Enjoying the great outdoors!

With an improvement in the weather - it has been good to get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

I visited the Isle of Grain yesterday for a stroll around a section of woodland in Grain Coastal Park.

Grain Coastal Park is a great place to visit with many different types of walk offered - walks to suit all preferences.

The nearest public toilet is in Lower Stoke (Grain Road).

Enjoy!
 

Seven years of the Hoo Clean Up

When I formed the Hoo Clean Up community litter picking event back in January 2012 I didn't think it would still be regularly taking place seven years later.

A team of Hoo residents last month marked the seventh anniversary of the Hoo Clean Up at the group's first litter pick of 2019. The volunteers were joined by a group of enthusiastic beavers (and cubs and scouts) from 50th Medway Towns (Hoo) Scout Group (all pictured below).

The Hoo Clean Up wasn't formed to provide a litter picking service, or to highlight any failing in service by Medway Council (or its contractors). It was formed to highlight a growing problem of residents (of all ages) who needlessly drop litter.

I am pleased to say that I have attended all but two or three events since January 2012.

If you would like to take part - the volunteers in Hoo meet on the last Saturday of every month (except in April and December) at 9.30am, outside Hoo Library (Church Street, Hoo , ME3 9AL). The session is followed by free refreshments (sponsored by the Village Voices Community Magazine) back at Hoo Library.
 

Engineering Hitler’s Downfall

I took the below photo (and many others) back in 2011. It shows World War Two anti-tank obstacles (Dragon’s Teeth) near Grain beach.

The history of these defences (as well as one of my photos), along with other initiatives deployed during the Second World War, are featured in a book by Gwilym Roberts called Engineering Hitler’s Downfall. It was published late last year and includes a Forward by Admiral Lord West. 

You can purchase the book online (for £18.99) by clicking here.

If you'd like to take a look at my original post from February 2011, click here.
 

Military airfield recognition

During the many Armistice centenary commemorations last November, Lt. Col. Fred Beringer (retired) unveiled a plaque to mark where RAF Allhallows once stood. 

The plaque, pictured below, was created by the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust and is located outside Allhallows Village Hall - the airfield was nearby - on what is today neighbouring farmland. 

The airfield was active between 1916 and 1935.  Various fighter types from ‘No. 50 Squadron’ initially used the airfield, as a Home Defence landing ground during World War One.  By the late summer of 1918 ‘No. 143 Squadron’ had taken charge of the site, with Sopwith Camels remaining in service for this unit after the end of fighting, although Sopwith Snipes had begun to replace them during 1919.

The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust is now planning to install a memorial in Hoo, at the site of what was RNAS Kingsnorth (RAF Kingsnorth), active between 1914 and 1921.