DOCSLIB.ORG

Maidstone Borough Council Record of Decision of The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Maidstone Borough Council Record of Decision of The MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL RECORD OF DECISION OF THE COBTREE MANOR ESTATE CHARITY COMMITTEE Decision Made: 11 July 2012 PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF WESTFIELD WOOD AS A LOCAL NATURE RESERVE Issue for Decision To consider a proposal by the Kent Wildlife Trust that the section of Westfield Wood leased by the Trust from Maidstone Borough Council acting as Corporate Trustee of the Charity known as the Cobtree Manor Estate be put forward for designation as a Local Nature Reserve. Decision Made 1. That the request by the Kent Wildlife Trust to apply for Local Nature Reserve status for the section of Westfield Wood that it leases from Maidstone Borough Council in its capacity as Corporate Trustee of the Charity known as the Cobtree Manor Estate be approved. 2. That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to prepare and sign the documentation required for Local Nature Reserve designation upon an approach made by the Kent Wildlife Trust. Reasons for Decision On 27 February 2008 Maidstone Borough Council designated an area of land known as Boxley Warren as a Local Nature Reserve. The Boxley Warren site is shown edged in red on the plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Cobtree Officer. Since designation Boxley Warren has been visited and used as a Local Nature Reserve, and the site includes that part of Westfield Wood which lies immediately to the south east of the site currently leased to the Kent Wildlife Trust. Under an Agreement dated 18 January 1977 the Kent Wildlife Trust leases a section of Westfield Wood (a 13.3 (approx) acre site, shown edged red on the plan attached as Appendix 2 to the report of the Cobtree Officer) from Maidstone Borough Council in its capacity as Corporate Trustee of the Charity known as the Cobtree Manor Estate on a year to year lease for a nominal rent of £25 per annum to exercise their objectives and £2 per annum ground rent. Since 18 January 1977 the Trust has maintained and managed the site at its own cost. The whole of Westfield Wood is part of an internationally important Yew woodland complex. Local Nature Reserve designation will help to protect this landscape and raise its status as an important area for conservation locally. Local Nature Reserve Designation will help the Kent Wildlife Trust to apply for funding from Europe to protect and manage the woodland and will link the site currently leased to the Trust to the adjacent section of Westfield Wood and Boxley Warren that is already designated as a Local Nature Reserve further creating a large area of protected landscape along the North Downs. Such designation could also help protect the site from further damage by enabling Bylaws to be made to, for example, prohibit the use of motorbikes, mountain trail push bikes and cars in the woodland. Designation will not alter the way in which the site is used by the public; open access is an important part of designation as a Local Nature Reserve. Due to the importance of the habitat and the topography of the land, it is considered that it will not be possible to put the site to another use. Alternatives Considered and Why Rejected The alternative is to not allow the Kent Wildlife Trust to apply for Local Nature Reserve status for the Wood. This is not considered appropriate as designation could provide positive benefits for the woodland and the public visiting it. Designation could also help in managing the existing problems of (a) use by motorbikes and other motorised vehicles and (b) the dumping of rubbish, both of which are currently causing damage to the woodland. Background Papers None. Should you be concerned about this decision and wish to call it in, please submit a call in form signed by any two Non-Executive Members to the Head of Change and Scrutiny by: 20 July 2012. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Catchment Partnerships in Operation
    Catchment Partnerships in Operation 100 80 53 81 89 25 90 17 74 26 67 33 71 39 16 99 28 99 56 95 2 3 20 30 37 18 42 42 85 29 79 79 15 43 91 96 21 83 38 50 61 69 51 51 59 92 62 6 73 97 45 55 75 7 88 24 98 8 82 60 10 84 12 9 57 87 77 35 66 66 78 40 5 32 78 49 35 14 34 49 41 70 94 44 27 76 58 63 1 48 23 4 13 22 19 46 72 31 47 64 93 Legend Category No group yet established 0 20 40 80 Kilometres GSurobu cpa/gtcrhomupesn wt orking at sub catchment scale WGrhooulpe wcaotrckhinmge antt whole catchment scale © Crown Copyright and database right 2013. Ordnance Survey licence number 100024198. Map produced October 2013 © Copyright Environment Agency and database right 2013. Key to Management Catchment ID Catchment Sub/whole Joint ID Management Catchment partnership catchment Sub catchment name RBD Category Host Organisation (s) 1 Adur & Ouse Yes Whole South East England Yes Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, Environment Agency 2 Aire and Calder Yes Whole Humber England No The Aire Rivers Trust 3 Alt/Crossens Yes Whole North West England No Healthy Waterways Trust 4 Arun & Western Streams Yes Whole South East England No Arun and Rother Rivers Trust 5 Bristol Avon & North Somerset Streams Yes Whole Severn England Yes Avon Wildlife Trust, Avon Frome Partnership 6 Broadland Rivers Yes Whole Anglian England No Norfolk Rivers Trust 7 Cam and Ely Ouse (including South Level) Yes Whole Anglian England Yes The Rivers Trust, Anglian Water Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife 8 Cherwell Yes Whole Thames England No Trust 9 Colne Yes Whole Thames England
