Kentish Express Ashford & District
Stunning countryside on our doorsteps
When you stand in Ashford High Street it can be quite easy to forget what wonderful countryside surrounds the town.
That’s why this week we focus on an email we had from Nicholas Cane, detailing his experience (and images) of a visit he made last week to the newly opened Conningbrook Lakes Country Park alongside the Julie Rose Stadium in Willesborough.
Many of you will recall that the new country park, built on the site of a former quarry, was officially opened last month.
The park’s been constructed around existing lakes at the former gravel works and visitors can now walk or cycle around, with watersports such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rowing and swimming to come.
The park is being created by the Brett Group and will be managed by Ashford Borough Council, Ashford Leisure Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Mid Kent Fisheries.
A “lakeside village” of 300 homes will eventually be built next to the park, which is roughly the size of 48 football pitches.
Mr Cane said: “The park has magnificent views of the countryside and beautiful lakes that look very clean. Unfortunately on my travels I did not see any otters, although there were armies of tadpoles, some ducks, swans and plenty of dragonflies. The walk in general was peaceful with great views.
“The path does not go all around the lakes so you double back on yourself, unless you wish to continue on towards the Kent Downs. There are great spots to stop for a picnic, though there is only one bin and a couple of seats at the start of the park. I think more benches, particularly picnic benches, and bins need to be added.
“For now I would greatly recommend this park to families, dog-walkers, joggers and those who enjoy nature walks.
Who knows what it will be like when the residential area is developed: More rubbish? Dumping? Even polluting of the lakes? For now, go and enjoy it.”
And talking of nature, regular contributor Ted Prangnell sent us this delightful picture he took of a family of swans making an outing on the River Stour in Kennington last Saturday.
We all have those moments when we wish the ground would open and swallow us up. A member of the Nuts and Bolts team had such a moment in Wilkos in the town centre last week. He’d ordered, online, a wooden curtain rail (measuring 2.4 metres long) and went to pick it up.
The helpful assistant went to fetch it from the storeroom, returning a few moments later to present it to him, saying: “If there are any problems just bring it straight back.”
As he walked out of the shop our man looked at the wooden pole he’d been given and thought: “That pole is never 2.4 metres long.”
So he held it up against himself and it barely reached his shoulder. Cursing, he went into the shop, found the same assistant who’d served him and said: “Sorry but you said if there was anything wrong with this to bring it back. Well there is ... the pole is much shorter than the one I ordered. It’s only about half of the 2.4 metres I need.”
Smiling, the assistant said: “Take a look at the package. The pole comes in two sections, so you have to screw them together. That’ll give you your 2.4 metres.”
He meekly replied: “Oh yes. Sorry I just had a senior moment,” before scuttling out of the store, his tail between his legs.
And, sure enough when he got home and screwed the two halves together they did indeed measure 2.4 metres and despite his stupidity he now has a nice wooden rail holding up the curtains in his newly decorated spare bedroom.