The latest episode of Kent: The Garden of England, is another journey through the diverse landscapes and unique experiences that this county has to offer. The episode, airing on Channel 5 on Wednesday night, begins on Swimmers Beach in Dover, where Kevin Murphy, dubbed “The King of the Channel,” has completed an impressive 34 channel swims. Now, at 74, he trains accountant Rob Sisley, who aspires to make the crossing next week.
Moving inland, we find ourselves on the River Medway, where Dragon boat races attract some of the world’s best sailors. We join Quentin Strauss as he navigates his boat, Whisper, through the waters. Meanwhile, in the historic Chatham Dockyard, Leanne Clark preserves a traditional art form: ropemaking. Using machinery from Nelson’s day, she produces thousands of feet of rope each week in a rope walk that stretches over 1300 feet.
The episode also takes us to Lullingstone Castle, where plant collector Tom Hart Dyke braves the dangers of repotting the world’s most venomous plant, Dendrocnide Moroides, also known as the Queensland Stinger. The pain from its stings can last a year, as Tom knows all too well.
Just 40 miles from London, we discover the Isle of Sheppey and the Elmley National Nature Reserve, a wild and important wetland habitat. Here, Reserve Manager Gareth Fulton herds 200 sheep to new pastures as the hungry residents await their tea.
Kent: The Garden of England, Episode 3, airs Wednesday, 25 September 2024, at 8:00 PM on Channel 5.
