Captain's Garden @Deal Castle update

Captains Garden update: 
poppy river is coming on, the barley has started and 17 of our 21 hops are motoring.

Good progress on clearing the beds.

We would like to complete this in the next week ... so all diggers very welcome next 23rd Tues and 26th Thursday 10am to 1pm

We also hope to string the hop garden next week.

Donations for planting always welcome :)

NEXT: Public Open Day Bank Holiday Monday 28th May 1-3pm

Where does the Plastic Go? - DDC Talk Thursday 19th April 7pm Deal Town Hall

Remember the days before we relied on Plastic? Smugglers Records today 5:30pm

The bees are taking over the colliery - Snowdown

Former East Kent colliery vision: small business park and rural visitor attraction

 

 

Environmentally-friendly beekeeping company to bring new life and innovative small business opportunities to former colliery site
Wide range of new jobs to be created for local community to boost regional economy
Ambitious project to combine research, development, nature and industrial heritage in unique environment
Unique rural visitor destination for glamping, events and staycations

An exciting new project could transform a former East Kent colliery into an environmentally-friendly hub for start-up businesses, artisan producers, research, development and innovation, while at the same time creating an authentic and unique rural visitor attraction, the like of which you won’t find anywhere else in the UK.

Snowdown Colliery closed as a working coal mine in 1987. Since then, the 100-acre site has cut a forlorn figure in the rural landscape between Dover and Canterbury.

Now, 31 years later, plans are afoot to breathe new life into the colliery site, to see it reborn as Snowdown Park. A wide range of jobs, skills-based training, education and research opportunities will be created, alongside a new country park visitor destination for glamping, events and staycations, all giving a huge boost to the local economy and the environment.

Unlocking Snowdown’s potential while creating a genuine buzz at the heart of this ambitious transformation of a long-neglected corner of East Kent’s industrial heritage will be those much-loved friends of the earth…honey bees.

Local businessman and entrepreneur, Patrick K Murfet, Director of Bee Equipment Ltd, is spearheading the dynamic and environmentally-focused Snowdown Park project.

Currently based in the nearby village of Bridge, near Canterbury, Kent, Bee Equipment Ltd manufacture and supply beekeeping equipment for commercial operations and individual apiarists across the UK, mainland Europe and beyond.

A unique combination of nature, heritage and business innovation are the driving forces behind the plans for Snowdown Park.

The Bee Yard is the working title given to the top portion of the Snowdown site, close to the former colliery buildings. The Bee Yard will encompass the business park element of the proposal, the name giving a flavour of the style of the development and its artisan feel. The remainder of the site will form the new country park and visitor attraction: Snowdown Park.

The Bee Yard development at Snowdown Park will bring a much-needed hub for creative and artisan businesses, as well as providing an international centre for research and development into the health and welfare of the honey bee to the region.

The heritage of the former colliery will be seamlessly woven into the new scheme; Snowdown Colliery has a number of buildings of interest, which it is hoped can be brought back to life, preserving the iconic character of the site in a revitalised natural setting that is economically viable.

The natural landscape and topography of the former colliery will be integral to the sympathetic development of Snowdown Park. Once open, lovers of wildlife will be able to learn about bees and beekeeping, while enjoying the huge diversity of flora and fauna on the site, which will be key elements of its appeal for visitors.

Snowdown Park will become a magnet for nature-lovers and creatives, with opportunities for glamping, staycations and all kinds of events, once East Kent’s most exciting and original working-park development is up and running.

Patrick K Murfet said: “We are really excited about the opportunities for job creation and recreation that our unique development of Snowdown Park at the former Snowdown Colliery site offers.

"We have been working with the Coal Authority, the Plumptre Trust and Dover District Council on these exciting plans at the old Snowdown Colliery site for three years, and as everything starts to come to fruition we couldn’t be happier. All parties are supportive of the scope of the development, knowing that the site will be imaginatively and sympathetically reworked for a new generation.

"We aim to contain the redevelopment of the site to about 30 per cent of the total acreage, retaining and working with the site’s original landscape where possible.

"After all this time, we are looking forward to the start of a new and positive chapter for the Snowdown Colliery site.”

Cllr Keith Morris, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “This is a visionary project to bring the former Snowdown Colliery site back into economic and recreational use, playing its part in the exciting regeneration and investment programme driving new jobs and opportunities in the Dover district.

