Latest news with #IsleOfSheppey
BBC News
14 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Britain's last St John Ambulance marching band evicted
Britain's last remaining St John Ambulance marching band has been told it must leave its home in Kent as the building is put up for band is based in Halfway, on the Isle of Sheppey, and says it was told three weeks ago that it must leave the property by 31 August.A spokesperson said the band was offered a new premises 25 miles away in Rochester but members declined because it was "unsuitable" and not big enough to store their John Ambulance said it was committed to the future of the band and is working to find a new premises. The building is used as a meeting place by the band, as well as other groups associated with St John member Ben Pointing said: "Our building in Queenborough Road was gifted by Lord Harris in 1974 and built with funds raised by the community."Now it is being sold by St John Ambulance HQ in London."We were given just eight weeks to find a new venue despite the building costing the organisation nothing."Mr Pointing said members are now "desperate" to find a suitable home, central to Sheppey, which has enough space to practice their routines and store their instruments."All of this comes just months before our 80th anniversary which is a milestone now overshadowed by uncertainty and disappointment," he added."The band, our youth and our volunteers all deserve better."A fundraiser has been set up to help secure new premises for the band or to pay for instrument storage until a new home is found.A spokesperson for St John Ambulance said the organisation was closing the building after reviewing its use, condition, running costs and long-term sustainability."We are strongly committed to the future of the band in the region and there has never been any suggestion the band should be disbanded."Our focus is on ensuring that both the band and other St John members, including our Cadets and Badgers, have a suitable meeting place that can continue to meet both their and the wider organisation's needs into the future," a spokesperson added.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Curlews 'flying beautifully' after Elmley Nature Reserve release
A flock of curlews has been released into the wild at a nature reserve in Kent as part of a major conservation effort to restore populations of one of the UK's most threatened wading chicks, hatched and reared in captivity at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, are now young adults and flying free in their new release is part of a wider programme aimed at restoring breeding populations in areas where they have been Higgs, who oversaw their care and watched the release, said: "I'm over the moon. It couldn't have gone any better. All the birds we let go are flying beautifully." Over the past 40 years, populations of the Eurasian curlew – known for its distinctive long, downturned bill and haunting call – have plummeted, particularly in southern England and birds, which nest on the ground, are attacked by predators such as foxes and stoats. Philip Merricks, a farmer, landowner and conservationist, explained that rearing the birds in captivity "just gives the young curlew a chance". The eggs were collected from nests in North Yorkshire, which were in vulnerable positions such as next to footpaths. They were incubated there for three weeks before being transported to Kent. The young birds were then raised in specially designed aviaries before their release at eight weeks old. Another batch will be released next week. This is the third year that curlews have been reared and released this way at the reserve, but although they can currently be spotted at Elmley, they do not yet breed warden Simon Ginnaw said curlews tended to return to the place they were born to lay their own eggs as a survival strategy. He added: "They breed when they are three years old, the project is now three years old so next year, 2026, hopefully the first birds will come back and establish breeding here."The reserve is asking people to report sightings to them, including pictures of the special rings that have been attached to the birds' rings have letters on that can help experts map the distribution of the birds.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Prison guards laughed and joked before inmate died
Prison officers were caught on body cam footage laughing and joking while restraining an inmate who later died, an inquest has Dawes-Clarke, 28, was serving time at HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent when he suffered multiple cardiac arrests, both during and after the incident on 10 November 2021. The father-of-four had tied a ligature around his neck before officers intervened and began an "inappropriate and disproportionate" restraint which "escalated unnecessarily", the court was at Kent and Medway Coroners Court in Maidstone concluded that officers had showed a "deeply concerning lack of care and compassion" throughout. Staff were captured on video joking about the size of the handcuffs they needed for Dawes-Clarke as he writhed and screamed on the floor."Animalistic" language was also used, with the inmate being described by officers as being "like a bucking bronco". The inquest also revealed handcuffs were wrongly applied, with jurors finding it "inappropriate for paramedics to have approved the handcuffing" given their lack of training to administer such added there were "significant shortcomings" from all present in response to Dawes-Clarke's medical emergency and him subsequently going limp. He went on to suffer two more cardiac arrests in the ambulance to the hospital, followed by a fourth and final one upon arrival. The inquest found that "throughout the restraint, the proximity of one prison officer's knee to Dawes-Clarke's chest was bad practice". "On top of this, leadership was lacking and control of (the prisoner's) head was not prioritised".Along with the initial self-ligature, this "combination of factors" was cited as having led to Dawes-Clarke's death - the medical cause of which was a lack of oxygen and/or blood flow to the the inquest, his sister Shay Inico said he had died "in the most shocking circumstances - restrained, neglected, and dehumanised while prison staff and paramedics who were trained to save lives stood by and did nothing". Assistant coroner for Kent Ian Brownhill has commissioned three separate prevention of future deaths reports as a result of this case.A HM Prison Service spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Azroy Dawes-Clarke."Since this incident we have taken action to improve staff training around use of force, and we will now carefully consider the inquest's findings in full."
