Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks

Main Report

March 2018

Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks – March 2018

CONTENTS Page

1. Introduction – Purpose of Report 1

2. Context 1

3. What is Green Infrastructure? 2

4. What are Ecological Networks? 3

5. Why do we need a Green Infrastructure network? 3

6. Methodology & Analysis 5

7. Conclusion 14

Green Infrastructure and Ecological Network Diagram 15

Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks – March 2018

1. Introduction – Purpose of Report

1.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that:

Local planning authorities should set out a strategic approach in their Local Plans, planning positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure;

1.2 This report identifies the key green infrastructure and ecological assets found within the Borough of and Malling. It also seeks to identify opportunities to enhance this network, and consider how these networks can link to assets within neighbouring districts, thereby helping plan for biodiversity at a landscape scale as set out in Para. 117 of the NPPF. This report seeks to update the previous Green Infrastructure Report (March 2009) to reflect changes in national planning policy and the updated evidence.

2. Context

2.1 The Borough of is located in West mostly within the outer part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. Much of the north of the Borough is encompassed by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and a smaller area to the south of Tonbridge lies within the High Weald AONB. Immediately to the east lies . is located some 10km to the west with Tunbridge Wells to the south close Tonbridge.

2.2 Most of the Borough is rural in character, with villages and small towns of varying size and character. It stretches north, beyond the M2 motorway, encompassing village and parts of Rochester Airfield and on top of the , and south to the market town of Tonbridge.

2.3 The geography, landscape and biodiversity of the Borough is dictated by the underlying geology with alternating bands of hard and soft rock leading to a strong east-west grain to the landscape. This geological sequence is important in determining the character of the landscape and the historic nature of land use, with predominantly agricultural uses on the low-lying areas historically including orchards and hop growing, and more recently intensive soft fruit farming. Natural has identified four National Character Areas1 within the Borough. On the upland areas woodland dominates. Some of these areas of woodland in the north of the Borough have been identified as being of international importance for nature conservation. The underlying geology has also resulted in extensive areas of quarrying, some still active, but with some land despoiled by former quarrying activity.

1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-character-area-profiles-data-for-local- decision-making/national-character-area-profiles#ncas-in-south-east-england-and-

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2.4 The River , the River Bourne and their tributaries pass through the Borough and have significantly influenced the history and development of the area. An extensive area of the Borough lies in the floodplain of the , the potential impact of which in Tonbridge is reduced to some extent by the Leigh Flood Storage Area immediately west of the town. Much of the floodplain is also of significance for biodiversity with extensive areas of the lower Medway Valley being designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

2.5 The Borough also supports a range of habitats, including some priority areas, which in turn, support a wide range of flora and fauna including both protected and priority species. The diversity of the natural and cultural environment within Tonbridge and Malling is one of the Borough’s great assets and many of the existing landscapes and spaces are accessible to the public. But, as the resident population of the Borough grows, access to the existing areas and provision of new ones will need to be managed to ensure high quality, distinct urban and rural landscapes, accessible diverse open spaces and ecological networks that will allow species to move across the landscape. Together, these assets and their different functions make up a network of green infrastructure across the Borough.

3. What is Green Infrastructure?

3.1 Green Infrastructure (GI) is defined by the NPPF as “A network of multi- functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities”.

3.2 The National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) states that Local Plans should identify the strategic location of existing and proposed green infrastructure networks, and that GI can include:

• Parks; • Open spaces; • Playing fields; • Woodlands; • Trees; • Allotments; • Private gardens; • Streams and water bodies; and • Features such as green roofs and walls.

3.3 In addition, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and ecological networks can also include areas of multifunction green infrastructure, so have been included as part of this study.

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4. What are Ecological Networks?

4.1 The NPPF defines ecological networks as areas that “link sites of biodiversity importance” and include:

• Designated sites of biodiversity importance: • International – Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), RAMSAR (and candidate SAC,SPA and Ramsar sites); • National – Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); • Local – Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS). • Wildlife corridors and stepping stones; and • Areas identified by local partnerships for habitat restoration or creation.

