Village Voices for the parishes of Stoke and St. Mary Hoo (Edition 2)

The latest Village Voices, for the parishes of Stoke and St. Mary Hoo, is now available to read online.  Click the image below to see the full copy (this directs you to the Village Voices website).

This edition includes reports and updates from Stoke Parish Council and St. Mary Hoo Parish Council. There's also information about a Summer Fete being held at Stoke Community School on Saturday 6 July, details of the Anim-Mates (local animal rescue sanctuary) Summer Fete taking place at The Fenn Bell pub on Saturday 21 July and lots more!

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

Visit the website for Stoke Parish Council here, and visit the website for St. Mary Hoo Parish Council here.
  

Showin' Grain present Death of a Songbird

The Showin’ Grain Theatre Group are back with an interactive murder mystery on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June, at the Village Hall, Chapel Road, Isle of Grain.

'Death of a Songbird' has been written and produced locally by Moira Pearn.

You won't just be an audience member, as you'll play detective in teams of six per table. And there's a chance of winning a bottle of champagne.

Doors open at 7pm, with the action beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6, which includes food. Tickets can only be purchased in advance from Veronica Cordier on 271807 or 271674.

Have a great night!

  

Summer Fair at Hoo Parish Church (29 June 2013)

Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church will be holding their Summer Fair on Saturday 29 June, from 10am until 12 noon.

A great selection of stalls, games and attractions is planned, in and around the Church, and there'll even be a Dalek popping by to enjoy having photographs taken with residents!

Take a look at the poster to find out more.

See you there!
 

Village Voices (June 2013 Edition)

The June edition of Village Voices is now available to read online. This is the community magazine for Hoo and Chattenden. Just click the image below, which will take you to the 'editions' page of the Village Voices website - then click the June edition.

This edition includes promotion of the coming Cabaret Night being held at Taggs Coffee Shop and Wine Bar on Thursday 20 June (in aid of the Hoo Village Carnival Committee), a history of Lodge Hill (from a development perspective) by Parish Councillor Lionel Pearce, a very interesting article about ‘identity’ by Rolf Williams from the RSPB and much much more!

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

  

Allhallows Life - June 2013 Edition

The latest edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Click the image below to read the full copy.

This edition includes information about the next Slough Fort Project Day on 8 June, reports and information from the Parish Council, details of services at All Saints Church, community contacts, events in the village and lots more!

Allhallows Life is the magazine for Allhallows Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

The Hoo Peninsula is open for business!

With half term approaching, I’d like to encourage you to visit the Hoo Peninsula - a fantastic landscape offering wilderness and heritage.

It stretches from Cliffe (or thereabouts) in the west to the Isle of Grain in the east. Our villages include Upnor, Cliffe and Cliffe Woods, Cooling, Hoo St. Werburgh, High Halstow, St. Mary Hoo, Stoke, Allhallows and the Isle of Grain.

We have a fabulous, and in my view unrivalled, network of dramatic walking routes, marshland, wildlife, heritage, farmland and vibrant communities. There are many local shops and businesses, including a super selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants and we are never short of fetes and community events.

We are very proud to be the home of RSPB Cliffe Pools Nature Reserve, Upnor Castle, RSPB Northwood Hill Nature Reserve, Grain Coastal Park, St. James’ Church at Cooling (made famous by Charles Dickens), Deangate Ridge Golf Club near Hoo, Medway Microlights at Stoke Airfield and Port Werburgh in Hoo (just some of our attractions).

If you’ve never been - please come and see us and enjoy the great outdoors right on your doorstep. You’ll have a great time!

Take a look at Medway Council’s website for more information about local activities, search the Hoo Peninsula on the internet or browse this site.

We are open for business and ready to welcome you!

  

Take a trip to Grain Coastal Park

If you’d like to experience our dramatic local landscape, you’re definitely spoilt for choice on the Hoo Peninsula.

