KSCP 15 Years of Action

1993 introductionintroduction projectproject areaarea 2008 The Kentish Stour Countryside How the project is financed The Project area covers 705 sq. Changing agricultural practices, built Figures for 1/4/2007-31/3/2008 Project was launched in 1993. kilometres (271 sq. miles) of varied development, and gravel extraction Income landscapes including downland, have all had a significant impact upon Our Mission Statement is: Ca n t e r b u r y City Council woodland, orchards, wetlands, the landscape, wildlife, heritage and £1 0 , 0 7 9 To conserve, enhance and As h fo r d Borou g h riverside, and parkland. social fabric of the area. Co u n c i l promote the countryside and £1 0 , 3 0 4 urban green space in the Env i ro n m e n t Project Funding Ag e n c y catchment of the River Stour. Rollover from £1 0 , 0 0 0 previous year Ro b e r t Brett £83,439 & Sons £7 , 5 0 0 Our aims are: Other misc. Income £818 1993 As s e t 2008 To conserve and enhance special land- Project Funding £130,174 rep l a c e m e n t scapes, wildlife habitats, and rural heritage budget si t e s . £1 , 7 4 4 1993 2008 To encourage rec r eational activities that do not conflict with the main aim of conservi n g and enhancing the natural beauty and Total: £285,058 in t e r est of the area . 1993 2008 To promote greater respect, understanding, Expenditure in t e r est and enjoyment of the Stour Val l e y amongst the local community and those visiting the area . 1993 2008 To increase the benefits to the rural Project funding carry Staff costs economy from sustainable rural industry, over (money provided £95,148 to meet agreed projects) rec r eation activities and tourism enterprises. £112,610 1993 2008 To encourage and support local communities in conserving their natural heritage. Other running Pr oject costs,incl.KCC Ex p e n d i t u r e in kind £2 9 , 5 8 9 £43,824 Asset replacement budget carry over £3887 Total: £285,058 Hedge planting on the Downs. In 2007/08, our three year Your Heritage funded project in the Ashford Green Corridor (£104,000) was Community pond clear up, Old Park, Canterbury . completed; Viridor Landfill Tax Credit provided agreements for three projects (£33,000); KCC Member supported purchase of a new minibus, shown left (£14000); and an application was made to the European Inter-Regional Development Fund (Interreg) (£200,000). Wild flower meadow creation in the Ashford Green Corridor. Nature area construction Caldecott College, Smeeth. Fencing at Anvil Green Farm, Petham. 1993 thethe yearyear aheadahead fifteen years 2008-2009 of action 2008 2008 2008 2009 Continuation of the KSCP Countryside 2009 Start of construction of a 5km riverside shared Conservation Grant Scheme use path between Canterbury and Chartham 2008 2008 2009 Priority work at Charing Beech Hangers SSSI and 2009 Start of planning for Faversham to Canterbury, eight Local Wildlife Sites and Herne Bay to Canterbury cycle paths 2008 2008 2009 Launch of the Free Trees Scheme in Canterbury 2009 Promotion of Evegate countryside through a new and Thanet after a 6 year absence trail, leaflet and panel 2008 2008 2009 Assisting the Environment Agency with 2009 Production of a series of interpretive panels for biodiversity improvements in the River Stour the Blean 2008 2008 2009 Production of an Ashford River Management Plan 2009 A summer programme of events for the Ashford 2008 Green Corridor 2009 Identification of five more sites for barn owl 2008 boxes 2009 An updated Crab and Winkle Way leaflet 2008 2008 2009 Major restoration of Bowley Mill pond near 2009 South Willesborough Dykes educational project, Lenham to involve 450 children 2008 2008 2009 Creation of a third pond at King’s Wood 2009 Assistance in running the No Man’s Orchard 60 2008 year event in July 2009 Major woodland biodiversity work in partnership 2008 with the Forestry Commission 2009 Start of work at Blean 2008 Parish Council Nature 2009 Fencing and scrub removal at Wraik Hill and Reserve Foxes Cross Local Nature Reserve near 2008 Whitstable 2009 The development of 2008 our partnership with 2009 New wild flower meadows, scrapes and ponds at the Parc Naturel Hatch Park, Brabourne Regional des Caps et Marais d’Opale Project Chairman: Dr Alan Rogers Pond created through a KSCP Countryside Conservation Grant at Staff during 2007/08: The Forest, Pluckley. Project Manager: Jon Shelton Kentish Stour Countryside Project Countryside Officer Canterbury & Wantsum: Sidelands Farm Matt Hayes Wye Ashford Countryside Officer Ashford: Harri Goldsmith Kent (covering a secondment to October) TN25 5DQ Debbie Adams (from October) Ashford Green Corridor Officer: Emma Tel: 01233 813307 Griffiths (to August) Email: [email protected] Project Officer Assistant: Craig Edwards (P/T) (from September) www.kentishstour.org.uk Voluntary Officers: Craig Edwards, Simon Houghton Conserving, enhancing and promoting the Stour Va l l e y European Regional Development Fund 1993£4,750,000 raised for 1993160 ponds created or managed; over 400 2008countryside and green 2008surveyed. Pond constructed in Brabourne in spaces in towns. 