DOCSLIB.ORG

Wildlife Trust Ecology Groups

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Wildlife Trust Ecology Groups Survey Programme 2019 Welcome to the 2019 Ecology Groups programme, as you will see Ecology Groups are growing into new areas of the county and there are more surveys to get involved with. Our Ecology Groups have been established to help us demonstrate the effect of our reserve management work and to assess the quality of the habitats we manage. Ecology Groups are part of a team within our Conservation & Policy Department and you’ll be in the field surveying and collecting data on species and habitats. You’ll learn a huge amount through this work, gaining skills to identify species, provide valuable data and see it used to benefit wildlife conservation in Kent. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced staff and volunteers who will help to develop your survey and identification skills. All you need is an interest in wildlife, you don’t need a background or any prior knowledge, but you’ll likely want to grow your skills and help us to make a difference for wildlife. Volunteering with Ecology Groups a great role for students and those wishing to gain experience in the conservation sector as well as anyone wanting to learn more about species and habitats. If you are building your CV, in order to gain the most of this opportunity, we would recommend volunteers participating in both surveying role and our Ecology Group data processing role (for more details contact [email protected]). We also encourage our Ecology Group volunteers to participate in our Wildlife Study Day programme of activities, there is a charge for these, but a discount is offered on many of these for active volunteers. Volunteers will also benefit from getting involved with our Practical Conservation task days. Important Surveys are run by different members of staff and volunteers on different reserves and in different parts of the county. You MUST contact the relevant person using the email address listed to let them know you intend to come to a session to make sure that: a) You know the meeting place and time for the survey b) You can be contacted in the event that the survey is cancelled due to bad weather or staff illness Typically surveys are from 10am until 4pm (sometimes we may finish earlier), though this may vary slightly. Usually volunteers attend for the whole day, but you are welcome to come for a half day. How much time do I need to give? Our Ecology Groups work primarily between spring and late summer, and volunteers usually commit to participating in a day long activity with us, usually starting from around 9 or 10am and finishing at 4pm. You can attend as many sessions as you would like. What do I need to bring with me? It’s essential that you wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy, sensible footwear. You should bring your lunch and a drink with you. Not all of our sites are fully accessible and you will often be working on uneven ground, please check the accessibility details of the site you are visiting on our website. What will I be doing? The last page of this programme details what is involved in each type of survey. Where will activities take place? Activities are taking place all over Kent, full details of which are listed in this programme. If you have any questions about Ecology Groups please contact: Lucy Carden | Assistant Conservation Officer Mobile: 07740 182877 E-mail: [email protected] Kent Wildlife Trust, Tyland Barn, Sandling Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3BD Website: http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/ecology-groups Facebook: search ‘Kent Wildlife Trust Ecology Groups’ Survey Survey days Reserves (days) Dates Contact email Water vole Monday Holborough 1st May Nigel [email protected] survey Marshes Jennings k Plant survey Tuesdays Potters Copse (1) 7th May Lucy Carden [email protected] (habitat condition assessment – Potters Copse (2) 14th May woodland) Plant survey RESERVES (habitat th condition Thursday Princes Bank 30 May Alison Ruyter [email protected] th assessment – Darland Banks (1) 13 June th chalk grassland) Darland Banks (2) 20 June Thursdays Darland Banks (3) 4th July Monday The Larches 3rd June Friday Nashenden 7th June TBC Bluebell Hill TBC Burham TBC – Steve Weeks [email protected] Wouldham Contact the Mondays organiser for further Peters Pit details Queendown Warren TBC – Rob [email protected] Tuesdays Contact the Pennington organiser for Queendown further Extension details ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVES (Maidstone area) Thursdays Princes Ave and 23rd May Bethany [email protected] North Dane Way Pateman Detling Hill and 30th May