4.2 The Kent Local Nature Partnership (LNP) has identified wildlife corridors and stepping stones across the county, known as Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOAs)2along with conservation priorities for each. These areas are where the LNP believe that the delivery of Kent Biodiversity Strategy3 targets should be focussed in order to deliver maximum biodiversity benefits, through habitat enhancement, restoration and recreation.

5. Why do we need Green Infrastructure?

5.1 National policy identifies that GI is important to the delivery of high quality sustainable development, alongside other forms of infrastructure such as transport, energy, waste and water, and that it can help to deliver a variety of planning policy objectives.

5.2 Multi-functional GI is capable of providing multiple benefits, for communities, the economy and the environment including:

• Improving health and well-being by encouraging exercise, sport, active recreation, spiritual well-being and quiet contemplation • Promoting a sense of community • Helping to establish local identity and a sense of place • Improving environmental quality e.g. better air and water quality, local climate control and noise attenuation • Reducing pollution by increasing vegetation cover and by encouraging walking, cycling and horse riding to reduce dependency on the private car

2 http://kentnature.org.uk/kent-biodiversity-strategy2.html

3 Kent Biodiversity 2020 and beyond – a strategy for the natural environment 2015-2025 produced the Kent Local Nature Partnership http://kentnature.org.uk/kent-biodiversity-strategy.html

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• Contributing to sustainable drainage and flood mitigation • Reducing urban heat islands • Providing the opportunity for the preservation, restoration and re- creation of priority habitats and the protection and recovery of priority species • Allowing for species to adapt to changing climate through linking habitats to ease migration. Functional connectivity between areas of wildlife habitat is likely to make it easier for populations of species to move across the landscape in response to environmental change • Helping to protect and enhance biodiversity. Small, isolated areas of habitat are likely to hold proportionately fewer species than larger areas, and the populations of these species are likely to be more vulnerable to local extinction. Large, inter-connected areas of habitat are more likely to be sustainable in the long-term as natural processes can act to maintain habitats, and there is less need for deliberate management • Contributing to the protection, management and enhancement of historic and natural sites and areas • Reducing land management costs • Providing an enhanced environmental backdrop that will assist in attracting business and inward investment • Promoting sustainable transport by providing a permeable and logical network of routes between key destinations and green spaces to encourage walking, cycling and horse riding.

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6. Methodology & Analysis

Stage 1

6.1 The first stage in the preparation of the Green Infrastructure and Ecological Network involved mapping the various existing environmental assets in the Borough, as well as identifying potential opportunity areas for future provision.

Open Space Audit

6.2 The Council has updated the existing evidence as featured in the Open Space Strategy (OSS) (2009). This involved an audit of publicly accessible open spaces in Tonbridge & Malling in the summer of 2015. These sites range from formal parks and gardens to small equipped children’s play areas. These sites are illustrated below.

Figure 1: Publicly Accessible Open Space

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6.3 The open space evidence also assesses and recommends a reasonable starting point for open space standards in the Council’s emerging Local Plan, taking account of the current national benchmark figures (2015), as advocated by Fields in Trust, and current practice, including a standard for Natural and Semi-Natural4 open space.

6.4 An open space standard is not being proposed for Amenity Green Spaces as they are considered an integral part of a well-designed development proposal and provision will be addressed in other policies in the Local Plan seeking to achieve a high quality environment.

6.5 The open space evidence base will inform the formulation of open space policies in the Council’s new Local Plan.

4 As defined in Guidance for Outdoor Sports and Play. Beyond the Six Acre Standard England. 2015

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Nature Conservation and Landscape Designations

6.6 The character and quality of Tonbridge and Malling’s landscape and biodiversity is reflected by the many designations that protect large parts of it. Figure 2 illustrates the key nature conservation and landscape designations including the Special Areas of Conservation at Peters Pit and the North Downs Woodland, the Kent Downs AONB, the High Weald AONB, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Local Wildlife Sites, Local Nature Reserves and Regionally Important Geological Sites.

Figure 2: Designations

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Ancient Woodland

6.7 Ancient woodland is not only a valuable habitat for wildlife, but also provides recreation opportunities for residents and visitors to the area. In 2010, the Weald and Downs Ancient Woodland Survey undertook a revision to the Ancient Woodland Inventory to identify all parcels of ancient woodland within Tonbridge & Malling, accounting for c.10% of the Borough area. These sites are illustrated in below.

