inn Car Park in Watery Lane wearing suitable footwear for the rough terrain said: “ We understand residents are concerned about future housing growth and the impact this could have on local infrastructure the Government has made clear the need for new homes and Sevenoaks will be vulnerable to speculative development which benefits no one except property developers “St Clere Estate has made a deliberate decision not to sell the land to a housebuilder or property developer We are committed to promoting the land ourselves through the Local Plan process "This allows us to retain control of key decisions and ensure that a positive legacy is created well planned development is the only way to deliver the funding needed to improve local infrastructure.” But news of the 24 acre development was met with concern from some people living near-by whose home off Broadoak Lane would overlook the site previously blasted the plan a “blot on the landscape" “This is 300 homes to be built in open countryside It is not attached to anywhere and the roads will just not be able to cope.” The plans have been put forward to Sevenoaks District Council but have not been submitted as a formal planning application yet The area has been suggested as one of 100s for development under the council’s call for sites to meet housing demand Mrs Ecclestone said she hoped to submit official plans to start building the homes as soon as possible Proposals also include improving Kemsing Station and local roads to reduce congestion investing in the local drainage network and building new community amenities such as a shop Events income has dropped to nothing this year and estate owner Ecclestone says she needs to make up the shortfall By Debbie King · 3 July 2021 landowner Eliza Ecclestone says making her family's beautiful St Clere estate pay for itself was tough But come last March her plan of increasing events in the rolling Kemsing hills of her childhood home who have lived in the grade one listed mansion for five generations saw their income's mainstay drop to zero -  and even now the uncertainty around just what will open up and when means there is no easy path back to profitability Which is why the 48-year-old former lawyer who took over the running of the estate 11 years ago is speaking out hoping to win over critics who would like to turn the clock back and bring a halt to the estate's festivals and events "It is practically impossible to make a profit out of farming which is what used to support the rural economy and estate," she said "And if we are going to have money to keep our shared landscape well preserved and beautiful and the Grade 1 listed house with a roof on we cannot afford to have no income - and there is no income available from farming." a drop in farming subsidiaries - set to fall further post Brexit - has meant diversification with the 3,000 acre estate also managing woodland cutting back trees for woodchip while continuing with it 2,500 acres of arable farming But for Mrs Ecclestone it is St Clere's move away from traditional income sources which will create the "vibrant rural economy" she seeks Each festival - she says - sees profits shared among local businesses with three times the amount she makes in profit trickling down not only to the organisers but the security firms and people who put up the fencing or rent out the toilet blocks But she admits continuing uncertainty does mean the companies bringing the outdoor festivals to St Clere this summer will be taking a risk "The lack of clarity is almost impossible for events businesses," she said "I am despairing - but I would not want to be making those decisions myself." Three festivals - two for adults and one for children - are planned for this summer along with a mass dog walk and the opening up of the estate's gardens "We are very careful what we pick but if the event involves a bit of extra traffic and a bit of controlled music in the distance then I think that is worth it," she added Managing the estate is a far cry from Mrs Ecclestone's former career as a legal aid solicitor in London's East End taking on cases of domestic abuse and family law But her change of career is not something she regrets "Our USP is St Clere remains a working family estate But the bottom line is there is only so many options for making money on land I think what we will see is businesses looking to move events out of central London to rural locations where social distancing is much easier if necessary - and that will boost the rural economy," she said Click here to learn more!