If you go down to the river today you may be in for a big surprise- the Lower Stour Valley is one of the best places for water vole in the country- and it’s official!

Nationally, water voles are in steep decline and are now believed extinct in several counties across the UK, the main reasons for this is habitat loss and predation by the introduced American mink.

A recently commissioned survey by the KSCP and the Environment Agency has found that a staggering 85% of waterways in the Lower Stour Valley showed evidence of water voles. This is well above the local average, including the well-populated Romney Marsh, which has a 45% occupation rate. These new findings have highlighted the Lower Stour Valley as a significant stronghold for ‘Ratty’ at both a local and national level!

Out on the Downs

The Out on the Downs Project aims to help people who do not usually have access to the countryside to get out and build up their physical fitness and confidence, while enjoying the stunning views of the varied countryside around Canterbury.

With funding from the Kent Downs AONB Unit and Interreg (European money) the Project has seen groups from the Canterbury area enjoying the countryside this autumn. Swalecliffe Church Community group had fun with a walk and nature games in King’s Wood and Finding Your Feet, a group helping young refugees settle in and learn English, learned how to find their way through the woods and valleys around Jumping Downs LNR near Barham.

Other trips this autumn will take a group from the Canterbury Day Centre out for a long walk from Wincheap to Chartham Hatch and back, and an art group from Canterbury Umbrella Centre will have the chance to paint beautiful Chilham Mill and surrounding lakes and woods. Hannah Nichols from Natural Pathways bush craft training will lead a women’s group from Northgate Community centre and a group of teenagers from the Alternative Curriculum Project in shelter building and fire starting. Other trips are planned for Quern’s Youth Centre, and for disabled children from SNAAP in Thanington.

There’s a lot to shout about this year for the extremely rare black-veined moth. Previously known from just four sites in the UK (all in Kent), it has been found for the first time this year on the Kent Wildlife Trust nature reserve at Broadham Down. This exciting news follows work on a partnership project between KSCP and KWT to create a corridor between Down Bank, where an established colony of the moth already exists, and the KWT reserve ‘next door’. In previous winters a corridor has been cut through a belt of woodland that separated the two sites, with the aim of providing a flight path for the moths to disperse along – well it seems to have done the job! However, not to rest on our laurels, this summer Down Bank has been stock-proofed with fencing materials funded by the charity Butterfly Conservation, and KWT have agreed to graze the bank to fight back against the encroaching scrub which threatens the existence of the black-veined moth. The muscle needed was supplied by KSCP volunteers, who must take some relief from the fact that all of their toiling up and down the slope in scorching temperatures will help to protect both this rare and beautiful species of moth and an equally rare downland wildlife haven.

Not so stodgy at Stodmarsh

KSCP volunteers have been working with English Nature at Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve throughout the summer to improve visitor access at the site. They have been helping with the maintenance of the nature trail at the Stodmarsh Village end of the site by replacing 45m of post and rail fencing and 50m of boardwalk. Once complete it is hoped that the nature trail will continue to provide safe and easy access for visitors for many years to come.

During the weekend of the 9^th & 10^th December, and following a highly successful two days last year, once more, Stodmarsh will be playing host to the ‘Blongios’, a group of French Volunteers, for more reed bed restoration work. For those wishing to get involved with the weekend or any other practical tasks, please contact KSCP.

Orlando Bloom may have some competition as the biggest star from East Kent to hit our television screens by way of some baby barn owls! Recently TV cameras swooped on one of several barn owl boxes monitored by KSCP to film the ringing and measuring of a brood of three barn owl chicks. The filming will be used in the second series of "River walks" featuring Charlie Dimmock, where an episode will feature the River Stour. Our own Jason Mitchell was filmed with the owls and all ‘four’ managed to behave themselves for the camera! As a whole, barn owl numbers were reasonably good in the Canterbury area with three broods being recorded; this is despite it being a poor year nationally. Also, a brood of four kestrels were successfully raised in another. Where suitable habitat exists, the KSCP continues to install further boxes to help conserve barn owls and following the recent erection of two new boxes on the Minister Marshes there is further hope that this charismatic species will once more become a common site in our countryside.

Clearing the way

KSCP promote a series of booklets titled "Train Rides to Ramble" which include a number of self-guided walks starting from railway stations across the Stour Valley. These walks lead the rambler through some of the hidden gems of the Stour Valley and varying in length they are suitable for most abilities. KSCP volunteers in the Canterbury area have completed an annual survey of the routes and repairs have been made to further improve the experience for the walker. For further information on these publications, please contact Jane True at KSCP. Booklets are available for the Canterbury area starting at Bekesbourne, Chartham, and Sturry stations and Grove Ferry Picnic site and the Ashford series features walks from Charing, Chilham, Pluckley and Wye stations. Individual booklets are priced at £1.50 each or £4.99 for the complete pack or four.

Wonderful Woodlands Day at No Man’s Orchard

No Man’s Orchard has had some great events in recent years – Haymaking, apple wassailing, and poetry reading. This year’s summer event braved the windiest weekend this year – September 2^nd celebrated the wonder of the woods. Despite the weather 100s of people came and joined in with the crafts, displays, food and music provided by local groups and businesses.

Heavy horses from the Working Horse Trust pulled wood out of nearby Bigbury woods demonstrating a gentle form of extraction. There were stalls from local groups and craftsmen and women. Young families enjoyed debris shelter building, composting demonstrations took place and local honey and free range eggs were on sale.

The Blean initiative had a show of woodland management and was selling pots made in a wood fired kiln by a local potter. Local basket weavers got children and adults busy weaving baskets with a beautiful display of their work. Brogdale Trust had a huge range of different apples available for tasting and buying. Woodhill Farm brought along their rare poultry breeds and Peter Jones showed how to make charcoal, as well as showing off his hand-made chestnut hurdle (fence panel).