Figure 3: Ancient Woodland

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6.8 The revised Inventory will assist in making decisions about development within the district, and ensure that the effects of any development proposals on ancient woodlands can be properly assessed and considered.

Historic Parks & Gardens

6.9 There are a number of historic parks and gardens within the Borough, ranging in size from large parklands to individual gardens. Not all of these sites are accessible to the public, however access rights are not required for the sites to act as resource to enable movement of species. Figure 4 identifies the location of these sites.

Figure 4: Historic Parks and Gardens.

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Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOAs)

6.10 The Kent Local Nature Partnership has identified six BOAs within Tonbridge and Malling. These include:

• Medway Gap & North Kent Downs; • Central North Downs; • Greensand Heaths & Commons; • Medway & Low Weald Wetlands and Grasslands; • High Weald; and • Mid Kent Greensand and Gault.

6.11 The geographical extent of these is set out in Figure 5. These areas identify key locations for habitat restoration and/or creation work and provide a framework for partner organisations projects to help deliver net gains in biodiversity. Further information can be found in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.

Figure 5: Biodiversity Opportunity Areas

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River and water bodies

6.12 The River Medway runs through the North Downs in the north of the Borough and through the centre of Tonbridge in the south. In addition, a number of its tributaries also run through Tonbridge and Malling.

6.13 As well as the rivers, there is also a series of lakes, predominantly found around in the north and to the west of Tonbridge in the south, and a network of smaller ponds distributed throughout the Borough.

6.14 This network of waterways provides a range of valuable habitats, as well as offering recreation and leisure uses. Figure 6 illustrates the distribution of rivers and water bodies.

Figure 6: Rivers and Water bodies

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Routeways

6.15 A significant network of Public Rights of Way exists within the Borough linking urban areas with the surrounding countryside, and neighbourhoods with local destinations such as parks and other managed green spaces.

6.16 There are several strategic long distance footpaths such as the , the Greensand Way and the Weald Way, as well as cycle routes including Regional Route 12 and proposed National Route 17 which run through the Borough.

6.17 In addition, there are various strategic transport routes that run through Tonbridge and Malling, including the M20, M26 and M2 motorways, and the Medway Valley, the Maidstone East, the Redhill to Tonbridge, the Hastings, and the South Eastern Main Line railways. The Rail Link also passes through the northern section of the Borough. These routes are illustrated on Figure 7. Although the primary function of these routes is to facilitate the movement of people, transport corridors can act as routeways for species migration and the Roadside Nature Reserve scheme can enhance existing habitats to increase their nature conservation value. Conversely, transport infrastructure can also act as a barrier to non-motorised movement and species migration as the number of crossing points across such routes is often limited or unsuitable for species migration.

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Figure 7: Routeways

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Stage 2

6.18 The second stage in the process involved analysing these individual assets to help identify strategic networks within the Borough including principal green corridors and secondary links between them, ecological networks and links to the wider network.

6.19 Where they exist, the Green Infrastructure plans of neighbouring authorities5 have been taken into account in order to provide a strategic landscape scale response where appropriate.

6.20 The result of Stage 1 and Stage 2 is the creation of the Green Infrastructure and Ecological Network Diagram in Figure 8.

7. Conclusion

7.1 The Green Infrastructure and Ecological Network Diagram identifies a strategic approach to green infrastructure and biodiversity across Tonbridge & Malling. This network should be a key consideration at an early stage in both Local Plan-making and decision-taking at the application stage, where relevant.

7.2 Where a proposed development is located within a Principal Growth Corridor (PGC), consideration should be given to how the proposal could best deliver multifunctional green spaces to contribute to the green infrastructure within the Borough. The provision of new open spaces can provide opportunities to enhance and strengthen the network.

7.3 The provision of new natural and semi-natural open space and amenity green space within the ecological network as identified in the Green Infrastructure and Ecological Network Diagram, should take account of the habitat and species of the BOAs, as set out in Appendix 1 in order to facilitate the creation, protection and enhancement of ecological networks and provide net biodiversity gains where possible. Partner organisations may also make use of this document in order to identify priority locations for projects which may help deliver net gains in biodiversity in line with national policy objectives.

