Leeds Castle…

… probably the most beautiful castle in the world. I’ve blipped it before this year but it’s well worth another outing especially on such a fabulous early winter’s day.

Never a defensive castle it was a royal palace for centuries before being extended in the 18th century and finally passing into private ownership and eventually into a trust.

We were there to see the Nutcracker at Christmas where rooms in the castle are transformed to tell the story of the Nutcracker.

We really enjoyed the displays and the story. It’s something our granddaughter in California would have been enthralled by. Now I know the story behind the characters and a little about popularity as a ballet.

While it was still light we managed a walk around the wider estate getting back to the car in the last of the gloaming.

Later we attended a meeting of the Environment Committee of Bearsted Parish Council where the new allotment tenancy agreement I’ve been working on was approved. It enshrines the principles of sustainable gardening, banning systematic use of chemical controls, reducing single use plastics and encouraging companion planting to attract pollinators and pest predators.

And after that we went to the last meeting of BearstedCAN for this year where the current COP summit was the topic under discussion. Oh! And a pint was involved!