LOCAL HOUSEBUILDER HELPS AYLESHAM SCOUTS LAUNCH TREASURE HUNT

The first house to be built at Barratt Homes’ Aylesham Village has been included in a new geocaching route created by the local 20th Deal (Aylesham) Cornwallis Scout Group. The route, which is dedicated to exploring Aylesham’s local history and hidden gems, launched on Saturday 24th July during the Aylesham village fete. Barratt Kent has donated £500 to the Scouts to cover the costs of purchasing necessary equipment for the geocaches ahead of the launch of the route.

The 20th Deal (Aylesham) Cornwallis Scout Group’s new geocaching initiative is an outdoor recreational activity that involves placing GPS-tracked hide and seek containers, called “geocaches”, at key historic locations in the village. Members of the community will be invited to track down the containers and contribute to their contents and leave their name and a message in the log book. Barratt Kent’s donation has enabled the Scouts to reach its final fundraising target, covering the costs of purchasing the geocache containers and their contents.

The route includes the first building at the new Aylesham Village development, the Fire Station, the Health Centre, St Peter’s Church, the train station and the old secondary school.

Terri Armbruster, 20th Deal Cornwallis Scout Group leader, said: “We are excited to finally launch our new geocaching route this summer, 20th Deal (Aylesham) Cornwallis Scout Group with thanks to Barratt Kent, who has helped us to reach our fundraising goal. There is so much local history in Aylesham to explore and learn about, and we hope that the route will bring residents and visitors to the village together to appreciate the history of our village, and put us on the map as part of a wider global treasure hunt!”

Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Kent, added: “It is a pleasure to support the Scouts’ geocaching initiative, which will create an opportunity to bring the history of Aylesham to life. We are particularly proud to have our own stamp on the village’s history recognised as part of the route, with the first home at our development having been chosen as a location for a geocache.”

Barratt Kent is building new homes at its Aylesham Village development in Aylesham, with all homes from the latest phase now sold out.