5 Maidstone Borough Council, Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Gravesham Borough Council and Medway Council.

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15 LDF: Tonbridge and Malling Green Infrastructure Report – March 2009

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Appendix 1: Biodiversity Opportunity Area Statements

Name: Medway Gap and North Kent Downs

Description: This area stretches from the Ash Downs near Meopham, across the lower Medway Valley, to the downland between Medway and Maidstone as far as . It includes extensive patches of woodland such as Whitehorse Wood, Great Wood (both SSSIs), Walderslade and Woods (LWSs), various historic parklands including Cobham, and chalk grassland sites such as Down, Warren, Queendown Warren and .

National Character Area(s): North Downs

Kent Landscape Character Area(s): Ash Downs, Luddesdown: West Kent Downs; Cobham: West Kent Downs; Medway Valley Lower; Nashenden Valley: Mid Kent Downs; Chatham Outskirts: Mid Kent Downs.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Kent Downs

Landscape Character: The topography is dominated by steep chalk scarps creating dry valleys and well-wooded ridgelines. The river itself is tidal with well-developed meanders, riverside marshes and reedbeds. Chalk soils on the scarp, at the base and in the dry valleys, support areas of high-quality unimproved chalk grassland. Medium to large scale fields of regular pattern bounded by hedges characterise the Medway floodplain. The plateau is typically large regular fields under arable cultivation; some mixed woodland and historic parkland and some small pastures and scrub.

Geology: mainly Upper Chalk capped with clay-with-flints or deposits of Head gravel; some areas of Thanet Beds; alluvial deposits along the Medway.

Biodiversity: 1 The area includes some very significant blocks of nationally and internationally important woodlands on a range of geologies from gravel to chalk, including areas of Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland. 2 The tidal Medway includes areas of saltmarsh and intertidal mudflat, and there are associated areas of grazing marsh, reedbed and fen. 3 Chalk grassland exists as isolated fragments 4 There are a number of important brownfield sites, including disused quarries 5 This target area includes the county’s most important site for arable weeds. 6 Key species include a number of important arable weed species, including corncockle, rough mallow and broad-leaved cudweed; chalk downland species including groundpine, man orchid, Kentish milkwort, meadow clary, and adonis blue butterfly; and wetland species, including otters.

Targets: 1. Maintain and enhance existing and recently created chalk grassland. Enhance at least 40ha of chalk grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat quality. Pursue opportunities for: • Additional chalk grassland creation where this would contribute to the county-wide target of 232ha by 2020; and • Additional chalk grassland restoration to meet the county-wide target of 464ha by 2020. 2. Enhance or reinstate woodland management, and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland; extend and reconnect fragmented woodlands where this would not conflict with grassland conservation and enhancement 3. Pursue opportunities for the restoration and enhancement of grazing marsh, fen and reedbed habitats within the floodplain of the River Medway, including restoration of at least 50ha of

17 Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks – March 2018 grazing marsh in the Medway Valley between Rochester and New Hythe, to contribute to county-wide targets of 500ha. 4. Secure and maintain appropriate management of key brownfield sites, particularly where these support UK BAP priority species . 5. Continue to conserve and enhance key populations of arable weeds, and maintain, enhance and extend the area of cereal field margins being positively managed for arable weeds. 6. Pursue opportunities for creation of species-rich neutral grassland where this would contribute to the county-wide target of creating 37ha on new lowland meadow in blocks of at least 2ha by 2020. Enhance at least 15ha of species-rich neutral grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Meadow quality. 7. Where appropriate, encourage and enhance public access, particularly from the Medway Towns. 8. Action for naturally widely dispersed habitats (ponds, traditional orchards), wildlife associated with arable farmland, and widely dispersed species such as great crested newt will need to focus across the whole of the area and not just within the Biodiversity Opportunity Area boundary.

Name: Central North Downs

Description: The Central North Downs encompass the rolling downlands from Knockholt to Stansted, and stretch up to Farningham. There are several notable sites in the area, including the KWT reserves at Kemsing, Fackenden and , and SSSI woodland at and along the Pilgrims way near Hill Park. LWSs include the Chevening Estate, Knatts Valley, Wrotham Downs and Lullingstone Park.

