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KCC vision for smaller parks


THE possibility of handing over the management of smaller coun- try parks to community groups or wildlife charities is being consid- ered by the county council. It is just one vision of the future


set out in the Kent Country Parks Strategy, which looks at how the county council will protect and manage these public assets over the next four years. Goals include increasing visitor numbers from last year’s 1.6m, aswell as off-peak use, through partnerships with or- ganisations, schools and health service providers. It alsowants to enhance the abil-


ity of country parks to pay for themselves, suggesting that some smaller sites, with few facilities, are not best placed to contribute as the squeeze on budgets continues. The county council currently manages nine principal sites: Teston Bridge Country Park (pic- tured); WhiteHorse Wood, Thurn- ham; Manor Park Country Park, West Malling; Brockhill Country Park, Hythe; Grove Ferry Picnic Site, Canterbury; Trosley Country Park, Meopham; Pegwell Bay Country Park; Shorne Woods; and Lullingstone Country Park at Eynsford, with five smaller sites,


including one at Blue Bell Hill. In its strategy document, which


is out for public consultation until September 11, KCC says: “Some of our sites have more potential than others to deliver a quality country parks experience, deliver health outcomes, increase visitor numbers and generate income. “For example, some of the smaller sites don’t have a car park or basic visitor facilities such as toi- lets. This doesn’t reduce their local importance but we feel that they may benefit from being managed by local community organisations or wildlife charities. “Therefore, we will consider al- ternative management arrange- ments for some of our smaller countryside sites, with any changes to management arrange- ments dependent on securing ap- propriate safeguards regarding land management standards and continued public access to these valued community assets. “Any proposal would also be subject to public consultation.” To comment on the document go


to www.kent.gov.uk/country- parksstrategy, email alternative- formats@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421553.


Nightingales in meadows


MANY thanks to reader Andrew Fletcher who took this photograph of a nightingale singing in Marden Meadows recently. Mr Fletcher responded to aDowns


Mail article in which Leeds residents David and MonicaWratten said they had heard the migratory songbird in their village for the first time in decades this summer. He said: “I was there to photo-


graph the orchids and not birds, so it’s not a good shot or very close. It was only when I got back home that I realised what they were. There were certainly two, and maybe, three of them.”


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