Nature
Games on Willesborough Dykes
The Kentish Stour Countryside Project has run the first of almost 20
sessions of nature activities with local schools on Willesborough Dykes
entitled - Nature on Your Doorstep. Willesborough Dykes is the low lying
area to the south of Ashford on either side of the
Romney Marsh Road
and
Bad Munstereifel Road
. It is a large floodplain area of 625 acres with over half being
designated as a County Wildlife Site for its wetland interest to plants
and birds.
St Simons
School were given a talk about the Dykes and invited to take part in
activities by Debbie Adams from the Kentish Stour Countryside Project.
Thirty pupils between 8 and 9 years old learnt about the importance of the
dykes for wildlife by carrying out pond dipping, looking at the grassland
and the trees. The activities
form part of a bigger project concerned with improving the management of
the dykes for wildlife and providing increased access.
Debbie Adams says ‘We wanted to involve children from the start of the
Willesborough Dykes Project so that they can see the importance of their
green space, especially for wildlife.
Although many people might view Willesborough Dykes as the wasteland on
their way to work or shop, it is tremendously important to conserve and
manage for the special wetland plants and animals it harbours. As Ashford
develops it is important that its unique places, such as Willesborough
Dykes, which also has a link to its agricultural past, are enhanced for
people and wildlife.’
The
Project is being supported by the Willesborough Dykes Steering Group and
Ashford Cattle Market with financial support from the Department of
Communities and Local Government and CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural
England). Ashford Designer
Outlet will house an exhibition concerned with the project in June.
The schools taking part in the project are St Simons, Oak Tree Primary,
Willesborough Junior, Beaver Green Community Primary, Kingsnorth C of E
Primary School, and
East
Stour
Primary School
.
The
Kentish Stour Countryside Project has also produced an education
pack for schools and youth groups about activities that can be carried
out in the Ashford Green Corridor – the riverside land through Ashford.
There are activity sheets to download, teachers notes, site guides and
special instructions for Youth Groups. Choose from ‘It Makes Sense’,
‘Habitat Explorers’, ‘Marvellous Minibeasts’, ‘Who’s Eating
Who’ and ‘Down by the River’. Find out more by visiting www.ashfordgreencorridor.org.uk
If you would like to get involved or for
more information please contact us.
