-
-
Beat the crunch, farm snails!
That's what one lady in Kent is doing, and she's making quite a tidy sum.
After checking out some of her daughter's work from agricultural college and stumbling across a farm diversification website, she decided to set up a 2000 strong snail-farm in her spare bedroom to supply local businesses with local produce.
"I thought it would be good to be able to offer people who like local food something a bit different."
She feeds them on a dried food which includes dried milk, and chalk that makes their shells all strong and shiny. She claims they are "quite endearing - they don't bite, or smell unpleasant or make a lot of noise and they are really quite friendly."
On the downside, imagine them escaping and having shiny snail trails all over the house... That's what one lady in Kent is doing, and she's making quite a tidy sum. ... more -
Activists to protest about controversial plans for a new coal-fired power station
Thousands of activists are expected to converge in Kingsnorth to protest about controversial plans for a new coal-fired power station.
Police have cancelled leave and rest days that clash with the week-long protest and have arranged public meetings to put residents' minds at rest.
The protest - on a field next to the power plant - is expected to see 2,000 climate campaigners swarm into the area on August 4 to 10.
,,,,,,,To plan to build a new coal fired power station given every thing we now know about fosil fuels & climate change is madness gone stark raving bonkers !
I hope the protesters give it a good go. Kent police have underlined a zero tolerence policy and stated that policing the protest would be the largest operation in the forces history. Lets hope the protest makes the news for the right reasons and the plans get shelved Thousands of activists are expected to converge in Kingsnorth to protest about controversial plans for a new coal-fired power station.... more -
Angel of the south could be a giant horse
A sculpture of a giant horse standing almost as high as Nelson's Column is among five proposals for a southern version of the Angel of the North. The £2 million piece of public art is intended for a hilltop near to the new Ebbsfleet International Eurostar station in north Kent, and at 50 metres high would be visible from road, rail and air. A sculpture of a giant horse standing almost as high as Nelson's Column is among five proposals for a southern version of the Ang... more
-
Britains biggest goldfish
As this real-size picture shows, he is 15.7in long and 5in high - and he weighs more than 2lb.
That makes him Britain's biggest goldfish, say experts, who believe he could be on course to overtake the world record.
Goldie belongs to Ada Shaw, an 83-year-old widow from Folkestone in Kent.
She bought him for 99p from a pet shop 15 years ago. At the time he was just an inch long.
Every year he has grown and grown. And as our picture shows, he now dwarfs an average-sized goldfish.
Mrs Shaw, a retired civil servant, said: "I don't overfeed him but I am very particular about how I care for Goldie.
"He gets fed fish flakes like clockwork twice a day in the morning and evening and I always talk to him and keep him occupied.
"I leave the light on at night so he is not in the dark and if the sun is glaring on him, I will draw the curtains so he doesn't get too much sun."
The average goldfish lives for ten years, but Goldie enjoys one luxury which his owner thinks has helped keep him alive so long.
When he has his spacious tank cleaned once a week, Mrs Shaw tops it up with a small amount of hot water.
Goldie was bought as one of a pair and his tank-mate grew enormous too - topping 2lb - but died four years ago.
Marine biologist Darren Gook, of Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre, said of Goldie: '"I have never heard of any goldfish to grow to this size. It's simply amazing."
It is believed that the world's longest goldfish is owned by Joris Gijsbers in Holland. It measured 18.7in in 2003. As this real-size picture shows, he is 15.7in long and 5in high - and he weighs more than 2lb. ... more -
Five jailed in multi-million heist
The notorious raid on a Kent Securitas depot in which 53 million GBP was stolen at gunpoint has today come to a close with five suspected men being jailed for sentences between 10 and 15 years.
A heavily-armed gang carried out the raid in February 2006 following the 'tiger' kidnapping of the depot's manager and family. Details of how the gang went about the complex raid would make a great story for a film, although the depot manager would no doubt give it a miss after calling it the "worst night of his life."
The Guardian gives a detailed account of what happened in the infamous raid:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2248244,00.h... The notorious raid on a Kent Securitas depot in which 53 million GBP was stolen at gunpoint has today come to a close with five suspec... more -
The Worlds Oldest Bicycle Race?
At least according to official record. The first Catford Cycling Club Hill Climb was held at Westerham Hill on August 20th 1887. The 112th edition will take place on Yorks Hill in Kent, on Sunday 21st October at 11am. The race is run as a time trial with riders starting at one minute intervals to race just 707 yards, which in parts includes a gradient of 1 in 4. At least according to official record. The first Catford Cycling Club Hill Climb was held at Westerham Hill on August 20th 1887. The... more
-
related topics
Kent
Contributors (22)
Kent
