Twinkle at Orleston Church, Kent

Twinkle at Orleston Church, Kent
Twinkle at Orleston Church, Kent

Sunday 29 January 2012

No Lorries - No Quarry

There's a place in Kent called Dungeness. It lies at the most southerly point in Kent, close to the border with Sussex. (I refuse to call it East Sussex - but that's a whole other story!) It's just a huge bank of shingle sticking out into the sea, with two nuclear power facilities standing on it. So, what's so special, I hear you ask? Dungeness is beautiful. In fact, it's an area of outstanding natural beauty. Despite the power plants, or maybe because of them, it's quiet, bleak and lonely. There's a pub, three lighthouses, and a handful of shacks, but not a lot else. There's plants that grow here and nowhere else in Kent. There's a couple of big lakes, and an RSPB wildfowl reserve. There's snakes, lizards, and a whole lot else.

And now they want to build a quarry and excavate the shingle for sea defences elsewhere along the coast.

This quite simply must not be allowed to happen. This place is so special and unique that nothing should be allowed to disturb its ecology. Nevermind the fact that taking away huge amounts of shingle will also render the few habitations down there liable to flooding.

If you don't want to see this happen, then please protest to your MP. There's a site been set up here with facilities to help make yourself heard.

Please join the fight....................

Tuesday 24 January 2012

2012

So, here we are, the start of another touring year. I promise to not be ill this year, and to fulfill all the trips I've got planned. So, what lies in store this year? Well, so far, in May I'm off to Somerset and the North Devon/Exmoor area. July will see me in Northumbria and North Yorkshire, and September it will be back to the beautiful landscapes of Wales. There's still so much I haven't had time to see there yet. That's what's planned so far. Of course, there will be other breaks, I'm sure. I'm hoping to fit in some time in Suffolk, and there will be a winter city break to decide upon later. I also promise to show you some of my home county of Kent. I really have neglected it so far. Problem is, I know it so well, I tend to go out and forget to take my camera with me. Pretty much the same can be said for its' neighbouring counties of Sussex and Surrey. They're just day rides out for me.