The much improved Grain Coastal Park is a great place to begin and it’s perfect for appreciating some of the history and character of the Hoo Peninsula.

Enthusiastic volunteers have undertaken huge amounts of improvement work over the last couple of years, firstly as part of a Kent Wildlife Trust project and then in the form of the Friends of Grain Coastal Park volunteer group - set up specifically to promote and improve the park. The site is owned by the St. James Isle of Grain Parish Council.

I had a great time at Grain on Sunday afternoon, walking from one end of the park to the other, exploring many new and existing walks, paths and seating / viewing areas. The place is looking stunning and volunteers have done a remarkable job.

Take a look at the Friends of Grain Coastal Park website by clicking here. You’ll find details of organised walks planned for May, June and July - led by volunteer and local Parish Councillor Michael Dale.

Enjoy!

  

Public Convenience

Janet Keates, from Cliffe, recently sent me a scan of an old 1950s newspaper, referring to a major dispute between villagers living on the Isle of Grain. The subject of the row was the siting of a toilet block in the centre of the village!

The story appeared in the Daily Express in April 1959. And if you want to know what happened - the toilets were granted permission and they served the community for many years, until being demolished in the 1990s.

In 2000, the Cat and Cracker pub and the Working Men's Club were also demolished, leaving the village with only one watering hole for the first time in a century (The Hogarth).

Another snippet of our local history.
 

Proposal to move Hoo Post Office - have your say!

Residents are invited to take part in a consultation to move Hoo Post Office from its current location in the village centre, to 112 Main Road (near the junction with Pottery Road).

If you'd like to have your say, click here to give your feedback, and to see the proposals in full.

The consultation ends on 27 June 2013.
 

Battle of the songsters!

It was good to catch up with Rolf Williams from the RSPB earlier today in Hoo for a coffee at Taggs Coffee Shop, promoting the coming North Kent Walking Festival.

Click here to take a look at the walking festival guide I posted on Sunday.

Following the information I was given by the RSPB at the weekend (Going for a song - Nightingales in North Kent), I thought you might also like to hear two singing Nightingales competing with each other at RSPB Northward Hill. This was recorded by Rolf recently.

Enjoy listening to the Nightingales on the video below.

Thanks Rolf for sharing this!
 

Grain and the floods of 1953

The floods of 1953 will be the subject of a couple of very interesting events being held at Grain library in June. Take a look at the below poster to find out more.

In addition to the talk being given by Norma Crowe, there'll no doubt be many fascinating photographs and accounts from local people.

See you there!
 

Get involved at Grain Coastal Park

I've had many happy times volunteering on the Isle of Grain with the very successful Friends of Grain Coastal Park group.

They're a great bunch and are completely devoted to making sure the parkland can be enjoyed by everyone.

The Friends group meet every month and the next volunteering session is this Sunday (19 May), from 10am. Take a look at the poster below to find out more.

 
If all this sounds a little too strenuous for you, please pop over to Grain for a leisurely stroll around Grain Coastal Park and enjoy one of the most dramatic foreshores in the area.

You won't be disappointed!

The website for the Friends of Grain Coastal Park can be viewed by clicking here.
 

News from Anim-Mates animal sanctuary

Anim-Mates animal sanctuary, based at St. Mary Hoo, is always looking for new homes for their animals. The poster below features four cats seeking new homes.

Anim-Mates is a registered charity.  Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

They’re coming from the Rhondda Valleys!

My mate Stuart Coombes from Hoo is very busy organising another concert at Hoo Parish Church. This one will be held on Saturday 25 May with entertainment provided by the Morlais Male Choir, who will travel all the way from Wales for their third performance in the village.

Tickets are available by making a donation of £8, as per the details listed on the poster below (click to enlarge).

There’s still plenty of time to get hold of tickets, although they are going fast. To find out more phone Stuart on 01634 251705.

It’ll be a good night!

