THE ORCHIDThe newspaper of the Kent Downs AONB Issue 10 • Autumn/winter 2005/06

FREE

In this issueSounds of the DownsWinter magicKent heritageFlower powerGetting grantsFarm buildingsShipbourne walkEvents listings and more…

2 • Kent Downs Orchid

The countryside has recentlyentered a period of uncer-

tainty and change. Mostsignificant has been the moveaway from production supportin agriculture – we simply donot know how this will affectthe way farmers manage thelandscape. Other large-scalechanges are underway in Kent,not least the growth areas atAshford and Kent ThamesGateway, both on the doorstepof the AONB. These are power-ful forces for change in theKentish countryside.

The Kent Downs AONB, as anationally important landscape,needs to make sure the qualitiesof this wonderful landscaperemain and provide an impor-tant resource for the people ofKent and beyond.

The AONB partnership andUnit is engaging energetically atmany levels to try to influencethese changes for the good of the

countryside and, as the legisla-tion states, to conserve andenhance natural beauty and sup-port the social and economicwell being of the communities.

The AONB partnership hasbeen actively working with thelocal Rural Development Serviceteam to help make the most ofthe new agricultural support sys-tems in the Kent Downs. Thiswork continues with farmersworkshops coming up thisautumn. You will also read in thisedition of The Orchid about thesupport we are giving for farmdiversification advice, an impor-tant way to help ensure farmingcommunities remain viable. TheAONB is also working moreclosely with the organisationswhich are managing the growthareas in Kent, again to try tomake the most of this for theKent Downs.

Much of this edition of TheOrchid however looks more at

Energy needed atthis time of change

Positive action in the AONB for the good of the countryside

Cover photos: woodworker in the Kent Downs; old barn at Eastling; winter sunset; fungus, Perry Wood; beer festival; collecting cobnuts, Oldbury; rosehips; Fanscombe.

Welcome to the 10th issue of TheOrchid! Thank you for all the positive

feedback we receive on this publicationresulting in us getting to issue 10! We hopeyou enjoy the mix of stories, heritage andwildlife articles, news and events. If youthink we should make any changes for ournext 10 issues please do let us know !

Winter is a magical time to explore the KentDowns as Dan Tuson describes on page 3.Listen carefully to the sounds around you –

leaves crunching under foot, owls hooting, icecracking, whistling wind, footsteps in the frost, nutsfalling off trees, birds fighting over berries, chain-saws at work coppicing woodland, cracklingbonfires, splashing through puddles – these are allsounds that will be important in the Sounds of theDowns project mentioned on page 4.

Whilst you are out enjoying the Downs this win-ter consider what tranquillity means to you. What isyour perception of tranquillity, where are the tran-quil parts of the Kent Downs, what is affectingtranquillity in this area? We are starting a project tolook at these issues and will be asking for your feed-back in the near future.

Whether you seek out the quiet of a Downlandwalk or the crashing waves of a coastal walk, thehum of a busy winter farmers market or the musicof a village Christmas street party we hope youenjoy the Kent Downs this winter!

Frances Clayton

The Kent Downs Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) is an alliance of 21 nationaland local organisations which co-ordinates policy and action to conserve theArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

MEMBERSCounty and Unitary Councils – Kent, Medway and London Borough ofBromley. District and Borough Councils – Ashford, Canterbury, Dover,Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale and Tonbridge & Malling.

Countryside Agency, Country Land and Business Association, EnvironmentAgency, English Nature, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,National Farmers Union, Action with Communities in Rural Kent, KentAssociation of Parish Councils.

Chairman: Chris Reynolds

KENT DOWNS AONB UNITAONB Director: Nick Johannsen 01303 815175AONB Officer: Emma Lansdell 01303 815177Communications Manager: Frances Clayton 01303 815172Interreg Projects Co-ords: Catherine Brady/Stella Bandu 01303 815178Mid Kent Downs Officer: Sally Evans 01303 815173Office Manager: Gillian Bell 01303 815170P’ship & Funding Officer: Tim Owen 01303 815176Sustainable Rural Tourism Officer: Sarah Loftus 01303 815170Kent Downs Rural AdviceCo-ordinator: Jenny Bate 01303 815170

West BarnPenstock Hall FarmCanterbury RoadEast BrabourneAshford, Kent TN25 5LL

The Orchid is edited by Frances Clayton.

Welcome

Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this publication is accurate.However, the publishers can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The views expressedin this publication are not necessarily those of the Kent Downs AONB Joint Advisory Committee.

This project is partfunded by the

European RegionalDevelopment Fund

(ERDF)

The Orchid is published twice ayear, in spring and in autumn.

www.kentdowns.org.uk

Tel: 01303 815170Fax: 01303 815179Email: mail@kentdowns.org.ukWeb: www.kentdowns.org.uk

the local level; there are storiesabout a series of projects and thepositive action being taken byindividuals, communities, con-servation organisations andother countryside partnerships.This kind of work is absolutelyvital if this precious landscape isto be valued and enjoyed in thefuture. The AONB Unit and part-nership works with equal energyto support those who are work-ing locally to deliver positivepractical change on the ground –each year we seek and securefunding to help make this hap-pen and we are keen thatorganisations and individuals doget support from the grant fundsavailable – these opportunitiesare also detailed in this edition.

It is vital to continue to work atall levels to help support thewonderful landscape of the KentDowns.

Chris Reynolds

Free advice forKent Downsfarmers andother rural businesses in the AONB – see page 13

Westwell

The Kent Downs AONB partnership includesall of the local authorities which have part ofthe AONB in their patch. Together with theCountryside Agency and the EU Interreg IIIaprogramme they support the AONB Unit, ourprojects and activities and deliver positivework in the AONB themselves.

Kent Downs AONB Unit

Kent Downs Orchid • 3

nature’s perpetual cycle of life anddeath.

No more is the seasonal trans-formation so marked than in theappearance of our woodlands thatcloak valley and hill. Stripped ofsummer foliage, even the deepestrecess of wood, shave and hedgeare momentarily exposed to thesoftening rays of the winter sun.

It is this winter atmosphere thathas provided so much inspirationfor local authors such as MaryLaker, the beech woodlandsaround the Stour Valley formingsome of her most cherished mem-ories of growing up in Kent in the1940s – “The stark shining beautyof the beech trunks …rising out oftheir rich hued carpet of leaves...the downs floating in a rosecoloured haze in the slanting raysof the afternoon sun” – symbolisedher sense of attachment to a cher-ished landscape when the threat ofthe second world war loomed overthe land.

For Jocelyn Brooke, the winter

months in the Downs providedinspiration for some of his mostinspiring work and poetry. Born in1908 Brooke developed a deeppassion and empathy for the eastKent Downs where he spent muchof his childhood exploring the hillsand woods in search of wildflow-ers. For Brooke the seclusion andremoteness of the Downs wereenshrined within a deep sense ofattachment, a country of the mind“where each wood, down and fieldwere imbued with a unique associ-ation”. No more so was thisapparent than in the wintermonths when the “sullen pastures”“dark and forbidding woodlands”and “deep purple clotted tumour”of storm clouds took on a more sin-ister, oppressive and mysticalsignificance.

Brooke’s strong botanical inter-est became inextricably linked withhis acute awareness of the everchanging seasons, providing himwith a unique ability to use theimagery of the plant world to con-

vey the haunting atmosphere andsombre beauty of the wintermonths. Plants such as the rare andpoisonous stinking hellebore, oneof the few true winter floweringplants, held a special significancefor him. This woodland plant con-fined to southern England andparticularly the chalk clad slopes ofbeech woods epitomised the mys-tical and potent atmosphere of theDowns in winter. It is easy to seewhy this plant “august and sinis-ter”, its “sculptured beauty” andpoisonous flowers “like the wickedheads of adders poised to strike”gave him so much inspiration. Justas in Brooke’s time the plant todayis known only in a few locationswithin the Downs, and it is encour-aging to see that it still thrives inthe very spot where he eventuallyfound it for his first time in theDowns near Dover “beneath thesilvery boles of the beeches, thebig rosettes of iron dark foliagelay”.

The plant was formerly known

The Kent Downs have longbeen appreciated for their

hidden beauty and secludedcharm. Sudden winding valleys,lonely farms and solitary church-es, laced with an intricatenetwork of narrow lanes steephills and shady holloways areperhaps the most striking hall-marks of the Kent Downslandscape. For an area endowedwith such rich diversity of formand feature, the autumn andwinter months offer some of thebest opportunities to experiencethe textures, hues and atmos-phere of the Downs.

Few who have marvelled at theslanting rays of the westering sunpiercing the bare branched skele-ton of wood hedge and shave,bathing the bare limbs and trunksin the golden hues of autumn, orwho have trodden through thefrost pocketed hollows of coombeand valley, can fail to appreciatethe magical atmosphere of thewintry months in the Downs. Suchexperiences have inevitablyinspired many to celebrate thebeauty of the landscape in poemand literature, eager to capture theever changing seasonal moods and

“On a still autumn evening the gradual suffusion of the hillsides with a sleepyglamour of mist, and the lengthening shadows of the trees slowly stretch eastwardbefore the westering sun, compose a picture beyond the reach of art” Of the Folkestone Downs, Cox 1913

as Setterwort, believed to be a curefor the diseases of cattle whereby apiece of the root was placed andleft for several days within a slit cutinto the loose skin below the throatof a cow, so “settering the cattle”.

Winter magic

Dan Tuson looks at how the winter downland landscape has come to give so much inspiration tolocal poets and authors.

Wye Downs

Stinking hellebore

Be inspired! Explore the KentDowns through a series of walkleaflets that celebrate the wealth ofwildlife, history and culture of thistreasured landscape. The set ofleaflets promotes permissive publicaccess made available throughDefra RDS Countryside StewardshipScheme to parklands, chalk down-land, bridle routes and woodlands.Contact Kent Downs AONB for freecopies 01303 815170.

In the grounds of Chilham Castle is the oldestrecorded heronry in the western world and the

second oldest badger’s sett in the country datingfrom 1500. In the church is a remarkable schooldesktop with 300 year old doodlings from pastpupils.

This is one of the unusual facts about the KentDowns that has come to light since the launch of aNorth Downs Way National Trail Project called LostLandscapes.

