Relive the hopping experience!

On 14 and 15 September 2013, visitors to Bodiam Station can enjoy a whole weekend of hopping nostalgia at the Kent & East Sussex Railway's annual Hop Pickers Weekend.

Each summer hop pickers used to arrive in specially timetabled trains from London and this year it will be 55 years since the last Hop Pickers Special arrived at Bodiam Station. Bodiam was an important area for hop picking and the weekend re-lives the days when Londoners came hopping for a summer break.

For hop pickers from the East End of London this was their annual holiday when families could enjoy time in the fresh countryside air.

In memory and recognition of this important tradition, every year the railway personally invites all the hop pickers from across the country to join in the celebrations and re-unite with old friends.

Over the weekend former hop pickers re-live memories whilst visitors experience the hop picking way of life first hand in the recreated hop garden and hopper's hut where typically pickers would have stayed, sometimes for as long as six weeks. These huts were often given a "homely" feel with wallpaper and pictures added to brighten them up.

Visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at the testing skill of hop stripping, something which was either very easy or very difficult depending on the weather and the state of the bine.

There will also be memorabilia on display at the station together with period cars, tractors and steam driven road vehicles.

An open top heritage double-decker bus will be making frequent trips between Bodiam Station and Bodiam Castle.

Live entertainment throughout the weekend, including Morris Dancers, will create a fitting atmosphere as throughout each day visitors are invited to join the hop pickers in a sing along around a camp fire.

Everyone on the hopping weekend can purchase delicious food from the BBQ or enjoy a variety of beverages including fine local ales available from the bar. There will also be a hoppers kitchen serving refreshments and homemade cake.

The event is open from 10.30am to 6pm each day. Tickets including return train travel to Bodiam are - Adult £16, Senior Citizen £15, Child (3 - 15 years inc.) £11 and Family (2 adults up to 3 children or 1 adult and up to 4 children) £45.

Advance tickets can be obtained online or by telephoning 01580 765155. Visitors are advised to book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Please see the website for train times. www.kesr.org.uk