Fred Booth MBE

The Summer 2011 edition of the Kent Wildlife Trust magazine carried a very welcome bit of news:

June saw the award of MBE to Fred Booth. Fred has been actively involved in telling people about the importance of Kent's Wildlife for years. Leading YOC and RSPB local groups in Canterbury; the Trust's first Chief Executive; active in the Kent Field Club; leader of walks and talks and an early advocate of the need to know more about our marine environment, active in the Maidstone Local Group - Fred has done it all. No royal accolade has been more deserved than Fred's.

Congratulations to Fred from all the Friends of the Downs. Now we'll have to have a whip-round to get some red carpet for his next visit!

Wildlife walkabout

Wildlife survey: a Walkabout with Fred Booth

Click it to big itDespite the rather threatening looking weather there was a good turn out for the walkabout with Fred Booth from the Kent Wildlife Trust. Fred divided the Downs into three distinctive areas

1. the western end with its mix of wild blackthorn and grassy areas.
2. the central area being mainly open grassland.
3. the eastern end being grassy areas dotted with mixed scrub.

Nearly a hundred species of plants were identified in each of these areas,including some rarities that are only found in a few locations in the country. Many insects and birds have been observed, including the rare long horned bumble bee, grasshopper warblers and linnets displaying breeding behaviour. Full details of Fred's survey should be available soon. It was an enjoyable afternoon and nice to share this beautiful environment with so many like-minded people.