Starting in 2003 and scheduled to finish in June2006, this project, funded by the Heritage LotteryFund through the Local Heritage Initiative and theRail Link Countryside Initiative, is looking at how thelandscape of the North Downs has developedthrough history in a series of circular trails and specialevents based on six parishes along the North DownsWay.

The communities involved are Cuxton, Detling,Hollingbourne, Charing, Chilham and Chartham,where local people have been delving into the past.Many intriguing aspects of local countryside historyhave emerged ranging from field and woodlandnames to tales of past industry and interesting char-acters and legends.

A series of circular walks is being established inthese places taking in the most interesting heritageaspects of each parish.

Look out for these leaflets which will be availablenext summer.

If you would like to get involved or have an inter-esting story to tell, it is not too late. Please get intouch with Tony Gowers, North Downs Way LostLandscapes Project Officer on 01622 221525 emailnorthdownsway@kent.gov.uk

More fascinating facts in this edition!

4 • Kent Downs Orchid

Kent is blessed with thelargest network of public

footpaths, bridleways andbyways in the country.

Many date from the days ofpeople walking to work on thefarm, taking a horse (and cart!)to church, or droving sheep tomarket, for example. These dayspeople go walking, riding orcycling just for fun! For fresh air,exercise, or just to enjoy theviews. This means that the his-toric network of routes mightneed to adapt to today’s leisuredemands.

In order to make improve-ments to the way rights of way

are managed, or even where theroutes go in the first place, it isimportant to listen to local people’sideas and comments. Kent CountyCouncil have already spoken tomany people to get this far, includ-ing parish walking or ridinggroups, shoppers at a communityroadshow and farmers market, andland managers.

Some people are saying theroutes are fine, but they just needbetter signposts, weed cutting, andgate or stile maintenance. Otherpeople are saying that the occa-sional missing link could benegotiated which would make acircular route or avoid walking on

roads. And yet others are simplysaying that better informationabout where to go, what to expect,and how to behave responsibly iswhat would be most useful!

Over the next few months we llbe highlighting what we’ve beentold under a number of themes. Inthe spring 2006 edition of TheOrchid you will have a chance totell us which ones are important toyou and which ones we should beconcentrating on!

Right way for rights of way

Traditionsand tales

Yes well, as usual cheery stufffrom Mr Hardy, but he does

make me ask if we do actually lis-ten. When I think of the KentDowns I think of stunning chalkgrasslands, isolated woods,sunken lanes, and so on. Butwhat does it all sound like?

In spring 2006 the Kent Downswill launch the Sounds of theDowns project. We want to explorethe Kent Downs through our ears;after all we have two so why notuse them? The first part of the pro-ject will work with young peopleand a professional musician torecord an experimental CD. TheCD will have five tracks juxtaposingsounds from the Kent Downs that

will inspire a sense of wonder andmystery for the listener. The CDwill also have a poetry booklet tocomplement the music.

Can you help us? Any readerwho can send us ideas of the kindsof sounds that could be incorporat-ed into the CD will be one of thefirst to receive a free copy of thisunique CD. Some ideas mightinclude the dawn chorus at KingsWood, the roar of the sea atSamphire Hoe, the gentle munchof grazing cows, church bells, etc.And we don t just want lovelysounds we would like to includesome challenging sounds thatreflect the location of the KentDowns in the busiest corner of

England; for example the hum ofthe M20.

Young People WantedLiving in or near the KentDowns? In a youth group?Between 14 and 17 years old?Interested in music?

Using sounds of your choice youcould work with professionals torecord and create an experimental‘Sounds of the Downs’ CD. It’sfree, it’s exciting.

Interested? Please get in touchnow. We’re so excited we want tostart ASAP! Please send your ideason a postcard to the Kent DownsAONB, address on page 2, or emailcatherine.brady@kentdowns.orguk

Got a sound idea?The instinctive act of

humankind was to

stand and listen, and

learn how the trees on

the right and the trees

on the left wailed or

chaunted to each

other in the regular

antiphonies of a

cathedral choir; how

hedges and other

shapes to leeward

then caught the note,

lowering it to the

tenderest sob; and how

the hurrying gust then

plunged into the south,

to be heard no more.

Thomas Hardy,

Far From the

Madding Crowd

Contact the Rights of WayImprovement Plan team on01622 221529rowip@kent.gov.uk

Hollingbourne

Kent Downs Orchid • 5

Defending the Downs

Overlooking Maidstone,perched on a steep spur of

the North Downs, lies Thurn-ham Castle. With commandingviews south across the Weald ofKent it was ideally placed tomonitor movements in the valeand to guard one of the track-ways across the North Downsand the Pilgrim’s Way. Thistrackway may well have servedas an important travel andtrade route during the prehis-toric and Romano-Britishperiods too.

Thurnham Castle was built inthe late 11th century possibly byRalph de Courbepine, tenant ofBishop Odo of Bayeux (brother ofWilliam the Conqueror). It wasone of three castles guarding thevalley and the Maidstone-Sittingbourne Road. ThurnhamCastle is probably a “ringworkand bailey” complex: the baileybeing an enclosure containingancillary buildings, surroundedby thick flint walls with a gate-house on the northern side and tothe east the ringwork set on top ofa large earthen mound. Themound is surrounded by a sub-

stantial ditch which has nowfilled up but can still be seen onthe surface. Along with Stockburyand Binbury (Detling),Thurnham Castle is now in aruinous state. Thurnham Castleremains still comprise of upstand-ing walls, the gatehouse and baseof towers along with the strikingmound. As part of Kent CountyCouncil’s White Horse WoodCountry Park project, the site hasbeen cleared of vegetation andthe ruins have been conserved.No walls remain standing atStockbury Castle, only earth-works mark out where the castlewould have stood, but part of thetower and a later manor housesurvive at Binbury Castle. Duginto the mound at Binbury arereminders of a more recent needfor defence; air-raid shelters asso-ciated with Detling Airfield.

Close to the castle, about 300m to the north-east within theWhite Horse Country Park, liesthe buried remains of an IronAge enclosure (900–500 BC). Itmay have been a temporary orseasonal camp located to takeadvantage of the ancient track-

way and indicates the utilisationof the top of the Downs fromprehistoric times.

Detling airfield was built in1915 to serve the Royal Naval AirService and then the Royal FlyingCorps, the forerunner of the RoyalAir Force. After the war the sitereverted back to farmland, butwas reactivated and expanded inthe 1930s during the build-up tothe Second World War. Duringthe Battle of Britain it saw actionas one of the 11 Group’s satelliteairfields used by units on a day-to-day basis and was badly bombedduring the Adler Tag (Eagle Day)raids of 13th August 1940. Laterin the war, fighter squadronsintercepting V1 flying bombsused the airfield. Detling ceased tobe an operational airfield inDecember 1944 although it wasnot finally de-requisitioned bythe RAF until 1959. Kent CountyCouncil later purchased some ofthe site to become the CountyShow ground. Although many ofthe original buildings associatedwith the airfield have now gone anumber of pillboxes and sheltersremain as a reminder.

Stuart Cakebread of Kent County Council’s Heritage teamlooks at the history of Thurnham Castle…

For further details, go online towww.explorekent.co.ukTelephone: 01622 221515Email: country.parks@kent.gov.uk

All the good things associated with the KentDowns are to be found at White Horse Wood.

There are spectacular views from the top of theNorth Downs across the Medway Valley to theWeald, plenty of places to picnic, walk andexplore within the 65-acre site and an abundanceof wildlife to enjoy.

The country park at Thurnham, near Maidstone, isopen from dawn to dusk throughout the year. Theentrance is off the main A249 heading towardsMaidstone and opposite the Kent Showground. Anew visitor car park has just been opened and goodpaths have been established to give easy access forallcomers. Thurnham Parish Council has installed anexcellent interpretation panel giving a panoramicpicture of the areas you can see below from a view-ing point on the edge of the Downs.

One of the site’s main attractions are the walledremains of Thurnham Castle, which was built by theNormans on a strate-gic high pointoverlooking the val-ley. See adjoiningarticle.

Kent CountyCouncil bought the65-acre site severalyears ago to create anew Millenniumwoodland andexpand the recreationarea to form thecountry park for resi-dents and visitors.Planting began in2000 and since then20,000 trees native toKent have been estab-lished in the main woodland areas. They include oak,beech, hawthorn, silver birch, sweet chestnut andwild cherry.

From the outset special schemes were run toencourage community involvement in the project.They included parents planting trees for babies bornin Millennium Year, and schools and other groupstransferring seedlings nurtured from local nativetrees. About 50 Kent parishes have also planted treeson special days. Adopt a tree schemes were run forresidents, groups and businesses in Kent and theirnames are recorded in a commemorative book.About 50 oak trees have also been planted in rowsalong Kent Avenue from a Living Beacon sculpturetowards the downland.

KCC’s Environment Task Force – which gives workexperience to unemployed people – carried outessential work to prepare the site and install stiles,wooden steps and benches. Volunteers cleared largeareas of undergrowth to expose the walls ofThurnham Castle and allow conservation work to beundertaken. Archaeologists have recorded what isvisible on site but there is much more to be discov-ered.

The site in the Kent Downs Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty is crossed by the North Downs Waynational trail and there is a network of local paths towalk. There are good links to the public rights of waynetwork and access for cyclists and horse riders.

White Horse Woodgrowing strong

Fascinating facts…Each Spring Bank Holiday in Charing, the vicar of St Peter and St Paul would be chased on to the church roof by the Hooden Horse, a famous character from Morris Dancing tradition. Sadly this no longer takes place as the roof is unsafe!

In the 19th century, Hollingbourne was a major centre of paper milling with four water mills located along the River Bourne. Hollingbourne paper was reputed to have been used when American Constitutional documents were being drawn up during this time.

