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.

Meeting with CCC at the King's Hall

[Rosemary Selling was taking proper minutes - this is the condensed version...]

FotD: Cllr Gillian Reuby, Phil Rose, Ros McIntryre, Phil Cheeseman
CCC Outdoor Leisure: Richard Griffiths, Rosemary Selling
CCC Street Scene: Richard Davidson
Kent Wildlife Trust: Fred Booth

1. Richard Griffiths (RG) told us that the Downs Management Plan would now be part of a wider Management Plan for the QE2 Coastal Park. This is unlikely to speed things up.

2. RG said the Plan would be "survey-led", with the Plan being produced when we know what we've got.

3. Fred Booth (FB) pointed out that in parallel with the fieldwork, desk research would also be useful, particularly in well-documented areas like ornithology (check Kent Ornithological Society).

4. FB's Survey will run from April-August, the results are expected in September.

5. The Kent Mammal Group (KMG) would help with a survey from September onwards. The necessary training would be provided at Wildwood.

6. RG expects the Plan to be drafted in late Autumn/Winter 2011, issued for consultation Spring 2012, and signed off Summer 2012.

7. Serco's contract up for renewal in 2013, but is being reviewed currently.

8. In October 2009, there was a pot of £14k of S106 developers' contributions ear-marked for the Downs. The cost of the KWT survey and "signage" leaves us with £10k.

9. Community Payback "volunteers" widely praised for their work weeding the paths and clearing shingle.

10. Litter picking - we now have the necessary sheaf of paperwork to complete before litter-picking. Now we just need to find out what dates our volunteers are available on.

11. The number, location and style of litter bins and dog bins will be discussed at the next PACT/Panel meeting, as will grass cutting and trimming.

12. Shelter. Although the Victorian shelter was covered by CCC's insurance, it was under-insured. There is a suggestion that the shortfall can be absorbed by rolling it into the QE2 proposal... the Queen's Shelter, perhaps.

---

My thoughts:

QE2 status is not a foregone conclusion - the process is ill-defined and involves bidding and public voting. CCC display great confidence that it will be awarded, to the point of making progress on the Downs management plan dependent on it. RG emphasised the the management plan should be "survey-led", and this seems to him to be reason enough to put practically everything on hold until the Plan is complete.

The S106 Budget: We knew £2k was allocated to the KWT survey, having agreed to it at the FotD launch meeting in Autumn 2010. RG says £2k has been spent on "signs" - presumably the three new information panels, which were a Herne Bay in Bloom initiative. I'm surprised any of "our" S106 went towards these boards. The fact is that we have no control over the S106 Budget, although we are allowed to bid for funding from it on a project by project basis.

Richard Davidson (of CCC Street Scene) said there wouldn't be any more gang-mowing on the rough Downs this year, as the contract for that area stipulates one cut a year. We would welcome a statement (in writing) to that effect, and a clear understanding that the trimming around the steps (4 times a year) won't be done with tractors that leave wide swathes scalped. Similarly, we would welcome a written assurance that no grubbing, cutting, pruning or trimming of the blackthorn will happen before the Management Plan is complete.

If you have any thoughts on this, or any suggestions for the agenda of our next meeting with CCC, please add a comment below.

Wildlife survey on the Downs

The Friends of the Downs launch the 2011 Wildlife Survey

The Friends of the Downs and CCC are developing a long-term plan for the Downs, and need to know what wildlife already lives here. The Friends will be working with Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) and other nature groups to survey the flora and fauna on the Downs over the coming year.

On Wednesday, April 6th at 5pm at the King's Hall, we will be starting the 2011 Survey with a brief presentation and induction from one of KWT's wildlife experts, to show us how the surveying needs to be done.

It doesn't matter whether you use the Downs occasionally, or daily - you will still be able to take part and help us. Places are limited, but if more people are interested than can comfortably fit in one group, we can run another one later. Please contact FriendsOfTheDowns@gmail.com to find out more, and to book your place.