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Loeos Laeevs


Loose Scarecrow Festival


14 to 22 September


One of the most popular events of


the year, the


Festival has become a firm favourite with Loose residents and visitors alike. years


has


In fact, in just four it


become


known as one of the best scarecrow festivals in the south-east.


Last year over seventy creations delighted visitors to the village, including Mary Poppins (above, voted best scarecrow), Gandalf the Grey (runner up) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (third place).


Entry forms are just £2.00 and will be available from Loose Post Office, the Chequers PH and All  homemade cakes will be available from Loose


Amenities Association at the Chapel, Church         church on the following Saturday and Sunday.


AGM: A reminder that the Annual General Meeting of Loose Amenities Association is on 16 October at 8pm at the King George V Pavilion, Walnut Tree Lane. All are welcome.


Looking after the valley


An important aspect of the work LAA does is


to


care for the 21 a cres th e Association owns in the Loose Valley


conservation area. Volunteers work in the valley throughout


the year and some


recent tasks they have undertaken include the installation of land drains to improve drainage on the public footpath and laying crushed ragstone along heavily sections of path in time for winter.


In the Autumn we will be fitting a stock proof fence, with gates for access, at the foot of the woodland in the northernmost meadows (Limekiln and Hopkiln). This will keep the sheep on the grassland and enable wild flowers


to set spread throughout the woodland.


Kent Wildlife Trust has recently worked with us to assess the flora and fauna in the valley and their report will be available on our website shortly. We will also be conducting a mammal survey in the autumn.


a scarecrow for the Festival, please let us know by ringing 01622 743676.


used


Dog fouling...enough


is enough Our recent campaign to reduce the amount of dog fouling in Loose has resulted in


a dramatic


targetted areas. Just a few months ago, thirteen piles of


dog faeces were counted along the Brooks path alone, really shocking considering how popular it is with children who play in and along the stream.


However, recent monitoring has seen the path almost free of dog waste. Old Loose Hill and Lancet Lane have also seen a considerable reduction.


We sought the help of Maidstone Borough Council, who are asking residents to inform them of problem areas so that enforcement activities can be targetted through the council's "Dog Watch" initiative.


Dog Watch saw an increased seed and presence by


enforcement officers in areas identified as a problem and information provided, in confidence, by local residents has helped to help catch the tiny minority of irresponsible dog owners who don't pick up after their dogs.


Loose Amenities Association - www.loose-amenities.org.uk If you live in Loose and would like to make


New dog control orders were introduced in April. These orders make it an offence for a dog owner not to pick up after their dogs anywhere in the borough, and exclude dogs from any enclosed children's play area with a "no dogs" sign. £75 fixed penalty notices have already been issued continue.


If you have concerns regarding dog fouling you can contact MBC to report it on 01622 602202.


decline in


and monitoring will


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