Let there be light

I visited a number of local communities during the Armistice Centenary weekend earlier this month - to see the commemorations to mark the end of the First World War.

I ended my touring on the evening of Sunday 11th November at the site of the old Grain Fort, on the Isle of Grain, where St. James (Isle of Grain) Parish Council had organised the lighting of a special beacon, in conjunction with St. James Church and Kent Fire & Rescue Service (Grain).

The event was well attended by villagers, and was part of the nationwide 'Beacons of Light' tribute/commemoration.

The above image is poor quality, but I only had my phone camera available. To give you a better idea about what the Beacon actually looked like - here's a clearer image of one.

The Beacons symbolised the 'light of hope' that emerged from the darkness of four years of dreadful war.
 

At the heart of the Hoo Peninsula - Village Voices for the Isle of Grain (Issue 4)

The latest edition of Grain Village Voices is now available online. Click the image below, which will take you to the relevant editions page on the Village Voices website - then all you have to do is click ‘Issue 4’.

The bi-monthly publication is produced in partnership with St. James, Isle of Grain, Parish Council.

This edition includes reports and news from St. James, Isle of Grain, Parish Council, news from St. James’ Church, updates from the UJ Community Partnership and huge amounts of other parish and community information.

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.

  

Thank you Peel Ports!

I’m pleased to report that Peel Ports (Medway) have kindly agreed to donate equipment and tools, worth £500, to the Grain Coastal Park volunteer activity days.

This donation will help volunteers with many important tasks and is therefore much appreciated.

If you’d like to ‘get your hands dirty’ at Grain Coastal Park, starting this Sunday (15 January), you can find out more by clicking here - or just click the image below.

I hope to see you there!
 

Volunteering at Grain Coastal Park - get your hands dirty!

If you're keen to get some fresh air and exercise following a mince-pie packed Christmas, why not come and join other volunteers at the Grain Coastal Park activity day on Sunday 15 January? More details can be found here, or by clicking the image below.

I hope to see you there!
 

The Battle of Grain

Many thanks to Michael Dale, a Parish Councillor at St. James Isle of Grain, who recently sent me a copy of an old newspaper article (pictured below), with the headline ‘The Battle of Grain’.

The article appeared in the Chatham Standard on 28 May 1980 and showed events that the newspaper described as 'Medway's most dramatic industrial clash'.

Michael was a Rural Police Officer here on the Hoo Peninsula, from 1966 to 1992, and has many stories to tell about his time on the beat, some of which I will try and share on this site very soon. If he’ll let me!
 

Still time to vote for the UJ Community Partnership!

There’s still time to cast your vote for the UJ Community Partnership, from the Isle of Grain, in the Natwest Bank CommunityForce award scheme.

As I mentioned on this site a couple of weeks ago, your vote could help this group, which promotes social-inclusion by providing a range of learning opportunities and the chance for people to meet and share experiences.

A win would mean a £6,000 award. Every vote counts and those with the most votes (in each category) get the money - it’s as simple as that!

Please cast your vote before the closing date, which is next Monday (24 October) at midday. Just click here.
 

Grain Coastal Park (Isle of Grain) - Michael Dale’s Photographs

Michael Dale (pictured below) is a Parish Councillor on St. James Isle of Grain Parish Council. He’s sent some of his photographs of Grain Coastal Park – kindly giving permission for their use on this site.

These photos show views of Grain Coastal Park, taken at different times of the year.

The old ‘dummy battery’ along Port Victoria Road.

A wintry scene with views towards Grain Tower and Queensborough Docks.

One of many walking routes.

Church Beach looking very calm at high tide.

A ‘Quay Crane Transporter’ passing Garrison Point at the mouth of the Medway (between the Isle of Grain and Sheerness).

Another crane transporter arriving for Thamesport from China.

Seaview Meadow.

Seaview Meadow with early morning mist.

These are really great photos and I’d like to thank Michael for allowing me to share them.

Do you have any photos of the area that you would like to appear on this site? Just get in touch via the contact page.

 

Summer Fete and Carnival (Isle of Grain), Saturday 16 July 2011

Isle of Grain’s Summer Fete and Carnival is taking place this Saturday, from 2pm.

Last year's event was an enormous success and very well attended. I went along with my family and had a great time - particularly enjoying the homemade cakes! Click the image below to find out more about activities planned for this year.

The Carnival will begin at 2pm and the Fete will open from 3pm.

I hope to see you there!
 

What a load of rubbish!

Grain Coastal Park looks a great deal cleaner today, following yesterday’s successful volunteering event organised by the Kent Wildlife Trust.

