DOCSLIB.ORG

KOS News the Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society Number 503 March 2016

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
KOS News the Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society Number 503 March 2016 KOS News The Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society Number 503 March 2016 Fieldfare by Mike Hook ● Bird Sightings November 2015-February 2016● ●Owen Sweeney ● Patchwatch-Haysden ●News & Announcements ● Fifty Years Ago● 1 KOS Contacts – Committee Members Newsletter Editor: Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH Tel: 01304-813208 e-mail: [email protected] Membership Sec: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Rd., Staplehurst TN12 0PY Tel: 01580 891686 e- mail:[email protected] Chairman: Martin Coath, 14A Mount Harry Rd Sevenoaks TN13 3JH Tel: 01732-460710 e-mail: [email protected] Vice Chair.: Brendan Ryan, 18 The Crescent, Canterbury CT2 7AQ Tel: 01227 471121 e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Sec: Stephen Wood, 4 Jubilee Cottages, Throwley Forstal, Faversham ME13 0PJ. Tel: 01795 890485. e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Treasurer: Mike Henty, 12 Chichester Close, Witley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5PA Tel: 01428-683778 e-mail: [email protected] Conservation & Surveys: : Norman McCanch, as above Editorial & Records: Barry Wright, 6 Hatton Close, Northfleet, DA11 8SD Tel: 01474 320918 e-mail: [email protected] Archivist: Robin Mace, 4 Dexter Close, Kennington, Ashford, TN25 4QG Tel: 01233-631509 e-mail: [email protected] Website liaison: vacant Indoor Meetings organiser: Anthea Skiffington 4 Station Approach, Bekesbourne, Kent CT4 5DT Tel: 01227 831101 e-mail: [email protected] Outdoor Meetings organiser: Ray O’Reily 44 New Road, Cliffe, Rochester, Kent ME3 7SL 07879 636198 [email protected] Ordinary Members: Ken Lodge 14 Gallwey Avenue, Birchington, Kent CT7 9PA Tel : 01843 843105 e-mail: [email protected] Keith Privett 6 Tritton Close, Kennington, Ashford, Kent TN24 9HN Tel: 01233 335533 e-mail: [email protected] Jack Chantler 34 Gladstone Road, Walmer, Kent CT14 7ET Tel: 01304 366214 [email protected] Andrew Lawson, 12 Morland Avenue, Dartford, Kent DA1 3BN. 01322 402275 [email protected] Andy Appleton 34 Penine Walk Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3NW 01892 513542 [email protected] Tony Morris, The Hidden House, 28 Kingstown Road, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Kent CT15 6BB 01304 851943 [email protected] 2 Editorial It has been a very odd winter, with the mildest of conditions affecting the arrivals of those species we associate with the season. Few records of Woodcock, Fieldfare and Brambling, but lingering summer migrants in odd places. The winter saw the BTO NEW survey which revealed very low numbers of some of our regular shore waders; was this a function of the weather, or does the increasing impact of seashore disturbance begin to show its impact? The work of the society provides data with which to analyse and answer some of these questions. Getting people to listen is a different matter. We say farewell to one of our stalwart members in this issue. Owen was both a highly skilled observer, collecting the very data we need, but also a competent and determined advocate for the protection of birds in our beleaguered county. We shall miss him greatly. Good birding, Norman Lesser Redpoll by Warren Baker 3 News and announcements Owen Sweeney 9th June 1943 – 9th February 2016 On 9th February 2016, Owen Sweeney lost his long battle with cancer and passed away peacefully at the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester. In passing, Kent conservation lost a true unsung hero and the world lost a very courteous, passionate and respected individual who cared greatly for Natural History and the protection of wildlife and the unspoilt areas of Kent and his native Scotland, where he was born at Blairgowrie in Perthshire. For this he campaigned valiantly in his later years through involvement in various conservation bodies. There will be few, if any, who could raise a bad word for Owen, even opponents in his conservation battles, as he always presented his views with calm and reasoned debate, with politeness and respect but leaving no doubt about his feelings. Owen could diffuse difficult moments with his mischievous humour and often added a touch of Scottishness to meetings and correspondence with phrases sometimes alien to those from south of the Border! Owen’s contributions will be greatly missed by the KOS, Kent Wildlife Trust, BTO, RSPB and the Medway Countryside Forum. At his funeral, at St Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church in Rainham, many of those present, not least several of his birding colleagues, learnt much that that they hadn’t known about Owen. His love of football, and support of Gillingham FC, was well known, as was his employment by the MoD and time spent in Cyprus, but much less was known about his earlier time in the Civil Service as a Private Secretary and later as Head of Management Studies Centre concerned with management theory and 4 behavioural psychology, leadership and equal opportunities! At his wake, we learnt of his artistic abilities, demonstrated