On Monday 18 June, 24 French children, with their teachers, joined Lamberhurst Primary School on a walk through the ancient routeways of the High Weald.
The children visited the local 'Gravel Pit' where they encountered the ghost of Jack Frost, acted by a Lamberhurst St Mary's School parent. Jack lived on the Gravel Pit over 90 years ago and made a living out of making barrel hoops from the local wood. In the afternoon the French children walked with Lamberhurst St Mary's school children through the beautiful landscape around the village and Scotney Castle. They learnt about the different landscape features in the High Weald in comparison to their own local landscape around Blangy sur Ternois, northern France.
The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr John Smith welcomed the Director of the school, Bérangère Estienne, the Mayor of Blangy sur Ternois, Monsieur Michel Massart with the support of Caroline Bromley, Headteacher of Lamberhurst St Mary's Primary School. The Mayor highlighted the importance of learning about our local landscape, so we can value it and take care of it for future generations.
Mme Lenglet, the Director of Education from the Blangy District also came on the visit and was given a tour of the school and met with teaching staff.
This was the return visit of the school exchange progamme funded by Programme INTERREG IV A 2 SEAS within the framework of the MULTIFOR Project which has supported a number of woodland-themed projects, some led by the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee. Lamberhurst Primary School visited Blangy sur Ternois in September 2011.