A2490 Bluebell Hill 20th June Orchid survey Thursdays Darland Banks 25th April Alison Ruyter [email protected] 2nd May 9th May Moths - day Darland Banks Contact Heather [email protected] flying moth TBC organiser for Furse survey (straw further belle) details Plant survey (habitat Monday Kemsing Down (1) 13th May Lucy Carden [email protected] condition assessment – woodland) Plant survey (habitat ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVES condition assessment – Thursday Hartley 6th June Beth [email protected] chalk grassland) Pateman RESERVES Monday Magpie Bottom (1) 3rd June Susanna [email protected] Magpie Bottom (2) 10th June Clerici Tuesday Magpie Bottom (3) 11th June Monday Magpie Bottom (4) 17th June Magpie Bottom (5) 24th June Magpie Bottom (6) 1st July Friday Fackenden (1) 7th June Paul [email protected] Monday Fackenden (2) 17th June Glanfield Wednesday Fackenden (3) 3rd July Monday Fackenden (4) 8th July TBC Fackenden (5) TBC Monday Polhill Bank (1) 10th June Friday Polhill Bank (2) 21st June Friday Kemsing Down (1) 14th June Monday Kemsing Down (2) 24th June Plant survey (habitat Thursdays Quarry wood (1) 9th May Lucy Carden [email protected] condition assessment – Quarry wood (2) 16th May woodland) Plant survey (habitat Tuesdays Marden Meadow 4th June Matt Hayes [email protected] condition assessment – (1) neutral grassland) Marden Meadow 11th June (2) Marden Meadow 18th June (3) Coronation 25th June Meadows (1) Coronation 2nd June Meadows (2) Coronation 9th June Meadows (3) The Gill TBC Plant survey (habitat Fridays South Blean (1) 7th June Lucy Carden [email protected] condition assessment – South Blean (2) 14th June woodland/acid South Blean (3) 21st June grassland) South Blean (4) 28th June South Blean (5) 5th July South Blean (6) 12th July Bigbury Camp (7) 19th July TBC Plant survey (habitat condition assessment – RESERVES chalk grassland) Thursdays Old Park Hill (1) 6th June Lucy [email protected] Old Park Hill (2) 13th June Carden Old Park Hill (3) 20th June Old Park Hill (4) 27th June Nemo Down (1) 4th July Nemo Down (2) 11th July Nemo Down (3) 18th July Wednesday Park Gate Down (1) 12th June ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVES Tuesday’s Lydden Hill 21st May Beth [email protected] Whitfield Hill 11th June Pateman Coldred Hill 18th June Wart-Biter Bush Cricket Thursdays Lydden Temple 8th August Lucy [email protected] survey day Ewell 29th August Carden Plant survey (habitat Wednesdays Stone Wood, 8th May Lucy Carden [email protected] condition assessment – Shadoxhurst (1) woodland) Stone Wood, 15th May Shadoxhurst (2) Plant survey (habitat Thursdays Hothfield – 6th June Ian Rickards [email protected] condition assessment – Heathland (1) heathland) Hothfield – 13th June Heathland (2) Hothfield – 20th June Heathland (3) Hothfield – 27th June Heathland (4) Hothfield – 4th July Heathland (5) Hothfield – 11th July Heathland (6) Hothfield – 18th July Heathland (7) Hothfield – 25th July Heathland (8) Plant survey (habitat Mondays Sandwich Bay (1) 10th June Lucy Carden [email protected] condition assessment – Sandwich Bay (2) 17th June coastal, fen, wet Sandwich Bay (3) 24th June grassland) Sandwich Bay (4 ) 1 st July Sandwich Bay (5) 8th July Ham Fen (1) 15th July Ham Fen (2) 22nd July Ham Fen (3) 29th July Ham Fen (4) 5th August Ham Fen (5) 12th August Plant survey (habitat Tuesday Bough Beech (1) 25th June Gareth [email protected] condition assessment – Saturday Bough Beech (2) 29th June Cristian neutral grassland) Tuesday Bough Beech (3) 2nd July Plant survey (habitat Tuesdays Spuckles Wood (1) 23rd April Lucy Carden [email protected] condition assessment – th woodland) Spuckles Wood (2) 30 April Monitoring/training Location Date Time Contact Email type Bumblebee field Faversham Road, 11/04/2019 14:00 – 16:00 Rosie Earwaker [email protected] practise day near Seasalter (weather Shellness Road, 26/04/2019 14:00 – 16:00 dependent) Leysdown-on-sea Tyland Barn 02/05/2019 14:00 – 16:00 Marine Parade, 10/05/2019 10:00 – 12:00 Sheerness Faversham Road, 16/05/2019 14:00 – 16:00 near Seasalter Bee Road plant Shellness Road, 24/05/2019 10:00 – 16:00 monitoring Leysdown-on-sea Shellness Road, 30/0/2019 10:00 – 16:00 leysdown-on-sea Swale Way, Murston 31/05/2019 10:00 - 16:00 Swale Way, Muston 06/06/2019 10:00 – 16:00 Faversham Road, 07/06/2019 10:00 – 16:00 near Seasalter Marine Parade, 21/06/2019 10:00 – 16:00 Sheerness Marine Parade, 27/06/2019 10:00 – 16:00 Sheerness Fiery Clearwing Faversham Road, 28/06/2019 10:00 – 15:00 survey (am) & near Seasalter bumblebee field practise (pm) Bee Road plant Shellness Road, 04/07/2019 10:00 – 16:00 monitoring Leysdown-on-sea Swale Way,
Recommended publications
  • Well Autumn 2012 Final Copy

