Our Mid-Year Update from the Brimstone Team at Cowden

Welcome to our mid-year update on our ongoing work at the former air weapons range, RAF Cowden. As we pass the halfway point of 2025, it’s a great time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the challenges we continue to tackle. Since securing the competitive tender from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) in 2021, our team has been working tirelessly to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) from this historically significant and environmentally sensitive site.

With rapid coastal erosion continuously revealing new UXO, our mission is far from over. This year, we have made significant strides in removing dangerous remnants from the site while also increasing public awareness of UXO risks. In this update, we’ll share some of our key achievements, recent media coverage, and a reminder of the important safety measures that everyone should keep in mind.

Cowden in the news

Our work at Cowden has been drawing significant media attention this year, helping to highlight the risks associated with UXO and educate the public about staying safe. In April, we had the privilege of welcoming a BBC news team to the site, where they reported on our clearance efforts and spoke with our team about the dangers of handling suspicious items.

One of the most important takeaways from this coverage was a crucial safety reminder from our Site Manager, Paul Duckworth MBE:

“There’s a misconception out there that because they are practice bombs they are safe to handle. That is not true. Every practice bomb that was dropped on this range had an element of explosives in them.”

This message was broadcast across multiple BBC platforms, as well as ITV and other news outlets, reinforcing the importance of not touching or moving any potential UXO found on the beach. Public awareness remains a key focus for us, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share this message through national media.

Annual assurance exercise

As part of our ongoing commitment to safety and operational excellence, our team recently completed the annual assurance exercise for the DIO. This rigorous evaluation is a critical part of our contract, ensuring that we continue to meet the highest standards in UXO clearance, demolition procedures, and emergency response.

The exercise included a live demolition demonstration, a thorough review of our operational procedures, and a practical first aid and casualty extraction scenario. With the assistance of Hornsea Inshore Rescue, we simulated an emergency response to an injured team member, testing our ability to coordinate and execute a safe extraction under pressure.

These exercises are more than just a contractual requirement; they serve as invaluable training opportunities for our team and reinforce our ability to respond to real-life situations effectively. We appreciate the support from Hornsea Inshore Rescue and look forward to continuing our partnership in ensuring safety at Cowden.

UXO finds so far this year

Our clearance operations have uncovered thousands of items so far in 2025. Among these, we have safely removed or disposed of over 25 high explosive items and more than 6,500 other pieces of ordnance from the beach. Each item we find serves as a reminder of Cowden’s past and the ongoing risks posed by UXO.

During its time of operation, it is estimated that over 2.5 million pieces of ammunition were expended at RAF Cowden. While most were used on land-based targets, coastal erosion continues to unearth thousands of munitions each year, many of which wash up on the beach or become buried in the sand.

Among our most notable finds this year was a 1940s 76mm smoke carrier projectile equipped with a clockwork fuze and twin driving bands. Likely fired from a British Comet Tank commissioned in late 1944, this piece of ordnance provides a fascinating glimpse into wartime military technology.

Other unique discoveries have included:

• A flat top practice projectile
• A 17lb solid shot with a double driving band
• A 75mm French HE shell with a Ryg18 impact fuse
• A British 18lb shrapnel shell

Each find reinforces the importance of our work in making Cowden and its surrounding areas safer.

Our ongoing message to the public

We understand that the presence of UXO at Cowden can be concerning, especially when news stories bring the issue into the public eye. However, we want to reassure everyone that the Brimstone team is dedicated to ensuring public safety. Our highly trained UXO engineers are on-site daily, actively searching for and safely disposing of ordnance.

With over three years of experience on this project, public safety remains our utmost priority. Please remember: do not touch or move any items of ordnance. UXO can be dangerous, even if it appears old, rusted, or harmless. Leave them as they are, and let our trained UXO Engineers manage them safely.

Stay connected

We share regular updates on our UXO clearance efforts, important safety messages, and historical insights about RAF Cowden on our social media channels. If you’re interested in staying up to date with our latest news, follow Brimstone on: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in our work at Cowden. We look forward to sharing more updates in the coming months as we continue our mission to clear this historic site and protect those who visit its shores.

If you have any questions about UXO risks or need a risk assessment for your site, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Stay safe, stay informed, and remember – when it comes to UXO, if in doubt, stay away and report it.