Friday 11 November 2016

Stow Maries Aerodrome: A Place of War (1916) and Wildlife (2016)



A few miles away from where I live, an aerodrome from the Great War is being conserved. From 1916 until the end of the war, the men and women of 37 (Home Defence) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force) were based here, but in 1919 the squadron moved to Biggin Hill in Kent. After this time, the site - a few huts in a field - remained empty and in the following years the buildings were used to store farm equipment. The site was never developed and neither was the land around it - and the buildings fell into decay. Today, the recent conservation work has given the site some activity once again and it's beginning to look as it did a hundred years ago. No other near-complete Great War aerodrome exists in England.


As well as being a place of history and of commemoration, the aerodrome has become a place for wildlife. In fact, wildlife is encouraged here. So the empty huts and the surrounding fields of rough grassland and scrub land, have become the homes and hunting grounds of barn owls, tawny owls, and little owls, song birds and hares. There are also water voles at the pond on the site.


I've been there two or three times now and each time I've looked for the owls. But I haven't had any luck with them.  I was told by the volunteers on one of my visits that the little owls had been peeking out from their ruined building the previous day for TV presenter Chris Packham to photograph. I watched the building for a while, sitting outside the officers' mess (or cafe) with my mug of tea, but the owls didn't appear for me. I really needed some food to lure them out (or perhaps I just wasn't famous enough for them!)

But if I haven't seen much of the wildlife on my visit, there's plenty of history to see here. Not all the huts have been conserved yet, but many have. These include the squadron offices (housing the museum), the blacksmith's forge, the ambulance hut and the aircraft hangers.


The duties of 37 Squadron included defending London from aerial attack (from Zeppelins). In such a country area, the sound of these early planes flying to and from the site must have had quite an impact on local folk. Even today it's quiet here, and any noise from the vintage aircraft (when they fly) is very noticeable. Tragically, ten servicemen from 37 Squadron did lose their lives in the war. At least one lost his life in an accident close to the site when his aircraft crashed. All the deaths must have hit the community hard -  I imagine the pilots would have been known in the villages, drinking in the local pubs and attending the local church.


Remember the Tower poppies of a couple of years ago? Ten have been donated to the aerodrome by the bell ringers of a local church for the ten servicemen who lost their lives.


There are different events held here throughout the year - and these include a service here on Remembrance Sunday...


Stow Maries Aerodrome is a place I'll look forward to returning to. Hopefully I might even see the owls at last! But I'd also like to see how the conservation work is progressing and to learn more about the stories of the people who were based here.

For more info, I've included a link to the aerodrome website here.

20 comments:

  1. What an interesting site.Thanks for your post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. A day to feel sadness and loss, for sure.

      Delete
  3. It is good that this aerodrome is being preserved and also that they are also preserving the wildlife that has made it their home. I do hope you catch the owls on another visit. Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So do I, Sarah. I was so hoping the little owls would appear - I had my camera ready!

      Delete
  4. Good to have a place like that to visit, so near to home and that there is a museum - you can imagine what it was like when it was full of planes and people - so much history. Shame you didn't see any owls they are such a magnificent bird aren't they. May be next time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While I was walking around, I did imagine what it must have been like during the Great War. And the aircraft seem so fragile (for wont of a better word) compared to those flying today.

      Delete
  5. Looks like an interesting place with both its history and wildlife. A place to return to again and in different seasons. How tranquil it must seem now after how noisy and busy it must have been during WW1:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that it is somewhere to visit throughout the year. I've only ever been in summer, but in winter the atmosphere must be completely different. I can imagine what it must have been like during the Great War if there was snow here, for example.

      Delete
  6. A really interesting post Wendy - so good to read of their project to conserve the aerodrome and that they encourage wildlife at the same time. Wonderful news about the water voles and I do hope you see owls on your next visit. Do hope you will do a future post when you return :) I would love to learn more about the museum and the wildlife you spot there :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did look for the water voles too without any luck! Of course the tawny owls and barn owls would be out at dusk but I was disappointed not to see the little owls. I'm sure they were only just the other side of the wall.

      Delete
  7. This looks like a really interesting place to visit. It is a shame the owls didn't show their faces for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a place that combines two of my real interests, wildlife and history. It's just a shame I haven't seen much wildlife yet!

      Delete
  8. Sounds like a really interesting place and it's great that they are preserving it with wildlife in mind. How typical for the owls to come out for Chris Packham! Not fair! You got a great capture of the wheatear, anyway. Next time hopefully for the owls. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so pleased that wildlife is important here. Someone else would have developed this site without thinking about wildlife at all. As it is, it's become a real haven for it.
      Chris Packham was there with the owner - I think this is the clue to seeing the owls!

      Delete
  9. It makes my heart glad to know there are people with the vision to conserve both the history and the wildlife of such a special area. No better combination! Many years ago, I watched the Flambards series (and then read the books) and have been fascinated ever since by the passion and courage of those early fliers. We have a transportation museum nearby, with an early Bleriot. It looks like a fragile dragonfly. Hard to imagine anyone trusting their life to such a delicate machine--especially during the war. Lovely post. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The aerodrome has become as famous for its wildlife as for its history - it is wonderful, as you say, that the vision was there to conserve both. I remember the Flambards series, too. I did enjoy it. Those early aircraft had so little protection from any sort of attack as well as from all weather.

      Delete
  10. How lovely that the aerodrome is doubling up as a museum and a wildlife have. Sorry you missed the owls, especially as they were out the day before.xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I imagine the owls were watching me the whole time, too. I used to watch little owls in a barn close to where I once lived. They have such characters!

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to leave any comments. I do love to read them.