Council and Kent Wildlife Trust to reinstate commons along the Greensand Ridge in the Sevenoaks area
The Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project is aiming to protect and improve important woodland areas in the Sevenoaks and Westerham district. The project organisers also plan to involve and educate local people through a series of events. My Sevenoaks Community will be posting regular updates from members of the Kent Wildlife Trust team who are responsible for the project and in this first post we are introducing the team and what they want to achieve
THE Sevenoaks Greensand Commons project is aiming to help restore and improve eight areas of common land spanning along or adjacent to the Greensand Ridge, running from Seal to Westerham, by working with key landowners and stakeholders. The project has been worked up by Sevenoaks District Council, together with Kent Wildlife Trust and other partners, securing £483,600 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project. Including match funding the project has a value of just over £685,000.
Organisers of the Sevenoaks Greensand Commons project are putting on events that will appeal to children and adults.
The sites have become over-grown and undervalued and therefore the plan is to reinstate them as important and valued green spaces for the community by working with local volunteers who will be engaged in an exciting programme of practical work, scientific research and hands-on learning.
In order to protect and restore these beautiful and nationally important habitats the Kent Wildlife Trust would like to involve as many local people as possible. This can be through practical conservation or via an exciting programme of education, fun and relaxing events, workshops and training sessions.
Andy Willmore is the Project Manager who will be overseeing the running of the project, working three days a week. You can email him at: Andrew.willmore@kentwildlife.org.uk for more information on the project and how you can get involved.
Kandice White is the Community Engagement Project Officer and works two days a week. Kandice will focus on schools, community groups and public engagement. She is particularly keen to work with Alzheimer’s and Dementia groups, care homes, people living with or without disabilities, youth groups, scouts, schools, cadets, and NEET groups (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training). If your group would like to work on this project, please do get in touch with Kandice at: Kandice.white@kentwildlife.org.uk
Community Engagement Project Officer Kandice White (right) at the recent information and craft drop-in session at Sevenoaks Library.
Clare Russell is the Conservation and Access Project Officer and works four days a week. Clare focuses on the planning and delivering of conservation and access improvements across the commons.
Clare will be undertaking an exciting programme of practical work, survey and scientific research and hands-on learning. Clare is now actively looking for practical conservation volunteers, no previous experience necessary, just a healthy enthusiasm to help improve the commons for people and wildlife. Email: Clare.Russell@kentwildlife.org.uk
During the last three months, Clare and Andy have been busy building relationships with landowners and partners of the project, and getting the work plans set up. Kandice has been raising the project profile within the community such as delivering a well-received presentation about the project to the Dementia Café, organised by Alzheimer’s UK.
Kandice held her first information and craft drop-in session at Sevenoaks Library. This was well attended and a further two dates have been secured at Seal Library on Saturday, 23 February, between 10am-noon and Westerham Library on Saturday, 30 March, between 10am-noon.
Kandice also launched her Sevenoaks Sketchers group in January, hoping it will turn into a regular group of artists of all ages and abilities meeting monthly and enjoying getting creative outside on the commons. If this is something you would love to do then please do get in touch. The next one is on Saturday, 2 February, at Sevenoaks Common between 11am-1pm.
For more information please visit the project pages on the Kent Wildlife Trust website by CLICKING HERE
