Hawkshill Freedown is, today, a 13.7-acre public open space set on an elevated area of chalk grassland at the southern end of the parish. It has been designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), reflecting its national importance for wildlife, particularly wild flowers and butterflies.

Just to the south and west of the Walmer Castle estate, it was purchased by Walmer Parish Council from the Leith Estate in 1999 to ensure its future as an amenity for the benefit of the public and wildlife. As well as offering a large open grassed recreational area, the Freedown provides superb views across open farmland to shipping in the English Channel, the Goodwin Sands and, on a clear day, the French coast. The land is managed by a working group comprising parish councillors and local residents and there are more details about their activities below.

The World War I Aerodrome

The flat grassy plateau at Hawkshill played a significant role as a World War I aerodrome.

In 1920, Air Commodore C. L. Lambe CMG, DSO gave an account of the establishment of an airfield at Walmer in 1917. He said it had all started with a telephone message from the Admiralty saying that a new aerodrome was needed in close proximity to the Channel as a protection against attacks by German aeroplanes on shipping in the Downs (the normally safe anchorage just off the coast of Deal and Walmer). Two German seaplanes carrying torpedoes had hit a ship at the north of the Downs.

A suitable site for an aerodrome was quickly found at Hawkshill. The next step was to find pilots and it was agreed to select six of the best trained pilots who had been serving in France for many months. The transfer to Walmer was felt to meet both a need to protect the shipping and also provide the airmen with a rest from the very stressful conditions in France.

Air Commodore Lambe went on to explain: "The majority of the pilots who were working with the R.N.A.S. (Royal Naval Air Service) in those days in France - nearly 75 per cent - came from overseas. They were very largely Canadians, but they came also from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and in fact every Colony and Dominion there is. Thanks to the hospitality which was offered by everybody in the vicinity (i.e. Walmer), the aerodrome immediately fulfilled its purpose. The first thing to do was to make it popular, to get the pilots to think that they were coming to a place where they wanted to come. They all wanted to come to Walmer. When they got here they did not want to go on leave, so that in a short time the original six was extended until we were able, by the co-operation of the Admiral at Dover, to bring back a complete squadron, with the men who wanted the rest just as badly, and to give them two months' rest at Walmer. I think everybody who served at Walmer liked it. I am quite certain every pilot did, and it was equally popular with the men."

For more... There are service records and photographs of airmen who served at the Walmer Aerodrome in a detailed history on the Walmer Parish Council website at www.walmercouncil.co.uk/ The_History_of_Walmer_Aerodrome_38163.aspx.

Two Memorials

There are two Memorials to the pilots who flew from the Walmer Airfield and were killed fighting in France.

The original Memorial was presented by the Countess Beauchamp and unveiled and dedicated in a ceremony held on Saturday 7 August 1920. For an account of this, click here.

A new Memorial, erected by Walmer Parish Council to honour the Service Personnel stationed at Walmer Aerodrome in both WW1 and WW2, was unveiled on Saturday 12 August 2017 by the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Boyce. For an account of this click here.

Hawkshill Down housed a vital radar facility during World War II. Cyril Highman of Newport, Gwent, South Wales was posted there in 1943 and you can read his recollections of that time on WalmerWeb's Times Remembered page.

Hawkshill Working Party

Hawkshill Freedown is managed by a working group comprised of Councillors and local residents with advice from environmental specialists when required. Scrub clearance parties are regularly held and new volunteers are always welcome. Tools are provided but helpers need to bring their own refreshments and come suitably dressed for physical work.

Walmer Parish Council finances the activities of the Working Group which is incorporated in the Council's Walmer in Bloom Committee. For more details, contact the Parish Clerk at Walmer Parish Council Office, 8 The Strand, Walmer, Kent CT14 7DY ( 01304 362363) or send an .