Monday, May 31, 2021

Sandown Community Beach Clean 31st May 2021



Thank you to all our volunteers on todays Sandown Castle Community Beach Clean ... over 12 bags picked, a chair, assorted pipes, some bling and two squids.




Thanks to all volunteers especially Vicky, Charles, Wendy & Steve for organising

Next Clean is at Walmer Castle Beach on Sunday 6th June - part of the #GBSpringClean #PickDealClean 

please book here

https://walmercastlebeachclean6thjune2021.eventbrite.co.uk

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Whitsun Captain's Garden Open Day




Thank you to everyone who came to see the captains garden today - it was great to welcome at least 205 of you back. 

Many thanks for the £155 of cash donations which will go directly into the garden.

It was a great opportunity to meet and talk to you all about our plans for community orchard in the garden
https://www.spacehive.com/captainsgardenatdealcastle




A special thank you to our great team of volunteers who made everything happen so well today Lucy, Penny, Anna, Jenny, Rafi, Eileen, Rose, Amy, Sonja and Steve.
 
Many thanks to Eilnor and her team for the pop-up cafe for our tea and cakes x

Monday, May 24, 2021

A Deal Litter Diary #23 May 2021




One of my fellow pickers at the Station/Sainsbury's is bemused to see me on hands & knees in the bushy area at the front of the supermarket. 

I assure him that where there's a hedge, there's litter, & it'll be small fragments in a state of decomposition. 

Sure enough, as I rake out the undergrowth with my gloved hands, I pull out 100s...no, more likely 1000s of tiny pieces, mainly plastic.

Do you notice this kind of fine litter when you cast your eyes downwards?

#PickDealClean


Sunday, May 16, 2021

The Great British Spring Clean in Deal - #GBSpringClean

 


PICK DEAL CLEAN

This is a facebook group set up by Helen Charlton of the Clean Up Crew, Linda Ford of Sandown Castle Community Garden and ourselves to link all together the individuals and groups doing litter picks in the town and work with DDC to reduce the levels of litter in the town

April has been the first month we logged our activity:

The group has virtual gathering this Sunday 16th at 7pm – Meeting Link

The group is planning a two action days during the #GBSpringClean on 9th June and xxxx plus a final tally on the 13th June at 4:30pm on the beach opposite Deal Castle plus a number of pop-up events in the town.

COMMUNITY BEACH CLEANS

We had a good pilot beach clean in April and have two setup (you MUST book in advance) to support the Great British Spring Clean.

Bank Holiday Monday – 31st May Sandown Castle Beach – Book here

Sunday 6th June – Walmer Castle Beach – Book here

We hope to release dates for the rest in June

CLEAN UP CREW

The Monthly cleans at Deal Station have been going since the rule of 6 was reinstated – 1st Thursday of every month at 2pm Plus one 2 weeks after during busy periods

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Open days at the Captain's Garden start in May 2021



We have three Open days at the historic garden at Deal Castle which our volunteers are bringing back into use for the community


1) Whitsun Open Day - 30th May 2021 - 10am to 3pm

Bookings https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/captains-garden-deal-castle-whitsun-open-day-tickets-152187646347

2) National Meadows Open Day - 4th July 2021 10am to 3pm

Bookings: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/captains-garden-deal-castle-meadows-open-day-tickets-152187710539

3) Bee-Fest at the Captains Garden @ Deal Castle - Sunday 29th August 2021 10am to 2pm

With Dover Bee keepers and the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust

Find out about bee keeping and supporting bees and other pollinators in your own garden
Local Honey and Bee related products



Address:
Opposite Deal Castle
Victoria Road
Deal
CT14 7BA
History

The 1.2 acre Captain's Garden dates from 1733 and was the private walled garden of the Captain of Deal Castle, Admiral Norris. The garden developed more into a kitchen garden for the castle in 19thC and during WW2 was a Dig-for-Victory community allotment.

From about 1948 to 1979 is was a commercial market garden and then subsequently went into disuse for nearly 40yrs

In January 2018 volunteers from Deal With It (Deal's local Community Green Group), the Deal Hop Farm (a DWI Community Hop growing project in the town) in partnership with English Heritage (the custodians of the site) started to bring the site back into use, with the aspiration to turn the space into a free-to access garden for the whole community in Deal and Walmer

To follow what we do:


https://www.facebook.com/CaptainsGardenDeal


to get involved please email captainsgardendeal@gmail.com

COVID: This may change :) 

Please be prompt for your booking time and there will be no 'on-door' entrance to ensure compliance with track-and-trace (details will be kept for 21days)

To ensure you and our volunteers safety we will be controlling entrance and exit to the Garden and there will be a strict one-way system around the garden

We will have supplies of hand sanitiser which we ask all to use or alternatively bring your own

The areas near the main beds will have 2m floor marking and we ask you respect social distancing.

Please don't come if you are feeling ill

Please note: The Garden is still a Work-In-Progress many of the paths are uneven, with fox holes, nettles etc. Please take care when in the Garden.

Access is via a step down thru a small gate

Unfortunately, it may not be suitable for everyone just yet.

English Heritage has a No Dogs policy on its property

No Parking at the Captains Garden please use the Castle Car park or on street

The garden is a NON-Smoking space

Any problems with booking please email us at info@dealwithit.org.uk

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Want to get involved in Tree Surveying in Deal, Walmer and Sholden ?

 Deal Town Council is working with external training provider, Treeconomics, to deliver virtual i-Tree Eco training to tree surveyors. The aims of the training are:

· To enable the tree surveyors to utilise the i-Tree Eco online software to map the current tree stock across Deal, Mongeham, Sholden & Walmer.

· Gain an understanding of what tree assets are in the area

· Enable the Parish Councils to better protect the existing trees

· Develop plans for new tree planting

· Gain an understanding and connect effectively with regional and nation tree planting initiatives by organisations such as The Woodland Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust

Treeconomics will tailor the training to meet the needs of volunteers new to tree surveying and will specifically cover data capture and data entry into the i-Tree Eco web-app.

Field data capture training sessions, will require two or three half day, directed sessions and two independent practical learning development sessions.

Treeconomics will provide an overview of the i-Tree Eco software to key partners and stakeholders of the project.

Field surveyors will follow the i-tree Eco Field Guidance to collect the following data:

a. land use descriptions and ownership;

b. Tree survey;

c. key biometric measurements required by i-Tree Eco, plus estimated life expectancy;

d. Other vegetation including shrub presence;

e. Photography – essential for Quality Assurance and reporting.

Survey data will be entered directly into the i-Tree Eco web-app, for consistency and cost-efficiency. All surveyors will be taught use of the web-app and submission process during training sessions, including pitfalls to prevent data loss.

If interested please contact Adrian as below:


Adrian Oliver

Project Officer

Deal Town Council

01304 361999

Adrian.oliver@deal.gov.uk