with a display of his drawings and paintings, which even his sister was not aware of! This highlighted what a private person Owen could be. Not all realised how important the church was to him, as well as his local parish and fellow parishioners. Most members will first remember Owen through the Medway RSPB group, with his wife Linda, whom he married at Bromley in June 1969. Linda threw herself into voluntary work with the RSPB and so impressed others that she became leader of the Medway Members' Group for some seven years. Also responsible for the sale of RSPB goods, the group topped the league of sales goods in the UK with over £10,000 sold during the RSPB's centenary year. Tragically, after Owen had taken retirement to spend more time with her, Linda also died of cancer. Owen continued his birding and conservation interests, with bird surveys his main interest. He surveyed for the RSPB's joint Farmer/Volunteer scheme; KWT's initial bird censuses for its new reserve at Nashenden; BTO's Wetland Bird Survey and Garden Birdwatch scheme, as well as the recent BTO Breeding and Winter Atlas. Owen also enjoyed time with other volunteers at Queendown Warren's KWT Tuesday working party and was awarded a Silver Butterfly and Marsh Volunteer Award at the KWT AGM in 2015. Owen loved his garden and was a dedicated participant in the BTO Garden Birdwatch Survey. I remember how pleased he was to get Yellow-browed Warbler on his garden list, feeding on Woolly Aphids in an apple tree, and he wrote a short article for the KOS about the many and varied birds he recorded as part of this scheme. Kent County Council presented Owen with a Gold Award for turning over both his front and back gardens to nature. In later years, Owen spent much time with his friends and colleagues Rob Clements and Doug Grant, driving Rob to many parts of the county to survey raptors and what were termed “honorary raptors”: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Hawfinch. Together they covered many hidden corners of the North Downs and the results of their endeavours contributed significantly to the Kent Breeding and Winter Bird Atlas’s, for which Owen submitted over 10,000 roving records! Owen also took on the responsibility of organising the BTO Heronry Census for Kent, which he did with great enthusiasm and admirable thoroughness, from 1999 until health issues, and the replacement of recording cards by an online system, in 2015. Owen was not a devotee of computers. In addition to hands on survey and conservation work, Owen became a leading member of the Medway Countryside Forum, maintaining close links with Medway Council and commenting on many planning applications. Owen also joined, and became a valued member of, the KOS Conservation and Surveys Committee. 5 It was the proposal to develop the former MoD land at Lodge Hill, one of the most important sites in the UK for Nightingales that became Owen’s final and greatest battle. Together with his great Nightingale ally, Andrew Henderson, much time was spent discussing latest proposals, survey findings and responses to the planning application, along with colleagues in the RSPB and KWT. I also spent many hours with Owen at meetings with the developers and ecological consultants, or in correspondence with him and Andrew, and recall many midnight (or usually later!) encounters in the woodlands and scrub at Chattenden/Lodge Hill doing Nightingale surveys. Owen loved “his” Nightingales and appeared on national radio and in press interviews defending Lodge Hill. Fittingly, the song of the Nightingale was played as the final event at his funeral. It is so sad that Owen will not be able to participate in the hard won Public Inquiry in March 2017. Owen leaves three brothers and a sister, their families and his son Paul, wife Zoe and their children. In his funeral eulogy, Owen’s son Paul highlighted how his father was always self-deprecating, never sought attention and was not one for blowing his own trumpet. Owen may have been an unsung hero, but I’m sure he’ll allow his beloved Nightingales to do that for him. Murray Orchard Nightingale by Mike Hook 6 Obituary notice WF (Billy) Buck We also heard recently from his son David that Billy passed away peacefully just before Christmas. He was the Editor of the KBR from 1962-67 and served on the Editorial and Records Committee for some years either side of those dates. Our condolences go to his family. Request for information from the RSPB Alan Johnson recently asked for members’ assistance with some priority species the society is working on in the South East of England. These are listed below: Turtle dove Marsh tit Lesser spotted woodpecker Hawfinch The RSPB would welcome all records of these species, which should be passed on to Laura Korhonen at [email protected] Please remember to also submit these records to the KOS by your usual method! Colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwits Graham Appleton contacted me with the following.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Faversham.Org/Walking
    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]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Dave Brown by Dave Brown, 12-May-10 01:22 AM GMT
