Deal Hop Farm Harvest starts today #hops

 The 2020 Deal Hop Farm harvest starts today.

We will see many of of the members (we have 265 sites this year) later today at Captains Garden or at our next ones on the 10th and 17th.

We are also hop picking the Captains Garden's Hops at 3pm if you would like sample some hop picking

We have about 80 sites booked for this evenings drop off - please follow the social distancing guidance when dropping off #hops

Time & Tide use tonights hops in their Green Hop Pale Ale which should be available in the towns pubs in about 2-3 weeks time

Happy Hop Harvest Day Hopinistas!

Captains Garden Open Day 31st August 2020

Thank you to our 150 visitors today at the Captains Garden and for your generous donations (we raised £225 for the Garden today).

Massive thanks to all the volunteers (Penny, Lucy, Sonja, Rafi, Anna, Rose, Charles, Jane, Vicky, John and Steve) for donating their time to make it all happen, go so smoothly and keeping everyone safe.

Thanks also to Sue and Adrian Sullivan for suppling the free trees (many found new homes), Roisin for the Lavender.

We are doing hop picking in the Garden on Thursday 3rd September from 3pm if you would like to try your hand.

Great British Beach Clean Sunday 20th September 4pm

 

Please this clean includes the Marine Conservation Society survey in the Great British Beach Clean. 

If you want to participate on this citizen science survey please book a slot on 4pm booking ONLY.

This will require recording what you find.

The rest of the clean will just a normal litter pick

The beach clean will finish at 6pm to ensure rubbish pick up by DDC at 6:30pm

BOOKING HERE

We are looking manage the community cleans a little differently whilst the COVID emergency is on to ensure social distancing and ensure it is safe for all involved as well as the general public

We are asking people to select a start time so we can manage numbers at the start

We will have disinfected pickers, some bag holders and cleaned gloves and hand sanitiser

We start/finish area will be marked for 2m in a one-way system

We will email everyone confirming the details on meeting point on the prom in front of DEAL CASTLE

We ask people to bring their own gloves and sanitiser

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

Sandown Castle Beach Clean Clean 23rd August 2020

Thank you to our 40 volunteers today on the Sandown Castle Community Beach Clean. 

We collected 50.2kgs today so very well done all.

Thank you Sandown Castle Community Garden for hosting us and to Sonja, John, Charles, Lucy, Anna and Steve for organising the clean.

These are organised on pre-booked only basis - we have about 7 mini-cleans of 6 people each spread out across about 2km of beach.

Many thanks to Dover District Council who have funded our new COVID related kit thru their Community Grants scheme

Our next clean will be around the main Pier area on Sunday 20th September but at 4pm - full details to be announced in September.

Captain's Garden Open Day Bank Holiday Monday 31st August

 

This is our first open day of 2020 - its a great chance to see how the work of our volunteers in community garden are progressing to bring this historic garden at Deal Castle back into use.

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: 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.

There will be a separate entrance and exit to Victoria Rd

If you have a bubble group of 6 people please contact us directly

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

English Heritage has a No Dogs policy on its property

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

BOOK TICKETS HERE

Sandown Beach Clean Sunday 23rd August - Booking Necessary

Our Next Community Beach Clean is at Sandown Castle Community Garden on Sunday 23rd August

NB: You MUST book a ticket if you wish to participate HERE

There will be a strict one way system at the start/finish area, hand sanitiser, all equipment will be disinfected before and after use.

There will be 7 separate start times for groups of up to 6 and we will be allocating different parts of the 1.5km beach stretch we are doing to each start group.

Please bring you own gloves, hand sanitiser, sun cream/hat and something to drink (although there is the Hog&Bean Cafe at the Garden Now :)

Please do not attend if feeling unwell

Please be prompt for the start time you have booked

If you have a bubble group that would like to take part please email us directly at info@dealwithit.org.uk

ECOLOGICAL VANDALISM AT BETTESHANGER

From the Friends of Betteshanger Group

Betteshanger is the former coal mining pit in East Kent that closed in the 1980s. It comprises of two areas - the former spoil heap now a Country Park and the Pit head itself . Both sites have been purchased by a property developer following the collapse of  Hadlow College. Nature has recovered at both....

Quinn Estates have submitted a new Ecological Appraisal of the Betteshanger site to Dover District Council as part of their planning application to build over 200 houses there. Surveys have been done and they show that the site is full of wildlife. It also makes their intentions clear - plans will not be changed to accommodate the wildlife or its habitats, no matter how rare or protected. If they are in the way they will be removed. For example:

An area of priority woodland, where they want to build 6 housing units is in the way. They could choose not to build here but, no, the woodland will be removed.

There's a badger sett in this woodland. It's in the way so it too will be 'closed'. A metal barrier will be used to prevent access for the badgers and then the sett will be dug out. Badgers are protected by law. 

There are turtle dove territories on the site. They too are in the way and will be destroyed. Turtle doves are a Red listed species and in danger of becoming extinct.

