For Doddington and Newnham see:  www.twokentvillages.org                        Updated 02-02-2012

Doddington Place Gardens open every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from Easter Day until the end of September 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm .  Open for the National Gardens Scheme:  May, July & September.

Weekly Falconry Displays every Sunday at 3pm.  See:  www.thehawkingcentre.co.uk

Faversham Pools, open all year on the 30th April outdoor pools open for the summer.  01795 532426

Start of Faversham Town Tours on 7th April

A 90-minute guided stroll through Faversham, learning about the history and architecture of what is one of Kent’s most attractive market towns.
 The circular walks are led by Faversham Society volunteers and the starting point, the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, in Preston Street, is convenient for people arriving in Faversham by train. Price £3.50 (free to Faversham Society members on presentation of card).
No booking is necessary for the Saturday morning walks, but it is essential for the group tours that can be arranged for any time in the week.
The town offers some excellent places to eat and drink, and Saturday is one of its market days.
The programme of Saturday morning walks for 2012 is from 7 April to 27 October (except the weekend of Faversham Hop Festival, 1 and 2 September).

A program of events in the area will be posted here as soon as all the information is available, for now try looking at www.faversham.org./events/aspx

September

3rd & 4th - Faversham Hop Festival. A celebration of the Hop, Faversham town centre, now in it's 21st year, providing free street entertainment including two performance stages and numerous stalls.  Tel:  01795 590887

http://www.thehopfestival.com/ 

NB.  Graham and Liz recommend this to everyone it really is a wonderful experience, we never miss it.

4th - "The Spitfire" Hop Pickers Steam Trains.  Make tracks to Favresham abourd the legendary 'Spitfire' steam train as Britain's Oldest Brewer conjures up the atmosphere of the Hop Pickers Specials abourd which Londoners once travelled to Kent for the September harvest.  Tel:  01795 542285

November

3rd - Doddington Fireworks Display at Palace Farm, Down Court Road, Doddington.  ME9 0AU

Gates open 5.30.  Bonfire from 6.30, display at 7pm.  Tel:  01795 886332

19th - Murder Mystery Evening. Savour a superb four-course dinner in the brewery's 15th century function room - but keep your eyes peeled for clues and solve the mystery!  Tel:  01795 542285

Switch on of Faversham's Christmas Lights - Come and see our historic market town lit up with wonderful Christmas lights  and support our individual shops.  Market Place Faversham.  Tel:  07940 478683

Wildlife notes.

For the first time in decades a Raven has been seen over Newnham and over Doddington churchyard.  There have been no breeding ravens in Kent since about 1890.  There are apparently now three breeding pairs in Kent:  two on the cliffs near Dover, and one in the Medway Valley.  Keep an eye out ravens are as big as a buzzard with a wedge-shaped hind margin to the tail and they give a distinct and throaty "Cronk" call.

Spootted Flycatchers have been seen in Doddington Churchyard, they are a troubled bird in the UK:  its population has declined by 79% between 1980 and 2005, leading to its inclusion on the British Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern.  The reasons for its decline are unclear.  It is a long distance migrant, heading even as far as South Africa to spend the winter.

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