National Character Area(s): North Downs

Kent Character Area(s): Knockholt: Darent Valley; Knockholt Downs; North Darent: Darent Valley; Kingsdown: West Kent Downs; Ash Downs.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Kent Downs

Landscape Character: This landscape consists of numerous character areas with varied features contributing to this character. Undulating landscapes of ridges and dry valleys are common within this BOA. Where ridgetop woodland remains this contributes to more intimate landscapes and is often associated with smaller irregular pastures in the valleys. In other areas distinctive chalk downland with steep wooded scarps gives extensive views across Kent. Larger field systems can be typically found on the plateaus or scarp foot. Hedges and shaws are typical field boundaries. Settlements here are scattered, roads are often narrowing cross- contour. Brick and flint are characteristic materials.

Geology: Upper Chalk capped with clay-with-flints.

Biodiversity: 1 Important chalk grassland sites on the scarp on the North Downs and on the sides of the Darent Gap. 2 Nationally important woodland and wood pasture, as well as many small ancient woodlands, and veteran trees in a variety of habitats across the landscape. 3 The River Darent and its floodplain form an important landscape element. 4 Key species include otter, crayfish, adder, dark green fritillary, chalk hill blue, early gentian, Deptford pink and juniper.

Targets: 1. Restore, extend and reconnect chalk grassland. By 2020, restore at least 30ha of chalk grassland in the Darent Valley area to help meet the county-wide target of 464ha, and pursue opportunities for chalk grassland creation, aiming to create at least 15 ha to contribute to the

18 Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks – March 2018 county-wide target of 232ha. Enhance at least 35ha of chalk grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat quality. 2. Enhance or reinstate woodland management, and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland; extend and reconnect fragmented woodlands where this would not conflict with grassland conservation and enhancement. 3. Restore natural floodplain habitats, and restore/create flower-rich neutral grassland on suitable soils. Pursue opportunities for creation of species-rich neutral grassland where this would contribute to the county-wide target of creating 37ha on new lowland meadow in blocks of at least 2ha by 2020. Enhance at least 20ha of species-rich neutral grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat quality. 4. Achieve a quantifiable improvement in ecological status of the River Darent, as judged by Water Framework Directive indicators. 5. Implement conservation grazing management on grassland and wood pasture habitats. 6. Encourage appropriate physical and intellectual access to the landscape and wildlife of the area. 7. Action for naturally widely dispersed habitats (ponds, traditional orchards), wildlife associated with arable farmland, and widely dispersed species such as great crested newt will need to focus across the whole of the area and not just within the Biodiversity Opportunity Area boundary.

Name: Greensand Heaths and Commons

Description: A concentration of woodlands, some of significant extent, run along the Greensand Ridge from Maidstone to Westerham and the county boundary. A number have developed on old commons and wood pastures, and areas of heathy vegetation and acid grassland are a significant feature, particularly at .

National Character Area(s): Wealden greensand

Kent Character Area(s): Woodlands; Greensand-Sevenoaks Ridge; Westerham Greensand-Sevenoaks Ridge; Eastern Low Weald – the Low Weald; Western Low Weald – the Low Weald; Wotham Heath – Gap.

Landscape Character: The Greensand Ridge rises steeply from the clay vale of the Low Weald, and are characterised by dense woodland on the scarp and heathy commons, within which are small pockets of farmland. Fields are irregular in patterns and often small, and many are turned to pasture – some acid grassland remains on the poor soils. The woodland edge dominates views. This target area includes the ridge-top and the steep, south-facing scarp slope around Sevenoaks, as well as the enclosed, wooded landscape around Mereworth to the east A historically coherent landscape ;lanes are typically characterised by their narrow size, sometimes sunken and heavily enclosed by hedgerows. The scattered settlements are characterised by vernacular buildings and associated with designed landscapes such a wood pasture and parkland.

Geology: Lower greensand.

Biodiversity: 1 Large and important blocks of woodland and wood pasture on acid soils. 2 Important acid grassland sites. 3 Important for species of acid woodland and heathland which are otherwise scarce in Kent. Woodlands and woodpasture are noted for their veteran trees, fungus flora and invertebrate assemblages. The area is important for bats, adder and RDB bird species, and could be important in the future for woodlark.

