The Old Airfield

I went up to Little Haldon to have a walk and see the heather. In 1929 a local businessman leased the ground as an aerodrome, it was the only flat ground available in the area. He had hoped to get a dealership with De Havilland but by the time he got the land it had been given to someone else. He bought a plane and started a flying school. In 1933 an air service was established, flying from Cardiff to Teignmouth to Plymouth twice a day. The aerodrome was requisitioned by the Air Ministry in 1939.

Planes still fly there these days. On my walk I came across two chaps with a battery driven lawn mower who had been mowing the runway until the battery ran down. Model aircraft of course.

The land is rare lowland heath and at that time was thought to be of little value. Many reptiles, butterflies and nightjar need this kind of environment. My photo shows the natural part of the heathland with its variety of grasses shrubs and the lovely bell heather.