  

Meeting for The Chimes and Pastures Residents’ Association

Residents from the new developments east of Bells Lane in Hoo will be meeting on Saturday 25 May at 12 noon, at The Village Community Sports and Social Club (top of Bells Lane).

A number of topics will be on the agenda for discussion, including concerns about service level agreements with OM Property Management. The meeting will also, hopefully, elect a new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Association.

If you’d like further information, send an email here.

  

Summer Fete at the Nags Head pub

Take note of this exciting event in Lower Stoke, as there will be plenty of fun things to do at the Nags Head pub Summer Fete on Saturday 25 May.

Click the image below to find out more.

With plenty of stalls to keep everyone occupied, live entertainment will also be provided in the form of The Newz - a popular a rock 'n' roll band.

The Nags Head recently underwent a refurbishment, so please try and pop along with your family to show support for this community pub, and to enjoy a great day out.
 

Our great outdoors is waiting for you!

I’m sure many of us don’t need an excuse to get out the house and enjoy our fantastic local landscape. I certainly don’t, as it’s long been one of my favourite pastimes.

But it’s really good to see that a North Kent Walking Festival has been organised, with walks and events taking place from Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June.

Even more exciting is the fact that seven of the events listed on the guide, shown below, are being held right here on the Hoo Peninsula - all of which look fabulous fun! They include Grain Coastal Park, RSPB Northward Hill, Allhallows-on-Sea, Great Chattenden Wood, St. James’ Church at Cooling, RSPB Cliffe Pools and Cliffe Marshes.

I hope to see you at some of the walks and events planned, let's just hope the weather stays nice.

Time to enjoy our great outdoors!

  

Big turnout for the Hoo Clean Up!

The April Hoo Clean Up (pictured below on the May event poster) was possibly the most well attended session to date.

20 local residents came along to help collect litter from the village square, the car parks behind Co-Op and Spar supermarkets, Church Street and parts of Main Road, Stoke Road, Vicarage Lane and Bells Lane.

Another fantastic effort from the volunteers, finished off with refreshments and some tasty nibbles back at Taggs Coffee Shop.

Having attended every Clean Up event since they were created in January 2012, it was especially nice on this occasion to welcome along a few new faces. The next opportunity to get involved will be on Saturday 25 May at 9.30am. The meeting point will again be Taggs (Church Street, Hoo).

The Hoo Clean Ups are supported by Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo and Chattenden), MHS Homes and the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. No funding is received (or sought) from Medway Council or Hoo Parish Council.

If you’d like to find out more about the Hoo Clean Ups, get in touch with Michael Pearce (Clean Up Co-Ordinator) on 07919 693095 or send an email here.

  

Going for a song - Nightingales in North Kent

With half term fast approaching, I thought I’d share some information supplied by the RSPB about events taking place at Northward Hill:

Nightingales are back for the summer on the Hoo Peninsula, probably the most important site in the UK for this species, and now is the best time to hear their song. To celebrate their return the RSPB is hosting a series of guided walks at some of the best places to hear and perhaps see these shy birds.

Nightingale photo by John Whitting.

Alan Johnson, Kent’s RSPB reserves manager said, “Now is the time because once the male has found his mate he falls silent. I never tire from hearing the nightingale’s song and we’d like to give everyone else the opportunity. Despite the bird’s popular appeal many have never heard one singing and the birds are disappearing from our countryside fast!”

British Trust for Ornithology research has revealed that the UK‘s nightingale population halved between 1995 and 2008 and their distribution is retreating towards the southeast of England. The Hoo Peninsula is now, probably, the most important area for the species in the country. Well over 1% of the national population nests at Lodge Hill and there are healthy populations at RSPB Cliffe Pools and Northward Hill, Chattenden Woods and Blean Woods.

