News updates -
Summer 2005
A new splash of colour
Three new meadow areas were created in the Green
Corridor in 2005 introducing a valuable habitat and helping to
restore a feature characteristic of a lowland river corridor. The
project began by allowing amenity grass to grow long and cutting
once in September 2004. The purpose of this was to reduce the
nutrient content of the underlying soils in preparation for sowing.
Sowing took place in 2004 after extensive ground preparation,
including herbiciding and in some areas stripping the topsoil. By
July 2005 the meadows were in full bloom.
During the first year oxeye daises
and marsh mallow are dominant in the meadows. With careful
management the meadows should look as spectacular next year. The
meadows are surrounded by grass regularly mown by KCC Landscape
Services on behalf of Ashford Borough Council to ensure that they
look ‘tidy’ and well cared for.
If you would like to explore the meadows next year they can be
found in Queen Mothers Park, Aylesford Green and the recreation
areas by the South Willesborough and Newtown Community Centre (SWAN
Centre) - part of Newtown Green. All of the sites are part of the
Ashford Green Corridor Local Nature Reserve.
Willows and Oaks
at Singleton
At the suggestion of Ashford Access Group, path
clearance took place around Singleton Lake in the early spring. The
Kent Probation Service carried out the work. Ashford Borough Council
commissioned Willowbank, a company specialising in willow spiling,
to stabilise parts of the lake’s banks. Using willow is beneficial
because it is native, sustainable and forms a living structure
stronger than any manufactured materials. A large turkey oak was
felled at Bybrook Road, and provided an ideal opportunity to replace
the rustic log seating around the car park. There are further plans
to make some improvements to the car park so watch this space for
more news.
Keeping nature 'at bay'
Three riverside bays were created at
Watercress Fields by the Kentish Stour Countryside Project in the
1990s. Since then they had silted up and become over-grown, so, to
retain them as waterside features, two have been de-silted and
turned into riverside ponds. We have also removed some of the
planted conifers - they are not very characteristic of a riverside
landscape, so their removal has improved the character of the area.
Some were retained as they were providing habitat for goldcrests.
Further work to remove conifers in this area will take place in the
winter of 2005 along with the annual pond clean-up in nearby
Victoria Park.
From little acorns...
Children and parents from Oak Tree Primary School
learnt about their natural environment by visiting Watercress
Fields, part of the Ashford Green Corridor LNR. They studied their
surroundings by following a photography trail. The children took
some amazing photos of local wildlife and themselves in their
environment. Back at school the children constructed a giant oak
tree and explored the tree as a habitat for many species.
Don’t
Drop Litter!
The Ashford Ramblers helped to clear litter from the Singleton
Lake and Watercress Fields area during the late summer. A small band
of enthusiastic volunteers got to grips with litter pickers loaned
by Ashford Borough Council and set about tackling the numerous tins
and bottles along the way. In a short space of time a staggering
amount of litter was collected!
In addition the Ramblers helped kick off the summer programme of
walks - a newly formed walking group explored the Green Corridor.
The Trailfinders are a branch of the Ramblers aimed at the people in
their 20s to 40s. The group is keen to promote walking to younger
people and has opportunities to socialise as well as walk. Anyone
interested in finding out more about Trailfinders should contact the
Ashford Green Corridor Project.
