Calendar
Our edit of the most entertaining events happening this month
With the ongoing coronavirus situation it’s always best to check events are still going ahead before heading out. But remember, we are still allowed out in the great outdoors so how about discovering some of these gems on our doorstep…
REGAL LIFE THROUGH A LENS A new outdoor photography exhibition opens on January 15 at Chartwell, near Westerham. Running until February 27, it features a series of handselected archive photographs which tell the story of the special relationship between the young Queen and Sir Winston Churchill, at his family home. In 2022 Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, having acceded to the throne in 1952 during Churchill’s second term as Prime Minister. The two had a close and genuine relationship, having first met when the Queen was just two years old. Churchill became the Queen’s trusted advisor through the earliest years of her reign, and she meant a great deal to him. This enduring relationship is illustrated by the photograph of her on her Coronation Day, which Churchill hung on the wall of his Study at Chartwell. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ chartwell 4 | January 2022 | SO Magazine
THE GREAT OUTDOORS The stunning Ashdown Forest is another great place to roam around. This is also located at the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it has national and international protection because of its wildlife. Nearly two thirds of its 6,500 acres are heathland, amounting to 2.5% of the UK’s extent of this rare habitat. Originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times, Ashdown Forest is now one of the largest free public access spaces in the South East – and of course it is the mythical ‘home’ of Winnie-thePooh.
A WHOLE LOTTA KNOLE Whilst Knole’s historic interior closes during the winter months, its 1,000 acre parkland is open for business. In fact this is probably the best time to catch sight of the 350-strong resident wild deer herd who call this wonderful place home. There are plenty of guided walks around this ancient parkland to enjoy and if we have snow why not take along your sledge as the hillier parts of Knole are brilliant for tobogganing down!
DID YOU KNOW? Knole House, just outside Sevenoaks and situated in 1000 acres of glorious grounds, is thought to have been conceived as a ‘Calendar House’ which once boasted the pleasingly Gregorian statistics of 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards.