    Well Autumn 2012 Final Copy

    THE WELL Kemsing Village Magazine with news from Woodlands Autumn 2012 No 187 CONTENTS - The Well Autumn 2012 No 187 Olympics 2012 3 Life on the Hill 19 Vicar s letter 4 PCSO Adrian Fromm 21 Church Services 5 Kemsing School Report 23 Memorial to Don Eley 7 News from Cotmans Ash 25 Emergency phone numbers 9 Rainbows & Church Carpet 26 Parish Council News 11 Family Milestones 28 News & Notes and PTA News 13 Kemsing Festival Plaque 30 Chancel Repair Liability 15 St. Mary s Church Choir 30 Monty Parkin 16/17 Village Diary 31 Editorial Team:- Doreen Farrow, Janet Eaton & Rosemary Banister. We reserve the right to edit [i.e. cut, précis, alter, correct grammar or spelling] any item published, and our decision is final. Cover picture shows the Well area in Summer. Our thanks are due to the Kemsing Gardener s Society for their care and attention to this colourful area. Cover Picture by Janet Eaton COPY FOR NEXT ISSUE Please submit any items or articles for the next issue of The Well before 1st November 2012 to [email protected] THE WELL - is published and distributed free, four times a year by the Parochial Church Councils of St Mary s Church, Kemsing and St Mary s Church, Woodlands, to encourage and stimulate the life of the community. The views expressed in the magazine do not nec- essarily represent official church opinion or policy. If you use a computer to type your article, it would be extremely helpful if you could Email it to: [email protected] or send to the Editors c/o Poppies Cottage, 3, St.
  • Catchment Partnerships in Operation

    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
  • Hucking Estate

    Hucking Estate

    Hucking Estate Hucking Estate Management Plan 2019-2024 Hucking Estate MANAGEMENT PLAN - CONTENTS PAGE ITEM Page No. Introduction Plan review and updating Woodland Management Approach Summary 1.0 Site details 2.0 Site description 2.1 Summary Description 2.2 Extended Description 3.0 Public access information 3.1 Getting there 3.2 Access / Walks 4.0 Long term policy 5.0 Key Features 5.1 Ancient Semi Natural Woodland 5.2 Secondary Woodland 5.3 Semi Natural Open Ground Habitat 5.4 Connecting People with woods & trees 6.0 Work Programme Appendix 1: Compartment descriptions Appendix 2: Harvesting operations (20 years) Glossary MAPS Access Conservation Features Management 2 Hucking Estate THE WOODLAND TRUST INTRODUCTION PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATING The Trust¶s corporate aims and management The information presented in this Management approach guide the management of all the plan is held in a database which is continuously Trust¶s properties, and are described on Page 4. being amended and updated on our website. These determine basic management policies Consequently this printed version may quickly and methods, which apply to all sites unless become out of date, particularly in relation to the specifically stated otherwise. Such policies planned work programme and on-going include free public access; keeping local people monitoring observations. informed of major proposed work; the retention Please either consult The Woodland Trust of old trees and dead wood; and a desire for website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or contact the management to be as unobtrusive as possible. Woodland Trust The Trust also has available Policy Statements ([email protected]) to confirm covering a variety of woodland management details of the current management programme.
  • Environmental Statement Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary

