Last weekend was sunny and beautiful weather. I went on an all day hike with some friends through Swanley. We passed through several cute villages one which was called Sevenoaks.
Unlike “hikes” in the US, this one was not uphill bit rather meandered through gently sloping pastures and woodland dotted with wildflowers. It also brought us past a small castle and a small farm that sold the cute expensive jellies and jams I’m always curious about but apprehensive to buy. They boast odd flavors like jalapeño lavender etc. and while I want it to be intriguing if it’s expensive, I always doubt if I’ll truly like it.
Instead I bought smoked cheese and it was worth every penny.
On the way back the trail led alongside a freeway which was less idyllic. We tried to blaze our own path and struck put across a field, however this ended with us running into a dead-end as it led to several backyards. We ended up going
The Honest Avocado 
Sevenoaks was named for seven oak trees.
No one know the location of the original seven oaks. In 1112, a nearby church was recorded with the Saxon name Seouenaca. A historian noted the name “was given to it from seven large oaks, standing on the hill where the town is, at the time of its first being built.”
There were seven ‘Coronation Oaks’ planted around the Vine cricket ground in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII. Six of them blew down in the great storm of 1987, but I believe they have been replanted.
I remember the great storm very well, particularly because on 15 October 1987, BBC weather man, Michael Fish, said this: “Earlier on today, apparently a woman rang the BBC and said she’d heard there was a hurricane on the way. Well if you are watching, don’t worry – there isn’t”.
Southern Britain was subsequently battered by winds over100 mph which caused huge damage and disruption, and sadly, levelled Sevenoaks’ oaks!
Mark slept through it but struggled to get into work the following day because so many trees were down and blocking the roads.
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Oh wow! That’s very cool! Have they replaced the Seven Oaks with new new ones?
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They did, although I think they had to replant them again after someone vandalised the seedlings. They are quite big now, since they were planted in the 1980s, but the King Oak, the one that remained standing after the storm, is recognisable as it’s much bigger.
I just read that the storm was the worst in 400 years!
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