The nightingale, a charismatic avian lyricist, litters our literature as far back as the 8th century BC. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Shelley and Keats couldn’t resist writing about nightingales, and the alleged songster of Berkeley Square has itself been sung about by Vera Lynn, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and even Twiggy and Rod Stewart! Many people confuse song thrushes, robins and blackbirds for nightingales since these birds will sing by the light of a street lamp but the real thing is unmistakable.

A choice of guided walks are available to the public over the next few weeks and full details can be found on the RSPB website here, or by clicking here. You can also phone the RSPB office on 01634 222480.

Sunday 19 May, from 10am to 12pm
RSPB Northward Hill “Wild About You” Bird Ringing 

Tuesday 28 May, from 7am to 9am
Great Chattenden Woods “North Kent Walking Festival” Walk* 

Wednesday 29 May, from 6am to 8pm
RSPB Northward Hill “Spring Strings” North Kent Walking Festival Walk and cello* 

Sunday 9 June, from 10am to 12 noon

RSPB Northward Hill “Wild About You” Bird Ringing

*A donation is appreciated, all other walks have a fee. 

RSPB Northward Hill is well worth a visit, so please try and pop along to one of these events!

  

Village Voices (parishes of Stoke and St. Mary Hoo), May 2013 Edition

Here's the first edition of Village Voices, especially for the parishes of Stoke and St. Mary Hoo. Click the image below to see the full copy (this directs you to the Village Voices website).

This edition includes reports and updates from Stoke Parish Council and St. Mary Hoo Parish Council.  There's also information about the Nags Head Pub Summer Fete, to be held in the village on Saturday 25 May.

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

  

High Halstow Times - May 2013 Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times. Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do in the village. Click on the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes a feature about the High Halstow Golf Open (to be held on 17 July), a report from the High Halstow Hikers, an update on the annual village photographic competition, news from High Halstow Primary School and much much more.

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Village Voices (May 2013 Edition)

The May edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo St. Werburgh and Chattenden) is now available to read online. Just click the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes an article from The Chimes and Pastures Residents Association, a Bird Names Wordsearch, a photo feature from the Strood Division of Girlguiding UK, a special report by Rolf Williams from the RSPB, local events and diary dates, a report from the Hoo Village Carnival Committee, advice for teenagers in the ‘adolescent angle’ feature and plenty of local insight in a double-whammy of ‘hobbies and pastimes’.

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

  

Allhallows Life - May 2013 Edition

The latest edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Click the image below to read the full copy.

This edition includes an interesting review of the Parish Council’s work over the last two years (since elections were held in May 2011), information about village events, advice on becoming a volunteer Master Gardener and much more!

Another packed edition, with lots of local information and news.

Allhallows Life is the magazine for Allhallows Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here, the magazine also features items from St. Mary Hoo Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Hoo Clean Up (April 2013)

The next Hoo Clean Up event will take place on Saturday 27 April, at 9.30am.

Meeting at The Chequers pub in Church Street, volunteers will spend around 90 minutes collecting 'enemy' litter from around the village square. There'll be free refreshments back at the pub after the session for everyone that helped.

If you’d like to find out more about the Hoo Clean Ups, or to sign up for this excellent community activity, contact Michael Pearce (Clean Up Co-Ordinator) on 07919 693 095, or send an email by clicking here.

  

Easter Bonnet Parade at The Chequers

During the Easter weekend I popped down the pub (The Chequers in Hoo), but not for a pint this time! I was asked to judge a children’s Easter Bonnet Parade and Picture Painting Competition.

Well done to all the kids for attending with their parents and for creating a superb selection of colourful bonnets and paintings. It was extremely difficult to choose winners!

Special thanks to Sarah, who runs the pub, and DJ Marky Mark (both pictured) for providing great entertainment all afternoon.

I believe there’ll be some more photos of this event in the May edition of Village Voices, so watch out for that!

Find out more about the many events taking place at The Chequers by visiting their website.

  

The Ship no more!