    Dave Brown by dave brown, 12-May-10 01:22 AM GMT Saturday 8th May 2010. One look out of the window told me today was not the day for butterflies or dragonflies. A phone call from a friend then had us heading to my favourite place. Good old Dungeness. Scenery not the best in the world but the wildlife exceeedingly good. Thirty minutes later we were watching a Whiskered Tern hawking insects over the New Diggings, showing from the road to Lydd. Also present were a few hundred Swifts, Swallows, House and Sand Martins, together with a few Common Terns. A quick chat with Dave Walker (very friendly Observatory Warden) and his equally friendly assistant confirmed that the recent weather there meant little or no Butterfly or moth activity. With the rain falling harder it was time to leave Dunge and head inland. The Iberian Chifchaf at Waderslade had already been present over a week so it was time to catch up with it. On arrival at the small wood of Chesnut Avenue the bird showed and sang within a few minutes of our arrival. This is still a scarce bird in Britain so where was the crowd. In 30 minutes the maximum crowd was five, and that included 3 from our family. It sang for long periods of time and only once did it mutter the usual Chifchaf call, otherwise it was Iberian Chifchaf all the way. It also look slighlty diferent in structure and colour. To my eyes the upper parts were greener, the legs were a brown colour and the tail appeared longer.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • KOS News the Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society Number 499 March 2015
    KOS News The Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society Number 499 March 2015 Desert Wheatear, Reculver by Matt Hindle ● Bird Sightings November 2014- February 2015 Obituary notices● Flocks● News & Announcements ● Fifty Years Ago● Letters & Notes 1 KOS Contacts – Committee Members Newsletter Editor: Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH Tel: 01304-813208 e-mail: [email protected] Membership Sec: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Rd., Staplehurst TN12 0PY Tel: 01580 891686 e-mail:[email protected] Chairman: Martin Coath, 14A Mount Harry Rd Sevenoaks TN13 3JH Tel: 01732-460710 e-mail: [email protected] Vice Chair.: Brendan Ryan, 18 The Crescent, Canterbury CT2 7AQ Tel: 01227 471121 e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Sec: Stephen Wood, 4 Jubilee Cottages, Throwley Forstal, Faversham ME13 0PJ. Tel: 01795 890485. e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Treasurer: Mike Henty, 12 Chichester Close, Witley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5PA Tel: 01428-683778 e-mail: [email protected] Conservation & Surveys: : Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH Tel: 01304-813208 e-mail: [email protected] Editorial & Records: Barry Wright, 6 Hatton Close, Northfleet, DA11 8SD Tel: 01474 320918 e-mail: [email protected] Archivist: Robin Mace, 4 Dexter Close, Kennington, Ashford, TN25 4QG Tel: 01233-631509 e-mail: [email protected] Website liaison: vacant Indoor Meetings organiser: Anthea Skiffington 4 Station Approach, Bekesbourne, Kent CT4 5DT Tel: 01227 831101 e-mail: [email protected]
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Oare Marshes Circular Marshes
    EXPLOREKENT.ORG ENGLAND Oare Marshes COAST PATH Circular NATIONAL TRAIL WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 5 miles (8km) Explore a tranquil nature reserve on this North Kent circular walk. Leave behind the quaint village of Oare, where boatbuilding and fishing have been a way of life for centuries. Follow the creek towards the coast to discover the wildness of the marshes. Overview Walk Description Your walk begins at The Castle Inn 1 public house, pass through a wooden kissing gate into LOCATION: Start at the footpath next to a field to the left of the creek. The footpath is The Castle Inn, Faversham ME13 0PY. marked Saxon Shore Way. Follow the path to the end of the meadow, up a couple of steps and DISTANCE: 5 miles (8km) through a gate, keeping the creek on your right. TIME: Allow 2.5 hours EXPLORER MAP: 149 Stay on this path as you walk North towards ACCESSIBILITY: No stiles, multiple gates, the coast, following the creek as it twists and narrow footbridges, a few sets of 4/5 steps. turns. Watch out for the muddy terrain if the PARKING: On the roadside in Oare. weather has been wet. Look out for a couple of REFRESHMENTS AND FACILITIES: small boats that have been shipwrecked on the The Castle and The Three Mariners public muddy shores. Pass through a kissing gate and houses in Oare, as well as The Café By The into the Oare Marshes, managed by Kent Wildlife Creek for coffees and snacks (open Wed-Sun). Trust. Continue straight and cross over a narrow footbridge.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Management of Small Pastures (Pdf)