    Environmental Statement Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary

    M2 Junction 5 Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary June 2019 Status: A1 Approved - Published Document Ref: HE551521-ATK-EGN-RP-LM-000025 M2 Junction 5 Improvements Environmental Statement: Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary Table of contents Chapter Pages 1. Non-Technical Summary 4 2. The Scheme 5 3. Alternatives Considered 8 4. Assessment of Significance and Mitigation 9 5. Assessment of the likely significant effects 14 6. What happens next 27 Page 3 M2 Junction 5 Improvements M2 Junction 5 Improvements Environmental Statement: Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary Environmental Statement: Volume 4 - Non-Technical Summary Introduction The Scheme Highways England is proposing the M2 Junction 5 The full Environmental Statement comprises four The existing M2 Junction 5 is an at-grade roundabout Improvements Scheme in Kent to support the regional volumes in total, as follows: and is the main access point for people travelling Environmental constraints that have been and local economic development and housing growth. north-east to Sittingbourne, the Isle of Sheppey and the considered in the EIA and reported in Volume 1 These improvements will provide additional capacity at Port of Sheerness and south-west to Maidstone and more detail in the ES include: Environmental Statement main text setting out the each junction to smooth traffic flow, improve journey surrounding villages. environmental assessment in chapters; ■ The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding time reliability, and the safety of the M2 Junction 5 and Junction 5 has capacity constraints resulting in Natural Beauty (AONB) which the Scheme surrounding local road network for road users, and Volume 2 unsatisfactory network performance affecting the lies majorly in; support the development of housing and the creation Environmental Statement technical appendices; M2 east-west movements and A249 north-south of jobs.
  • Swale’S Coast

    Swale’S Coast

    The Kent Coast Coastal Access Report This document is part of a larger document produced by Kent Area of the Ramblers’ Association and should not be read or interpreted except as part of that larger document. In particular every part of the document should be read in conjunction with the notes in the Introduction. In no circumstances may any part of this document be downloaded or distributed without all the other parts. Swale’s Coast 4.4 Swale’s Coast 4.4.1 Description 4.4.1.1 Sw ale’s coast starts at TQ828671 at Otterham Quay. It extends for 115 km to TR056650 on Graveney Marshes to the w est of The Sportsman pub. It takes in the Isle of Sheppey w hich is connected to the mainland by tw o bridges at Sw ale. It is the longest coastline in Kent. 4.4.1.2 Approximately 55 km is on PRoWs, 27 km is de facto access (though some is difficult walking) and 33 km is inaccessible to w alkers. The majority of the 27 km of inaccessible coast does not appear to be excepted land. From the Coastal Access aspect it is the most complicated coastline in Kent. Part of the mainland route is along the Saxon Shore Way. 4.4.1.3 The view to seaw ard at the start is over the Medw ay estuary. There are extensive saltings and several uninhabited islands. The route then follows the River Sw ale to Sheppey and back to the Medw ay Estuary. The north and east coasts of Sheppey look out to the Thames Estuary.
  • Visiting the Kent Countryside – a Guide for Parents of Children with Autism