    [Show full text]
  • The Medway Megaliths and Neolithic Kent
    http://kentarchaeology.org.uk/research/archaeologia-cantiana/ Kent Archaeological Society is a registered charity number 223382 © 2017 Kent Archaeological Society THE MEDWAY MEGALITHS AND NEOLITHIC KENT* ROBIN HOLGATE, B.Sc. INTRODUCTION The Medway megaliths constitute a geographically well-defined group of this Neolithic site-type1 and are the only megalithic group in eastern England. Previous accounts of these monuments2 have largely been devoted to their morphology and origins; a study in- corporating current trends in British megalithic studies is therefore long overdue. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BRITISH MEGALITHIC STUDIES Until the late 1960s, megalithic chambered barrows and cairns were considered to have functioned purely as tombs: they were the burial vaults and funerary monuments for people living in the fourth and third millennia B.C. The first academic studies of these monuments therefore concentrated on the typological analysis of their plans. This method of analysis, though, has often produced incorrect in- terpretations: without excavation it is often impossible to reconstruct the sequence of development and original appearance for a large number of megaliths. In addition, plan-typology disregards other aspects related to them, for example constructional * I am indebted to Peter Drewett for reading and commenting on a first draft of this article; naturally I take responsibility for all the views expressed. 1 G.E. Daniel, The Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales, Cambridge, 1950, 12. 2 Daniel, op. cit; J.H. Evans, 'Kentish Megalith Types', Arch. Cant, Ixiii (1950), 63-81; R.F. Jessup, South-East England, London, 1970. 221 THE MEDWAY MEGALITHS GRAVESEND. ROCHESTER CHATHAM r>v.-5rt AYLESFORD MAIDSTONE Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Join the Kent Wildlife Trust Lottery and Win for Wildlife
    Join the Kent Wildlife Trust Lottery and Win for Wildlife Please return your completed form to: Membership, Kent Wildlife Trust, Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3BD. We’ll write to you within 14 days to confirm your entry. Title Forenames Surname D.O.B. Address Postcode Telephone Email I am also happy to be contacted by Kent Wildlife Trust about their conservation, events, membership, fundraising and other activities by (please tick all that apply): Post Telephone Email Your details will be used for Kent Wildlife Trust’s purposes only and will not be sold or passed onto any other organisations. How many entries would you like each month? (please tick one box) 1 Entry per month (£2) 2 Entries per month (£4) 3 Entries per month (£6) 4 Entries per month (£8) 5 Entries per month (£10) 10 Entries per month (£20) Other amount of entries: Entries per month total £ Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society To: The Manager Bank/ Building Society Address Service user number 6 2 4 1 8 7 Postcode Reference L O T Name(s) of Account Holder(s) Instruction to Bank or Building Society Please pay Kent Wildlife Trust Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by Account Number the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Kent Wildlife Trust and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Buildling Society. Sort Code Signature(s) Date Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of Potential Local Nature Reserves
    Appendix 1 Evaluation of Potential Local Nature Reserves Main Report For Maidstone Borough Council September 2019 Wimpey Field, Staplehurst Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Background to this Report ........................................................................................................ 1 Selecting Local Nature Reserves .............................................................................................. 2 Setting up a Local Nature Reserve ........................................................................................... 3 Approach to Evaluation ............................................................................................................ 4 Constraints to LNR Designation................................................................................................ 8 Evaluation of the Sites .................................................................................................... 9 The Sites .................................................................................................................................. 9 Summary of Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 15 Introduction Background to this Report Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are a statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal local authorities. They are places
    [Show full text]
  • Shepway Local Development Framework Green Infrastructure Report