Targets: 1 Pursue opportunities for creation of acid grassland and heathland where this would contribute to the county-wide target of creating, by 2020, up to 28ha in blocks of at least 1ha and no more

19 Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks – March 2018 than 500m from other existing or new semi-natural habitat. Enhance at least 45ha of species- rich acid grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Acid Grassland quality. 2 Enhance or reinstate woodland management – including wood pasture management where appropriate – and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland; extend and reconnect fragmented woodlands where this would not conflict with grassland conservation and enhancement. 3 Enhance at least 12ha of species-rich neutral grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Meadow quality. 4 Pursue opportunities for quarries to be restored to maximize their biodiversity potential. Where appropriate, seek restoration to heathland and/or acid grassland as a condition of permissions for aggregates extraction. 5 Engage communities within target areas by raising awareness of biodiversity and encouraging them to get involved in biodiversity action. 6 Action for naturally widely dispersed habitats (ponds, traditional orchards), wildlife associated with arable farmland, and widely dispersed species such as great crested newt will need to focus across the whole of the area and not just within the Biodiversity Opportunity Area boundary.

Name: Medway and Low Weald Wetlands and Grasslands

Description: The opportunity area includes long stretches of several of Kent’s rivers and this is reflected in the presence of several designated sites such as the River Eden, River Medway and River Sherway LWSs. To the west is the , particularly important for wildfowl, and to the east is the LWS at Dering Wood, near Pluckley.

National Character Area(s): The Low Weald

Kent Landscape Character Area(s): Western Wooded Farmlands; Eden Valley; Western Low Weald: the Low Weald; Penshurst: Central High Weald; Kent Water: Upper Medway; Medway Valley; Greensand Ridge – ; Low Weald Fruit Belt; Teise Valley; Beult Valley; Biddenden – High Halden Wooded Farmlands.

Landscape Character: Dominated by the floodplains of the River Medway and its complex network of small streams and tributaries. An undulating landscape of clay vales, fields within the floodplain are of a medium scale and more regular in form having been amalgamated through loss of field boundaries, and riparian vegetation. Small woodlands, historic hop gardens and orchards are common land uses. Few roads and settlements exist within the floodplain; small ponds are typical close to field boundaries.

Geology: Weald clay with deposits of alluvium, head gravel, river brickearth and river gravel along the river valleys.

Biodiversity: 1 The most significant features are the courses, tributaries and floodplains of the Medway, Beult and Teise. The floodplains support species rich meadows or floodplain grassland and grazing is a significant landscape feature and management practice. 2 Associated habitats include ponds, small areas of woodland, including mature ancient woodland, and fen. 3 Key species include otter, depressed river mussel, white clawed crayfish and river lamprey.

Targets: 1 Achieve a quantifiable improvement in ecological status of all water bodies, as judged by Water Framework Directive indicators. 2 Pursue opportunities for creation of wider river floodplains with riparian corridors around natural drainage channels.

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3 Pursue opportunities for the delivery of catchment improvement work, including enhancing, restoring and creating fen, wet woodland, reedbed and wet grassland and action for key species such as otter. 4 Secure the appropriate conservation management of all existing Lowland Meadows. Enhance at least 50ha of species-rich neutral grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Meadow quality. 5 Pursue opportunities to create new species-rich neutral grassland, particularly close the SSSI and south of Sevenoaks, in blocks of 2ha or more, where this will contribute to meeting the county target of creating 37ha by 2020. 6 Enhance or reinstate woodland management, and extend and reconnect fragmented woodlands where this would not conflict with grassland conservation and enhancement. 7 Continue to encourage the positive management, restoration and re-creation of hedgerows, particularly where this would reconnect other habitats or enhance the landscape, in particular where these have been removed due to agricultural intensification. 8 Improve the management of invasive species in and alongside water courses. 9 Maintain, restore, recreate and buffer ponds, particularly to establish networks of sites to support great crested newt. 10 Action for naturally widely dispersed habitats (ponds, traditional orchards), wildlife associated with arable farmland, and widely dispersed species such as great crested newt will need to focus across the whole of the area and not just within the Biodiversity Opportunity Area boundary.