"The team at the Bee Yard at Snowdown Park are creating a real buzz around beekeeping, at a time when we’re starting to realise just how important bees are to world food supply.

"Snowdown Park, together with Discovery Park and the Betteshanger Sustainable Parks form a world-class cluster of environmental and life-science businesses.

"At the same time, Snowdown Park will be open to the public, providing an excellent outdoor facility for local people and visitors alike to enjoy.”

Note to Editors:
For further information about The Bee Yard at Snowdown Park, please contact 01227 832227 or emailinfo@snowdownpark.co.uk

#PlasticFreeDeal - Daily Plastic Info Stalls in the high St

#PlasticFreeDeal as of Plastic Free Deal Week are holding daily information stalls in the High St in Deal

These explain how people, schools and businesses can join in the campaign to reduce the amount of single use plastic in Deal and Walmer

We also have a number of examples of the products people are using in their own homes or businesses as substitute for single use plastic

Please come along and visit us 10am to 12pm Deal High St (either outside St Georges or in the precinct)

#PlasticFreeDeal Week Starts

 A week of events from the 15th to 21st April 2018 to highlight the plastic issue and hopefully turn the tide. 

New campaigning group PlasticFreeDeal is supported by Deal With It and is part of the Surfers Against Sewage initiative #PlasticFreeCoastlines

The aim of the campaign is to get all Individuals, Businesses in the town, Community Groups and Local Government to take a pledge to reduce its usage of single use plastic by at least three items.

Their website can be found at www.plasticfreedeal.org.uk - facebook page and Twitter
https://twitter.com/PlasticFreeDeal

#BigSpringBeachClean - Walmer Castle Beach Clean 16th April 2018

Lovely day for our second beach clean of #PlasticFreeDeal Week at Walmer Castle on Monday 16th April.

We had about 40 people today who collected 95kilos of rubbish.

Lots and lots of bottles found today. We had 20 volunteers from KCC, a group from Bright Sparks Pre-school and great support from passing dog walkers, runners & cyclists

who joined in.

Thank you everyone for coming.

Thanks for Sonja, Vicky, Ian & Steve from Deal With iT for organising and Kristina from KCC and Mark from English Heritage at Walmer Castle for support + welcome tea & coffee!

#BigSpringBeach Clean - Deal Beach 15th April

Massive thank you to everyone who volunteered their time on todays Deal Beach Clean - this was part of #BigSpringBeachClean a national initiative by Surfers Against Sewage of 570 beach cleans involving 30k people around the country this weekend.

It was also start event for Plastic Free Deal week. We think there was some 120 people who collected an amazing 164kilos of rubbish mainly avoidable single use plastic.

Thanks to organisers Rose, Ian, John and Steve.

I was great to see local scouts, volunteers from Sandown Castle Community Garden and fantastic turnout from A Company Kent Army Cadets.

Next one is on Bank Holiday Monday 28th May at Deal Pier

Hops at Deal’s Secret Garden”

Deal’s own community hop growing project – the Deal Hop Farm – has been invited to grow hops at the historic ‘Captain’s Garden’ at Deal Castle.

Ben Palmer, Manager for English Heritage’s Deal Castle said “The Captain’s Garden has been an integral part of the historic site at Deal Castle and Deal’s own story for centuries.

English Heritage is currently looking for long-term funding to make the garden safe, conduct an archaeological survey and develop, restore & bring back into use the out-buildings on the site.

In the meanwhile, we have invited the Deal Hop Farm to grow hops in the Captain’s Garden and make a start at bringing a small part of the site back into community use”


Steve Wakeford, of the Deal Hop Farm said “We are really very pleased to be involved in this important site for the town.

English Heritage are already part of our project; growing hops in the kitchen garden at Walmer Castle.

We had a great response from our members, many of whom have volunteered time to get the area English heritage has allocated into a usable condition.

The Garden has been dormant for many years but has great growing conditions and wonderful wildlife. We are looking at ways that local residents can get involved with the project.

It is a great privilege to be working in such an historic and wonderful garden. As well as contributing to our community hop growing project we see great potential for further community use and the start of a fruitful dialogue to shape its future between English Heritage and the wider community in Deal & Walmer.

The Deal Hop Farm has organised an open day on Easter Monday at the Captain’s Garden (which is directly opposite the castle on the other side of Victoria Road) between 10:30am to 2pm.

This is first of a series of Open events during the year for the wider community to see what we are doing, our plans for 2018 and the chance to get involved.