Thurnham Castle

Event atWhite HorseWood

6 • Kent Downs Orchid

M20

M20

M20M

25

M25

M26

M2

M2

A20

A252

A25

1

A2

A2

A28

A20

A20

A20

A225

A225

A22

7

A22

8

A229

A249

A20

A25

A259

A26

0

Channel Tunnel

Chilham

Charing

Northfleet

Barham

Lympne

Lyminge

Elham

Wye

CharthamBridge Aylesham

St Margaret’sat Cliffe

Tenterden

Swanley

Lenham

Harrietsham

HollingbourneDoddington

Boxley

Headcorn

Cranbrook

Edenbridge

Wrotham

Cobham

Ightham

Eynsford

Shoreham

Westerham

ROCHESTERCHATHAM

Sittingbourne

SHEPPEY

SEVENOAKS

TONBRIDGE

ROYALTUNBRIDGE

WELLS

ASHFORD

WhitstableHerne Bay

MARGATE

RAMSGATE

FOLKESTONE

Hythe

DARTFORD

Faversham

MAIDSTONE

GRAVESEND

Deal

DOVER

CANTERBURY

BroadstairsGILLINGHAM

Sandwich

SHEERNESS

Kent Downs AONB

Railway and stationThe Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

© Crown Copyright Reserved. Kent County Council licence no. 100019238. October 2005

The beauty of the KentDowns speaks for itself

with the intertwining of chalkdownland, woodland andthick continuous hedgerows,orchards, farmland – the list isendless. The landscape of theDowns is continuously chang-ing and being constantlyshaped by human activity. Itis with this in mind that theKent Downs must continue tobe protected to ensure that thelook, feel and sense of theAONB is available for all toenjoy now and in the future.

Sometimes the difficulty isknowing how to manage land to

benefit the landscape of thelocal area. In addition, financialconstraints often influence workthat is undertaken, sometimes tothe detriment of the landscape.Grants are available to landown-ers within the Kent DownsAONB to enable them to under-take landscape enhancementsthat are suitable for that localarea. The type, size and locationof a project can vary greatly withthe fundamental element of thescheme being the suitability of aproject for the landscape. Smallpockets of land are just as valu-able as larger areas inmaintaining the uniqueness of

the landscape, by linking oftenfragmented habitats.

The AONB is divided intoLandscape Character Areas,each detailing key characteris-tics of the local landscape thatconstitute its individuality andspecial appeal. Following theseguidelines will ensure onlylandscape improvement workappropriate to a specific area isimplemented, thus avoiding sit-uations such as rowan treesbeing planted in a hedgerow onchalk downland! Applicationswill be assessed on the suitabili-ty of a project in enhancing thelandscape of the specific area.

The popularity and success ofthe LEG scheme in previousyears has enabled the scheme tobe continued by countrysidemanagement partnershipsacross the AONB again this year.The scheme is designed to bestraightforward throughout,with the provision of expertisefrom the countryside manage-ment partnerships available forthe duration of the project. Pre-vious projects have includedhedgerow planting in the Dar-ent Valley, Ryarsh and Chilham,woodland restoration at Hilden-borough, cobnut plattrestoration at Ightham, along

with chalk grassland restoration,coppicing and meadow creationin other areas of the AONB.

Any landowner within theAONB in the areas stated belowis eligible to apply for this grantscheme. The LandscapeEnhancement Grant schemewill ensure the special featuresof the AONB are protected.

For further information aboutthe scheme, please contact therelevant Countryside Manage-ment Partnership for your areabelow. Advice can be obtainedand site visits can be undertakento help develop an application.

Jennifer Winters

Bromley Countryside Management Service0208 3134665 conservation@bromley.gov.ukwww.bromleybiodiversity.co.uk

North West Kent Countryside PartnershipSevenoaks and GraveshamJennifer Winters 01322 294727jennifer.winters@kent.gov.uk

Medway Valley Countryside PartnershipMaidstone, Tonbridge & MallingMark Pritchard01622 683695mark.pritchard@kent.gov.ukwww.medwayvalley.org.uk

Enhance your bit of the AONB

White Cliffs Countryside Project

Kentish Stour Countryside Project

North West KentCountryside

Project

Medway Valley Countryside Partnership

Mid Kent Downs Project

Bromley Countryside

Service

AONB boundary

K E N T

Kentish Stour Countryside ProjectAshford to Canterbury, 01233 813307kentishstour@kent.gov.ukwww.kentishstour.org.uk

White Cliffs Countryside ProjectDover, Shepway, Romney MarshKirk Alexander 01304 241806kirk.alexander@whitecliffscountryside.org.uk

Mid Kent Downs Countryside ProjectSally Evans01303 815173sally.evans@kentdowns.org.ukwww.kentdowns.org.uk

COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIPS AND PROJECTS

Kent Downs Orchid • 7

The Kent Downs AONB runsfour grant programmes sup-

ported each year by theCountryside Agency. Grants areavailable at a maximum of 50%of the total cost and can be dis-tributed to community groups,local authorities, charities andother similar organisations work-ing in the AONB. Grants areavailable from April onwards soif you are interested in applyingplease contact us over the winterwith your ideas.

Funding is limited so you areadvised to contact Tim Owen atthe AONB Unit for information.Brief descriptions of grant pro-grammes are set out below.

Kent Downs Around TownsThis programme is about develop-ing close links with neighbouringurban communities and address-ing the considerable threats andopportunities throughout theAONB that are highlighted as pri-ority actions in the AONBManagement Plan.

The Kent Downs Around Townsprogramme aims to secure theconservation, enhancement andpromotion of the AONB near itsurban boundaries by:• Seeking preventive measures

and positive solutions to urbanfringe pressures such as fly tip-ping and other illegal uses.

• Improving the direct and indi-rect access, understanding and

enjoyment of the AONB to itsnumerous urban neighbours.

• Assisting farmers and landown-ers to undertake landscapeconservation and enhancementin the urban fringe.

• Promoting social inclusion andcelebration of the AONB land-scape with communities livingalong its urban boundaries.

Celebrating the Kent DownsWorking in partnership with organ-isations throughout the AONB, thisis a programme of events/activi-ties, interpretation and arts,improving access and enjoymentin the Kent Downs and promotingthe designation.

By supporting exciting and inno-vative events and activities wehope to increase people’s aware-ness of and delight in the AONB.

Kent Downs Research Designand Innovation ProgrammeThis programme provides supportfor the AONB planning role, designguides and research and projectdevelopment contracts.

Projects run under the Research,Design and Innovation Programmewill provide information, researchinto best practice or new and inno-vative ways to deliver AONBpurposes. Projects will be funded ifthey show a practical, rather thanpurely academic approach and arelikely to deliver new projects on theground in the future.

Kent Downs Landscape InitiativeThis includes landscape enhance-ment grants delivering landscapegain throughout the AONB. Theobjective is to provide, each year, aconsistent level of financial supportfor practical landscape enhance-ment which will progressivelyimprove the quality of the AONBlandscape.

Excelling at theDarwin Challenge

For information about avail-able grants contact Tim Owen01303 815176 tim.owen@kentdowns.org.uk

Over 100 young members of Girlguiding UK,the Scout Association and the Woodcraft Folk

took part in a fun-filled day of activities over thesummer to test their skill and determination inachieving the tasks set as part of the 2005 DarwinChallenge . All participants were presented withan award at the end of the day by Randal Keynes,great, great grandson of Charles Darwin, inrecognition of their achievement.

Four camp sites located within and bordering theKent Downs AONB hosted the event. The dayinvolved the physical challenge of walking from siteto site in the Cudham Valley, accomplishing tasks onthe way, and then taking part in an activity on a bio-diversity theme at each site.

The activities on a biodiversity and Darwin-relatedtheme, included an Evolution Obstacle Course andDuck Pool Game, bee studies and baking with honey,grassland monitoringand dormouse andbird box making toenhance populationsin the area. Theevent was supportedby the SUN Project(Sustainable UrbanPlanning Networksfor Green Spaces)and the HeritageLottery Fund, as partof Exploring inDarwin’s Footstepswithin the proposedDarwin at DowneWorld Heritage Site.

Charles Darwin,who lived close by,m e t i c u l o u s l yobserved and stud-ied an amazing arrayof species here, in anattempt to under-stand their adaptations to the environment and theirimportance to other living things. The partnershipsought that the young people involved would beequally inspired, and so the Challenge bears Darwin’sname.

There are various ways the SUN Project (funded bythe EU LIFE Environment Programme) hopes to pro-mote biodiversity amongst youth groups.Management plans for camp sites will be developedor revised and a directory of camp sites and theirassociated biodiversity value made available. A bookof ideas generated by leaders on educational activi-ties with a biodiversity theme will be compiled,alongside an advisory list of educational resourcesand a lending network of books and equipmentestablished between sites of close proximity. Naturetrails will be created on rural camp sites and explo-ration and understanding of the wider countrysideencouraged. Provision of training for leaders on thevalue of habitats and their management, as well as inconservation skills, is a key aim, to increase the confi-dence of leaders in their understanding ofbiodiversity issues. It is hoped that active participa-tion of children in biodiversity surveys and practicalmanagement will increase.

For more information about the SUN Project,which incorporates various themes, please seewww.bromleybiodiversity.co.uk or contact EwaProkop or Guy Harewood on 020 8313 4665.

The Sustainable Development Fund is a new grant scheme. It sup-ports projects that bring sustainable social, environmental andeconomic benefits to the AONB. It aims to develop and test newmethods of achieving a more sustainable way of life in this area ofgreat beauty and diversity.What can we fund?• Practical work• Feasibility studies• Labour or contractors’ costs• Publicity and marketingVolunteer time and professional costs can also qualify in puttingyour project together. If applications are approved grants are nor-mally available of up to:• 75% for community and voluntary groups• 50% for local authority and business projectsWho can apply?Applicants can be located within or outside the AONB boundary.The fund is open to any individual or organisation from the pub-lic, private or voluntary sectors, or a collective of these.We would like to fund a range of projects from the very local tothose that benefit the whole of the AONB. Your project can involve:• Community involvement• Celebrating local culture and traditions• Careful use of natural resources• Promoting action by young people• Helping communities to be more aware of sustainable issues • Education for sustainable development• Research into sustainable living• Promoting sustainable travel This fund will be available until March 2008.If you have ideas for projects that you think may be suitable forfunding please call Tim Owen at the AONB unit.

What is sustainable development?

Grab those grants!

