I loved my childhood in the village, and have lots of good memories. One that stands out for me is when a few of us were using some straw bales to make a camp (We didn’t damage any I hasten to add). We were just finishing when a Jaguar Mark 10 appeared over the crest of the field containing assorted Osentons, who were not best pleased with us! They took names and addresses and sent us away with a flea in our ears. They reported us to PC Bob Haskins, who paid the parents of the “offenders” a visit. We were terrified, needless to say!

I also remember “hordes” of helpers hanging off or sitting in the milkman’s van – no such thing as Health & Safety then of course, mind you he used to get the round done much quicker

Other memories are attending ‘Jock” Lacey’s club in the Memorial Hall (neither he or we ever knew why he was referred to as Jock, but he didn’t like it), “newting” in Dead Man’s Pond, which was said to be bottomless. Us kids believed this to be true, even though you could clearly see the bottom!

Scrumping from the orchard, sadly all gone apart from a few cherry trees. We also “raided” Bill Rayner’s orchard and strawberry field at the top of Town Hill.

We also built countless camps and “created” new paths in the woods – much to the annoyance of Mr Hudson and Mr Fletcher the RSPB wardens. Strangely enough I am a Volunteer Warden at Northward Hill now.

I have to say that it was a fantastic place for kids and we never had “nothing to do and nowhere to go”. The village looks bigger every time I go there but I suppose that’s called “progress”

Mark Owen February 2012

Following an online discussion about long journeys on mopeds, a thread was started on Volszone.com (VW) forums asking if anyone would be interested in a charity run from John O’Groats to Lands End – on 50cc motorbikes. As foolhardy an idea as it might appear, soon enough people started putting their names down and it has snowballed from there. As a result my fiancée Claire Naylor (Eden Road) and I are attempting to ride from John O Groat’s to Lands End on classic 50cc mopeds to raise funds for www.brads.org.uk (teenage cancer charity). The funds will go towards

1 Providing equipment for the care and lifestyle specifically for teenagers with cancer.
2 Supporting the development of a Teenage Cancer Unit, through the Teenage Cancer Trust.
3 To provide help and support to teenagers with cancer and their families to relieve the stress and hardship during a difficult time.

We are part of a group of 50 riders, all on 50cc mopeds which will be setting of from John O’Groats on Saturday 7th April and will hopefully be at Lands End on Friday 13th April.

As we are riding mopeds our top speed will be 30 mph, so we are using smaller roads and plan to ride around 150 – 170 miles a day passing through some very scenic but also very hilly countryside. Including stops we estimate 8 hours riding per day. There will be a total of 55 riders all on 50 cc mopeds ranging from classic to modern.

My bike is a Honda c50 (1973) with Claire riding a MZ Simson s51 (1993)

A sponsor form is in the shop or you can drop any donations at 15 Eden Road. I trust you can support this worthwhile cause and look forward to putting an update in the HHT as to how we coped and the adventure incurred

The itinerary is as follows:

*DAY 1 - SATURDAY 7th APRIL*
Start from John O'Groats Campsite (http://www.johnogroatscampsite.co.uk/) at 8.00am ride 133.7 miles and arrive at Borlum Campsite (http://www.borlum.co.uk/)

*DAY 2 - SUNDAY 8th APRIL*
Start from Borlum Campsite at 8.00am ride 153.5 miles and arrive at Somerville Weir Hall/John.stone's approximately 3.30pm

*DAY 3 - MONDAY 9th APRIL*
Start from Somerville Weir Hall/John.stone's at 8.00am ride 169.8 miles and arrive at Bays Brown Farm, Ambleside (http://www.baysbrownfarm.com/) at approximately 4.55pm

*DAY 4 - TUESDAY 10th APRIL*
Start from Bays Brown Farm at 8.00am ride 135.1 miles and arrive at Worksop Rugby Club (http://www.worksoprufc.com/)

*DAY 5 - WEDNESDAY 11th APRIL*
Start from Worksop Rugby Club at 8.00am ride 138.8 miles and arrive at Tunnel House Campsite (http://www.tunnelhouse.com/) at approximately 5.21pm - this allows for a 2 hours stop at Queens Medical Centre Nottingham. (Brads Cancer Ward).

