Medway Matters

Funtime Fridays in Rainham

• Funtime Fridays
  Every Friday, 11am-3pm
  With the school holidays upon us many of you may be wondering how to entertain the kids without breaking the bank. Throughout August there will be plenty of family fun in Rainham shopping centre.
  For the kids, there will be martial art displays, circus skills workshops, face painting, story telling and a visit from the Kent Fire Brigade. For the adults, specialists will be on hand to provide information on recycling, trading standards, Medway Lifeline and neighbourhood watch. Events change from week to week so look out for posters in the town centre or call the town centre manager, Toni Doran on 01634 338113 for more details.
  Bring the whole family to the town centre to enjoy the Funtime Friday entertainment while doing some shopping. There are also plenty of tasty places to stop for lunch so you can make a whole day of it, week after week.

Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership Scheme summer events

The free events, walks and talks are led by local experts and organisations including Kent Wildlife Trust, Plantlife, Medway Valley Countryside Partnership and local historical societies.

• Dormouse Discovery
  Sunday, 17 August, 10am
  Burham Downs, TQ 744 622
  A rare opportunity to get close to dormice by joining the reserve warden on the checking of dormouse boxes
  Booking is essential for this event. Contact Kent Wildlife Trust on 01622 662012 or email info@kentwildlife.org.uk
• Cuxton Landscapes Lost and Living
  Wednesday, 20 August, 6:30pm
  Meet at Ranscombe Farm, Cuxton TQ 718 675.
  Guided walk and talk around Cuxton and the surrounding area. Includes Upper Bush, Darnley Mausoleum (Sunday walk only) and Cuxton.
  Booking is essential. Contact Ken Law on 01634 725590 or email ken@law8135.freeserve.co.uk
• Wildflowers and Butterflies of the Downs
  Sunday, 24 August, 10am
  Meet at Bluebell Hill picnic site, TQ 744 622
  Guided walk around the beautiful chalk hills of the North Downs with the reserve warden. Discover and identify wildflowers and butterflies while enjoying the panoramic views offered from this wonderful site.
• Water Vole Discovery
  Tuesday, 26 August, 2pm
  Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Larkfield, ME20 6AA
  Learn about life as a water vole and other creatures that live at Leybourne Lakes by solving the clues along the trail. Opportunity to make your own mask. (Car parking charges apply, 60p for up to 4 hours).
  Booking is essential. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826 or email mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk.
• Leybourne Goes Batty
  Friday, 29 August / Saturday, 6 September, 7:45pm
  Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Larkfield, ME20 6AA
  Come and take part in an evening bat walk around Leybourne Lakes Country Park searching for bats and learning all about them.
  Booking is essential for this event. Contact the Rangers Office on 01622 243397.
• The Friars guided tour
  Thursday, 4 September, 2pm
  The Friars (Aylesford Priory), ME20 7BX
  A fascinating guided tour around the Friars, an ancient religious house of the Order of the Carmelites dating back to the 13^th Century. 1 hour tour.
  Booking is essential. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826 or email mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk.
• Industry in the Medway Gap 1750 – 1914
  Tuesday, 16 September, 7pm
  Aylesford Community Centre, 25 Forstal Road, Aylesford, ME20 7AU
  A captivating talk by expert Dr Andrew Hahn revealing how industry in the Medway Gap has shaped the landscape that we see today.
• Domains of the Dead, Lands of the Living – the Neolithic Landscapes of the Medway Valley
  Thursday 18 September, 7:30pm
  Holmesdale Technology College, Malling Road, Snodland, ME6 5HS
  Interactive talk using slides of Neolithic heritage in the Medway Valley by Paul Garwood, Prehistory Lecturer from Birmingham University.
  Booking is essential. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826 or email mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk.
• Cementing the Past – Industrial Heritage in the Medway Gap
  Monday, 22 September, 7:30pm
  Burham Community Centre, Rochester Road, Burham
  Discover the heritage of the Medway Gap from local enthusiast and expert Jim Preston.
• Surviving the Ice Ages- Early Man in the Medway Valley
  Saturday, 27 September, 11:30am
  Rochester Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester, ME1 1PY
  Discover the intriguing Palaeolithic heritage of the Medway area by expert Francis Wenban-Smith. Opportunity to handle fascinating artefacts. (Parking available in public car park nearby).
  Booking is essential. Contact Valley of Visions on 01634 242826 or email mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk.

To find out more about Valley of Visions’ events, go to www.valleyofvisions.org.uk. For further information about other projects, free training opportunities and ways to get involved visit their website, email mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk or contact 01634 242826.

Gillingham Male Voice Choir

• Anniversary Concert
  Saturday, 27 September, 7.30pm
  Central Theatre, Chatham
  The choir celebrates its 20th anniversary by staging a major charity concert with the Royal Artillery Band. Proceeds will be donated to army charities. You can buy your tickets (£10) from the theatre on 01634 338338 or online.

For more information about Medway events, check out the events page in the leisure section.

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