Cobnut pruning

Near Downe

8 • Kent Downs Orchid

Ranscombe Farm is one ofBritish botany’s classic sites

and a favourite haunt of wildplant enthusiasts for hundredsof years. The first UK records oftwo Nationally Rare species,Meadow Clary and HairyMallow, were both fromRanscombe Farm, dating from1699 and 1792 respectively. Bothspecies still survive in the samespot.

The idea to create a NatureReserve and Country Park was firstmooted in the late 1990s. Thevision was to create a new publicgreen space, combining landscapeand nature conservation with

Thanks to a unique partnership between theRural Development Service, Kent Wildlife

Trust, Dover District Council, Kent Highways anda local farmer the future of flower rich grasslandsaround the Lydden area of the Kent Downs hasnever looked so rosy.

With funding from the Rural Development Service(RDS) Countryside Stewardship Scheme, flower richhay is being cut from a Roadside Nature Reserve inthe village and being spread on surrounding land inthe hope that plants will colonise pastures new.

The network of Roadside Nature Reservesthroughout the county provide some of the lastremnants of flower rich grasslands in our country-side which has undergone great change in recentyears. The management of these Roadside NatureReserves is carefully overseen by Kent Wildlife Trustwho ensure that flower rich verges are cut at theright time. Normally the cuttings are left on theverge, but this new initiative is helping to ensurethat cuttings do not go to waste by spreading themon adjacent farmland field margins managed underthe RDS Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

The wide field margins, which help to protecthedgerows and provide natural corridors for wildlife,

are the ideal site for the spreading of flower rich hayand should provide the right conditions for flowerseeds from the hay to germinate. The cutting andspreading of the hay is being undertaken by a localcontractor with the help of local volunteers. Thefield margins will be carefully checked next year tosee how many wild flowers have managed to estab-lish on their new found habitat.

RDS Rural Development Adviser Dan Tuson,explains that “Hay spreading is simply mimickingthe way that plants in the wild spread their seed andreproduce. By giving nature a helping hand we canhelp to increase the amount of wildflower rich grass-land in the Lydden area. This new project showshow so much can be achieved for wildlife by work-ing with farmers, landowners and partnerorganisations.”

Kent Wildlife Trust Roadside Nature Reserve OfficerGill Tysoe is enthusiastic about the project, “Thisexciting project is a marvellous opportunity for part-nerships, organisations and the local community towork together to create and enhance sites for wildlife.The transfer of seeds from the roadside nature reserveto nearby field margins demonstrated a constructiveway to use these valuable cuttings by increasing theconservation value of the field margins.”

Dan Tuson

Back fromthe verge

include a rare type of Sessile Oakand Hornbeam woodland. A largepart of the site is within theCobham Woods Site of SpecialScientific Interest, and the wholefarm is within the Kent DownsArea of Outstanding NaturalBeauty.

The farm is famous for its arableflora and two of the fields arebelieved to represent the mostimportant site for annual plants ofarable land in Britain. Corncockle,officially extinct nationally, isthought to grow wild here. Thediscovery came when AndrewLingham, the tenant farmer, deepploughed the land a few years ago,

enhanced public access. However,as one of a new generation ofcountry parks, there are no plansfor public conveniences, gift shopsor restaurants.

Ranscombe Farm is now part ofan emerging complex of conserva-tion projects in the area and can befound in the green belt separatingthe Medway towns andGravesham. Once part of theDarnley estate, it occupies an areaof 560 acres, including arable habi-tats, extensive ancient woodlandand relict fragments of chalk grass-land. The main woodland is 300acres of traditional coppice. Someareas, such as Longhoes Wood,

FLOWER

A treasure waiting

Hay making at Lydden

Kent Downs Orchid • 9

When John and Annette Bovington bought acottage near Sevenoaks in Kent they were

planning on a little light gardening, today theirgarden extends to nearly 100 acres all within theKent Downs AONB!

Around 10 years after John and Annette boughtthe cottage some land came up for sale. Keen to con-serve the character of the valley and its valuable chalkgrassland they bought 75 acres. With so much landthey started to keep cattle to help manage the grass-land, the herd built up to 40 Sussex cattle and later arare breed, the British White.

It certainly hadn’t been John and Annette’s inten-tion to start farming but they soon worked out thatwell managed grazing was key to conserving thisvaluable grassland. Over the years John and Annettehave cleared areas of scrub and waged a constantbattle – largely working with hand tools – againstchalk grassland invaders such as hawthorn and dog-wood. With the scrub under control, the orchids,butterflies and bees could thrive.

In 1985 nine acres of ancient woodland becameavailable and then more recently they bought 15acres of neglected SSSI land (Site of Special ScientificInterest). With the support of English Nature theyhave cleared and fenced the land which is now beinggrazed.

In early summer the grassland at Magpie Bottom isa sea of orchids, including man, bee and fly orchidsas well as the beautiful early purple and pyramidalorchids. John knows each and every place that theorchids grow and checks every year to see whetherthey have increased. The whole site supports an evengreater diversity of species and one field countshowed that there were around 100 species of grass-es and flowers. And all this within only a few miles ofthe M25, M20 and M26!

Recently John and Annette’s work was recognisedthrough receiving an Award from English Nature.English Nature’s SSSI awards, in their ninth year,reward those who go the extra mile to conserve thenationally important sites in their care. In John andAnnette’s case it was prompted by their recent pur-chase of a neglected part of the SSSI and fororganising all the capital works necessary to enablethe area to be grazed and restored from scrub tochalk grassland. It also recognises that without theircommitment over the years to protecting the site itwould probably not have been renotified under the1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.

John is also an executive board member of theKent Downs AONB.

Based on an article from English Nature and repro-duced here with their kind permission.

Hard workrecognised

bringing the dormant seeds to thesurface. Fortunately, as this areawas already being managed for arare population of Broad-leavedCudweed, it was not being treatedwith herbicide, allowing theCorncockle to flower and set seed.It is now makes an annual appear-ance.

Other rare plants include WildLiquorice, Ground Pine, Night-flowering Catchfly and, in spring,a variety of orchids, including Fly,Man and Lady. The uncommonhabitats at Ranscombe also sup-port rare invertebrates, butterfliesand moths as well as a raft ofmammals such as dormice, bats,

badgers and stoats. On a recentwalk nearly 40 glow-worms werecounted!

Ranscombe Farm is now in thejoint ownership of MedwayCouncil and Plantlife after the sitewas secured with funding fromODPM and Medway Council.Plantlife chairs a committee thatoversees the management of thesite and includes representativesfrom Medway Council, CuxtonParish Council, CobhamAshenbank Management Schemeand West Kent DownsCountryside Trust. A new warden,Helen Morley, who is employed byPlantlife, is responsible for the day-

Over the autumn and winterHelen will be running volun-teer days, walks, talks andother events. Contact 07849926239 or email helen.morley@plantlife.org.ukTo order naturally reared meatfrom Andrew Lingham, thetenant farmer, please call MikeBurgin on 01634 240547.

R POWER

g to be explored

Photos (clockwise from topleft): Common SpottedOrchid; Corncockle; Cowslip;Ranscombe Farm; MeadowClary; Large Skipper; poppiesat Ranscombe Farm.

to-day management. The reservenow boasts a new 5km (3.1 mile)footpath network and car parkand, over the coming months,interpretation boards, waymarkersand leaflets will be organised.

Paul

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www.farmersmarkets.netFarmers Market Hotline –

0870 46 44 500www.kentishfare.co.uk

FarmersMarkets

BromleyEvery Friday and Saturday9am to 5pmPedestrian High Street

Canterbury The Goods Shed, Station Road WestTuesday to Saturday 10am to 7pmSunday 10am to 4pm Closed MondayOn-site restaurant 01227 459153

Capel-le-Ferne Every Tuesday10am to 1pmVillage Hall, Lancaster Avenue

Faversham 2nd Sunday of month 9am to 2pmOld Hopping Shed, Macknade FarmShop, Selling Road, off A2

Hythe2nd & 4th Saturday in month10am to 12Rear of light railway restaurantScanlons Bridge

Lenham Country Market2nd Sunday of every month9am to 1pmThe Square

Meopham1st Sunday of the monthalso 18 December, then back to usualpattern from February9am to 12.30pmMeopham Fitness and Tennis Centre

Rochester3rd Sunday of every month9am to 1pmCorporation Street car park

Shipbourne Every Thursday9am to 11amSt Giles church

SwingfieldEvery Wednesday10am to 2pmMacfarlane’s Garden and ButterflyCentre

Tonbridge3rd Saturday of the month9.30am to 1.30pmRiver Walk

West Malling4th Sunday of the month9.30am to 1.30pmHigh Street

Wye1st and 3rd Saturday of every month9am to 1pmThe Green www.wyefarmersmarket.org.uk

Kent British Trust forConservation Volunteers

(BTCV)

Courses To book contact 01233 812033 orkent@btcv.org.uk

Hazardous Trees – How toidentify and report treesthat may be dead, dying ordangerous. Saturday, 22October 2005, Wye

Tree Planting andAftercare – How and whyto plant trees as well asmaking sure they survive.Saturday, 26 November2005, Wye

Winter Tree Identification– Learn how to identify treesusing buds, twigs and barkas clues. Saturday, 21January 2006. Maidstone

Tree Law and Grants –How to get money for treeprojects and what the lawsay about trees. Saturday,11 February 2006. Wye

Introduction To Kent TreeWarden Scheme – Find outwhat the tree wardenscheme is all about.Saturday, 22 April 2006. NrAshford

Woodland and HedgerowBirds – Identification ofbirds and how to managetheir habitat. Saturday, 13May 2006. Wye

Tree and WoodlandSurveys – How to recordstreet trees and map wood-ed areas. Saturday, 29 July2006. Wye

Pond Design and Creation– How to create your ownpond with site visits to newlycreated ponds. Saturday, 24 June 2006. Wye

Green SkillsCourses for those peoplewho wish to develop theirskills in subjects that rangefrom identification skills andsurveying through to practi-cal skills for project work.

Introduction toEnvironmentalConservation – Find outabout the environmentalmovement in Kent and theUK, visit some wildlife sitesand find out how to getinvolved. £5 to all. Saturday,25 March 2006. Wye.

Amphibian and ReptileEcology – Meet these fasci-nating animals in the flesh.Saturday, 8 April 2006. Wye.