Name: High Weald Description: A large and dispersed target area covering a mosaic of small woods, patches of heathland and acid grassland, and neutral grassland, interspersed with streams and ponds, and reflecting the complex geology and topography of the High Weald landscape. The landscape has long been shaped by the impact of human activity and intervention, but has remained relatively unchanged in modern times.

National Character Area(s): High Weald

Kent Character Area(s): Kent Water – Upper Medway; Penshurst Central High Weald; Pembury CentralHigh Weald; Kent Fruit Belt – Kentish High Weald; Bayham Central High Weald; Bewl & Bedgebury Kentish High Weald; Cranbrook Kentish High Weald; Bodiam Lower Rother Valley.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): High Weald

Landscape Character: A landscape whose complex geology gives rise to deeply incised gill stream valleys and ridges.. Water systems here are typically flashy. A scattered settlement pattern of small villages, hamlets and historic farmsteads produce a distinctive character. Historic sunken lanes are typical of this area, with steep sides their unique microclimate supports a rare flora of ferns, and bryophytes. Drove ways follow the distinctive NE-SW pattern running across the low weald to the Downs. Distinctive and scattered sandstone outcrops or 'bluffs' rise above the farmland. Ancient woodland is a characterising feature, and often thick, ancient shaws bound fields. Fields are typically small and irregular in pattern, having been ‘cut out’ of larger woodland blocks. Pasture is a typical land use on the poor soils of the High Weald – heathland, meadows and acid grassland are all characteristic.

Geology: Sandstones and clays of the Hastings Beds series.

Biodiversity: 1 An intricate matrix of ancient semi-natural woodland and grassland, with small water bodies, streams and rivers and associated riparian habitats, as well as patches of heathland and important areas of acid grassland and lowland meadow. Some woodland and grassland sites are of national significance. 2 The area contains furnace/hammer ponds and other acidic water courses which are unique.

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3 The area is important for many species which are at the edge of their range in Kent, including golden-ringed and brilliant emerald damselflies, and a number of western bryophyte species associated with rock outcrops and gills. The area is important for bats, particularly woodland species. Bechstein’s bat is recorded breeding here. Birds otherwise very scarce in Kent, including willow tit, lesser spotted woodpecker and woodlark occur here.

Targets: 1 Restore, recreate and enhance woodland through active conservation management, particularly locally unique gill woodlands, heathy woodlands and wood pasture. Restore plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland. 2 Secure the appropriate conservation management of all existing Lowland Meadows. Enhance at least 100ha of species-rich neutral grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Meadow quality. Pursue opportunities to create new species-rich neutral grassland where this will contribute to meeting the county-wide target of 37ha, in blocks of 2ha or more, by 2020. 3 Reinforce the intricate matrix of habitats by restoring and recreating heathland, acid grassland, and neutral grassland, and reconnecting fragmented woodlands. Opportunities should be taken for heathland or acid grassland restoration and enhancement as part of woodland management, for example at Bedgebury Forest and Hemsted Forest and in the Pembury area. Additional opportunities for creation of acid grassland and heathland should be pursued where this would contribute to the county-wide target of creating up to 28ha by 2020. 4 Pursue other opportunities to create new acid grassland and heathland, of up to 20ha in blocks of at least 1ha and no more than 500m from other existing or new semi-natural habitat. Enhance at least 10ha of species-rich acid grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Acid Grassland quality. 5 Maintain and restore water courses, achieving a quantifiable improvement in ecological status as judged by Water Framework Directive indicators and maintain, restore and create ponds. 6 Action for naturally widely dispersed habitats (ponds, traditional orchards), wildlife associated with arable farmland, and widely dispersed species such as great crested newt will need to focus across the whole of the area and not just within the Biodiversity Opportunity Area boundary.

Name: Mid Kent Greensand and Gault

Description: The Mid Kent Greensand and Gault opportunity area contains a very high number of LWSs, including Honeyhills and Horish Woods. There are also several SSSIs including Burham Marsh, and Common, which is one of the last remaining heathland sites in Kent.

