NEW WILDLIFE SITE FOR CHARING RESIDENTS

The Charing Alderbed Meadow project has been up and running a year. In this time huge amounts of work have taken place. The site is 2.6ha of wet meadow and damp alderwood located beyond the playing fields and forming part of 5.6ha of public open space.

The wet fen meadow had not been grazed for 25 years. Bramble and scrub had started to dominate the field, so volunteers have cleared scrub and light grazing has been reintroduced. Hedge planting and laying around the perimeter of the site is underway; this will amount to 720m when finished. A small amount of coppicing has been introduced into the woodland, which will help regenerate the derelict coppice and add diversity to the ground flora. An access road from Pett Lane and a hard standing for parking have been created. Access around the site will be improved with a circular route of paths and boardwalks. The site is Open Access under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Work will be carried out to use the site as an outdoor environmental classroom, with an education pack, leaflets, and interpretative panels. In addition a programme of events and training courses will be going on throughout 2006. Please contact the KSCP for your copy of the events programme.

The project is being managed by the KSCP, with help from a specially formed steering group, which reports to the Charing Playing Field Committee. The chairman, Martin Pym said, ‘Alderbed meadow will be a lasting asset for the village, but it must be handled with care and sensitivity. While revealing the secrets of such a rare wetland site to the community, its ecosystem needs to be conserved’.

This project was made possible with funding from: Living spaces, Mid Kent Leader +, Brett Environment Trust, Rail Link Countryside Initiative, Ashford Borough Council, KSCP, Charing Playing Field Committee and Charing Parish Council.