Countryside Club Who Receive Printed Natural Beauty Around Dover and Folkestone
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GREEN GANG GREENFAMILY GANG ACTIVITIES DURING APRIL 2012 EASTER FUN WITH WHITE CLIFFS COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP Welcome to the April edition of the Green Gang magazine full of fun events to do and a competition to keep you busy during the holidays. Green Gang is a special programme of activities for children and their families that has been running for nearly 20 years. This scheme offers children a chance to learn more about their local wildlife and countryside—All of the events are free, although a donation is very wel- come to help cover the running costs of the Green Gang, and to ensure that the programme continues. Please remember that ALL children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the events. THE GREEN GANG MAGAZINE PLACES TO VISIT FOR FREE! Due to financial pressures this Green Gang magazines is There are lots of places that are free to visit in only available digitally at the moment, unless you are a the beautiful Kent Downs Area of Outstanding member of the Countryside Club who receive printed Natural Beauty around Dover and Folkestone. copies. You can download a copy of this magazine from Visit Samphire Hoe in late April or early May to our website at www.whitecliffscountryside.org.uk where see the display of early spider orchids. The col- you will find even more events to enjoy. ony at Samphire Hoe is one of the largest in Britain. In May, why not take a walk on Folke- FOSSIL EGGS stone Downs to see the early purple orchids and The word fossil comes from the other early spring wild flowers, or in June, discover the Latin ‘fossilis’, which means ‘dug common spotted orchids on Dover’s Western Heights, with up’. brilliant views over Dover. What is a fossil? Fossils are the remains of plants and animals (often in a COMPETITION WINNERS changed form) or traces of them, such as a burrow in the sand Congratulations to James Gill of which has been preserved in rock. Eastry, Esme Pearson of Folkestone Join our fossil forays on 3rd and 5th April to learn more and Katie Weston of Ash. They all about them and to find out what a fossil egg is! found the 8 bird names in the February newsletter. The beach at Folkestone Warren is one of the best places in They will each receive a book on fossils. Well Done! south-east England to find fossils. JOIN OUR COUNTRYSIDE CLUB! COUNTRYSIDE CLUB Please send this slip, together with a cheque (made Join the Countryside Club to receive all our leaflets for a year, including Green Gang and payable to Dover District Council) to WCCP, C/o Guided walks, all for a donation of £3 (minimum) to cover the cost of post and packing! Dover District Council, White Cliffs Business Park, Or, become a friend of WCCP which costs £10 a year to join. Dover, Kent. CT16 3PJ). Contributing to the Countryside Club helps White Cliffs Countryside Partnership to £3 other £____ or £10 (friend) manage the local wildlife areas in Dover and Shepway districts, to encourage people to visit these sites with leaflets and information, to create walking and cycling Name:______________________________ trails and also enables us to organize a large number of events throughout the year Address:____________________________ including the Green Gang events during the school holidays. There are lots of other ways you can support us including: _______________________________________ Joining a guided walk, help as a Countryside volunteer or warden. _________________________ Or visiting one of our sites like Samphire Hoe, Western Heights, Postcode: _______________ GG Easter 12 Folkestone Downs or Folkestone Warren. White Cliffs Countryside Partnership Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership c/o Dover District Council, Romney Marsh Day Centre, Rolfe Lane, White Cliffs Business Park, New Romney, Kent TN28 8JR Dover, Kent CT16 3PJ. Tel (01304) 241806 Tel/Fax: (01797) 367934 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.whitecliffscountryside.org.uk Website: www.rmcp.co.uk EVENTS START HERE... Wednesday 4th April 10.00am – 4.00pm DOVER MUSEUM – EASTER CARDS AND BUNNIES CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED Adults and children alike can celebrate Easter by designing and mak- ing an Easter card and a range of Easter Bunny themed things. Drop Please note that children under 18 must be accompa- in anytime between 10am and 4pm. Entry to the Museum is free on nied at all times by a parent or guardian. It is the re- Family Days. There is no charge for the activity. LEADER: Kim Nor- sponsibility of the adult to make sure that their chil- ton, Dover Museum (01304 201066). MEET: Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover. dren are safe and well behaved, not the