National Character Area(s): Predominantly Wealden Greensand with North Downs at the northern boundary.

Kent Landscape Character Area(s): Predominantly - Boxley Vale: Medway; Vale West; Leeds- Farmlands; Plateau Farmlands; Greensand Fruit Belt – Egerton; Hothfield Heathy Farmlands; Upper Stour Valley; Biddenden-High Halden Wooded Farmlands; Brabourne Lees Mixed Farmlands; Sellindge Plateau Farmlands; Hythe Escarpment Lympne; Saltwood: Postling Vale; Stowting: Postling Vale;

Landscape Character: A predominantly farmed landscape following the scarp foot of the Downs taking in rivers and their tributaries. Its undulating topography and mostly clay geology leads to infrequent scattered settlement, typically farmsteads. Fields are irregular in pattern and typically of medium scale, bounded by hedgerows. Lanes are narrow and sometimes winding, with strong enclosure, and display a characteristic alignment of drove roads running NE-SW. Heathland and parkland dot this landscape providing it with a strong and readable historic character. Woodlands typically in the form of blocks or copses and the historic character associated with waterways, such as mills and pollarded willows can still be seen.

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Geology: Mainly Lower Greensand, Gault and Weald Clay, with some deposits of alluvium and head gravel around the Medway near Burham and head gravel around Langley and Fairbourne heaths.

Biodiversity: 1 Includes the River Len, the River Great Stour, The River East Stour and a number of their tributaries (including a series of small springs arising at the foot of the Downs). Associated habitats include lakes, areas of wet woodland, and some very small areas of fen. 2 There are nationally important acid grassland and heathland sites, as well as many smaller acid grassland fragments. 3 Blocks of wood pasture are scattered through this area, and there are small, isolated woodlands on the Gault clay and on the Greensand. 4 Key species include water vole, white-clawed crayfish and Desmoulin’s whorl snail Vertigo moulinsiana, associated with river corridors, as well as wintering bittern along the Medway. The shrill carder bee Bombus sylvarum has been recorded at Leybourne Lakes Country Park, together with other important invertebrate species. Few nationally important species are associated with acid grassland and heath habitats, though many species of these habitats are scarce or unknown elsewhere in Kent, such as the keeled skimmer dragonfly at Hothfield or the assemblages of scarce invertebrates recorded from around Maidstone.

Targets: 1 Major opportunities exist to recreate and restore acid grassland and heath. This should include restoration, by 2020, of at least 4ha at Ashford Warren; and creation of at least 10ha of acid grassland and heath in the heathland corridor from Lenham to Brabourne Lees, plus at least 10ha of acid grassland around the northern edge of Maidstone. Habitat blocks should be no smaller than 1 ha if no more than 500m from other existing or new acid grassland, and no smaller than 6ha if more isolated. Additional opportunities should be pursued for creation of acid grassland and heathland where this would contribute to the county-wide target of creating 28ha by 2020. 2 Enhance at least 10 ha of species rich grassland on acid soils, including newly created habitats, to bring them to UK BAP priority habitat quality. 3 Enhance or reinstate woodland management – including wood pasture management where appropriate – and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland; extend and reconnect fragmented woodlands where this would not conflict with grassland conservation and enhancement. 4 Achieve a quantifiable improvement in ecological status of all water bodies, as judged by Water Framework Directive indicators. 5 Pursue opportunities to restore or recreate wetland habitats along the Rivers Medway, Stour and Len and their tributaries, particularly where this may • Provide opportunities for flood risk management and for recreation; • Contribute to the conservation of priority species; or • Extend and buffer Local Wildlife Sites. • Enhance at least 20ha of species-rich neutral grassland to bring it to UK BAP priority habitat Lowland Meadow quality. 6 Secure and maintain appropriate management of key brownfield sites, particularly where these support UK BAP priority species. 7 Infrastructure and other development should avoid further fragmentation, particularly of wetland habitats and woodlands. 8 Action for naturally widely dispersed habitats (ponds, traditional orchards), wildlife associated with arable farmland, and widely dispersed species such as great crested newt will need to focus across the whole of the area and not just within the Biodiversity Opportunity Area boundary.

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Appendix 2: Biodiversity Opportunity Area map

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