Planting plans to repair woodland
THE owner of a caravan park in Harrietsham has vowed to re- pair any damage caused by the destruction of hundreds of trees.
Downs Mail reported last month that Maidstone Council had refused a retrospective plan- ning application by Sines LLP that included the removal of a number of protected hawthorn and sycamore trees at Pilgrims Retreat in Hogbarn Lane, within the Kent Downs Area of Out- standing Natural Beauty. The woodland was grounded
as part of engineering opera- tions to create terraces while the caravan site expands. The applicant has resubmit-
ted its plan to site static cara- vans and operational development to alter land lev- els, but the number of addi- tional caravans has been cut to
Ten trees to be axed MILES Readingwas given con- servation area permission by Maidstone Council to fell a group of 10 leyland cypress trees at Orchard House, Church Lane, Bearsted. His scheme also includes pruning overhanging branches of three trees at the boundary.
make a total of 171 – lower than the 198 already approved. Sines also says it would plant
150 trees around the park, a minimum of 100 trees to re- place the lost woodland and at least 150 dogwood whips on the top half of banks. A supporting statement said:
“This application proposes sig- nificant amendments to the re- cently considered scheme by providing an additional area of woodland to better screen the park from public viewpoints and to enhance the biodiversity of the park as a whole. “This woodland planting is in addition to the comprehensive landscaping regime proposed for the rest of the site and the re- tention of the existing wood- land/coppice.” Maidstone Council will deter- mine the application.
Players’ pantomime THE Detling Players are staging their pantomime, Aladdin, in the village hall in November. There are shows at 7.30pm
on November 7, 8, and 9, with a matinee performance at 2.30pm on the Saturday. For tickets go
towww.detling-
players.co.uk or call 07842 169725 .
Gormley rocks rolled into place
“TWO Stones” – the first professional commission by sculptor Antony Gormley – has a new home outside the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone. The piece was originally commissioned by KCC in 1979 as part of its
public art programme. At the time, Gormley was studying at Maidstone College of Art. The piece featuresaneight-tonnewater-hewngranite stone from Scot-
land and a replica created from a bronze casting. Gormley’s original con- cept was that the granite stone represents a foundation stone for new development and the bronze is the shell of new structures awaiting oc- cupants. In 2010, the sculpturewas removed from its home at Singleton Lakes
near Ashford, by KCC and last month, after extensive repairs, it was in- stalled inMaidstone.
£1,000 cost of vandals’ spree VANDALS have cost council taxpayers more than £1,000 after running amok on parkland in Downswood. Borough Cllr Gordon Newton was horrified to discover fencing
torn down around a children’s playground, signs smashed and a litter bin thrown into the lake atMallardsWay. A lifebelt had been ripped from its moorings and rubbish dumped in the lake. Maidstone’s parks and open spaces team turned out within
hours and soon put matters right – but at no small cost. The council estimates the cost of the damage to be more than £1,000 – all of which has to come out of its budget. Police now plan to step up their presence to deter copycat of- fenders.
8 East
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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