Lord Mayor of Canterbury Nick Eden-Green is to help the Kentish Stour Countryside Project volunteers waymark paths in Clowes Wood on Thursday 25^th March 2004.

The work involves installing oak waymarkers, and marking Rights of Way so that walkers can find their way around. It is one of the final projects in two years of work at the Forestry Commission owned wood.

Over £40,000 has been spent on improving wildlife habitat and access throughout the wood located between Tyler Hill & Chestfield. The Kentish Stour Countryside Project attracted funding from the Brett Environment Trust, Kent County Council and the European Regional Development Fund. English Nature and the RSPB also provided funding. The Forestry Commission have co-ordinated most of the work.

Management work has focussed on creating and extending access routes to benefit woodland wildflowers and butterflies. The rare heath fritillary butterfly was lost from the wood some years ago but the management work should help to re-establish it. Almost 9km of paths have had clearance work carried out. Non native coniferous trees have been removed so opening up paths and allowing more light to reach the woodland floor. Over 5 acres of trees have been removed in one part of the wood so as to establish a heathland area, a habitat that has become rare in Kent. A number of ponds have also been discovered and re-instated.

Nick Eden-Green says "The Forestry Commission and the Kentish Stour Countryside Project have done a great job in opening up areas and making the wood more attractive for people and hopefully, wildlife too. Volunteering with the Kentish Stour Countryside Project is a rewarding activity that brings benefits for oneself and ones surroundings".