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Inspirational Landscapes for Creative Learning

Kate Humble, the BBC wildlife presenter said, ‘it  should be obligatory for all school children  to experience the countryside' The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty  is giving all the school children in Kent that opportunity to visit the countryside with the Landscape Education Project which has been running for the last two years. So far 18 schools have visited the Kent Downs with 445 school children experiencing a day’s walk in the countryside;37 teachers have attended training events and 68 teachers have participated in the walks. Many more schools have booked walks; this is an opportunity not to be missed.The Landscape Education Project introduces Key Stage 2 school children to the heritage of an iconic landscape, the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These specially designed walks for school children, which link to the curriculum, will give them an experience they will never forget. ‘Best school visit EVER’ written by Angus aged 9 from Bethersden. For more information contact Pippa Palmar at pippa.palmar@kentdowns.org.uk.

Proud to be in the Kent Downs

Having installed over 70 new village signs we are delighted to say that funding is now available to support the installation of more  village signs. Where a village in the  Kent Downs AONB, an approved design of sign is available to indicate that a village is located within the protected landscape.For further details contact Tim Owen. tim.owen@kentdowns.org.uk

Hebridean Sheep Make Their Mark In The Kent Downs

Led by the Kent Downs AONB Valley of Visions Project, following the one of the largest chalk grassland restoration projects in the South East, a flock of hebridean sheep is helping to keep scrub clear and support the recovery of chalk grassland on land owned by Lafarge Cement on the scarp slopes above Snodland. The site has also successfully entered the Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme to support the management over the next ten years. 

Successful project delivery, cost savings and new opportunities have all meant that the Heritage Lottery Fund has granted VoV an additional year to continue its work. The scheme will continue to operate for another twelve months until the end of March 2012.
 

Major Sustainable Rural Tourism Project Starts

The Kent Downs AONB Unit has led on a regional project which has secured £1m funding and has just started. A new project manager, based in Kent is working with businesses and our commercial partner www.responsibletravel.com  to develop new tourism products, deeply rooted in the landscape of the Kent Downs, and take them to market. This project is collaboration with the other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks from the Chilterns to the New Forest. We already have many local tourism businesses interested in the project and we will be working with them over the next few months to develop new products. The budget includes funding for marketing and PR and the development of a website which will be managed by responsibletravel.com. If you are interested in taking part in or hearing more about this project please speak to Nick Johannsen.or email nick.johannsen@kentdowns.org.uk.

Undergrounding of Overhead Electricity Lines

The project to remove unsightly overhead electricity cables continues. Working in partnership with UK Power Networks, to date over 10km of cables have  been put under ground. Ideas for future schemes are still required. Generally lines suitable for undergrounding are 11kV or 33kV lines, usually seen as three cables on wood poles and normally in countryside locations.
Contact Tim Owen for further details. tim.owen@kentdowns.org.uk.
 

The Kent Downs Orchid Newspaper

Can you believe that we're up to issue 19 of The Orchid?! It is coming out a bit later that usual this year so expect to see it in local outlets from the 6th June. As usual it is packed with good news and updates on the work of the AONB Unit and our many partners, as well as promoting a huge number of opportunities to get out and find out more about the AONB and enjoy all it has to offer. We are printing 65,000 copies and it will be distributed through libraries, tourist information centres, shops, pubs and visitor centres. If you have an event and would like to distribute copies please contact us. mail@kentdowns.org.uk or ring us on 01303 815170.

New Woodfuel Project Underway

With around 21% of woodland, the Kent Downs AONB is one of the UK’s most wooded landscapes. Finding a sustainable use for woodland products from the Kent Downs has been a goal for some time, primarily because opportunities presented by generating heat from woodfuel offers an opportunity to re-establish woodland management in previously under-managed woodlands. Working with the Forestry Commission and with funding from the 2 Seas Interreg programme, the AONB recently launched the Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder. The two year project will link demand for renewable heat with the supply of woodfuel from local woodland. We are already working with land owners, foresters and forest contractors, boiler installers and building owners to stimulate new projects that will lead the way and provide helpful lessons for others. The scheme provides a targeted package of support to help develop markets for locally grown wood and will also support the creation of ‘green’ jobs. Please contact matthew.morris@kentdowns.org.uk for more information.