2004, with a KSCP countryside 199315 years grant, and in May 2007. of achievements Thank you to all our volunteers Over £50,000 has been raised by KSCP and- all 2008the organisations who for spending in Clowes Wood, Chestfield H u n d reds of community p ro j e c t s have enabled us to achieve so on biodiversity and access work. much in the last fifteen years! 65 river based co n s e r vation pro j e c t s 1993In total over 17,000 workdays (one volunteer volunteering Work to enhance the for one day) have been 2008 river for white carried out. clawed crayfish on the Godinton Estate. A moth evening at No Man’s Orchard, Chartham 1993Practical Hatch, one of 36 events access work 2008 organised by the Canterbury Greenspace Installing a barn owl Project. box near Wingham. 1993Through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme: 156 hectares (ha) (390 acres) of Bridge construction in the Blean. 2008 arable land returned to wet pasture or neutral/chalk grassland; creation of 171 Overseeing the miles of 6 metre (or equivalent to) Over 26 miles of hedgerow planted. construction of 200m arable margins (edges of arable fields of boardwalk at sown with native grasses and Hedge planting in Hastingleigh. Charing Alderbed in wild flowers). 16.5ha (41acres) 2005. of arable land 1993Creation of Stour was reverted to chalk grassland 2008Valley Arts and the commissioning of in 2004 at Dane art based projects Court Farm, along the Crab and Chilham. An Winkle Way and otter holt was other locations. installed at The bike rack at the Great Ware. start of the Crab and Winkle Way. 1993 Work on The designation 2008of new sites. 1993Interpretation in protected sites 1993Development of recreation routes 2008the form of panels, Tyler Hill Local Nature 2008 guided walks, and Weatherlees Hill , Site of Special Scientific Reserve, one of four such as the Elham Interest (SSSI), Richborough, where KSCP Valley Way, Stour the production of LNRs the KSCP has guides and cleared scrub, fenced the 26ha (65 acres) Valley Walk and Crab helped to designate. leaflets. site, and found a grazier in 2003-2004. and Winkle Way. 2007 achievements last year 200713 new site advisory visits to 20072662 2008Riverside projects 2008landowners including farmers 2008metres and community groups. 2007-2008 (1.7 miles) of hedge 2007Help with the management planted. 2008of three SSSIs and 13 Local 846 volunteer workdays Wildlife Sites and work on 18 sites in the Kent Downs Hedge planting with Canterbury College students Area of Outstanding Natural at Wraik Hill Local Nature Reserve, Whitstable. Beauty. 2007The start of a £100,000 project on 2008Woodland Biodiversity and Access working mainly in the Forestry Commission woods Clearing the invasive Himalayan of Denge, Covert (Barham), King’s Hedge layed at Chislet Park. (Challock), and Clowes (Blean). Fencing chalk grassland at balsam, from the riverside in Ashford. Jumping Downs Local Nature Reserve near Barham. 2007Volunteer exchanges continued Clearing scrub from the with Les Blongios, an reedbed at Stodmarsh Work with local companies such 2008 arrangement set up through National Nature Reserve. as Viridor, Givaudan and Brett. the Parc Natural Regional des Caps et Marais d’Opale. 2007Wildlife surveys which 2007The Ashford Green Corridor Project was very busy in 2007. included surveying for bar n 2008 2008owls, otters, and dormice. Work included 12 interpretive panels, an education pack, a Mowing the small community heritage project, and wild flower the installation of sculptures. In meadow at addition a revamped Ashford Ride widening at Eggringe Wood benefitting wild Green Corridor leaflet was Givaudan, Ashford. flowers, and butterflies, such as the grizzled skipper. produced and a summer events programme run. 152007 access related Barn owl chick projects A summer Seven ponds managed 2008 children’s Steps were event or restored. Work with 14 site based constructed at community groups. Chartham to improve one of the KSCP Train Ride to Ramble routes, whilst a seat was commissioned on Leading a guided walk for A small pond restored at the North Downs Interpretive panel the Jumping Downs Trust. Way at Wye. Lenacre, Boughton Aluph..

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