*DAY 6 - THURSDAY 12th APRIL*
Start from Tunnel House Campsite at 8.00am ride 141.2 miles and arrive at the Fox & Hounds Campsite (http://www.foxandhoundshotel.com/) at approximately 2.45pm

*DAY 7 - FRIDAY 13th APRIL*
Start from Fox & Hounds Campsite at 8.00am ride 95.9 miles and arrive at LAND'S END (yaaay!) at approximately 1.00pm - includes 30 minute stop at petrol station 2 miles from LE for everyone to get together so we can arrive at LE together.

We will then be having a finishing party / Classic VW show - The whole run was all organised by and on Volks Zone International which is an online forum for VW enthusiasts.

Thanks
Robin Watson (15 Eden Road – 01634 252567)

As well as telling us how much more we’ll have to pay for a pint of beer or a litre of petrol, the UK Budget on 21 March may prove to be one of the most significant moments the environment has faced in more than three decades.

In 2011, the Chancellor described hard-won legal protections for our most precious wildlife sites, as a “ridiculous cost on British business”. Here’s hoping that he had a good break over Christmas, feels refreshed and will take a different view in 2012.

Accepting that the Chancellor needs to deliver economic growth and create jobs in the face of an enormous economic challenge, what is not accepted is that the environment is a barrier to success. Instead of environmentally destructive and high carbon, how about sustainable growth that acknowledges the value of the natural world that sustains us? Instead of a Thames Estuary Airport that will destroy areas internationally acknowledged as important for wildlife and blow any chance we have of meeting our commitments to help avoid catastrophic climate change, how about the Chancellor looking to the London Gateway port development as an example of how infrastructure projects should be done?

Step up for nature and e-mail the Chancellor today. Urge him to use his Budget statement on 21 March to put the environment at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery. To take part (it only takes a few moments) please click here February 2012

The document was drawn up following a formal consultation process in autumn 2011. The comments received during the consultation were considered in producing the final version of the development brief. A list of the comments received and the council’s response is set out in the Schedule of responses to public consultation for the Lodge Hill Development Brief. To see the schedule of responses please click here

Grey Heron catching an eel by Les Foster

In the week of Charles Dickens’s 200th birthday the RSPB is offering unique access to a part of the marsh at Northward Hill reserve that is normally closed to the public.

The 3-mile round trip will take walkers into the heart of the grazing marsh that inspired Dickens’s novel ‘Great Expectations’. The hike also takes in a mix of other wildlife habitats and some interesting buildings.

The walk will commence from the main car park at 10am and again at 1pm. Please wear wellington boots and wrap-up warm.

The story of the Thames marshes is a complex mix of nature and human intervention spanning thousands of years. Wildlife watching will be interspersed with some good conversation and recitals marking different periods of the area’s past, present…and future.

At this time of year we hope to see marsh harrier, lapwing, buzzard, possibly the rare rough-legged buzzard, and Northward Hill’s iconic grey heron.

For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:

Rolf Williams, RSPB Kent, 01634 222480

Meet in the main RSPB car park at Bromhey Farm.

Events cost: £6 Adults, £5 for children, £2 discount to RSPB members. Full refunded to those joining the RSPB on the day.

Booking is essential, please call 01634 222480 or e-mail northkentmarshes@rspb.org.uk

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. www.rspb.org.uk

At this time of year we hope to see marsh harrier, lapwing, buzzard, possibly the rare rough-legged buzzard, and Northward Hill’s iconic grey heron.

In addition the MP for Rochester and Strood Mark Reckless, Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch, Gravesham MP Adam Holloway, MP for Gillingham and Rainham Rehman Chishti and Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson have requested an urgent meeting with David Cameron to discuss the proposed Thames Estuary hub airport.

There are two ways of putting your business advertisment on this website as follows:

1 A link to your own website (Cost £10 per annum)

2 A page on this website (Cost £20 per annum)

Please forward the following details to the editor@highhalstow.org.uk

Please put For Website in Subject Heading

Name of business being advertised

Details of link to own website or details you wish us to put on a web page

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On receipt of payment the details will then be put on the site

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The Clerk

High Halstow Parish Council

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Longfield

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For details of the budget for the coming year please see attached