    Visiting the Kent Countryside – a Guide for Parents of Children with Autism

    !"#"$%&'()*' +*%(',-.%(/0#"1* !"#$%&'"()*"+!*',-." )("/0%1&*',"2%-0"!$3.4 This booklet aims to help parents and carers of children with autism to access nature and the countryside in Kent. It should also prove useful to those living and working with adults with autism. The booklet represents the first in a series of projects to be undertaken by Autism and Nature, a new Social Enterprise. It begins by introducing some of the health benefits of nature and the countryside for children with autism. This is followed by a guide to ‘natural’ places to visit in the Kent countryside, which the authors believe many children with autism might enjoy. The booklet concludes with a series of case stories, describing visits to the countryside by school children with autism and related conditions. Supported by ISBN: 978-0-9571525-0-2 Published by David Blakesley and Simon Payne with illustrations by Tharada Blakesley !"#"$%&'()*' +*%(',-.%(/0#"1* !"#$%&'"()*"+!*',-." )("/0%1&*',"2%-0"!$3.4 David Blakesley and Simon Payne with illustrations by Tharada Blakesley ! Citation For bibliographic purposes, this book should be referred to as Blakesley, D. and Payne, S. 2012. Visiting the Kent Countryside – a guide for parents of children with autism. Autism and Nature, Kent. The rights of David Blakesley and Simon Payne to be identified as the Authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Copyright © rests with the authors Illustrations © Tharada Blakesley; photographs © David Blakesley, unless stated in the text All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the authors First published 2012 British-Library-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Designed by Pisces Publications Published by Autism and Nature Printed by Information Press ISBN 978-0-9571525-0-2 All reasonable efforts have been made by the authors to trace the copyright owners of the material quoted in this book and any images reproduced in this book.
  • Isle of Sheppey Road Crossing: Come Ashore on the Mainland Side and Leysdown Walk Craft Sideways Under the Harty Ferry Road Sheppey Crossing Inner Span of Bridge

    Isle of Sheppey Road Crossing: Come Ashore on the Mainland Side and Leysdown Walk Craft Sideways Under the Harty Ferry Road Sheppey Crossing Inner Span of Bridge

    Garrison Point INFO KEY The point at which the Swale, the Medway and Thames Club phone 01795 663052 Hazard Estuary tides meet giving rise IOS Round the Island Race to a tidal back eddy. The Cheyney Rock The course is a clockwise circumnavigation of the island, High water 14.35 BST @ 5.87m Recovery point cardinal buoy marks a disused IOS Sailing Club race• • • outfall & posts (keep outside). 'L' shaped area of sand stones starting and finishing at IOS Sailing Club. Low water 08.28 BST @ 0.85m Please note: the Club cannot be held and rocks that dries several responsible for recovering boats retiring at feet high at low water. these points. Any boat that does retire must Start times & class flags phone the clubhouse on 01795 663052. West Cant 10.30 Monohulls PY1120 and over / Sailboards Grain Hard Event car parking Isle of Outfall Start line 11.00 Monohulls PY1031 to 1119 inc. Tripod Post Grain Mid Cant 11.30 Monohulls PY1030 & under Spectator point 12.00 Multihulls Port of Mean low water Finish line Sheerness Minster boom Starboard nav. buoy Marine Parade A wartime submarine trap Greyed area = mean low water Catamaran YC consisting of a line of Spile CYC Compound submerged barges and Port navigation buoy Sheerness wooden posts. Cardinal mark North Kent QB Dolphins Advised route by road to South Kent Marks of old pier remain River Medway at Queenborough. the sailing club on race day The Broadway Minster Queenborough Spit Bosun’s Store A small chandlery B2008 A250 Shallow water S1 B2007 Barton Hill Dr Large sand bank from S2 Leysdown to Shellness - risk of grounding.
  • Join the Kent Wildlife Trust Lottery and Win for Wildlife

    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.
  • GOLDEN JUBILEE TRUST 34 Awards Were Made by the Golden Jubilee Trust to UK Charities in 2003

    GOLDEN JUBILEE TRUST 34 Awards Were Made by the Golden Jubilee Trust to UK Charities in 2003