    EB 08.20 Shepway Local Development Framework Green Infrastructure Report Elham Park Wood Shepway Green Infrastructure Report July 2011 1 Contents 1. Green Infrastructure - definitions 2. Components of GI 3. Functions and benefits of GI 4. GI policy context 5. The GI resource in Shepway 6. Biodiversity GI in Shepway 7. Linear Feature GI 8. Civic Amenity GI 9. Key issues and opportunities in relation to strategic development sites Shepway Green Infrastructure Report July 2011 2 1. Green Infrastructure - definitions 1.1 A number of definitions of Green Infrastructure (GI) are in use including:- PPS12 – “…a network of multi-functional green space, both new and existing, both rural and urban, which supports the natural and ecological processes and is integral to the health and quality of life of sustainable communities.” 1.2 South East Plan/South East GI Partnership – “For the purposes of spatial planning the term green infrastructure (GI) relates to the active planning and management of sub-regional networks of multi-functional open space. These networks should be managed and designed to support biodiversity and wider quality of life, particularly in areas undergoing large scale change.“ 1.3 Natural England – “Green Infrastructure (GI) is a strategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmental features. It should be designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities. Green Infrastructure includes parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, allotments and private gardens.” 1.4 The common features of these definitions are that GI:- • involves natural and managed green areas in urban and rural settings • is about the strategic connection of open green areas • should provide multiple benefits for people 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Adaptation to Climate Change Sustainable Local Economies Abundant Wildlife Healthy Cities and Green Space for All
    A living landscape A call to restore the UK’s battered ecosystems, for wildlife and people Adaptation to climate change Sustainable local economies Abundant wildlife Healthy cities and green space for all Updated with 100+ Living Landscape schemes So much of the UK now is packed with development Fenton/BBC Beatrice and wildlife is in retreat. There are many fine nature A LIVING LANDSCAPE reserves but our future must be to integrate human and natural communities and restore a better balance. This document lays out exciting and important new plans. Professor Aubrey Manning OBE President of The Wildlife Trusts Matthew Roberts. Cover picture: St Ives and the river Great Ouse, Cambridgshire, Dae Sasitorn/lastrefuge.co.uk Dae Cambridgshire, Ouse, Great river the and Ives St picture: Cover Roberts. Matthew Where will our water come from? When will our land use become truly sustainable? How can our environment adapt to climate change? What would it take to rebuild a wildlife-rich countryside? Why are so many people disconnected from nature? Priestcliffe Lees nature reserve, owned by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust: a treasure chest of local biodiversity. The Wildlife Trusts see such places as nodes from It’s time to think big which plants and animals can recolonise a recovering landscape To adapt to climate change, the UK’s wildlife will need to move Driven by local people and aspirations, The Wildlife Trusts play along ‘climate corridors’ up and down the country, or to shadier a leading role not just in developing the vision but in mustering slopes or cooler valleys. Wildlife has done it all before, after the the support that can allow communities to drive their own last ice age, but this time the change is faster and there are change.
    [Show full text]
  • Control of Ragwort, Thistles and Other Problem Plants
    06 Kent Wildlife Trust Land Management Advice Series Control of ragwort, thistles and other problem plants Generally speaking, the more reptiles and nesting habitat for birds. By biodiversity there is on a site, the better. using chemical control methods, you run the This advice sheet contains However, there are undoubtedly some risk of destroying other non-invasive species information about the following species which can become invasive which are from the same family. Ragwort topics: if left unchecked. This advice sheet and thistles are both part of the Asteraceae ● conservation benefits of ‘weeds’ explains the conservation benefits (Daisy) family and no selective herbicide of injurious weed species and other will exclusively target these few species ● weeds and the law species such as bramble and nettles; and leave all the other species of thistle, ● how to prevent weeds from taking the legislation surrounding injurious mayweed, fleabane, knapweed, hawkweed hold in the first place weed species; some steps you can and daisy unharmed. ● control of ragwort, docks and take to prevent them from becoming nettles, thistles, sycamore, bramble a problem in the first place; and some Weeds and the law and dogwood, snowberry, rushes, methods of control. There is no such thing as a ‘notifiable’ weed and it is not illegal to have plants bracken Conservation benefits of such as creeping thistle growing on your ● a note on the benefits of ivy land. However, five species are classified these species ● as injurious weeds under the Weeds Act using herbicides on your site It is important to remember that these 1959: common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), ● ‘weed’ species have evolved over millions of references and further reading creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), spear years and play a part in the lifecycle of many ● further advice thistle (Cirsium vulgare), curled dock (Rumex animals.
