CANTERBURY GREENSPACE

Over the next six months work is planned at Whitehall Meadows in Canterbury to clear ditches, pollard willows, widen paths, and produce new interpretation boards. KSCP’s Greenspace Officers will be organising projects and surveys to involve the local community on this riverside site – owned by Canterbury City Council.

Pic: Whitehall Meadows.

Reptile surveys at Jumping Downs have confirmed the presence of common lizard, slow worm and adder. The numbers of individuals that have been seen have been very low, and this is probably due to the hot dry weather conditions. Further studies next year will hopefully reveal an idea of population size. Children enjoyed bug hunting and making dreamcatchers this summer as part of activities organised by KSCP designed to get kids out into their local countryside and to help them appreciate the environment close up, in an enjoyable way. The parents seemed to enjoy the fun too!

Dig pic: Dreamcatcher.

A new teachers pack has been produced by KSCP for schools to use at Jumping Downs. It contains a range of activities for formal learning, as well as some fun games designed to help children understand their natural world. Although the pack is aimed at Key Stages 1 and 2, activities can be adapted for older children. If you would like a copy of the pack, or wish to arrange a group visit to Jumping Downs with a guided walk contact the KSCP.

No Man’s Orchard and Tyler Hill Meadow LNRs held moth evenings for local communities to learn that moths can be both colourful and interesting. In total 33 people attended and were treated to a display of hundreds of moths attracted to bright lights. After a typically slow start moths were flying in from all directions. Moth expert, Paul Troake was on hand to identify the species and to answer any questions. For instance did you know that there are nearly 2,500 species of moths in the UK, compared to around 70 species of butterfly? The KSCP and Kent Mammal Group held a small mammal surveying day at No Man’s Orchard for the public. Five species were caught and released unharmed over the survey period. Information about the all the species found can be used to give a better picture of the wildlife using the reserves and ultimately used to improve management for their benefit.

Dig Pic: A moth evening at No Man’s Orchard.

Local villagers and KSCP staff got together to mow Tyler Hill Meadow LNR. Thirteen enthusiastic volunteers helped mow, rake and bale the cuttings. The cuttings were removed to prevent the release of nutrients as they decompose, and put a stop to smothering new growth, which may encourage degeneration into species-poor grassland of little wildlife interest. The cuttings will be composted at Wyecycle and reused as compost.

Members of the local community assembled at the Tyler Hill Tunnel at Archbishop’s School and got a taste of what it was like to work in a 19^th Century railway tunnel. The morning was spent clearing the tunnel of debris and building hibernation roosts for bats. The work was carried out as part of KSCP’s successful bid to a Local Heritage Initiative scheme for funding to raise public awareness of the conservation needs of bats and the historic importance of the railway line. Although the railway line was closed many years ago the tunnel has been identified as an important winter roost for bats. Part of the project is to identify how bats use the tunnel and line for feeding and commuting, and identify sections of the line that are of greatest importance. The project is a partnership between the KSCP, the Kent Bat Group, Archbishop’s School and the Crab & Winkle Line Trust. Under the supervision of the Kent Bat Group, through a programme of presentations and talks, bat walks using ultrasonic bat detectors, school children, particularly students at the Archbishop’s School in Canterbury, local residents and others will recognise the value of the need to protect and conserve bats in Kent.

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