Birdsong

With most of us spending considerably more time at home (and in the garden) many people are enjoying the sound of birdsong - all day long!

The Covid-19 lockdown has resulted in fewer vehicles on roads, almost deserted skies and a cleaner, more peaceful, environment. Birdsong seems amplified by the reduction in other noise.

Birdsong is really relaxing - the perfect tonic in these worrying times. 

It's disappointing when people complain that 'birds are too noisy' or feel they're a nuisance because they might poo on a garden fence! 

The Hoo Peninsula is best known for having a vibrant bird life. 

Along with the wider Thames Estuary, the Hoo Peninsula is a vital migration hub for hundreds of thousands of wintering wildfowl and wading birds, as well as providing a summer breeding ground for migratory birds.

From garden birds to nightingales at Lodge Hill and herons at High Halstow - our local landscape provides rich pickings and a safe haven for many species. They enjoy hedgerows and gardens, farmland, waterways, wetlands, salt marshes, mudflats and woodlands.

Keep tweeting birds - and make everyone feel a little bit better.

  

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!

  

New Year Walk around Higham Marshes

I picked a good walk to start the New Year this morning - all flat and not very long!

I started out from St. Mary’s Church, in the hamlet of Church Street and within the Parish of Higham and Merston, at the very western end of the Hoo Peninsula. Before setting off, I had a good look round this lovely old building - originally Norman, but remodelled and enlarged in the 14th century. One of two Churches on the Hoo Peninsula managed by The Churches Conservation Trust (the other being St. James’ Church at Cooling) an information board inside proudly boasts that Charles Dickens’ daughter Katey married there in 1860.

With my Ordnance Survey map in hand (Gravesend, Rochester and Hoo Peninsula -163), I headed north following the Kent County Council walking route NS138, also labelled as the ‘Naughty Nuns and Nightingales’ walk. Not sure it’s the right time of year to see either though!

Although it was a lovely sunny morning, it was predictably very muddy under foot for the long stretch northwards passing ditches, pools and the nearby Gravel Works (towards Cliffe Pools). Predictably in hindsight that is - as unusually I didn’t bother to wear my walking boots. A lesson well and truly learnt!

Eventually arriving at the Shorne Marshes Nature Reserve and Higham Saltings, there were good views across the River Thames, of Cliffe Fort and, on the opposite side of the river, Coalhouse Fort.

I then headed westward along the Saxon Shore Way towards Shornmead Fort and then, after a short distance, south towards Beckley Hill - passing Barrow Hill on route. After crossing back over the railway line, I returned on the track back to St. Mary’s Church.

Although I doubt that too many ‘festive’ calories were burnt up on this walk, it was really enjoyable all the same, and getting some New Year fresh air is never a bad idea. It took just over an hour to complete - but would have been quicker with proper boots on!

For more information about St. Mary’s Church, visit the Friends of St. Mary’s Church (Higham) website by clicking here.

More information about this walk can be found here.