    [Show full text]
  • The Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation
    . JVASV^iX ^ N^ {/) lSNrNVIN0SHilWS*^S3ldVaan^LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Ni <n - M ^^ <n 5 CO Z ^ ^ 2 ^—^ _j 2 -I RIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIinillSNI NVINOSHilWS S3iyVdan U r- ^ ^ 2 CD 4 A'^iitfwN r: > — w ? _ ISNI NVINOSHilWS SBiyVdan LIBRARIES'SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION f^ <rt .... CO 2 2 2 s;- W to 2 C/J • 2 CO *^ 2 RIES SMITHSONIAN_INSTITUTlON NOIiniliSNI_NVINOSHilWS S3liiVyan_L; iiSNi"^NViNOSHiiNS S3iyvaan libraries smithsonian'^institution i^ 33 . z I/' ^ ^ (^ RIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIiniliSNI NVINOSHilWS S3lbVHan Li CO — -- — "> — IISNI NVINOSHimS S3IMVHan LIBRARIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION N' 2 -J 2 _j 2 RIES SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIifllliSNI NVINOSHIIWS SSIMVyail L! MOTITI IT I f\t _NviN0SHiiws'^S3iMvaan libraries'^smithsonian^institution NOlin z \ '^ ^—s^ 5 <^ ^ ^ ^ '^ - /^w\ ^ /^^\ - ^^ ^ /^rf^\ - /^ o ^^^ — x.ii:i2Ji^ o ??'^ — \ii Z ^^^^^""-^ o ^^^^^ -» 2 _J Z -J , ; SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIXniliSNI NVINOSHillMS $3 I M VH 8 !!_ LI BR = C/> ± O) ^. ? CO I NVINOSHimS S3iaVHan libraries SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIlf CO ..-. CO 2 Z z . o .3 :/.^ C/)o Z u. ^^^ i to Z CO • z to * z > SMITHS0NIAN_1NSTITUTI0N NOIiniliSNI_NVINOSHimS S3 I d ViJ 8 n_LI B R UJ i"'NViNOSHiiws S3ibvyan libraries smithsonian"^institution Noiir r~ > z r- Z r- 2: . CO . ^ ^ ^ ^ ; SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIiniliSNI NVINOSHillNS SSiyVMail LI BR CO . •» Z r, <^ 2 z 5 ^^4ii?^^ ^' X^W o ^"^- x life ^<ji; o ^'f;0: i >^ _NVIN0SHiIlMs'^S3iyVdan^LIBRARIEs'^SMITHS0NlAN INSTITUTION NOlif Z \ ^'^ ^-rr-^ 5 CO n CO CO o z > SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NOIiniliSNI NVINOSHimS S3 I ^Vd 8 11 LI BR >" _ . z 3 ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD AND Journal of Variation Edited by P.A. SOKOLOFF fre s Assistant Editors J.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Kent Wildlife Trust Wildlife Study Day Information Sheet
    Kent Wildlife Trust Wildlife Study Day Information Sheet No. 47 Title Birds of Prey of the Date Friday 5th December 2014 North Kent Marshes No. of students 5-15 Start time 10am Finish time 4 pm Leaders Tony Swandale, KWT Warden for Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve (formerly Oare Marshes Nature Reserve), has 20 years’ experience surveying birds and leading bird identification courses. Owen Sweeney local ornithologist and member of Kent Ornithological Society’s Conservation and Surveys Sub- Committee Who should attend Birders of all abilities who wish to improve their identification skills and learn more about birds. Meeting place Capel Fleet RSPB Raptor Viewing Point, Harty Ferry Road, 2 miles south east of Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey (map and directions below) Grid ref: TR022682 Other sites to be visited Harty Marshes and the Swale Estuary starting at the Harty Ferry Inn (Post code: ME12 4BQ). Subjects to be covered 1. Identification of birds of prey in winter 2. Raptors of the North Kent Marshes: their characteristics, habitats and behaviour Programme The Isle of Sheppey has the highest density of overwintering birds of prey in the county and is one of the UK’s premier sites for observing species such as short-eared owl, hen and marsh harrier, merlin, peregrine and, in some years, rough-legged buzzard. The start and finish of the session will be spent at the elevated watch point at Capel Fleet. There will also be a walk across Harty Marshes and a short slide presentation on the subject of identifying raptors and owls at Eastchurch Village Hall, Warden Road, Eastchurch, ME12 4BQ.
