CONSERVATION NEWS

King's Wood near Challock will be the venue for a brand new piece of work in 2006. International sound artist and musician Jem Finer won the New Music Award with his proposal 'A Score for a Hole in the Ground' and visited several woodland areas in the UK before choosing King's Wood. Stour Valley Arts and the Forestry Commission will work closely with Finer to realise his proposal. Ever-changing sounds will be made by water slowly dripping into a chamber. This ambient music will be conveyed through an elegant steel horn, reaching 6m into the trees. Finer describes his project as, 'both music and an integrated part of the landscape and the forces that operate on it and in it'.

If there was not enough wildlife features already at Willesborough Junior School with the wildlife garden, pond and green activity packs, there will soon be more as the school has been awarded further grant aid to create a nature trail and enhance the grounds for wildlife. The hope is that it will gain Eco-school status. The project was made possible with funding from Rail Link Countryside Initiative. The work is being carried out by parents, children and KSCP volunteers. Hedges and trees have been planted, spring bulbs dug in, a bird feeding station created and loads of interesting educational tools will complete the nature trail. Further work is planned for the spring with wildflower areas, a bird hide and outdoor classroom facilities.

Quest International continues to lead the way with biodiversity projects at their site in Ashford. Further enhancements on the site have seen a second larger pond created and planted up. The work was carried out by KSCP volunteers with help from Kent Probation Services. The meadow has been cut and cleared; this will help the wildflowers which were getting swamped by the dominant grasses. The KSCP lead several guided tours of the site over the summer and autumn, on one such event the group was treated to a fly over from an osprey! The other highlight of 2005 was the first use of the nesting boxes by a family of kestrels, all young were successfully fledged and we hope to see them again next year. Finally Quest have been entered into the ICI National Environmental Awards 2005. With all the work that has been carried out I’m sure they will do well.

Take a walk on the wild side

Another year of events has come to an end with the Friends of King’s Wood, finishing in style with the annual Christmas work party. After a morning of bramble bashing and pond clearing everyone enjoyed spuds on the fire and mulled wine, suffice to say not much work was achieved after lunch… A new series of events is planned for 2006. Please contact the Friends for your copy of the events leaflet 01795 530490 or e-mail: kings_wood@btinternet.com Thanks go out to the committee’s huge efforts to make the Friends such a vibrant organisation.

Improvements to key urban wildlife location

Ashford Warren situated on the eastern edge of the town has always been a very popular site for local people. The KSCP working with Ashford Borough Council have been making improvements to the site as well as carrying out survey work. Interpretative panels are planned for the entrance points, which will orientate as well as inform visitors to the site. A pond-dipping platform is planned and work on reducing the silt entering the pond will also be undertaken this winter. Coppicing a small section of the woodland, cutting the meadow and glade creation work will all enhance the site for wildlife. A programme of survey work has started which includes recording all the ancient trees within the wood, tagging them, taking vital statistics and marking the location on GPS. Flora and fauna surveys are also underway. If you would like to get involved in any of the work please contact the KSCP.

Major Landscape Study for Ashford

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