The Sun
19-07-2025
- The Sun
Kent's best campsite has its own private beach and 3,000 acres that feels like the savannah
PEACEFUL countryside, a private beach and glam shepherd huts - you'll find it all at the now award-winning Elmley Nature Reserve. The campsite on the Isle of Sheppey has scooped up a Muddy Stilettos Award for Boutique Stay in Kent for 2025. 6 6 Elmley Nature Reserve is just an hour from London, found in North Kent on the Isle of Sheppey. The site is so vast, set across 3,300 acres, that it felt less like Kent, and more like being in the middle of the African savannah. There are waterways and grasslands, but the real gem is the private beach. Called Cockleshell Beach, it's a small shell-covered beach at the eastern tip of the island. During the summer months, you can go there and take a dip in the water. At other times of the year, it's used for migratory birds, and there's even a viewing screen for guests to watch and get a closer look. For anyone wanting to stop and stay, there are lots of choices including a large campsite. On-site are four shepherd huts called Little Owl and Samphire sleeping two while The Saltbox, The Damson and The Ferryman's sleep four. The cabins are a great option for families as they sleep two adults and two children under the age of 10. These are called The Roost, Martha's Hut, James' Hide and The Isle. Other amenities include a wood burning stove and an outdoor bath. 6 6 For anyone wanting to get even closer to nature, you can camp out in one of the four bell tents. Or for larger groups there's Elmley Cottage which sleeps 10, or the Kingshill Farmhouse for up to 12 guests. As for food and drink, there's no on-site restaurant, but there are provided hampers and delicious meals. During the summer, the reserve supplies wood-fired pizzas with a drink or your choice. You can take it back to your accommodation, or enjoy it outside in the courtyard. There are breakfast hampers that will be delivered to your door, from bacon sandwiches to pastries and porridge. For anyone going exploring, you can pre-book picnics to take along with you. Or use the honest bar filled with snacks, drinks and complimentary tea and coffee. 6 If you're not completely relaxed already, there is even a spa where you can get treatments from messages to hydrating facials. Other activities include a Land Rover safari, it's an off-road adventure to see the wider reserve and spot rare wildlife. There's also a two hour walking tour at dusk where a guide will give you the best chance of spotting the local owls. You don't have to stay overnight, although, why wouldn't you? But you can book day tickets to the nature reserve too. For any camping fans, here are the UK's best that have perfect reviews and honesty shops. And these are the top 20 most idyllic camping destinations in the country. 6
The Independent
02-07-2025
- The Independent
Eight arrested over conspiracy to destroy Ulez cameras
Eight people have been arrested over an alleged conspiracy to destroy Ulez cameras, the Metropolitan Police said. A co-ordinated operation conducted by the force has seen six men and two women arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage. One of the men is also alleged to have been involved in threatening and harassing the team sent to repair a damaged camera. The Met made the arrests at addresses in London, Windsor and on the Isle of Sheppey in the early hours of Wednesday. The London arrests took place in Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northwood, Sutton and Eltham. Those arrested remain in custody. Searches are ongoing at the addresses but officers say they have already recovered items related to the alleged offending. Superintendent Paul Thomas, of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: 'There is a big difference between lawful protest and plotting to destroy or seriously damage property. 'Some may think of this sort of behaviour as a victimless crime, but when cameras are damaged or destroyed it creates dangerous hazards, risking collisions on the road in addition to disruption for motorists and residents. 'We take these offences very seriously and officers will continue working closely with Transport for London and other partners to identify and build a case against those responsible. 'Today's arrests are a significant development in what has been a long and complex investigation that is not yet over. 'I would appeal to anyone who has information about plans to target Ulez cameras to come forward.'
