Release Date: 12^th January 2004

The Kentish Stour Countryside Project organised a conservation task day on Sunday 11^th January at Bingley’s Island Local Nature Reserve. 16 volunteers and local residents came out to the site to help clear a pond overgrown with willow, reed and rubbish.

Funding for the project has come from The Brett Environment Trust and is part of improvement works the Kentish Stour Countryside Project (KSCP) is doing in partnership with the City Council to try to make the area more attractive for wildlife and local residents.

KSCP staff and volunteers were joined by 12 residents from around Canterbury who wanted help with conservation projects at the Local Nature Reserve. Approximately half of the vegetation was removed from the edges of the pond using slashers, cromes, loppers and rakes. A small area of willow at the back of the pond was coppiced to create a glade with the brash being burnt on a fire. People brought packed lunches and sat on logs round the fire to eat.

Bingley’s Island has suffered from problems such as litter, homeless people living on the island, and people using the area to take drugs. One of the items of rubbish taken out of the pond was a needle exchange box.

Mary Lovick, Canterbury Greenspace Officer with KSCP said "This is a very pretty site, and we hope that by giving the area a ‘looked after’ feel, it will reduce some of these problems. It is a lovely area to watch wildlife and one of the projects we hope to do is to provide some seats and viewing platforms."

Clearing the pond was finished in the early afternoon, and after clearing away tools and equipment Mary and Jason Mitchell, Countryside Officer with the KSCP, lead a guided walk around Bingley’s Island, Whitehall Meadows and the surrounding countryside. The area is particularly good for birds and they saw green woodpeckers, redwing, goldfiches, a kingfisher and a little grebe.

Projects to start in the spring will include surveying for small mammals and amphibians, re-fencing a gracing area and some art projects with local schools and community groups.