Then there is the priority Open Mosaic habitat that is found on areas proposed for housing.

Even though it contains a suite of rare and protected plants it too will be destroyed.

There are 6 different bat species using the site. Some have made a roost in the old biomass boiler building. This is in the way so both building and bat roost will go. Bats are protected by law.

Great crested newts have been detected in one of the ponds on site. Planned works might result in their disappearance. They are protected by law.

Then there are smooth newts, slow worms, common lizards, over 180 birds using the site, over 100 flower species. Habitat for hares, hedgehogs, harvest mice and unknown numbers of insects and invertebrates. What will be their fate ?

How can this be allowed to happen ?

Developers will claim , 'Ah, yes, but its OK because we will 'mitigate'. Quinn Estates propose to change an area of Betteshanger Park, which is habitat in its own right.

But mitigation doesn't stop the destruction and it doesn't stop a green, wildlife rich space becoming a massive housing estate.

This kind of ecological vandalism must be challenged, especially at this time of unprecedented declines in biodiversity all round the planet. It can be stopped but only if enough people object to the planning application and only if the planning committee at Dover District Council reject the application.

Please help. Send in objections to Dover District Council, planning application number 20/00419. Time is short. A decision on this proposal will be made within a few weeks.

For further details email friendsofbetteshanger@hotmail.com

Find them too on Facebook.

Walmer Castle Beach Clean 26th July 2020

Thank you to all our 43 volunteers on our socially distanced Walmer Castle Beach Clean who collected 40 kilos of rubbish this morning. 

Big thanks to Charles, Vicky, Sonja, John and Steve for organising.

We had effectively 7 mini cleans of 6 people each every 15min, each with a different area on 2km of beach to clean. all kit disinfected before and after use.

The new booking, check-in and pickup system worked well but would welcome feedback from any attendees

Deal With It - July 2020 update

Our first community beach clean since feb will be on the beach in front of walmer castle on Sunday 26^th July.

Please note we are restricting numbers with multiple mini-starts which must be booked in advance at:

https://walmercastlebeachclean26thjuly2020.eventbrite.co.uk

If you have a bubble group of 6 people you want to pick with please contact us at info@dealwithit.org.uk

We will have 2m markers at the start area, all pickers will be disinfected before and after the clean and we will have hand cleanser but if you have your own gloves or hand cleaner please bring it.

Full details of clean will be sent to those registered and we ask people not just to turn up on the day.

We have also managed to keep our Gleans going with colleagues from Hythe Environmental Community Group and the Kent Gleaning Network – in fact we have nearly bought 1.5 tons of food back into the district and collectively over 15 tons going to east kent and regional food charities.

We have had to restrict numbers at these but think we can safety have a few more on during the fruit season gleans from the end of this month. These are at short notice and can be hard work! If you want to be added to the Gleaning list please email us at info@dealwithit.org.uk

Our work at the community gardens at the Landmark, Deal Station Garden and Captains Garden has continued during the lockdown and new volunteers are always welcome.

-          landmark@dealwithit.org.uk

-          station@dealwithit.org.uk

-          captainsgardendeal@gmail.com

The Captain’s Garden has now about 4-6 sessions each week and is looking at options for an bookable open days in August.

Thank you the Rotary Club of Deal

A big thank you to the Rotary Club of Deal for funding our latest batch of Litter Hoops. 

It is much appreciated and we hope to be using them very soon xxx

Restarting Community Beach Cleans

We are looking to get small scale community beach cleans going again from July in Deal and Walmer.

We are going to do a small pilot one this month where we can practice some of the organisational stuff that is been recommended by the Marine Conservation Society and Surfers Against Sewage.

The cleans will have a number of start times with limited numbers with some sort of booking system

more info should follow over the next two weeks

Deal Community Beach Cleans Cancelled 22/3 and 12/4

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

BEACH CLEANS: We are cancelling the cleans on 22/3 and the 12/4.


We been advised by the marine charities we work with on the beach cleans - Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society - in light of recent announcements by the government to cancel our mass beach cleans until further notice.

We will be doing pop-up ones individually in the meanwhile to get our regular fix.

COMMUNITY GARDEN EVENTS: These are smaller scale and will continue but ask our volunteers to take the usual precautions on their own health, follow guidance on clean hands and tools

INDOORS Meetings: these have all been cancelled for the foreseeable future

All Take Care - there are a number of mutual aid initiatives locally and we will be actively promoting them

#GreatBritish Spring Clean - Walmer Beach Clean Sunday 22nd March

Deal Seedy Saturday Winter 22 Feb 2020

Thank you to everyone who came to our Seedy Saturday yesterday - quite a lot of swaps done and £60 in donations. 

Thanks to Landmark Ukes for playing for us, Grounds Up (with their plant pots made out of recycled coffee grinds), Ade & Sue of the Deal Free Trees (all went - so 500 in last year) Deal Hop Farm (Chris & Jane) and Penny, Vicky, Lucy and Sue on the swap table.