I’ve mentioned my family connections to the old Ship pub in Lower Stoke a number of times before. Click here and here to take a look at those items.

Although the pub has long been demolished, it’s nice to see that the new housing development has some resemblance to the old pub that was previously on this site.
  

Stegosaurus seen in Hoo!

Despite a sprinkling of snow and a chilly breeze, it was good to attend the opening of a new play park in Hoo a couple of weeks ago (on 23 March), along with the Mayor of Medway Cllr Vaughan Hewett.

Located behind Hoo Swimming Pool on Main Road, the dinosaur themed park is called ‘the lost world’ and is equipped with eye-catching play equipment, ranging from dinosaur springer and dinosaur eggs (which are a roundabout and seats), a rope swing, climbing tower and a Stegosaurus sculpture for children to climb.

The colourful playground is apparently the only one like it in the whole of Medway and cost around £120k to create. The funding came from a developer contribution, resulting from the Coes Green housing development in Chattenden.

Many thanks to Sheila Mudge for supplying the photo.

  

Village Voices (April 2013 Edition)

The April edition of Village Voices (the community magazine for Hoo St. Werburgh and Chattenden) is now available to read online. Just click the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes an update on the Lodge Hill development at Chattenden, information about a new children’s play area in Hoo, a fascinating article by Rolf Williams from the RSPB, a Hoo Clean Up photo-special and lots of other interesting features and local advertising.

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

  

High Halstow Times - April 2013 Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times. Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do in the village. Click on the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes a report by High Halstow Cricket Club, details of the Parish Council Annual Meeting (beginning at 8pm on Wednesday 17 April at The Memorial Hall), updates on the High Halstow Hikers, details of the summer show by Dramarama (taking place in early June) and lots of other useful local information.

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Allhallows Life - April 2013 Edition

The latest edition of Allhallows Life is now available. Click the image below to read the full copy.

This edition includes an interesting article about the good work done by the Parish Council to keep the village clean and tidy, information about the exciting Slough Fort Restoration Project, a special report about parking problems in Avery Way and details of the Parish Council Annual Assembly (beginning at 6.30pm on Wednesday 24 April at The Village Hall).

Another really packed edition, with lots of local information and news.

Allhallows Life is the magazine for Allhallows Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here, the magazine also features items from St. Mary Hoo Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

Snow update from Medway Council

Here's the latest information supplied by Medway Council about how they're handling the snow across the area (9.37am, 12/03/2013):

Medway’s Council’s eight gritters have been out through the night and will continue treating roads throughout today.

The teams continuously retreated all of Medway’s primary and secondary roads - which are more than 335 miles long - throughout the early hours and this morning.

But high, blustery north easterly winds, below zero temperatures, which have frozen road surfaces, and continuous snow overnight and this morning have made it a difficult, with new snow continuously settling on top of grit and ice.

Grit needs to be worked into the snow and ice by vehicles driving over it to take effect, so this has made the gritting teams work extremely difficult.

However, main roads across Medway are now passable with care, but the council would advise residents to only make essential trips due to the conditions - as North Kent is one of the two worst hit places in the country.

Crews have also been out treating the third tier road network this morning.

Snow ploughs were deployed overnight on the B2000, Cooling Road, A228 Grain Road and Ratcliffe Highway.

These are used to move considerable amounts of drifting snow that needs to be shifted due to its depth, but ploughs cannot be used to move low levels of snow on the road surface.

This needs to be treated by salt and grit, which when worked in by vehicles driving over it makes the roads less slippery and therefore passable.

Contractors are also out salting town centres by hand, but this does take time so the council would ask residents to bear with us as this is completed.

For details on which roads are treated on Medway’s road network please visit. Priority one car parks are also being treated and you can find details of them here. Residents are also urged to use salt bins and details of your nearest one can be found here.
 

Have your say on the 'Coleman Land' development in Hoo!

