This is the first time that we have done the Kent show, and whilst it was a long slog (setup then 3 days show) it was certainly worthwhile.

Everything started on Thursday, arriving at the Trust for midday. This was followed by Michelle Paver, author of Wolf Brother, arriving with PR, News Paper and then TV crew. A good bit of publicity for both her book and for the Trust too.

We managed to get away from the Trust just after 5pm, which meant we caught all the traffic on the M25 (not helped by about 3 accidents delaying everything). So about 3 hours after we arrived at the Kent Showground on Detling Hill, missed the turn, went past, came back, missed the turn again, then eventually got in (after a bit of juggling and debating with the security guards if we really had to pay the £50 deposit to get on site)

Finally we were on site and found a pitch in the nice shaded woods... just a couple of problems, the ground was very uneven and the camping area was a mass of branches. We started to put the enclosure up and fortunately we had enough people to be able to get it up without too many problems. Once the main frame was assembled we split the group so that people could start putting up their tents, but by now it was starting to get dark!

I carried on with the enclosure tops with rotating help from those not doing their tents and finally we finished in the dark at about 10:30pm - fortunately I have a good head torch which came in very handy. When the enclosure was up it was time to take the girls for a walk throught the woods, accompanied by hoards of bugs, then feed them and bed them down.

After we had finished I cooked up some sausages on a camp stove, we ate, had a chat, then it was bed time. My bed for Thursday and Friday night consisted of a fold out camp bed and my sleeping bag. As the weather was reasonable and no rain expected I did not bother with a tent.

Friday started just before 6am (if you don't count being woken continuously from 3am by two girls keen to get out.) We finished putting up the saftey fencing around the enclosure, took the girls for a walk, then off for breakfast - Cereal, Coffee, Orange, Bacon, Sausage, Egg (fried and scrambled), Potatoes and Beans - a good hearty farmers breakfast for only £6! Now on with the show...