We look forward to welcoming people to Deal’s Secret Garden”

For further details at the Deal Hop Farm’s Facebook Page & Group DealHopFarm, email info@dealhopfarm.org.uk

Deal's Secret Garden - Open Day at the Captain's Garden @ Deal Castle

Volunteers needed for Hawkshill FreeDown

Full details at http://www.walmerweb.co.uk/history/hawkshill.html

Next Dover Repair Cafe is Tuesday 6:30pm

Deal Hop Farm has 70 new members

The second season of the Deal Hop Farm -  Deal's Community Hop Growing Project - has seen the project grow with 70 news members.

The farm has Saturday rhizome pick up stalls at the Landmark Garden, Deal High St, on Saturday 17th and 24th between 10:30 and 12:15. The farm will also host a open day at the Historic Captain's Garden at Deal Castle where it has been invited to grow hops on Easter Monday

If you want to join you need to get your skates on ... drop a email to info@dealhopfarm.org.uk for further info.

Walmer Beach Clean Sunday 4th March

After a freezing week our local community turned out big time, on today's Walmer Beach Clean. 

Over 80 people braced the elements and collected a record breaking 200kgs of rubbish in some 70 bags.

This clean was part of a national initiative #GreatBritishSpringClean 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and organisers Vicky, Sonja, Wendy, John and Charles

Our next clean is on the 15th April starting at Sandown Castle end of the beach

Lady holding crystal ball © Kent Wildlife Trust

Tales & Ales at the Alma

Thu, 08/03/2018 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Event details


Thu, 08/03/2018 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Join Roisin Murray for an evening celebrating the rich seam of stories and legends from around our coastline. Hear tales of shipwrecks, smugglers and pirates in this evening of storytelling for grown-ups.

Thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding for the Guardians of the Deep project, this event is free. However, entry is ticketed and places must be booked.

Book here

www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2018/03/08/tales-ales-alma

Great British Spring Clean - Beach Cleans Sunday 4th March

Our next Community Beach Clean will be on Sunday 4th March on Walmer Beach meeting at the Sea Cafe 9:30am.

This clean will be part of the Great British Beach Clean happening around the country - Colleagues in Kingsdown will also have a Clean on Sunday 4th at 3pm on Kingsdown Beach plus there are local litter picks happening over that weekend in Dover.

The Weird and Wonderful World of Pollination Friday 23rd February 2018 - 7.30pm

Kent Wildlife Trust - Folkestone, Hythe & Dover Local Group Event: The Weird and Wonderful World of Pollination
Friday 23rd February 2018 - 7.30pm

You are invited to join the Folkestone, Hythe and Dover Group of Kent Wildlife Trust on Friday 23rd February 2018 from 7.30 to 9.45pm at The Salvation Army Hall, Portland Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6EG, for the first indoor meeting of the new year.

Environmental biologist Clive Nuttman will give us an illustrated talk which explains the process of pollination - the transfer of pollen between flowers - and how flower visitors of all shapes and sizes help to maintain floral diversity as well as playing a role in global food security.

We welcome members and non-members alike, including children aged five and over, at our warm and comfortable venue. A donation is appreciated for the talk and the tea or coffee and biscuits in the interval, when you can enjoy relaxed chat in the company of like-minded people. Car parking is available in Portland Road, and the hall and facilities are fully accessible. For further details telephone 01304 853503 or email pauline.bateson@btinternet.com

We hope to see you there. We are always looking for volunteers to help us put on our programme of talks and walks, so if this would interest you, please talk to one of our committee members during the evening.

Deal Beach Clean 18th Feb Report

Thank you to our 100+ volunteers todays Deal Beach Clean. Glorious day to be on the beach.

A group did the survey for the Marine Conservation Society while the rest of us wandered towards the rowing club from the Pier. Some 70 Bags collected with 47kilos of rubbish.

Apologies to the 25 people who turned at 10am - There was an older posting on FB where we had not amended the time. (all cleans are now 9:30 thru to Oct)

Our next Community Beach Clean is at Walmer (Sea Cafe) on Sunday 4th March 9:30am. This is part of the National 'Great British Spring Clean).

Lots of small bits of plastic, especially fishing line found today - We have our new campaign #PlasticFreeDeal where we want all business, groups and individuals to replace three items of single use plastic. Next meeting is 13th March 7pm Dealability