News Call for unity


THE Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’Isle, called for unity over Brexit at a civic service atAll Saints’Church in Maidstone onMarch 12. The Queen’s representative


in the county told the congre- gation that: “Her Majesty wishes to ensure the people of Kent forma united front…to ensure that we help each other, whatever the future brings.” Boxley ParishCouncil chair-


man Bob Hinder said: “It was a very well-attended event and highly atmospheric.”


Crime fund


KENT Police andCrimeCom- missioner Matthew Scott has set aside £1mto invest in proj- ectswhich cut violent crime. The “violence reduction


fund” is one of the recommen- dations to emerge from his study into the nature, scale and causes of the issue. Local groups will soon be


able to bid for about £100,000 each, with the funding to be spent over three years.


downsmail.co.uk


Cashhelpsvolunteers restore village pond


LENHAM Meadows Trust has received a £6,000 grant to return a pond to its original state after years of neglect. When volunteers arrived at


Glebe Pond 18 months ago, trees and scrub around itwere so over- grown, andwas no longer visible fromOldAshford Road. Now the trust has repaired the


sluice and mill pond weir, planted a new reed bed, sown fresh seeds on the pond banks and created a newt breeding area. Chairman Nick Osbourne said:


“The pond belonged to the devel- opers building houses over the road but, about a month ago, ownership transferred to us. “We received a generous grant


from Pocket Parks to allow for new benches, fencing and plants. We’ve had the banks re-sloped and a newt breeding pond put in. “The site will be well used by


residents, more so in the future, given the substantial housing de-


Fromleft, volunteers David Jackson andMarrilin Boorman, chairman Nick Osbourne and trustee Danny Coorsh


velopments underway nearby.” Volunteer, Marrilin Boorman


said: “I have been a volunteer for a couple ofmonths, andwe like to think of the area as having some- thing for the public on one side of the pond and the wildlife having the other.” Trustee Danny Coorsh said: “If


we did not receive the grant, we would’ve had to raise the money


ourselves and with just 15 volun- teers,wewouldn’t have been able to do exactly what we had envi- sioned.” Glebe Pond is in the centre of


the village and is the only land in Lenhamto serve both as a village green and pond. The grand opening was due to


take place on April 27, as Downs Mailwent to press.


ALLINGTON CASTLE, ME16 0NB


SATURDAY 27 JULY 2019 AT 2PM Bring picnics, chairs or rugs.


To book visit www.hokh.org/events or telephone 01622 790195


All profits raised at this event will be donated to Heart of Kent Hospice


6 Maidstone East May 2019


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