    01 Kent Wildlife Trust Land Management Advice Series Management of Small Pastures This sheet includes information about the following topics: ● importance of pastures for wildlife ● types of grassland ● why graze? ● livestock and finding a grazier ● increasing the botanical diversity Cowden Pound Pastures: the large anthills indicate that the field has not been of your pasture ploughed or harrowed for several decades © Kent Wildlife Trust ● what time of year is best for This leaflet is designed to give owners ● semi-improved grassland contains a grazing? of small pastures some general wider array of species, typically between ● scrub recommendations on how to manage 8 to 15 per square metre ● other habitats in your pasture their land and assumes that the primary ● species-rich grassland contains over objective is to manage the land for 15 species per square metre. In Kent, ● dealing with ragwort and other nature conservation purposes. there are several different types of problem plants species-rich grassland: acid grassland, As part of the wider farmed landscape, ● references and further reading pastures have their part to play in neutral grassland and chalk grassland providing habitat for a range of species. (see Further reading). These types of ● further advice They can provide nesting sites for grassland can include over 40 species birds such as skylarks, a source of per square metre. invertebrates on which birds can feed Traditionally managed, wildflower-rich their chicks, cover for brown hares and grasslands have declined by 97% in habitat for over-wintering invertebrates. the last few decades, mainly as a result Pastures which are botanically diverse of agricultural intensification through (‘species-rich grassland’) can provide a more efficient farming techniques.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Kent Downs AONB Landscape Design Handbook That Kent’S Aonbs Are Protected and Enhanced’
    1.0 Introduction 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Context duty on relevant authorities, public bodies and statutory undertakers to The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a take account of the need to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of nationally important protected landscape, whose special characteristics AONB landscapes when carrying out their statutory functions. include its dramatic landform and views, rich habitats, extensive ancient woodland, mixed farmland, rich historic and built heritage, and its 1.4 Consultation tranquillity and remoteness. Within its bounds it shows a considerable In preparing this document an initial consultation was undertaken in variation in landscape character that encompasses open and wooded November 2003 with representatives of local authorities, parish councils, downs, broad river valleys, dry valleys, arable farmland vales, wooded local farmers etc. to discuss the scope, content and look of the document. greensand ridge, and open chalk cliff coastline. “The Kent Downs AONB The views of the consultees have been sought with the intention that the is a capital resource that underpins much economic activity in Kent. Its handbook be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) high quality environment helps to attract businesses, contributes to the and be available from the AONB Unit. Further information can be found quality of life that people in the county value so highly and supports a in the Statement of Consultation available from the AONB Unit. substantial visitor economy”. (South East England Development Agency) 1.5 Users 1.2 Purpose of the Handbook The handbook is intended to be used by the following audiences: The purpose of the handbook is to provide practical, readily accessible Residents and community groups design guidance to contribute to the conservation and enhancement of Local businesses, farmers and landowners the special characteristics of the AONB as a whole, and the distinctiveness Developers, architects, planners and designers of its individual character areas.
    [Show full text]
  • KEK:R. I [KELLYS
    • ~~VENOAKS. KEK:r. I [KELLYS . The churcl;t of St. Nicholas is a spacious edifice of Kentish north aisle, south porch and a western turret containing one rag, in the ,Perpendicular st.y~, consisting of chancel of two bell; and the aisle was added in 1878: there are fr~ sittings and a half bays, clerestoried nave of five bays, aisles extending for ~64 persons and appropriated sittings for 197. The nearly to the extreme east end, vestry attached on the north­ register dates from the year 1858. The living is a vicarage, east of the north aisle, south porch with parvise and octagonal tithe rent-charge £2oo, gross yearly value £246, in the stair turret, and an embattled western tower, 99 feet in gift of the Rev. Thomas Samuel Curteis M.A., F.s.A. and • height, with a turret at the north-east angle, and containing held since 1882 by the Rev. John Spencer Bartlett :M.A. of a elock and Jl bells ; the whole structure, including the vestry Durham University. 'l'he population of the district in I88I and porch, is embattled, and the tower affords a charming was 3,180. view over Knole park, and across the sandhills towards KIPPINGTON is an ecclesiastical parish, formed July 13th, Brasted, SUJ1dridge and Westerham. The stained east 1871, out of Sevenoaks: the church o( St. Mary. erected by window, representing eight subjects from Our Lord's William James Thompson esq. J.P. of Kippington and conse· Passion, designed and executed by C. E. Kempe esq. was a crated 7th June, t88o, is a cruciform building of Kentish rag, gift to the church in 1887; the chancel which is separated in the Early English style, from designs by Mr.
    [Show full text]