Brogdale Farm is holding its Plum Day on Sunday, August 14, just as the fruit reaches the height of its season.

Whether cooking with plums or eating them straight from the tree, this juicy, perfumed fruit is at its tastiest in mid-August.

The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham, grows more than 350 varieties of all shapes and colours, from the good old Victoria Plum to the Oullins Gage or Coe's Golden Drop.

As part of the event there will be guided tours on foot and by tractor, or visitors can take one of three self-guided walks. There are visitor shelters along the way with information on the orchards.

For children there is a new play area and families can take a trip on Brogdale's miniature railway for £1 per person.

Brogdaleâ' marketing manager Sally Roger said: "Because plums are picked when ripe on the tree, they don't travel or store well so they have fallen out of favour among the UK public.

"However, at this time of year they are simply fantastic, a real taste of a British summer and we should be eating more of them.

"If you would like advice on selecting a variety of plum for your garden then come and speak to our expert guides and they will help you find the perfect variety. Or see some of our many plums in the collection on display and take some home to enjoy."

The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale is the largest in the world. It is made up of around 2,200 varieties of apple, 550 pears, 320 cherries, 350 plums, 50 hazelnuts, 150 gooseberries, 200 currants (black, red, white and pink), as well as small collections of vines, quinces, medlars and apricots.

Guided tours and self-guided walks of the orchards are available daily. Visitors can also buy local produce at the Market Place.

Brogdale's on-site plant nursery sells a range of plants, shrubs and trees from the collections and there is also a courtyard restaurant that's well worth a pit stop.