responsibility of the leader of the Green Gang event. Many events Wednesday 4th April, two sessions: 10.30am and 1.30pm take time to set up beforehand, so please don’t let FAMILY EVENT - NEST BOX DAY (Please book) unruly behaviour spoil the event for everyone else. Make your own nest box, get tips on encouraging nesting birds to your home and garden, watch birds nesting on the reserve and take part in the nest box knockout. Do all this and more during this special day. CARING FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE Separate charge applies for nest box-making activity. Equipment, materials and supervision are provided Children must be accompa- ‘Caring for the Countryside’ events are practical con- nied by an adult. CHARGE: RSPB: Wildlife Explorer members £1.50, servation days where local people carry out practical non-members £3. Accompanying adults £1.Booking essential. Call in work to improve the sites for wildlife and people. The to the Visitor Centre or ring us on 01797 320588 to book LEADER: RSPB (01797 320588). MEET: RSPB Dungeness nature reserve, leader will explain about the work and how to use the Boulder wall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent TN29 9PN. DURA- tools. You don’t have to stay all day – it is OK to come TION: 2 hours. along for an hour or two. Children (under 18) must be Thursday 5th April 3.00pm accompanied at all times by a parent or responsible FOSSIL FORAY (Green Gang) A family fossil foray in the East Cliff & Warren Country adult. We provide gloves, as well as water and bis- Park. An opportunity to see some of the fossils found on cuits, but please wear boots that protect your toes and the site with a chance to find your own fossils to take home. Please have good grip, and bring a cold drink and packed wear strong footwear and take care on the rocks. Suggested donation of £2 per child appreciated. LEADER: Phil Green, White Cliffs Coun- lunch. Contact us on 01304 241806 if you would like tryside Partnership (01304 241806 or 07880 706993). MEET: The to come along. Pavilion, Wear Bay Road, Folkestone (TR 239 364). DISTANCE: 1.5 miles (2 hours). GRADE: 5 (rocky shore). DONATIONS APPRECIATED Good Friday 6th April PROCESSION OF CROSSES This will help us keep Green Gang running and Come and join the annual procession of crosses from Folkestone enable us to continue to offer a future programme town centre to Sugarloaf Hill, or from Dover Town Council offices to the Western Heights. Further information from WCCP (01304 of events. 241806). Good Friday 6th April - Monday 9 April 11.00am – 3.00pm APRIL 2012 FAMILY EVENT - EASTER TREASURE TRAIL Grab an Easter trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and find the special Sunday 1st April 2.00pm Easter clues around the nature trail. Bring your completed sheet back TRUE OR FOOLED FAMILY WALK (Green Gang) to the Centre to get your yummy Easter prize. No need to book. Join me for a fascinating quiz and stroll around the Hoe to find out if CHARGE: Activity free, normal reserve entry fees apply. Adults £6, our common knowledge about the countryside is true or false. Sug- concessions £4, children £3. There is a 50% discount for RSPB and gested donation of £2 appreciated. LEADER: Steve Walker, White Wildlife Explorer members. LEADER: RSPB. Call in to the Visitor Cliffs Countryside Partnership (01304 225649). MEET: Site Manage- Centre or ring us on 01797 320588 to book. MEET: RSPB Dungeness ment Office, Samphire Hoe (Pay and Display car park), Dover nature reserve, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent TN29 (signposted off the A20 when driving from Dover to Folkestone) (TR 9PN. 294 391 or CT17 9FL). DISTANCE: 1.5 miles (1.5 hours). GRADE: 2. Dogs on leads. Good Friday 6th – Monday 9th April 11.00am – 3.30pm EASTER TRAILS ON THE WHITE CLIFFS Monday 2nd April–Thursday 5th April 11.00am – 3.00pm Easter fun at the White Cliffs. Follow the trail to receive your chocolate EASTER TRAIL AT SOUTH FORELAND LIGHTHOUSE prize. CHARGE: £2 per item. Normal admission charges apply. Easter fun in the grounds of South Foreland Lighthouse. Follow the LEADER: National Trust (01304 202756). MEET: White Cliffs Visitor trail to receive your chocolate prize. Trail is over rough ground. Centre, Langdon Cliffs, Dover. CHARGE: £1.50 per trail sheet. Normal car parking charges apply. LEADER: Jon Barker, National Trust (01304 852463). MEET: At the Friday 6th April 2.00pm lighthouse or use our free minibus that runs between the Visitor Cen- GOOD FRIDAY SAMPHIRE HOE BEACH EGGS tre, White Cliffs and the lighthouse. Dogs on leads welcome. (Green Gang) We shall have fun and games scavenging the beach to find the hidden Tuesday 3rd April 2.30pm treasures of the beach and find out what EGGS-actly lives there??? FOSSIL FORAY, BEACH COMBING AND ROCK Suggested donation of £2 appreciated.