Events in the Downs For full listings of events, including National Trust and English Heritage, visit www.kentdowns.org.uk

Volunteer Activities

Wednesday 12th OctoberSCRUB CLEARING ON THEFOLKESTONE DOWNSClearing scrub from the flatarea at the base of SugarloafHill, by the Holywell boardwalk. If it’s dry enough we willpark in Holywell Field close tothe work site. MEET: 10.15amat the bottom of Castle Hill, offM20 junction 13, Folkestone(TR 210 377). Then driving offnearer to the work site.

Tuesday 8th November SCRUB CLEARING, WHINLESSDOWN, DOVERClearing scrub on a steep, chalkgrassland bank opening up thegrassland for the rare SilverSpotted Skipper butterflies tothrive. There will be work onthe flatter land at the bottomfor those who prefer not towork on the bank. Please bringa flask. MEET: 10.15am at thepedestrian gate into Elms Valerecreation ground at theHarbour school end of therecreation ground, off Elms Valeroad, Dover (TR 295 414).

Thursday 15th DecemberSCRUB CLEARING, FOLKESTONE WARRENClearing young scrub in theFolkestone Warren. MEET:10.15am at the Pavilion carpark, Wear Bay Road,Folkestone (TR 239 365). Thendriving off into the Warren.

Sunday 8th January SAMPHIRE HOE, SITE MAINTENANCECome along and help at thiswonderful site. Work couldinclude path clearing, electricfence work and erosion controlwith coir matting. Contact Paulon 01304 225649. MEET:10.15am at the Site Office,Samphire Hoe, Dover (TR 294391). Please park in the backcar park and collect a parkingpermit from the office.

Sunday 12th February SCRUB CLEARING, CASTLEHILL, FOLKESTONEContinuing with the scrub andregrowth clearing at the base ofCastle Hill to improve condi-tions for the rare wildlife whichare now flourishing here. MEET:10.15am at the bottom ofCastle Hill, off M20 junction 13,Folkestone (TR 210 377). Thendriving nearer to the work site.

Wednesday 8th MarchRIDE CLEARING,WESTERNHEIGHTS LNR, AYCLIFFE,DOVERClearing scrub back along foot-paths and cutting throughscrub to open up the networkof grass glades. MEET: 10.15amnear the footpath betweenhouses numbered 76 and 78 St.David’s Avenue, Aycliffe, Dover.

WHITE CLIFFSCOUNTRYSIDE PROJECT

MID KENT DOWNS COUNTRYSIDE PROJECT

KENT WILDLIFE TRUST

COUNTRY PARKEVENTS

White CliffsCountryside Project

walks grading system

Grade 1 – Very easy, gener-ally on pavements.Grade 2 – Easy countrywalk with only gentle hills.There may be stiles.Grade 3 – Typical countrywalk with some steeper hills.May be some muddy paths.Grade 4 – More difficultwalking with steep hills, orlikely to be muddy paths.

Walks

Sunday 23rd October 2.00pm HOGWEED’s – SPELLS ANDPOTIONS FIELD TRIP (GreenGang)Learn about the uses of wildplants, both ancient and mod-ern, that we find as we walkaround the magical meadowsand moats of the forgottenfortress. Prizes for all who passthe fun quiz. Fancy dress wel-come but not compulsory.Donation appreciated. LEADER:Melanie Wrigley, 01304241806. MEET: St. Martin’sBattery car park, South MilitaryRoad, Western Heights,Dover.(Please park along CitadelRoad if the car park is full). DIS-TANCE: 2 miles (2.5 hours).GRADE: 2-3. Please note this isnot suitable for prams.

Sunday 13th November2.00pmAUTUMN ON THE HERITAGECOASTWalk through FolkestoneWarren along the Four SeasonsNature Trail. Donation appreci-ated. LEADER: Philip Green,01304 241806. MEET: ThePavilion, Wear Bay Road,Folkestone (TR 239 364). DIS-TANCE: 4 miles (3 hours).GRADE: 4

Tuesday 27th December1.30pmTHE COAST IS CLEAR Walk off your christmas dinnerthrough the Western HeightsLocal Nature Reserve, withinsight and smell of the sea, andon to Shakespeare Cliff, part ofthe Heritage Coast. LEADER:Melanie Wrigley, 01304241806. MEET: St. Martin’sBattery car park, South MilitaryRoad, Western Heights, Dover.Extra parking is available alongCitadel Road if the car park getsfull. DISTANCE: 4 miles (2.5 - 3hours). GRADE: 4

Sunday 29th January 1.00pmSHIPWRECKS & SMUGGLERSOF THE HERITAGE COASTA winter walk with stories aboutthe shipwrecks, smugglers andmilitary history of this dramaticlandscape of the HeritageCoast. Donation appreciated.LEADER: Kirk Alexander, 01304241806. MEET: Village Hall,Lancaster Road, Capel-le-Ferne,near Folkestone (TR 2510388).DISTANCE: 4 miles (2.5 hours).GRADE: 3

Sunday 12th February 2.00pm TRACES, TRACKS AND TRAILS(Green Gang)Be a Downland detective for theafternoon. Join a scavengerhunt walk to collect evidence ofwhich animals, including birds,have been active on WhinlessDown. You may bring a magni-fying glass, a bug bottle orbinoculars to help you solve theclues. Prizes for all. Donationappreciated. LEADER: MelanieWrigley, 01304 241806. MEET:Elms Vale recreation ground carpark, Elms Vale Road, Dover (TR299 414). DISTANCE: 2 miles (2hours). GRADE: 3-4

Sunday 19th March 2.00pmSPRING ONTO THE DOWNSEarly spring walk on FolkestoneDowns. Donation appreciated.LEADER: Philip Green, 01304241806. MEET: Far end ofHolywell Avenue, offCanterbury Road (A260),Folkestone (TR 224 377). DIS-TANCE: 2.5 miles (3 hours).GRADE: 4

01622 662012 for information

Family Activities

Wed 26th October 2-4pm Water Voles & Watery WondersPond dipping, artwork andgames. Tyland Barn VisitorCentre, Sandling, Maidstone.

Friday 28th October 10.30-12 noon or 1-2.30pm Pond Dipping Please book. Tyland Barn VisitorCentre, Sandling, Maidstone.

Sun 27th November 11am-3pm Wintry Wildlife Arts and crafts, shopping,mulled wine and singalong.Tyland Barn Visitor Centre,Sandling, Maidstone

Wildlife Walks

Sunday 23rd October 2-4pmFungus Foray Check out the fungi in ourwoodland with the help of anexpert. Bough Beech VisitorCentre. Leader Lynne Flower.Booking essential, call 01732355080 or emaillynneflower@tonbridge100.fsnet.co.uk. Adult £3, child £1.

Saturday 5th November Early Winter in Shorne Woods Look for fungi and autumnalwildlife. Meet at the car park atShorne Woods Country Park at9.30am and finish by 1pm.Refreshments available at thevisitor centre. Suitable for fami-lies with children. Map ref: TQ684699. Leader Geoff Orton.

Wildlife Talks

Monday 24th October 7.30pmThe Elham Valley An illustrated talk by MartinNewcombe about this fascinat-ing East Kent area. St Paul’sChurch Hall, Boxley Road,Maidstone.

Friday 28th October 7.30pm The History and Wildlife of theRoyal Military CanalTalk by Richard Haynes of theRomney Marsh CountrysideProject. United ReformedChurch Hall, Castle Hill Avenue,Folkestone.

Wednesday 16th November7.30pm A Portrait of Nature Wildlife and landscapes ofSouthern England. A new illus-trated talk by Melvin Smith.Great Chart Village Hall (wheel-chair accessible). £2.50including tea/coffee/biscuits.

Monday 21st November 7.30for 8pm The Work of the WoodlandTrustSpeaker Martin Turner.Hildenborough Church Hall.£1.50 including refreshments.

Practical Conservation

Wednesday 2nd November10am-4pm Halloween Welcome at PolhillScrub clearance followed bywarming pumpkin soup! Meetat Polhill Bank Nature Reservemap ref: TQ 510600. LeaderPaul Glanfield.

Other Events

Friday 2nd - Sunday 11thDecember 10am-4pm daily Ian Bowles – Wildlife ArtistExhibition of wildlife paintings.Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.Admission Free.

Brockhill Country Park01303 266327 for information

Saturday 29th OctoberHALLOWEENTickets are limited for this scaryevent, so if you want to comeand be scared, book now!6.30 pm – 9.30 pm. Charge £6for adults, £3.00 for children.Booking required. No dogs.

Shorne Wood Country Park01474 823800 for information

3rd Sunday of each monthNATURE CLUBFor children aged 5-11, thenature club offers lots of funactivities including arts andcrafts, games, practical sessions,visits and activity camps.9.45am – 12.15pm

Friday 28th October andSaturday 29th OctoberTHE SHORNE SCREAMFun for all the family. Do youdare explore the woods atnight? Who knows what youmight find? This is a self-led trailand all under 18s must beaccompanied by an adult. Notrecommended for under 6s andparents must use their discre-tion. Not suitable for prams orwheelchairs. Start 7.00pmonwards. Charge £3.00 per per-son. Booking essential. Nodogs.

Sunday 20th NovemberCONSERVATION DAYHelp the Rangers clear rhodo-dendron and sycamore fromthe Park. Tea and biscuits pro-vided around a roaring fire. Notsuitable for under 6s. Pleasedress appropriately. 1.00pm – 4.00pm. No charge.No dogs.

Monday 26th DecemberBOXING DAY WALKWalk off your Christmas dinneron this enjoyable 4 mile walkguided by a Park Warden. Notsuitable for prams or wheel-chairs. 11.00am – 1.00pm. No charge.Dogs on leads.

Trosley Country Park01732 823570 for information

Saturday 22nd OctoberFRIGHTNIGHTA self guided walk into the darkand spooky past of Trosley todiscover the legends of thearea. All children under 16 mustbe accompanied by an adult.Not suitable for younger chil-dren, people with poor eyesightor mobility problems. Lampswill be provided (no torchesplease). Booking required – tick-et price includes food and drinkback in the Visitor Centre afteryour walk.7.00pm onwards. Charge £6per adult, £4.00 for children.No dogs.

