As the Olympic Year is fast approaching Visit Kent now presents My Kent’s Big Weekend Out 2012 - the biggest and best yet!  This year we are tying the event in with the Visit England Tourism Week which will provide important national marketing support as well as adding a transmanche element to promote our attractions to our French neighbours.

The event offers thousands of FREE tickets to Kent residents over the course of the weekend 17th and 18th March 2012. In return attractions get an opportunity to promote themselves to local people as well as gaining profile through local press, website and social media.  Over 85% of attractions who took part last year thought it was an excellent event for them and generated over £150,000 in secondary spend. 80% of local residents that took part said they would revisit the attraction they went to while 98% said they would recommend it to their friends and family.

Simply complete the online form below or for further details call Kelly Sharp on 01227 812905 or email on Kelly.sharp@visitkent.co.uk.  The deadline for registration for this event is 31^st December 2011, but we would appreciate your prompt confirmation of details.

Sign up the Big Weekend 2012 here

Gardens can be wonderful places for wildlife. It really is easy and inexpensive to create a mosaic of wildlife rich areas - From a simple window box to an imaginatively planted vegetable plot.

So if you’re proud of your wildlife friendly garden, then why not share the secrets of its success with Kent Wildlife Trust?

It’s FREE TO ENTER and open to ANYONE WHO GARDENS IN KENT, however large or small their plot and whether they are a business, community group, school, allotment, private garden or even a collection of adjoining gardens. The closing date is 30 June.

Shepway DC is supporting this friendly competition again this year (main contact is Laura Pinkham in Environmental Services). Are you interested in taking part? Or perhaps you may be able to promote the scheme to groups you work with e.g. allotment groups, schools, residents etc.

It’s a simple entry form, free and open to anyone who gardens in Shepway/Kent, however large or small their plot and whether they are a business, community group, school, allotment, private garden or even a collection of adjoining gardens. The closing date is 30^th June.

Further info including online application form on following link…

http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-work/wild-about-gardens/

Dear all,

a new drama series of Great Expectations is in the offing and location scouts are on the lookout of a property for Mrs Haversham.

Any of you know a nice down at heel and crumbling country or manor house? Or even if inside is nice, do you know one with a really wild and overgrown garden?

Hints are most welcome!!!

Gabrielle

105.9 Academy FM, Folkestones new community radio station, has announced that it will go on air at 12 noon on Thursday 31 March 2011. Broadcasting from the Folkestone Academy, the station will serve the communities of Folkestone, offering a comprehensive variety of programmes 24 hours a day, and will be commercial free.

Folkestones new radio station has been set up as an independent charity, and is funded entirely by charitable contributions. One of its primary aims is educational: 105.9 Academy FM will encourage young people to get involved, whether they are students at the Folkestone Academy or at one of the other places of learning in the town. It is hoped that the station will also become a focal point for community groups and local charities to help them promote their work and gather support.

105.9 Academy FM Station Manager David Sharp said: We plan to broadcast an entertaining mix of music and speech. Programming will be varied, and local people will present shows and play music that is not often heard on other local radio stations. We intend to feature music made in Kent every hour of every day to ensure that our talented local artists can be heard.

For more information or to get involved with volunteering for 105.9 Academy FM please contact Station Manager, David Sharp, on dave.sharp@academyfmfolkestone.com.