    G A Z 86.22 G JT INTRO 29 / 6 /043: 4 1 pm Page 1 THE GOLDEN JUBILEE TRUST 34 awards were made by the Golden Jubilee Trust to UK charities in 2003. Over the following pages the Gazette meets some of the Partners who have been involved in a variety of charities WHAT IS THE HOW DO YOU APPLY? requested appropriate to the secondment? charities in their own time which is much GOLDEN JUBILEE TRUST? Any Partner can apply.Just contact your How well is the charity regarded in the admired by the trustees but the Trust is a It is a scheme of awards through which branch charities secretary or the Waitrose community? Will there be real or ongoing way of allowing Partners to do what is you can give practical assistance to UK divisional charities secretary.They have benefit to the community from the work impossible without an award,going above registered charities. Golden Jubilee Trust application packs being done? Will the charity make proper and beyond what is already being done. and can help you with advice.Yo u can use of you? At any trustees’ meeting there Yo ur application should therefore be for HOW DOES IT WORK? also read about the Trust on JLPnet can be more applications than awards so something different from your regular The scheme lets you work for a charity at a (look under Partnership/Information). think about how to make your application commitment. In addition, the trustees time when you would normally be working stand out from the others! cannot commit to grants which are binding for the Partnership.
  • Shepway Local Development Framework Green Infrastructure Report

    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.
  • Queendown Warren Vie

    Queendown Warren Vie

    Viewpoint Purple haze © Explore Kent Time: 15 mins Region: South East England Landscape: rural Location: Queendown Warren, Warren Lane, Hartlip, Kent, ME9 7XD Grid reference: TQ 83000 63000 Keep an eye out for: Rabbits - the site used to be a medieval rabbit warren, hence the name! Stretch your legs: Public and permissive footpaths, with rambler and kissing gates, cross the reserve. Just off the M2 motorway, between Chatham and Sittingbourne, is a small nature reserve known as Queendown Warren. This is an orchid lovers’ dream. At least ten native species are regularly spotted here, including the incredibly rare spider orchid. In early summer, the reserve becomes a fragrant purple carpet. The orchids’ strong sweet smell and nectar attract an array of butterflies, including the tiny Adonis blue and the rare Silver-spotted Skipper. Why do many of our rare native species only survive in nature reserves? Wildflowers, grasses, butterflies, insects and other species thrive at Queendown Warren because this is a special type of environment - chalk grassland. It is one of Britain’s richest wildlife habitats but thanks to intensive farming, we’ve lost 95% of it. Today chalk grassland only exists in scattered and isolated pockets. Queendown Warren is a small piece of land that has escaped the effects of intensive farming. From here in the reserve, look at the patchwork of neighbouring arable farmland. Intensive farming increases crop yields and efficiency for the farmer. It also threatens our wildlife habitats though. The use of inorganic fertilisers, slurry, herbicide, re- seeding and pesticides, along with cutting grass early for silage, affect flowering plants and reduce the land’s Early spider orchid © Ian Andrews, Geograph (CCL) biodiversity.
  • Eynsford Circular Walk

    Eynsford Circular Walk

    Saturday Walkers Club www.walkingclub.org.uk Eynsford Circular walk A contrast between hidden valleys in the North Downs and the Darent Valley Path through three interesting villages. Length Main Walk: 21½ km (13.4 miles). Five hours 35 minutes walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 10 hours. Main Walk, finishing in Shoreham: 15¾ km (9.8 miles). Four hours 5 minutes walking time. Main Walk, with shorter afternoon: 18¾ km (11.7 miles). Four hours 40 minutes walking time. Short Walk, omitting Otford: 14 km (8.7 miles). Three hours 30 minutes walking time. Short Walk, with longer afternoon: 16 km (9.9 miles). Four hours 10 minutes walking time. OS Maps Explorer 147 & (for a short section at the end) 162. Eynsford, map reference TQ535649, is in Kent, 10 km N of Sevenoaks. Toughness 7 out of 10 (4 for the Short Walk, 5 for the other three options). Features Some of this walk will be familiar from the two Book 1 walks which start in Otford, but most of it covers new ground. It starts along a country lane through the secluded Austin Lodge valley, climbing to the isolated settlement of Romney Street. It continues on an undulating section to a ridge with fine views of the Darent valley, from where you descend into Otford, passing its scale model of the Solar System. The village has many interesting old buildings and the full route takes you past the ruins of Otford Palace, a rival to Hampton Court in Tudor times.