    [Show full text]
  • Boxley Parish Council
    BOXLEY PARISH COUNCIL www.boxleyparishcouncil.org.uk Clerk – Mrs Pauline Bowdery Beechen Hall Assistant Clerk – Mrs Melanie Fooks Wildfell Close Tel – 01634 861237 Walderslade E-mail – [email protected] Chatham Kent ME5 9RU To Parish Councillors, members of the public and press. Date 20 January 2015 Members are hereby summoned and notice is given that a Meeting of the Parish Council will be held at Beechen Hall, Wildfell Close, Walderslade, ME5 9RU at 7.30pm on 26 January 2015 when it is proposed to transact the following business: Time guide 1. Apologies and absences. (7.30) To receive and accept apologies for absence. 2. Declaration of Interests, Dispensations, Predetermination or Lobbying. (7.31) Members are required to declare any interests, dispensations, predetermination or lobbying on items on this agenda. Members are reminded that changes to the Register of Interests should be notified to the Clerk. 3. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 1 December 2014. (7.33) To consider the minutes of the meeting and if in order sign as a true record (pages 3-5). 4. Matters Arising From the Minutes. (7.35) 4.1 Minute 2707/4.1 Boxley Warren Awards for All application. Clerk to complete work and liaise with Cllr Harwood. 4.2 Minute 2707/4.2 War Memorial leaflet. A draft leaflet has been produced and copied to the researcher asking if the parish council can include, with a suitable acknowledgement, the detailed information she has amassed. 4.3 Any other matters arising from the minutes which are not on the agenda. 5.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Wild Side
    A Walk on the Wild Side faversham.org/walking FAVERSHAM - DAVINGTON - OARE - LUDDENHAM A Walk on the Wild Side Barkaway Butchers Take a Walk on the Wild Side and discover one of Kent’s most beautiful wildlife havens on the doorstep of the historic market town of Faversham. You’ll be bowled over by breath-taking views across farmland, sweeping pasture and glistening wetlands, and by an internationally important bird sanctuary, grazed by livestock as in days gone by. The scene is framed by the open sea and the local fishing boats that still land their catch here. Echoes of the area’s explosive and maritime history are all around you in this unexpectedly unspoilt and fertile habitat, rich with wild plants and skies that all year round brim with birds. A J Barkaway Butchers have supplied the finest quality meat Your route starts in Faversham’s bustling Market Place – a sea of colour, lined with centuries- products to Faversham and old half-timbered shops and houses and presided over by the elegant, stilted Guildhall. On the local area for more than a Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays traders selling fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, flowers and century. local produce vie for attention like their predecessors down the ages, while tempting tearooms Specialists in award winning entice you to sit back and admire the scene. hand-made pies, sausages This is an intriguing town, with specialist food stores, restaurants and bars, and the pleasing and fresh meats sourced from aroma of beer brewing most days of the week at Shepherd Neame, the country’s oldest brewer.
    [Show full text]
  • Come and Join the Original KWT Green Team Group, We Have Been Going for Almost 20 Years
    Come and join the original KWT Green Team group, we have been going for almost 20 years. We work on a variety of sites from Sittingbourne to Sevenoaks to Staplehurst, going somewhere different every week in the KWT landrover. Does this sound like your kind of adventure? We’re lead by Steve Weeks, Medway Valley Warden, who has been working with Kent Wildlife Trust for many years, alongside some experienced and knowledgeable volunteer team leaders. We love sharing our enthusiasm and skills and welcome all levels of ability. Working on almost every habitat type in Kent, there is a huge variety to do. With this team if you hang around long enough there isn't a job you wont get the chance to be involved with! Why is it important? The Green Team are responsible for main- taining the reserves when there is no project funding to do the work. They are the glue that holds the reserves together year in, year out regardless. Without their help many of our smaller, wilder, quiet or hidden sites would Spring & Summer really struggle to hang on to their wildlife val- Construction such as fencing, boardwalks or ue. gates. Summer is weeding and surveying. Commitment: every Wednesday at various Autumn & Winter locations. Come weekly, monthly or on an ad- Winter is all about cutting stuff down and hoc basis. having a big bonfire, sometimes small Training: Full training is given and you’ll only woody regrowth of a chalk grassland, some- be asked to do work you are comfortable with. times huge coppice stools that need re- There is also the option to do further training invigorating with the full short back and in machinery or team leading too.
    [Show full text]