Saturday and Sunday 3rd –18th DecemberSANTA’s GROTTOBring the family to visit Santaand his helpers for some festivefun! This event is held in ourVisitor Centre where we have anice log fire and goodChristmas Fayre courtesy of theTea Rooms kiosk.12.00noon – 3.00pm. Charge£1.50 per child. Contact 01732 823833 forinformation. No dogs.

10 • Kent Downs Orchid

Saturday 29th OctoberHeaths Countryside CorridorHalloween Party. 2-7pm at BullHeath. Entry free but donationsplease. Priority bookings formembers up to six tickets/mem-ber. Book in advance.

Sunday 30th OctoberFungus Walk. Meet 11amPlackett’s Hole, Bicknor. GorhamCommunity Woodland event.

Details from Sally Evans on01303 815170

Horses, herbs & hedgescan consider and do to make surethis impact is positive, not nega-tive. This will in turn maintain alandscape for all to enjoy through avariety of equestrian activity.

Making careful land manage-ment decisions matter not only forour individual enjoyment of thearea we live in or visit but alsobecause the Kent Downs is anationally important landscape andrecognised as such through its des-ignation as an Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty. It is regarded asone of the finest landscapes in

One of the great pleasures ofhorses is the way they

encourage us to enjoy the coun-tryside. Be it simply throughvisiting the stables for the rou-tine tasks or enjoying long hacksin beautiful landscapes.

The character of the countrysideis greatly influenced by the activitytaking place within it and the keep-ing of horses is having anincreasing impact on the KentDowns Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty (AONB). But thereare simple things that everyone

England and if this gives us stun-ning areas in which to keep andenjoy our horses then it is down tous all to act to maintain thisresource for future generations.Freebies!A set of information leaflets isbeing produced this autumn toprovide further information on thefollowing aspects of horse pasturemanagement:• Grassland Management for

Equines• Fencing, Trees and Hedges• Manure Advice• Stables and Buildings

A 2006 Horse Calendar contain-ing useful tips will also be available.Contact below for copies for yourstables, surgery, office or home!

Further horse pasture manage-ment workshops are planned forearly 2006. These may be sitebased. Contact us to be notifiedwhen dates are arranged.

Some grant help may be avail-able for hedge planting, landscapemanagement etc. See page 7 formore details of grants available.

• Carefully consider your horse per acre ratio.Overgrazed pasture looks unsightly and can lead togreater weed infestation, a greater worm build upand poaching leading to mud fever in the winter.

• Poo pick! Picking up the dung not only reducesthe worm burden in the field, it also preventslatrine areas from developing and the field areafrom being squeezed .

• Healthy paddock, healthy horse! Encourage dif-ferent grasses, herbs and wildflowers in yourgrassland. Not only is this much healthier for yourhorse, it will also look more attractive and begreat for wildlife too. Many of these valuablespecies prefer nutrient poor soils so try to avoidfertilising your grassland. The additional benefitof not fertilising is that the grazing does notbecome over rich leading to obesity and anincreased risk of laminitis in some equines.

• Splitting paddocks up breaks up traditional fieldpatterns and interrupts views. Try to get your hors-es used to running as a herd and encourage amore herb rich mixed grass sward to reduce theneed to split fields for weight management. If youmust split fields do so with wooden posts and rope

instead of tape, or brown posts and green tape.• Move feeders and mineral licks around the field

to prevent poaching in one area.• Keep brightly coloured buckets, jumps etc stored

out of sight when not in use.• Rotate grazing if possible. Maintain grass height

to 5cm during the growing season and 2cm inthe winter.

• Plant native hedges (include species such ashawthorn, blackthorn, maple and spindle) alongboundaries. This will reduce visual impact and pro-vide shelter for horses.

Positive Equine Management

Kent Downs Orchid • 11

Our built heritage is as important to our envi-ronment as our natural resources. It is often

buildings that give a sense of place to a particularspot, and the older the building, the greater itsimpact on the landscape – not just in the presentperiod, but also those who have gone before.

Sir John Betjeman once remarked that churches aremirrors of local history and the parish church is verymuch part of life in rural England. But what happenswhen the church building is no longer required, or itsupkeep is too great for the local population? Many areconverted to homes or businesses, but those that areof great architectural or historic importance are vest-ed in The Churches Conservation Trust, a nationalcharity part-funded by the Government and theChurch of England. The Trust now cares for over 330churches in England, conserving each to a very highstandard and making them available for casual visi-tors, as well as encouraging their use as venues forsuitable events. In Kent sixteen historic churches are intheir care, including several in the Kent Downs AONB.

High on the clifftop at Capel Le Ferne, St Mary’sChurch is now isolated from the village of the samename which grew up on the main Dover to Folkestoneroad, leaving the original farming settlement clusteredaround the Norman church. Like most medievalchurches it is built of local materials – in this part of the

Downs this is flint rubble – thus emphasising the rela-tionship between natural and built environments.Plain it may be on the outside, but its beaten walls hidea remarkable interior dominated by a very rare thir-teenth century chancel screen, dividing the medievalvillager’s portion of the building from that which wasthe domain of the priest and his servers.

On the floor of the fertile valley where the RiverMedway cuts through the North Downs, two morechurches are ready to welcome visitors. St Benedict’s atPaddlesworth is a very simple building of twelfth cen-tury origin that for centuries was used as a barn,following its closure for religious worship in the latemiddle ages. It still stands in a farmyard location, andwas restored as a church in the 1930s. On the oppositebank of the river, St Mary at Burham was once muchlarger, but depopulation in the thirteenth century sawthe building reduced in size – the huge blocked archesremaining as testimony to its former glory.

Each of these churches is accessible to visitors.Some are open daily, whilst others have a nearby key-holder. All are worth searching for and represent thebest in our ecclesiastical heritage.

Churches inretirement

St Mary’s,Burham

For more information please visit the websitewww.visitchurches.org.uk or contact theRegional Development Manager John Vigar on01622 718118

Another valuable source of practical advice tohelp you in your landscape management decisions isthe Kent Downs AONB Landscape Design Handbook.This provides simple advice specific to your part of theAONB on fencing, hedge plants, signage, furnituresuch as gates and use of appropriate local materials. Apaper or digital copy of this attractive document isavailable from the Kent Downs AONB Unit.

For copies of any of the above, or for further adviceplease contact: Kent Downs AONB Unit01303 815170mail@kentdowns.org.uk www.kentdowns.org.uk

Frances Clayton01303 815172frances.clayton@kentdowns.org.uk

12 • Kent Downs Orchid

QuestionTime

Inspired by the White Cliffs? Place your vote now!

People of all ages – paintersand photographers, poets

and playwrights – have beeninspired by this nation’s coast.The National Trust are currentlysearching for the nation’sfavourite coastal site and theWhite Cliffs is one of 25 sites upfor nomination for this award.

To show your support visit theNational Trust website (addressbelow the photo) and follow theinstructions on how to vote. Or call0901 29 34443 or text ‘trust 21’ to84222 to nominate the White Cliffsas your favourite coastal site.

All calls and texts will cost £1.00maximum. Approximately 70p foreach voice call and 55p for eachtext will go straight to the NationalTrust Neptune CoastlineCampaign. Telephone lines willclose at midnight on 31 October2005.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-special_projects/w-seabritain/w-seabritain-vote_for_coast.htm

Many landowners andfarmers will be aware that

Defra’s new EnvironmentalStewardship Scheme is nowopen to new applicants.

The scheme has the potentialto bring widespread environ-mental, landscape, wildlife andheritage benefits to the KentDowns. The scheme is dividedinto three elements:• Entry Level Stewardship • Organic Entry Level

Stewardship • Higher Level Stewardship

Acceptance into the EntryLevel and Organic Entry LevelScheme is guaranteed providingthe applicant can meet a pointsthreshold calculated against landarea. In order to attain this tar-get, points can be earned byselecting a variety of boundaryand in-field managementoptions.

Agreements last for five yearswith payment rates of £30/Ha forEntry Level Stewardship, and£60/Ha for Organic Entry LevelStewardship. Due to predicteduptake, these elements of theScheme are designed to be

farmer-led and essentially free ofadviser input from the RuralDevelopment Service. Applica-tions can be made through theCustomer Service Team at Read-ing on the number below. Seebelow for details of an ELS train-ing session on ELS.

Higher Level Stewardship isdesigned to build upon the Entryand Organic Entry LevelStewardship by delivering signifi-cant environmental benefits inhigh-priority situations. Thescheme will be competitive, how-ever the Rural DevelopmentService’s North Downs team atWye is on hand to provide adviceon applications and on-goingmanagement. If you wish to

make an appointment at Wye todiscuss your proposals, pleasebook a clinic through MargaretRulton on the number below.Confirmed clinic dates are:

Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th NovemberMonday 12th and Tuesday 13th December

Important numbers:Customer Service Team, Reading08456 024 092HLS Clinic Booking Line(Margaret Rulton) 0118 939 2347RDS, Wye 01233 813 667Further details can also be foundon the RDS websitewww.defra.gov.uk/rds

FWAG are running half day training sessionsto provide additional advice on ELS optionsin the Kent Downs AONB.The sessions will take place on 14th Decemberat either 9.30am – 1pm or 1.30pm – 5pm, atColdharbour Farm in Wye, nr Ashford. Pleasephone 01993 886565 to book, stating that youare booking for the Kent Downs AONB event.

Get your points the AONB way!

Do you have an area of land that you want tomanage but do not know what to do or

where to begin? Knowing how to manage an areaof land appropriately can be a challenging anddaunting task.

The North West Kent Countryside Partnership hasproduced a Land Manager’s Pack which provideslandowners with a guide that is jargon-free and easyto understand. Management advice on a range ofhabitat types including woodlands, chalk grassland

and orchards is provided, enabling landowners toimplement suggestions with relative ease, in turnbenefiting the landscape of the AONB.

