PLUCKLEY BREAD STATION

For me, breadmaking is more than just baking – it’s a way to connect people, nourish communities, and rekindle memories of a time when the butcher, the baker, and the greengrocer were at the heart of village life.

I live with my husband and our two dogs in the small village of Pluckley, nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside.

Pluckley has been home for over twenty-five years, and it’s where I raised my children.

We have a large, blended family who all love returning here to spend time together, and make new memories.

It was in my farmhouse kitchen that my love of baking bread truly came to life.

After many years working in business and retail, I took time out to support and navigate my family through a very traumatic period.

During that time, I needed something creative to focus on, so I began experimenting with breadmaking.

From the very first loaf, I was hooked. I devoured every recipe book I could find and baked from morning to night – it became my therapy.

When my husband and I eventually sat down to discuss my return to work, I told him I wanted to start a bread business. His eyes rolled – but I asked him to give me three months to try. He did, and I’ve never looked back.

I realised I wanted to do something simpler, more grounded, and infinitely more satisfying: creating real bread from honest, local ingredients.

Three years ago, I opened The Bread Station with one guiding belief – that everyone deserves bread that’s wholesome, handmade, and free from unnecessary additives or preservatives. Today, I bake over 200 loaves a week, all lovingly crafted and sold through our local village butcher, bringing the taste of traditional baking back to our community.

Breadmaking has become the perfect outlet for my creativity. I find endless joy in developing new recipes, exploring flavours, and experimenting with natural ingredients that bring each loaf to life. From sourdough to baguettes, focaccia to cinnamon buns, every bake tells a story of process, patience, and passion.

The idea for the Children’s Breadmaking Kits began as a small seed after I gave a talk to a class of primary school children about bread and its journey from field to table.

During the session with these bright seven- and eight-year-olds, I was surprised – and, if I’m honest, a little shocked – to discover how few of them knew where their food came from or how something as simple as a loaf of bread begins its life.

That moment inspired me to find a way for children to reconnect with the origins of their food through hands-on learning . The kit is rustic and earthy, designed to evoke a sense of nature and tradition while sparking curiosity about ingredients, farming, and the process of making bread from scratch.

From this passion, the story of Willow was born – an illustrated short book I wrote that follows the magical journey from seed to loaf, helping children understand and appreciate the story behind every slice of bread.