News Shop forced
to move on A POPULAR Bearsted business is looking for new premises after being hit with a surprise rent hike. Hunker Down Daisy, in Yeoman
Court, Ashford Road, has been a florist, gift shop and coffee shop for the past five years. But now propri- etor Sara Henderson says she can no longer afford to stay in the prem- ises.
Sara took on a 10-year lease for
the shop in 2001 but the London- based landlord has taken advantage of a five-year break clause to in- crease the rent by 37.5%. Sara said: “The business is still
strong and will continue, but we simply cannot afford that increase.” Prior to opening Hunker Down
Daisy, Sara was a florist at Leeds Castle. This was her first business venture. She employs eight staff and two Saturday workers. While the florists’ positions are
safe, unless Sara can find a similar property, with space for a coffee shop, gifts and home furnishings, the other jobs could be in jeopardy. Sara said: “The business will con-
tinue, aswe have bookings forwed- dings and corporate workwell into next year, butwe really need to find another home. The lease runs out at the end of January. In the meantime, it is busi- ness as usual.
downsmail.co.uk
Fallen oak transformed into tribute to trustee
BEARSTED Woodland Trust has unveiled a magnificent memorial tribute to the late Bernard Head. Bernard (78) who was treasurer
and a trustee ofBWT, devotedmuch of his time to helping the village community, prior to his death in July this year. He was particularly fond of ani-
mals and birds and his fellow trustees decided that carving the huge, fallen turkey oak in Pauline Moore’s field, would be a fitting trib- ute.
They commissioned Kent wood
carver Steve Andrews, who works under the companynameTribalAn- imal, to work his magic on the mas- sive oak and the results are now there for all to see. Children already love to play in
and around the arches of the oak, which some believe already resem- bles an elephant, so Steve has added a badger, a rabbit and some fairy steps leading up to a secret door at the base of its stump. Higher up, where the tree has
parted from its stump, are four fan- tastic owls, one of which is in flight, soaring 15 feet above the field.
Steve had to erect scaffolding around the trunk to complete the carvings, which took around aweek. Hesaid: “It’s not often I get the op- portunity to work with a piece this size, so Iwas delighted to be asked.” The 400-year old oak crashed
downduring high winds in October 2014 and has been a popular hide- and-seek attraction for small chil- dren ever since. BWT trustee David Ward said: “Bernard loved children, animals and birds and, all things considered, we thought this would be the best
DavidWard and wood carver Steve Andrews with the oak carved in tribute to Bernard Head on Bearsted Woodland Trust land
way to remember him within the Woodland Trust.” Accountant Bernard lived in Bearsted for more than 40 years, where he served as treasurer of Holy Cross Church. He was a founder member of Bearsted and Thurnham Tennis Club, a founder member and trustee of Bearsted Bowls Club and a founder member of the badminton club. Hewas the treasurer of the Rotary
Club of Maidstone for five years and president in 2004.
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