Local residents and Trust members spent several hours clearing rubbish and other unwanted objects - like road signs, bollards, tyres and a rusty bucket. But thankfully no shopping trolleys!

More than a dozen bags of rubbish were collected by a team of around 20, who fought off wind and rain to get the place looking tidy. The photograph below, taken by Becky Hitchin from the Kent Wildlife Trust, shows just some of volunteers who took part.

Following many months of hard work by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, yesterday’s event was the penultimate volunteering day being organised by Paul Pearce from the Kent Wildlife Trust - a great project that has been backed by Grain Parish Council and Medway Council.

There’s plenty more left to do at Grain, so hopefully the July volunteering day will be well supported - and the weather will be a little kinder!

More details will be added to this website soon.

Kent Wildlife Trust is a leading conservation charity in Kent and Medway. If you’d like to find out more about their work, take a look at their website or facebook page.
 

Volunteering at Grain Coastal Park

Volunteers have given hours of their time and their enthusiasm to help improve Grain Coastal Park – a partnership project between Grain Parish Council, Medway Council and the Kent Wildlife Trust.

Tasks have so far have included clearing litter, pruning bushes, painting bollards and shelters, digging holes, erecting new information signs and surveying plant life. A big difference has been made, but there’s still plenty more to do. New volunteers are always welcome – and just a few hours a month will make a big difference.

I went along to the May volunteering day, and along with project co-ordinator Paul Pearce, from the Kent Wildlife Trust, I was tasked with re-locating a litter bin from one end of the car park to the other.

Sounds simple enough? Well, that’s what I thought, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

However, I’m pleased to say that a couple of hours later, following the addition to our team of two extra volunteers, heavy lifting chains, a wheelbarrow, a trolley mover and an hydraulic concrete breaker – the bin was indeed moved and looking very much at home next to the new information signs (see the photograph below).

I never thought I’d get such a great sense of satisfaction moving a rubbish bin – but it’s great seeing all the improvements coming together, of which this was just one.

Don’t worry if this all sounds a little too strenuous – there are plenty of gentle tasks for people of all ages to help out with too.

The next opportunity to help will be on Sunday 5 June, starting at 10am (until 12 noon), with an afternoon session from 2pm. The focus will be on cleaning up the beach. And there’ll also be an opportunity to learn about marine wildlife. Click the image below to find out more.

Take a look at the Kent Wildlife Trust website for more information about their work.
 

Volunteer at Grain Coastal Park

I've mentioned previously the excellent work being carried out by the Kent Wildlife Trust at Grain Beach - or Grain Coastal Park as it is now becoming known.

With members of the community giving up their spare time to help out, the Trust is busy clearing paths and scrub, erecting fences and new signs, weeding, litter-picking and generally improving the overall environment.

I went along to the latest monthly volunteer day last Sunday. I was given the task of clearing overgrown paths that had long since been covered over. Whilst I wouldn't think of myself as 'green fingered' or experienced in this sort of work, I had a really great time. I was given instructions on what to do and it was a good way of using up unspent energy and to get some fresh air.

I was only able to help out in the afternoon on Sunday, but next month I'll try to make sure I can be there the whole day.

With the backing of Grain Parish Council and Medway Council, the Kent Wildlife Trust is meeting at Grain Coastal Park every month to continue their work. The next opportunity to lend a hand is on Sunday 6 March, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm (meeting at the beach car park). There are further sessions being organised on 3 April, 1 May, 5 June and 3 July.

For more information, contact Paul Pearce (Kent Wildlife Trust) on 01622 662012 or send an email here.
 

Volunteer at Grain Coastal Park

The Kent Wildlife Trust is working hard to protect local wildlife by preserving and protecting our environment.

Paul Pearce, who co-ordinates Kent Wildlife Trust activity on the Hoo Peninsula, is looking for volunteers to help improve Grain’s Coastal Park – as part of a project the Trust is doing with Grain Parish Council and Medway Council.

Over coming months there will be many opportunities to get involved and help improve this ancient monument and local wildlife site.

If you’ve got a few spare hours on your hands for some building, fencing, scrub clearance, tree planting, path clearance, installing new signs – or even just a bit of weeding or litter picking – you may like to join one of the volunteer days being held on the first Sunday of each month. No experience is necessary and gloves and tools will be provided – as will hot drinks and biscuits!

The next opportunity to lend a hand is on Sunday 6 February, between 10am and 1pm or 2pm and 4pm (meeting at the beach car park). There are subsequent sessions being organised on 6 March, 3 April, 1 May and 5 June.

For more information, contact Paul Pearce on 01622 662012 or send an email here.