The pack is available free of charge but currentlyonly to landowners in West Kent, specificallySevenoaks and Gravesham areas of the AONB withinformation being tailored to these localities. If youare interested in receiving a copy please contact theNorth West Kent Countryside Partnership on 01322294727 or email jennifer.winters@kent.gov.uk

Land management advice

Rural transportspotting

Contact Laura Watson on 01233 812033 or email Laura.watson@btcv.org.uk Further details can also be found atwww.btcv.org/users/btcvkent/ruraltransportwardens.htmland www.kentrcc.org.uk/topic/transport.html

Want to help improve rural transport in your area?Volunteering as a Rural Transport Warden could be one

way of doing so!The Rural Transport Warden Project, organised by conservation

charity Kent BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) andAction with Communities in Rural Kent, offers advice and practi-cal support to parishes and communities within MaidstoneBorough Council’s area who want to improve their transport ser-vices.

Rural transport wardens responsibilities will include assessinglocal needs and the suitability of existing services, distributingtimetables and travel guides, organising community buses andcar sharing schemes, and helping to improve liaison betweenparish councils, transport operators and planners.

Environmental issues, including encouraging cycling and envi-ronmentally friendly transport, monitoring complaints aboutspeeding, and preventing vandalism of vehicles and passengershelters, are also addressed.

No previous experience is required and wardens will receivefree training and expert support from BTCV.

Details of the scheme havebeen distributed to all parishcouncils, libraries, volunteerbureaux and job centres inMaidstone Borough.

The scheme is funded by theSouth East England DevelopmentAgency, Maidstone BoroughCouncil and Kent CountyCouncil.

Kent Downs Orchid • 13

If you are a farmer, landholder or small rural busi-ness in or straddling the boundary of the Kent

Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB) you could benefit from up to six days freeprofessional advice.

The Kent Downs AONB and Kent County Councilhas launched a valuable initiative to aid farm diversi-fication plans in response to changes currently facingfarmers and rural communities

The Kent Downs Rural Advice Service is a pilot pro-ject providing free support to farmers and landowners who are seeking to make a change to theirland management practices or business.

Jenny Bate has been appointed to coordinate thescheme. She will arrange for experts in planning,environment and business development to visit eachfarmer wishing to take advantage of the service andset out advice in a straight forward action plan tohelp take proposals forward.

This free service is available within the Kent DownsAONB. If you are not sure whether you are in the

Kent Downs AONB log onto www.kent.gov.uk/klisto view the AONB boundary or contact Jenny Bate.

Chris Reynolds, chair of the Kent Downs AONBJoint Advisory Committee and a local farmer said:“This simple and practical approach is a timely initia-tive which will provide much needed advice forlandowners. This will lead to diversification changesthat are financially viable, environmentally sound andwell thought out in planning terms. In turn it willbring positive benefits to the landscape and commu-nities of the Kent Downs AONB.”

Historic farm buildings arevaluable and important links

to the heritage of the landscapeof the Kent Downs AONB. Theirfunction, design and location arelinked to the landscape, geology,farming practices, local buildingtechniques and land tenure.They can give us a fascinatinginsight into how the landscapeof the Kent Downs has beenshaped by farming activity overthe years, from the field patternsaround a farm settlement toobtaining building materialssuch as timber from coppicewoodland and flint and ragstonefrom local quarries.

These buildings help us tounderstand the past, why landmanagement decisions were madeand how settlement patternsevolved. We can now learn fromthis to help us plan for the future.Most farmsteads have a story totell. Buildings are added and othersmodified to reflect changing agri-cultural requirements and theinfluence of new technology. Some

of these changes can result inolder traditional farm buildingsbecoming unsuitable for modernday requirements and theybecome redundant.

The modern day challenge is tofind other economic uses for thesebuildings that will conserve thespecial character not only of thebuildings but also of their setting.New modern farm buildingsshould be of high design qualityrespecting local distinctiveness,the surrounding landscape andother buildings.

With some imagination andgood design principles modernbuildings and converted olderbuildings can continue locally dis-tinct style or provide theopportunity to introduce innova-tive new design that will addanother exciting chapter to therole farm buildings play in makingthe Kent Downs a special place.

According to the CountrysideAgency all new countryside build-ings have to address the samedesign issues:

• How should they incorporatesustainable practice into thedesign, in both construction andduring future use?

• How should they reflect tradi-tions of the local area and helpto sustain local distinctiveness?

• How should they be of theirtime, signalling progress anddemonstrating the latest tech-nology and materials?

• How can the local communityhave a positive role in develop-ing a design that is appropriatefor them?Successful design is a mixture of

responses to these issues: a mixturethat respects the physical andsocial context of the development,that meets the functional and eco-nomic needs of the buildings users,and that respects the community’saspirations for its own cherishedpart of our countryside.

Source: Design of Rural Work PlaceBuilding – Countryside Agency2000ISBN 0 086170 636 6

Grand designs Free advice forKent Downsfarmers!

Contact Jenny Bate, KDRAS Coordinator Kent Downs AONB Unit, West Barn, Penstock Hall Farm, Canterbury Road, East Brabourne, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LL 01303 815170www.kentdowns.org.ukjenny.bate@kentdowns.org.uk

From the parish of Chartham there are many tales of strange goingson but the most frequently haunted building seems to be HatchLane Oast once the home of Hopper’s Bakery where bakery workersreported mysterious happenings. Incidentally there is a wood not faraway called Fright Wood.

Fascinating fact…

14 • Kent Downs Orchid

For advice and help with wildlife, land-scape and access projects

Farming & Wildlife Advisory GroupKent: Paul Cobb/Alex Long 01233 813186kent@fwag.org.ukwww.fwag.org.uk

Kentish Stour Countryside ProjectJon Shelton01233 813307kentishstour@kent.gov.ukwww.kentishstour.org.uk

North West Kent Countryside ProjectRick Bayne01322 294727nwkentcp@kent.gov.uk

White Cliffs Countryside ProjectKirk Alexander01303 274806wccp@whitecliffscountryside.org.uk

Medway Valley Countryside P ship01622 683695medwayvalley@kent.gov.uk

North Downs Way Officer01622 221525northdownsway@kent.gov.ukwww.nationaltrail.co.uk

Mid Kent Downs Countryside ProjectSally Evans01303 815173sally.evans@kentdowns.org.uk

Rail Link Countryside InitiativeDavid Standen01474 337656rlci@gravesham.gov.uk

Bromley Countryside ServiceAlister Hayes020 8313 4665

Cobham Ashenbank ManagementScheme (CAMS)Alison Nailer01474 337402

Department for Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs (Defra)01233 813667www.defra.gov.uk

Kent Wildlife Trust01622 662012www.kentwildlife.org.ukinfo@kentwildlife.org.uk

English Nature01233 812525www.english-nature.org.uk

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)BTCV Kent: Mike Cook01233 812033kent@btcv.org.ukwww.btcv.org

Woodland TrustChristine Punter01206 729186www.woodland-trust.org.uk

Kent County Council Country Parks and picnic sites01622 221355country.parks@kent.gov.uk

Public Rights of Way0845 3450210www.kent.gov.uk/countrysideaccess

For further advice on funding opportuni-ties in your community

Rural Revival01622 22154801622 221381rural.revival@kent.gov.ukwww.kent.gov.uk

Local Heritage Initiative General Enquiries0870 9000 401www.lhi.org.uk

Other useful groups

CPRE (Kent branch)01233 813172info@cprekent.org.ukwww.cprekent.org.uk

Action with Communities in Rural Kent01303 850816info@ruralkent.org.ukwww.ruralkent.org.uk

Kent Association of Parish Councils01303 248252kapc@btconnect.comwww.kapc.org.uk

Kent & Medway Biological RecordsCentre01622 685780info@kmbrc.org.uk www.kmbrc.org.uk

Common GroundAdvice, info and projects on local dis-tinctiveness, parish maps, orchards,tree dressing, Apple Day, Milestonesand Flora Britannica.www.commonground.org.uk

Tourist Information Centres

DoverThe Old Town GaolBiggin StreetDover CT16 1DL01304 205108

MaidstoneTown Hall Visitor Information CentreMiddle Row, High StreetMaidstone ME14 1TF01622 602169

Ashford18 The ChurchyardAshford TN23 1QG01233 629165

Canterbury12-13 Sun StreetCanterbury CT1 2HX01227 378100

DealDeal LibraryBroad Street, Deal CT14 6ER01304 369576

FolkestoneHarbour StreetFolkestone CT20 1QN01303 258594

EdenbridgeStangrove ParkEdenbridge, Kent TN8 5LU01732 868110

SwanleyLibrary and Information CentreLondon RoadSwanley, Kent BR8 7AE01322 614660

SevenoaksBuckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks TN13 1LQ01732 450305

TonbridgeTonbridge CastleTonbridge TN9 1BG01732 770929

FavershamFleur de Lis Heritage Centre13 Preston StreetFaversham ME13 8NS01795 534542

GravesendTown Centre, 18a St Georges SquareGravesend DA11 0TB01474 337600

Rochester95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX01634 843666

Hythe Visitor CentreRed Lion Square, Hythe CT21 5AZ01303 267799

Want toknow more?

www.kentdowns.org.uk

Wealden Wheels is the transport initiative forthe villages of Challock, Charing, Egerton,

Pluckley and Smarden. It was created by ParishCouncillors and funded through grants fromLeader+, Ashford Borough Council, Seeda, theCountryside Agency, Kent RCC and the participatingvillages. We work in partnership with Kent Play Clubsand provide transport for them.

Interested groups and families from the villages areinvited to enrol at an annual cost of £10. They are thenentitled, subject to availability, to hire a vehicle either ona self-drive, pence per mile basis or with a volunteer dri-ver, when the cost will be slightly higher. All mileage iscalculated from our base in Charing.

To date we have two vehicles, a nine seater Ford

Transit Tourneo called Millie, and a 15 seater VauxhallMovano called Mollie. They are equipped to a very highstandard which incudes seatbelts for all passengers andair conditioning. The larger vehicle has a wheelchair liftand can be adapted to carry nine passengers and twowheelchairs. All necessary straps for the wheelchairs arealso provided. To date some 100 groups, organisationsand families have enrolled and we cater for all agegroups. All of our volunteer drivers have completed theKCC minibus awareness course and hold the relevantpermit and we hope to put them through a basic firstaid course shortly.

We operate an Airport Service, which has proved verypopular. To find out more, call our Co-ordinator, KevinParry on 01233 713613.

