CONSERVATION NEWS

Back in July, KSCP ran the first Living Land Festival in Wye. The aim of the event, funded by the Countryside Agency, was to raise awareness of the link between farming, conservation and the way this shapes the local landscape. Conservation and farming organisations tried to press home the importance of buying local sustainable produce and land management. A variety of craft stalls, local producers, displays of farming through the ages and theatre, plus a walk around Wye College Farm helped convey these messages. The event was attended by approximately 800 people.

Enjoying the festival

Grandma’s Orchard

It has taken owner, Mike Chewter, about 5 years to clear and keep on top of the thick scrub that had engulfed the fruit trees at Grandma’s Orchard. This summer, KSCP volunteers have been working hard to stock fence this 6 ha (14 acres) site, which is in a Countryside Stewardship Scheme Agreement. Hopefully then, a flock of sheep can take over from where Mike has left off, keeping the site more open and grazing the chalk grassland sward.

Writing a management plan for the Local Nature Reserve has been the priority of the AGC Officer over the first few months. This is due to go out to consultation in October. Surveys for invertebrates including odonata (family including dragonflies) and plants have been carried out over the summer, and moth and bat evenings run. The odonata survey found 13 species. Odonata favour habitats with emergent, and submerged aquatic vegetation, the latter required for larvae. Longer grass in meadows provides habitat for dragonflies to rest and encourages a variety of insects on which dragonflies feed. One moth trapping evening at Buxford Meadow resulted in 59 species, including the nationally notable Webb’s wainscot Archanara sparganii. If you would like to become involved in carrying out surveys please contact Rosemary. Activity days for 8-12 year olds were held in August and these will be repeated next year. Finally an interpretative strategy is being written and the first phase of this has been a visitor survey.

The government is asking all local authorities to prepare Community Strategies to demonstrate that they are taken on board the wishes of local people. Ashford Community Conference was held on 14 September and brought together a number of groups working in the Borough of Ashford. The aim of the conference was to gather ideas and provide priorities for the Community Strategy. Environmental priorities included solving the ring road problem that acts as a barrier to the town centre; ensuring that housing developments provide higher housing densities and open space; dealing with the volume, speed and pollution caused by vehicular traffic; and solving the problem of children having to travel great distances to go to school. The public will be consulted on the Strategy later in the year.

Meanwhile following extensive public consultation in the Canterbury District, key areas of concern have been identified and will be incorporated into a Canterbury Community Strategy. KSCP is one member of a panel set up to look at countryside and environmental issues.

Due to Foot and Mouth in 2001 some of the Countryside Stewardship applications we prepared had to be deferred to this year. CSS is a Government Scheme that offers agreements to landowners over a ten year period to manage their land for wildlife, and in some cases access. It is the principal tool by which we can change large areas of the countryside for the benefit of wildlife and people. In 2001 four schemes were agreed at Brook Farm (Staple), Jumping Downs (Barham), Sole Street (Crundale), and Bank Farm (Mersham). In 2002 five schemes have been agreed at Great Ware Farm (Ash), Lower Paramour Farm (Ash), Anvil Green (Waltham), Evegate Business Centre (Mersham), and Upper Ensign Farm (Old Wives Lees). Some of the options taken up are 36 hectares (ha) of arable reversion, 30.8 ha of grassland management, 18.643 ha of arable margins, the creation of 5 ponds with a total area of 950sq m, 1460m of ditch restoration, over 6km of hedge planting and 1 km of hedge restoration, 20 ha of winter and spring stubble and over 4 km of permissive path.

Cheeseman’s Green is a major new development to the south of Ashford that will consist of over 1500 houses. In the centre of the development is Captain’s Wood, semi-natural ancient woodland. The Church Commission (the owners) and the developers are proposing to conserve and manage the woodland for the benefit of wildlife. As well as managing the woodland, the intention is to revert over 40 ha of arable land to pasture or hay meadow. If development has to happen around Ashford then for every 1 ha of land developed there should be 2 ha provided for wildlife or public open space, such as this proposal.

With the help of a Rail Link Countryside Initiative grant three barn owl nest boxes have been erected on this farm in Egerton, as well as over 1 km of hedge planted, trees planted - including the rare black poplar, and 500 m of hedge coppiced. This winter will see further hedge/tree planting and the creation of two ponds.

Volunteers have again been busy at the Pilgrim’s Hospice, Ashford, adding to the conservation area, which has been created with a grant from the Rail Link Countryside Initiative. A thin woodland strip was cleared of old fencing and thinned to remove unwanted scrub and non-native species. A trail will link the wood to the conservation area.

The last length of fencing on the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) for Bilting Grange Farm has been completed. The 1.2 km fence was needed to be able to graze new riverside pasture. Two barn owl nest boxes were erected and an otter chamber holt dug. Just in case the volunteers start to miss fencing at Bilting a new CSS has been approved for a different part of the farm holdings!!

This beautiful old park on the edge of Ashford has seen further habitat improvement works over the summer. Three barn owl nest boxes have been erected along the river and lake, a deluxe otter chamber holt constructed and eight damaged stone weirs have been repaired. Away from the river volunteers have been working on ‘posh’ parkland tree guards, and more tasks await this winter in the shape of hedge laying and coppicing.

Bybrook sewage works was the latest location to have an otter chamber holt installed. It proved quite a challenge getting to the site as it was very over grown (good for otters not so good for volunteers). Work was carried out at a frenzied pace, with the volunteers setting a new record for the fastest completed otter holt so far in the history of the project, well done all. This was mainly due to the fact that no one wanted to come back to the site again and tackle the nettles and smell.

Local residents in the Charing and Lenham area have formed a group called the ‘Heaths Countryside Corridor Project’. Their main aim ‘to conserve and enhance for the benefit of the public, the natural beauty and habitats of the Greensand belt around Charing and Lenham and to educate the public in all matters relating to the natural and physical environment and its conservation.’ The group is looking to purchase parcels of land along the corridor and manage them for access, education, community and conservation. An initial grant has been agreed to pay consultants to carry out a feasibility study. Once the study is completed this will be used to guide the group and assist with further grant bids. KSCP are playing an active role in helping advise the group. If you would like to get involved or want further information please contact the KSCP or Ruth Lovering 01233 713441.

Visit this excellent new market serving up local, and on the whole, more sustainably produced food. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday. You can find it in the old Crab and Winkle Goods Shed next to Canterbury West Railway Station. It’s worth the trip. It also has a restaurant. Contact on 01227 459153.

Good progress has been made at the new Tyler Hill Meadow LNR this summer. Volunteers joined with the local community to make hay (yes, while the sun shone), put up dormouse boxes and install some new oak gates. The trunk of a windblown tree has also been positioned on site to form a rustic seat.

Following work earlier in the summer to fence sections of riverbank near Thanington Lakes (owned by Brett’s), volunteers returned to the site in September to undertake some willow spiling. The willow, cut from Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, has been driven into the base of the bank and woven with thin willow withies to form a hurdle – a living revetment to help reduce bank erosion and diversify riverside habitat.

This summer, KSCP midweek volunteer groups have been supported by record numbers of volunteers. Not only has this helped us get through our programme of work, but also helps make volunteering a more sociable day out for all! Thanks to everyone who has committed their time and effort.

Kentish Stour Countryside Project
Sidelands Farm, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5DQ
01233 813307
kentishstour@kent.gov.uk