well it’s been all hot and steamy of late, so it’s no surprise that a storm was brewing up above, and here’s a recording of it passing across the hill on it’s way west.

Well this is not exactly hot off the press, and the digging dad’s army blog gives the full scoop (groan, shameful pun) on what transpired, but the main message I got from the Eaglesfield dig was that the ww1 gun emplacement for bringing down zeppelins could perhaps be put on display, with an information panel like the one at the mayplace lane bronze age barrow.

Title: The School In The Park Party
Location: Shrewsbury Park
Link out: http://www.fspark.org.uk/
Description: Art, Music and Archaeology, celebrating, LCC Open Air School in Shrewsbury Park.

Also see http://parksfest.org/
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2009-07-17
End Time: 18:00

for those with fast internet or slow patience, a photo-version of the site is now available, which randomly rotates some showcase photos of the hill on the main page [just five so far], if you have a picture you would like to be added to the front page, then please use the contact details at the foot of the page.

the titles and photographers have been listed wth their flickr details, although they are still being sought out to see what they think about having their pictures displayed here. all the photos were originally tagged with the shootershill label on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keston/3080331771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stopher/3223309059/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumayhew/2651367658/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianamansfield/3276174079/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumayhew/3539243879/

the idea behind this was to try and take the photo gallery idea from the 2006 version of the website and see if it works on the front page; which has some foreseeable problems as a) will probably only work out if new pictures are added at fairly regular intervals, and b) they take up a lot of room, but hopefully the negatives will be washed away by the looks. next up some audio… probably bird sounds from the woods.

Title: Woodlands Farm Barn Dance
Location: Woodlands Farm
Link out: http://www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org/home.htm
Description: Music by Skinners Rats the best barndance band in the business (apparently).

Tickets £10 available from Farm Office, Ploughman’s meal included, (but not drinks & glasses)
Start Time: 19:30
Date: 2009-07-11
End Time: 23:00

Title: Shooters Hill Local History Group
Location: St Johns Church, Stratheden Road, Blackheath Standard
Link out: http://www.shlhg.btik.com/
Description: The group visits this fine church and hears its history. Refreshments are provided. Just turn up at the Church in Stratheden Road, Blackheath Standard.

Start Time: 20:00
Date: 2009-07-16

Digging Dad’s Army. a group of conflict archaeologists affiliated with birkbeck and negus are digging up various parts of eaglesfield park this week as part of their ongoing investigations into wartime archaeology in this part of london. they have chosen their digging spots based on some aerial photos and some geophysics, which indicated where wartime trenches might have been dug, and thus where they might find evidence of what was happening in the last two world wars. they also used geophysics to look for anomalous features relating to magnetic fields and other physical properties of the ground, and apart from using this to look for concrete and metal associated with military installations, they did on the dig for time team stumble on some late bronze age early iron age remnants of iron smelting activities, which was a bit odd considering that there’s no iron in the area, plus why would whoever was working with it wish to carry all the ore to the top of a hill? anyway, this was written up in a wessex archaeology report as the time team dig it was found on didn’t really have scope to include this in the program. significantly however, this discovery also gives shooters hill the interest of being one of the few if only parts of london with evidence of human activities stretching back to this epoch 2-3 thousand years ago.

they can be approached all week, but they will probably have the most to talk about when then get to the end of their dig on saturday during the treasures of eaglesfield park day. this event is also being staged to support the refilling, fencing and educational use of the lilypond as a natural habitat for various local species and is not unrelated to the wild london scheme with its fondness for ponds, which are being promoted as being good for london and its inhabitants.

Title: The Treasures of Eaglesfield Park
Location: Eaglesfield Park Lily Pond
Link out: http://www.foep.org.uk
Description: Find out more about the history of this fantastic park from the
Bronze Age to the present day and be part of shaping its future:

* A new wildlife pond for Eaglesfield Park – what do you think?
* Displays, pond restoration plans and information
* Guided walks of the park will begin at 2pm and 3pm: look at the history of the park, it’s wildlife and proposals for restoring the pond
* Children’s Nature Activities – seed planting, bark rubbing, colouring and more
* Dress up in 1940’s costume and join in the fun!

Free entrance / disabled access: Via ramp at the corner of Foxcroft Road and Cleanthus Road, SE18

Organised by: The Friends of Eaglesfield Park, Froglife, Groundwork London, and Digging Dads Army Project

Working in partnership with Greenwich Council Parks and Open Spaces
Start Time: 12:30
Date: 2009-06-20
End Time: 16:00

down at the woodlands farm today it was bliss: as we lazed around on straw bales in the back field the sun streamed down on us and we tucked into ice creams and watched the sheep getting their summer haircuts. the golden fleeces would have pleased jason and the argonauts i’m sure.

the bromley beekeepers were out in their masses selling jars of woodlands honey for £4 a go which the local hayfever sufferers were snapping up in readiness for next year. aside from it’s rumoured medicinal benefits, woodlands honey is also extremely sweet.

the woodlands willow grove was also getting a haircut today with garden obelisks on sale for £8 which would make a lovely gift for a sweet pea or a clematis. fine willow baskets were also on offer.

there were all sorts of other things going on too; wool spinning, kid crafts, an adventure playground, pony rides, owl stroking, giant rabbits, tugs of war, and information on the history of the farm, which is, i believe, london’s last real farm.

this was a bit more low key than previous events, such as the last lambing day, which was a complete roadblock and had all the atmosphere of oxford street on christmas eve; but perhaps that’s not such a bad thing as it was a very calm and enjoyable way to spend a lazy sunday afternoon.

Title: Woodlands Farm Summer Show
Location: Woodlands Farm
Link out: Click here
Description: All are welcome at the Woodlands Farm Trust Summer Show. Come and meet our animals, and enjoy the chance to buy quality local produce at reasonable prices, including home-made preserves, cakes and honey. Relax in our café, or get involved in craft activities and games, including the tug-of-war and pony rides. Enjoy displays of country crafts, including sheep shearing, wool spinning, and bee keeping. All proceeds go towards caring for our animals. A great family day out! Time: 11.00-16.30 £3.00 adults, £1.50 concessions and children aged 6-16. Children aged 5 and under go free. Venue: The Woodlands Farm Trust 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, Kent, DA16 3RP 020 8319 8900
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2009-06-07
End Time: 16:30