Managing Land for Horses: A Guide to Good Practice

Getting horse pasture management right is important for the health and well being of horses and for the landscape of the Kent Downs. This document is available as a limited run paper document or as a downloadable document on our website. The guide covers grassland management, fencing, waste management and planning considerations in relation to horse keeping in the Kent Downs. A member of the Kent Downs team is available to do talks to horse owners, stable managers, land owners, colleges, agents and development control officers. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a talk. frances.standen@kentdowns.org.uk

Mid Kent Downs Woodland Lottery Wins

The Mid Kent Downs Countryside Partnership has helped secure funding from the Big Lottery to help support Bredhurst Woodland Action Group and Gorham and Admiral Community Woodlands. Each group has received a £10,000 grant through the Awards for All programme to help them run a series of wildlife and practical events; create information boards, leaflets and way marking as well as create and enhance their websites. To find out more about all of the amazing things that are going on at Bredhurst Woods visit the group’s website http://www.bwag.org.uk/ and for more information about Gorham and Admiral Woods contact Mike Phillips on 01303 815170 or mike.phillips@kentdowns.org.uk.

New Life for Historic Farmsteads

Landowners and Local Authorities are offered new assistance to help keep Kent’s fine legacy of Historic Farmsteads in active use. At close of the consultation period a stake holder meeting was held on 26th May followed by a visit to the Tithe Barn at Lenham to demonstrate use of the guidance. The final Guidance will support the AONB Management Plan and the Kent Design Initiative’s Kent Design Guide. It is intended that Kent Local Authorities will adopt the Guidance as SPG. For further information: http://www.kentdowns.org.uk/KentDownsAONBFarmsteadGuidance.htm

Planning Matters

Planning is important for the landscape of the Kent Downs. We carry out an importnat planning function - some key changes are:
The Localism Bill is currently going through Parliament. Currently the Bill:
• Abolishes Regional Plans.
• Local Development Frameworks to remain. Changes to procedures such as public Examination.
• Introduces Neighbourhood Plans, Development Orders, and Community Right to Build.
• Changes Enforcement powers.

The National Planning Framework
Proposals to simplify current guidance into a single planning framework. We are looking into the effect these changes.

Abolition of Regional Strategies.
Emerging Local Planning Policy needs to be ‘future proofed’ to include lost SE Plan policies which conserve and enhance the AONB and its setting.
A schedule of all the Regional Plan policies relevant to the Kent Downs AONB is available from the AONB Planning Officer. If you would like to learn more please contact mail@kentdowns.org.uk or ring 01303 815170.
 

New opportunities to explore the Medway Gap by train

Valley of Visions new ‘Rail Trail’ pack is available. Produced in conjunction with the Medway Valley Community Rail Partnership and the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, this new quality pack of thirteen leaflets from stations between Strood and Paddock Wood have just been launched. Email mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk for your own copy.
 

Working with Kent Wildlife Trust

With funding from Valley of Visions, Kent Wildlife Trust has successfully completed an impressive programme of habitat management and restoration across the Medway Gap. With valuable wetland enhancements undertaken at Holborough and Burham Marshes, chalk grassland restoration at Burham and Wouldham Downs and Nashenden Down, and significant changes at Culand Pits, the Trust’s work has secured the future of several important sites.
 

EU Funding Supports the Landscape

The Kent Downs AONB Unit coordinates the ‘Landscape and Nature for All’ EU funded project. 14 UK partners are working closely together in the Kent Downs to care for and manage the special wildlife of the area. Projects include hedge planting, community engagement, chalk grassland restoration, marshland management, woodland management, volunteer involvement, surveys and wildlife habitat management. The total spend in the UK will be around 2mEuro half of which comes from the EU providing critical support for important activity. A real benefit of this project is the exchange and learning we all get from working with partners in France – there is much to learn from one another to make sure we are really delivering best practice and value for money, as well as conserving and enhancing the much valued landscapes of the Kent Downs. To find out more please follow the link here www.kentdowns.org.uk/Landscape_and_Nature_For_All.htm .

Streetscape Design Handbook Published

Following many requests we have recently published a paper version of our ‘Rural Streets and Lanes - A Design Handbook’ a copy has been sent to all Parish Councils, Local Authorities and is available to others. Many people recognise the importance of careful management of the roads and lanes in the Kent Downs is an important part of the conservation of the landscape as a whole. Kent County Council have adopted this guidance and we will be working hard with highway officers to make sure the adopted guidance is implemented on the ground. To find out more please contact Nick Johannsen or Frances Standen. The  guidance is on the website at www.kentdowns.org.uk/StreetscapeDesignHandbook.htm