Youngsters find creative spark at fun day

Families flocked to the Tyland Barn Visitor Centre in Sandling last week to make their final preparations for Halloween.

The event, run by the Kent Wildlife Trust, saw children and their parents get in touch with their creative side by making a variety of crafts.

Alongside the traditional carved pumpkins and scary decorations, their homes will now feature a range of other hand-made items to impress guests this festive season.

These included woodland people, made out of natural materials, a woolen pumpkin and a bat badge.

And the youngsters were clearly not fazed by the so-called spooky season and were all smiles as they constructed their festive decorations using a number of different creative materials.

There was also a fairy door trail for visitors to explore around the nature park, where they could collect a range of stickers for correctly answering a series of puzzles.

The visitor centre is a popular attraction, featuring a restored 17th century barn and a large exhibition on wildlife and conservation.

At various times of year, the barn is home to bees, tadpoles and nesting birds. The family of an 75-year-old Maidstone woman killed in a crash have paid tribute.

Marjorie Haines died on Friday, October 19, five days after an accident in Walderslade .

In a statement, her family wrote: “A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother she will be missed immensely by us all, what a terrible tragedy.”

The pensioner was married to an ex-Navy officer for 55 years.

The crash involved a grey Vauxhall Corsa and white Seat Ibiza at around 6.15pm on Sunday, October 14, though the injuries were not originally considered to be life threatening.

Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit would like to hear from any witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01622 798538, quoting DS/XX/148/18.