Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden

The ward covering Hawkhurst, Sandhurst and Benenden sits on the rolling clay and sandstone of the High Weald in Kent, a short drive south‑east of Tunbridge Wells. It retains a rural feel with timber‑framed houses and market‑town streets in Hawkhurst, patchwork farmland, hop gardens and pockets of ancient woodland, and is popular with commuters who value village life within easy reach of larger towns and London.

The area has colourful history - Hawkhurst was notorious in the 18th century for smuggling and the Hawkhurst Gang, while Benenden is known for its attractive village green and the independent Benenden School. Small‑scale farming, local shops, pubs and a modest tourism trade support the local economy, and community life revolves around parish events, farmers’ markets and active preservation groups keen to protect the Kentish character of these settlements in England.