 The next Seedy Saturday is Sat 9th May

Deal With It - Whats On February 2020

Deal With It - Transition Deal

Whats On February 2020

Saturday 22^nd February – Deal Seedy Saturday 10:30am Landmark Garden
(please bring/donate labelled seeds + DHF Rhizome pickup day)

Tuesday 25^th February – Captain’s Garden @ Deal Castle 10am to 12ish

Thursday 27^th February - Captain’s Garden @ Deal Castle 10am to 12ish

Saturday 29^th February – Deal Station Gardening Group 10:30 to 12:30

Please let Sonja know if you can make it station@dealwithit.org.uk

Tuesday 3rd March– Captain’s Garden @ Deal Castle 10am to 12ish (Then every Tuesday)

Wednesday 4^th March – Landmark Garden Group 10am to 12 (1^st Weds of each Month)

Wednesday 4^th March – East Kent Climate Action 7pm Dealability (then every fortnight)

Thursday 5th March - Captain’s Garden @ Deal Castle 10am to 12ish (then every Thurs)

Thursday 5^th March Deal Station Clean up Crew 2:30pm (Meet at Triangle – Ramsgate Side)

Saturday 14^th March – Deal Hop Farm – Rhizome pick up stall 10:00 to 12

Wednesday 18^th March – East Kent Climate Action 7pm Dealability (then every fortnight)

Sunday 22^nd March – Walmer Community Beach Clean Sea Café 9:30am

(part of Great British Spring Clean)

Sunday 29^th March – Deal Station Gardening Group 10:30 to 12:30

Please let Sonja know if you can make it station@dealwithit.org.uk

Sunday 12^th April – Sandown Castle Community Beach Clean, 9:30am Sandown Castle end of Deal Beach. Part of Surfers Against Sewage Big Spring Beach Clean Series

Bank Holiday Monday 13^th April – Captain’s Garden Open Day 10:30 to 3pm Deal Castle

Sunday 19^th April – East Kent Permaculture Gathering/Picnic Stream Community Garden Whitstable 11am to 2pm

·       Please register interest at

·       We will organise a car share from Deal – please email info@dealwithit.org.uk if either you need a share or willing to give a lift

·       Poster enclosed

·       Please bring something to eat

A supportive Bioregional network to help make Permaculture more visible and accessible and to share inspiration

Activities:

·       Tour of Garden

·       Short session to meet each other.

·       Short talks on a range of Permaculture subjects:

·       What is Permaculture?

·       Vegan organics.

·       Pollinators

·       Children in Permaculture

·       Low carbon Living

·       Foraging

·       Things you can do in a small garden

·       Hot drinks available

·       Donations welcome toward Streamwalk Community garden and East Kent Permaculture Network

·       PLEASE BOOK A PLACE AT:

·       https://permaculturepicnic.eventbrite.co.uk

Saturday 9^th May – Spring Deal Seedy Saturday (Dig for Victory ??) 10:30am Landmark Garden

Bank Holiday Monday 25^th May – Walmer Castle Community Beach Clean 9:30am

Deal Seedy Saturday 22nd February - Landmark Garden

Deal Beach Clean 2nd Feb 2020

Thank you to our 50 volunteers on today's Deal Beach Clean who collected 18.6kgs (mainly small plastic).

The Marine Conservation Society logging also happened which found 1.2kilos of small plastic in a 100m stretch of the beach.

A number of Cleaners found some Palm Oil today (which is poisonous to dogs) so please let any doggy friends know.

Also Found the address book and bag in photo.

Our next clean is on March 22nd March 9:30am Sea Café Walmer Green

Deal Hop Farm Launchs its 4th Season - Thursday 6th Feb 6:30pm

Deal Hop Farm - The community hop growing project in and around Deal - Has its Fourth season Launch on Thursday 6th Feb at the LightHouse Pub, The Strand Walmer at 6:30pm

The project which involved in 2019 over 250 sites & involved some 380 people in the area is a patchwork farm made up of people's back gardens, allotments and community spaces.

further info - email info@dealhopfarm.org.uk or Facebook Page Deal Hop Farm

Deal Beach Clean 2nd Feb 10am Deal Pier

Kent Community Owned Energy - Canterbury Meetings 17/18 January

Help tackle the climate emergency, bring more money into our local area and improve life for people who live and work here.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy would like to invite you to come and find out more about an opportunity to get involved in Community Energy in Kent. Hear about what community energy groups across the country are doing and how you could help bring a 5 MW solar farm into community ownership. It’s a great opportunity to bring over £1million investment into our local area, and there’s plenty of support available to make it happen. Please see the attached leaflet for more information.

When: Friday 17^th January, 1-3pm or Saturday 18^th January 10:30am-12:30pm

Where: Friends Meeting House, Canterbury

Sign up for a place on Eventbrite now

Or call to book your place on 01179 341400 (ask for the communities team).