Bellway Homes say that they will soon submit a planning application to build on the last remaining field along Bells Lane in Hoo, known locally as the 'Coleman Land'.

Their application is likely to offer 119 new homes, between two and three storeys in height.

Bellway will next week hold a 'drop-in' session for local residents, where they will unveil their proposals.  A team of experts will be available from the development team to answer questions.

The event will take place on Wednesday 13 March, from 5pm to 9pm, at The Village Community Sports and Social Club, Bells Lane, Hoo, ME3 9JD.

If you'd like any further information, contact Patrick Clark on 07525 031276 or email here.

  

Join the fight against litter in Hoo!

The next Hoo Clean Up event will take place on Saturday 30 March, at 9.30am.

Meeting at The Chequers pub in Church Street, volunteers will spend around 90 minutes collecting 'enemy' litter from around the village square. There'll be free refreshments back at the pub after the session for everyone that helped.

If you’d like to find out more about the Hoo Clean Ups, or to sign up for this excellent community activity, contact Michael Pearce (Clean Up Co-Ordinator) on 07919 693 095, or send an email by clicking here.
  

Hoo Marina is waiting for you!

I always enjoy popping down to Hoo Marina (now known as Port Werburgh). It’s high up on the list of places to go locally whenever I have family and friends staying over - just like when my mother and sister visited last summer.

Although you have to go through a small industrial area to get there, the views of the River Medway from the marina are worth it.

And, you can enjoy a nice cuppa and something tasty to eat at Hoo Riverside Diner - perfectly placed within the marina. Next door you’ll find the office of Premier Houseboats, offering a really interesting range of boats for sale - always good to have a nose at the sales board on the window!

From Saturday 9 March another business will be opening in the marina, next to Riverside Diner, called Beach Hut 'n' Boats. They’ll be offering a colourful range of products. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

Hoo Riverside Diner is open from Monday to Friday (8am to 4pm) and Saturdays and Sundays (8.30am to 4pm).

So, when you get some spare time, pop down to Port Werburgh and see what you’ve been missing!

  

Backed by the people!

I thought I’d share this photograph of my new t-shirt.

I designed it online last weekend and it was delivered this morning. One of only two made, it was produced at no cost to the taxpayer of course!

The front shows the Stop Estuary Airport campaign logo, with the most recent version of my photo-wall on the back - featuring many local residents.

Keep up to date with the Stop Estuary Airport campaign by clicking here. Alternatively, take a look at the website run by the Friends of the North Kent Marshes here.

No surrender!

  

Can you offer a home to a rescue cat?

Anim-Mates is the popular local animal rescue sanctuary based at St. Mary Hoo.

This month, the sanctuary is working to find new homes for these four very cute cats pictured below - can you help?

If you can provide a home to one of these cats, get in touch with Teresa on 01634 271456 or 07743 331397. Visit their website by clicking here.
 

No surrender, no Thames Estuary airport!

It's been a while since I added anything on here about opposing the ludicrous idea of constructing an airport in the Thames Estuary. But that doesn't mean the issue has gone away, sadly. Far from it!

I thought I'd include my most recent ‘Stop Estuary Airport’ photo-wall produced last year, to highlight the parliamentary petition currently being organised by the MP for Rochester and Strood, Mark Reckless. Mark represents all of the communities on the Hoo Peninsula - from Cliffe to the Isle of Grain.

You can show your support for opposing a Thames Estuary airport, and for Mark's petition, by completing the online petition form on his website. Just click here to get involved.

If you’re concerned about the possible destruction of the Hoo Peninsula, please make every effort to get your voice heard! Tell all your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about the petition - let's send the message, loud and clear, that there'll be 'no surrender' from the people of the Hoo Peninsula!

Stay in touch with the Stop Estuary Airport campaign by visiting Medway Council's dedicated website. Another excellent resource is the site run by the Friends of the North Kent Marches, click here to visit.

Step up and save the peninsula from destruction!