Agroup of Kent Downs tourism businesses wererewarded with gold, silver and bronze awards

at a ceremony held at the Palace Farm Hostel,Doddington on Friday 24th June.

These businesses have successfully completed a pilotgreen accreditation initiative spearheaded by TourismSouth East (TSE) and the Kent Downs AONB Unit. TSElaunched the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)in the South East of England through two pilot projectswith the help and expertise of Green Business UK Ltdand support from the AONBs.

Due to the success of the pilots it has beenannounced that further funding has been obtainedfrom the South East England Development Agency(SEEDA) and the Countryside Agency to roll-out thescheme across the wider South East region in2005/2006, initially focused on Areas of OutstandingNatural Beauty. The funding will enable seminars to be

supported as well as50% of the cost ofgrading visits for newentrants to the scheme,although there will be acap on the total number ofbusinesses supported.

The GTBS is the marketing, certi-fication and advisory scheme of Green Business UK Ltd.The GTBS acknowledges good practice in environmen-tal and responsible tourism, as well as enablingbusinesses to identify cost savings and business benefitsfrom improving environmental awareness and proce-dures. Areas covered by the scheme include businessefficiency, environmental management, minimisingimpacts, community and local identity and socialresponsibility.

Roll out of greenaccreditation

Business Type Location Award

Alkham Court B&B South Alkham GOLDBlue House Farm Self-catering Warren Street, Lenham BRONZEThe Bowl Inn Pub Charing BRONZEBrenley Farm B&B and bunk barn Boughton SILVERBrogdale Horticultural Trust National Fruit Collection Brogdale, Faversham SILVERGreat Field Farm B&B Stelling Minnis SILVERIffin House Hotel Canterbury BRONZELeaveland Court B&B Leaveland, Faversham SILVERMonckton Cottages Self-catering Chilham BRONZEPalace Farm Hostel Hostel Doddington GOLDRaigersfeld House B&B Maidstone BRONZESandhurst Farm Forge B&B Newnham SILVERTanner Farm Caravan & camping Park Marden SILVER

Wealden Wheels

Kent Downs Orchid • 15

Next door “neighbours” Chil-ham and Chartham

parishes are the latest KentDowns AONB communities topublish Parish Design State-ments. Both statements havebeen prepared by local residentsand have been through arigourous consultation processincluding workshops and exhi-bitions.

These statements were recentlyformally adopted as Supplemen-

tary Planning Guidance by Ash-ford Borough and CanterburyCity Councils respectively, whichmeans that they are taken intoconsideration when planningdecisions are made.

Each one benefited from grantsfrom the Kent Downs AONBwhich sees Village DesignStatements as a unique tool forhelping to conserve and enhancethe Kent Downs.

The documents provide

Shakespeare Cliff – A People’s History

Where do you fit in?

Chilham May Fair

Samphire Hoe, the new addition to the Kent coast-line, nestles at the base of the famous White Cliffsof Dover, in particular Shakespeare Cliff. This areahas a fascinating history from the creation of theDover to Folkestone railway, three Channel Tunnelattempts and the first coalmine in Kent.

A three year project investigating the history ofthe Hoe and Shakespeare Cliff from 1843 to 1970 isin progress. Part of the project is to track down peo-ple who used to live on the old Shakespeare CliffColliery site, and record their memories and stories,to create an oral history. Other items to be producedare a book, a listening post, interpretation panel anda travelling exhibition.

The project is funded by the Local HeritageInitiative run by the Countryside Agency with moneyfrom the Heritage Lottery Fund and NationwideBuilding Society. If you are interested in helping withthe project, or have any old photographs or memo-ries please contact Paul Holt on 01304 225649.

detailed information on whatmakes each parish special in termsof design and character and pro-vides design guidelines to try andensure that all future develop-ment – both large, and smallerday to day adjustments to homes,gardens, open spaces, trees,hedges and paths, respect thischaracter.

Copies of the Parish State-ments are available from eachParish Clerk.

Do your design assessment before you DIY!

The Chilham Parish Design Statement containssome very helpful guidelines for carrying out a

design assessment. If you are considering alteringdoors or windows, building a new garage, addinga conservatory or porch, inserting roof lights ordormers, or changing any other external featuresof your property, the following steps may helpyou to achieve the best results.a) Research the age and history of your house, andattempt to find old photographs. If your building islisted, you can get a brief description of it from yourlocal council Planning Department, the localReference Library, or the National MonumentsRecord, which holds information and sometimesearly photographs.b) Stand some way back from the frontage of theproperty. Note distinctive features and, separately,those that seem to be recent and out of characterwith the building’s history and with surroundingproperties; take photographs.

c) Stand close to the property and do the same, butstudy the details of the windows, doors, eaves, etc.d) Repeat these processes for each elevation of theproperty; and refer to the guidance given in yourVillage Design Guide.e) Consider the changes you have in mind – do theyprejudice the distinctive characteristics and detailsyou have noted? If so, examine other ways of con-serving the irreplaceable heritage.f) It is advisable not to make decisions on the positionof new windows entirely from a consideration ofinternal arrangements. Their size, design and propor-tion to the elevation can make or mar the appearanceand historic value of the dwelling. Neighbouring win-dows in a terrace may have a homogeneity whichshould be continued.g) Finally, before submitting an application for ListedBuilding Consent, consult your local CouncilConservation Officer, or an architect, and askwhether they agree with your Design Assessment, orcan suggest any improvements to it. Interiors of listedbuildings are also protected by law. Your Council mayalso have useful guidelines also for shop fronts andbarn conversions.h) Some restrictions may also apply to unlisted prop-erties that stand within the Conservation Area. It iswise to check whether you need permission beforestarting work.A policy of minimal intervention and simplicity ofdesign is nearly always appropriate.

Adapted from Chilham Parish Design Statement 2005 andreproduced with the kind permission of Chilham Parish Council.

Keeping upwith theJoneses

Samphire Hoe

Walking near Westwell

The Kent Local Access Forum is recruiting newmembers to assist with its aim to improve access tothe countryside for the purposes of open-air recre-ation and enjoyment.

Local residents in the county who regularly usePublic Rights of Way and Open Access land, thosewho own or manage it and those who have otherrelated interests in conservation, tourism, transport,sport and health are invited to apply.

The Forum is now in its third year and its membershave the opportunity to influence access improve-ments with the continuing implementation of theCountryside and Rights of Way 2000.

It is important that the Forum recruits individualswith a passion for improving access to the countrysideto ensure that local people are included in future deci-sion making processes.

If you think you could spare the time and would liketo be involved, the application pack is available byringing 01622 221354, emailingaccessforum@kent.gov.uk or download online atwww.kent.gov.uk/accessforum

Designed by Angel Design 01797 321380. Printed by The Northcliffe Press.

16 • Kent Downs Orchid

houses. 9 Follow path through kissing gate,

between houses to come out onto a road(Upper Green Road). Turn right to followroad across Shipbourne Common, head-ing for church.

10 Beware of traffic. Cross road and gothrough church yard to kissing gate. Bearleft to follow path across field.

11 After crossing a ditch turn left to headtowards corner of trees ahead. Followpath ahead with woodland edge on yourleft. Head across field towards road

Start/Finish: Dene Park car park,Puttenden Road

1 From the car park, follow paththrough woodland, running parallelto road. Upon reaching the end ofthe path beware of traffic – crossroad to follow path on other side.

2 At the path junction, bear left intothe woods. After a short distancethe path comes out into a narrowclearing - follow path ahead alongfield boundary.

3 When the path emerges in to a field,follow signposting to the left alongfield boundary for around 100mbefore bearing right to cross field tostile in the treeline.

4 Continue straight across anotherfield crossing over footbridge , bear-ing left to go under electricitypylons heading towards road(Hamptons Road).

5 Beware of traffic. Cross over stileand turn left to follow road. Justbefore the first house on the right,turn right into track and follow thepath bearing straight ahead.

6 Along the path, cross stile on the leftto head over to another stile by theroad (Dunk’s Green Road). Bewareof traffic, cross road, travel up ashort flight of steps and go throughkissing gate to enter into a field.Follow ahead alongside boundaryand over a stile made over a stoneinto another field.

7 Follow path diagonally across fieldtowards woodland. Follow paththrough woods. Upon reaching agate, cross over a stile into field.Follow path to road (School Lane).

8 Cross road and head down surfacedtrack past Fairlawn House. Keep fol-lowing the path downhill, over astream and continue uphill towards

This five mile walk explores the countryside aroundShipbourne and Dunk’s Green, nestling on the edge

of the Kent Downs AONB. Starting at Dene Park, theroute follows part of the Greensand Way with a couple ofpubs well placed for refreshment en-route.

This walk is one of 10 circular walks you can download fromthe new Explore Kent website www.explorekent.co.uk

The site is still undergoing development and we wouldvalue any comments via the online feedback form.

Printed ‘Walks in Kent’ packs will be available inthe spring. To request a copy, please call Kent CountyCouncil on 08458 247600 or emailexplorekent@kent.gov.uk

A walk around Shipbourne

Transport

Car: Shipbourne is on the A227 between Tonbridgeand Ightham/Borough Green.Parking: Car parking is free at Dene Park.Train: Nearest station – Hildenborough (6 miles).National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950Bus: 222 (Wrotham Square –Tonbridge Station) 6 journeys. Mon-Sat404 (Ide Hill – Plaxtol) 5/6 journeys. Mon-SatTraveline: 0870 6082608

(Hildenborough Road).12 Cross bridge out of field and turn right to

head alongside road. Look out on the leftfor a gap in the hedge just before a tele-graph pole.

13 Go through gap in hedge and follow pathbetween fencing. Upon reaching a junc-tion, bear left to follow between morefencing towards woodland. Follow pathas it winds through woodland, passingacross small bridge near ponds.

14 Come out of woods and turn left into alay-by. Turn right to head up the lay-by to

a main road. Just before reachingthe road turn left to go though agap. Beware of traffic, cross road topath on other side.

15 On reaching a pond on the rightturn right to follow the path uphill.When the path meets a surfacedtrack, bear left to continue ahead.

16 Just after a left hand bend in thetrack take the path following along-side a field boundary on the right.This path takes you back to the carpark where you started.

Route directions