CONSERVATION NEWS

The KSCP has been successful with its partners the Kent Downs AONB Unit and the Whitecliffs Countryside Project in a bid for European Inter-reg funding under the title Living Landscape Project. The total amount of funding given to the partners is £400,000. It comes as a result of continuing work with the Parc Naturel Regional des Caps et Marias d'Opale in Nord Pas De Calais. KSCP projects that will continue for a further two years include the Countryside Conservation Grant Scheme, Canterbury Greenspace Project and the Woodland Biodiversity Project. New projects focused on landscape and habitat improvements will start in 2005.

'House hunters may normally check the number of bedrooms, showers and noisy neighbours, but in one of the newest housing estates they are being offered a novel incentive, the country's first dedicated hedgehog path' so says the Guardian newspaper. Unfortunately, this development is not in Kent but in Norwich. The mammals are being given trails, with holes through fences that avoid the dreaded road. The houses also come with bird boxes in five styles, depending on whether buyers want to attract sparrows, blue tits, house martins, robins, or wrens. Developers in Ashford and Canterbury please note!

A recent study by the Mammals Trust UK found that populations of hedgehog, vole shrew, dormouse, and hare were generally declining in rural areas but populations were rising in towns, cities and suburbs.

Britain’s 7.5 m cats are often blamed for the decline in some bird species. But according to the RSPB, there is no scientific evidence that cats have any impact on garden bird populations. However there’s growing concern about the impact of cats on small mammals. Research by the Mammal Society last year found that mammals accounted for 69% of prey brought home by cats. Meanwhile Britain’s 6.8 million dogs are estimated to produce 900 tonnes of excrement every day. This can have an impact on some nature reserves by enriching nutrient-poor soils. A recent study showed that while 86% of dog walkers said it was unacceptable not to pick up after a dog, less than half actually did (Urbio, Issue 7 2004 English Nature).

On the 7^th May 2005 Kent will see the lowest tide of the year, with more foreshore exposed than at any other point. To celebrate this and provide an opportunity for all to see what lurks beneath the water, a programme of events will be taking place throughout Kent. Low Tide Day 2005 will see a wealth of different activities around Kent’s coast, from exploring the mudflats of the Swale to combing the chalk reefs of Thanet. If you would like more details of events taking place near you, please contact kent.coasts@kent.gov.uk or 01622 221487.

'Lamberhurst Farm, which will be known as Victory Wood, has been successfully purchased by the Woodland Trust. A massive thanks to everyone who has been supportive in making this possible. Fundraising now concentrates on raising enough money to return the land to woodland and involving children and community in the planting, which will take place over the next five years. Over the coming months there will be consultation meetings to decide on the design of the site.' If anyone would like any further information please ring Christine Punter on 01206 729186 or email christinepunter@woodland-trust.org.uk

An exciting habitat creation and enhancement scheme may be on the horizon following a recent land purchase by the Canterbury and District Enterprise Trust. Janet Merza, Chief Executive, approached the KSCP and Kent Wildlife Trust with a vision that the land might be ‘developed’ as a nature reserve. Integral to the project is that the site will also produce work experience and training opportunities for people trying to get back into the work environment. Known as Hambrook Marshes, the site covers approximately 17.5 hectares of floodplain grassland next to the River Great Stour, sandwiched between Whitehall Meadows to the east and Thannington Lakes to the west. The project is in its infancy and will take many years to complete; watch this space for future updates.

On a damp Sunday in October a band of 13 trusty volunteers braved Fright Wood, near Chartham. Volunteers included two families and students from UKC and Christchurch College. The day involved the creation of a glade, an open area within the small mixed woodland. Fright Wood consists of many similarly aged trees and there is little diversity within the structure of the woodland. The opening up of the wood will help encourage a more interesting ground flora and the increased warmth and sunlight will benefit insects and birds too. The wood also holds suitable habitat for dormice, to help them out two nestboxes were put up on the edge of the wood. It wasn’t too scary after all, the bonfire kept wild animals at bay and the cakes and biscuits kept spirits high!

Since grazing ceased at Weatherlees Hill SSSI, near Richborough, 15 years ago it has been heavily encroached by scrub. If left unchecked this scrub will eventually smother the remaining mosaic of grassland types. Working with English Nature, the KSCP aims to reduce scrub cover to a manageable level. After much hard toil by contractors and KSCP volunteers alike, the site is again home to a small heard of cattle. But, the work doesn’t stop there, scrub clearance and more fencing is on-going.

Outdoor action at the Sturry Road Community Garden, Canterbury

During 2004 the Sturry Road Community Garden Trust helped by local people planted trees, shrubs, and bulbs near to the new play and skateboard areas. Further work planned includes provision of a multi games court, BMX track, seats, signs, litter bins and the development of the garden club, not to mention further tree and bulb planting. To find out more about the Sturry Road Community Garden, please contact: (01227) 765 893 or email anna@invale.freeserve.co.uk

The Nature Reserve is now open to the general public, offering

a pleasant walk (approximately 800m) overlooking the beautifully restored lakes of this former gravel pit. There is a bird hide, sculpture trail and the option of refreshments after your walk. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons 1 - 3pm (not Bank Holidays) at a cost of £2 per person (under 4's go free). Canterbury Environmental Education Centre, Broad Oak Road Tel: 01227 452447 Email:dragonfly@naturegrid.org.uk www.econet.org.uk

The Kent Wildlife Trust has just completed the first phase of a selective coppicing programme to remove dense clusters of sweet chestnut trees across their new 600 hectare woodland in the Blean. This will allow the scarce cow wheat plant to thrive again in the sunnier conditions. The pretty yellow-flowered cow wheat is the staple food plant of the nationally rare heath fritillary caterpillar whose striking mosaic-patterned butterfly is included in the "red book" of endangered British wildlife.

The final beach clean of the season

"The Thanet Coast Project was delighted with the amount of support that the final Beach Clean for 2004 gained at Plumpudding on Sunday 3^rd Oct with a record number of volunteers of volunteers turning up to lend a hand in keeping our beaches spotless. Despite the horrendous downfall we were joined by nearly 20 volunteers, including a willing team of helpers from the KSCP, who all worked hard to fill more than 35 bags with wasteon the day.

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