Visitors to Fowlmead Country Park have been finding out more about the industrial past of the landscape.

The Betteshanger Colliery spoil heap was redeveloped and opened to the public last year by botanist and conservationist David Bellamy.

Now, 15 months on, two former pit employees shared their memories of their time below ground at a special exhibition at the park, which included many artefacts.

Former colliery electrician Mick Johnson and overman Jimmy Davis met park visitors, many who had no idea Kent once had its own coalfield.

Mr Johnson, from Deal, said: “The open day went very well.

“I met many ex pit workers from 19 years ago and people were interested to look at the underground maps, especially compared with the surface ones."

The sinking of Betteshanger Colliery was started in 1924 and the first coal was brought to the surface in 1927.

From the pit top in fields off the Deal-Sandwich road, opposite Fowlmead, the coal and spoil were carried by an enclosed conveyor belt system down the hill, under the A258 and across farmland to the spoil tip site.

Betteshanger Colliery, which closed in 1989, was the largest of Kent’s four coal mines. The others were at Snowdown, Tilmanstone and Chislet.

For 11 years the former pit was fenced off. It was eventually redeveloped as part of a regeneration programme and is now a nature reserve used by walkers, bird watchers, cyclists and runners.

The country park is open daily except Christmas Day. For more details ring 01304 615390 or see the website www.fowlmead.co.uk