Community Noticeboard

From 14-11-11 Kent Police will launch the Telephone number 101 as the number to call the Police for Non emergency Crimes,Disorder or to speak to your Local Police Officers. This replaces the 01622 690690 number. Calls will cost just 15 pence for the length of the call whether it is from a Landline or Mobile.
In an Emergency 999 should still be used.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Top of Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

  Boxley Parish celebrates the

Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

by creating a Community Orchard

Boxley Parish Council is celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by creating a Community Orchard in Penhurst Close, Grove Green.  The vision is to recreate the historic character of Weavering and Grove Green by planting a traditional mixed species Kentish orchard for current and future generations. The Council wants to introduce year-round, ever-changing beauty into the now urbanised area and bring the community back in touch with the recent but almost forgotten past (idealised by H.E. Bates Darling Buds of May, Charles Dickens “Kent Sir – everybody know Kent – apples, cherries, hops and women.” The Pickwick Papers and Richard Lovelace “And this golden Orchard waste!” Lucasta).  

 The existing play area will be retained and refurbished with some new equipment and the Council wants the children, parents and grandparents to choose the new equipment (see our consultation on this). The area will remain open to the public and it is hoped to base future community events here. Some additional boundary work will be undertaken (fences and planting) as well as maintenance work at the Weavering Street entrance.  Additional seating and an information board will be added. The lower part of the site will be regularly mown but the upper part will be left longer to encourage wildlife. The top will have the majority of the fruiting trees but these will not be tightly packed so as to retain open walks between the trees.  Some wood piles will be added to encourage reptiles back into the area.

“Won’t someone pinch the apples and fruit?” A community orchard is for the community and residents will be asked to become involved in not only caring for it but also picking the fruit for their own personal use. It is hoped to involve the local schools and relevant local groups as well. People are increasingly concerned about food miles well soon your apples might be judged in yards and not miles.

“Will it be vandalised?” The Council cannot promise that everything will be rosy but the more the community becomes involved now and in the future the more eyes there will be on the space. The land is currently owned by Maidstone Borough Council but the Parish Council plans to lease it and will be responsible for its upkeep.

Why a Community Orchard?” The whole of Weavering has a long history of orchards. Much of the area, including our orchard site, was granted by Royal Charter to The Mystery of Vintners of London by King James I in 1619 and most of it was given over to orchards.  It became known as Vintners Farm and even into the 20^th Century much of it was still in The Vintners of London ownership.

Residents were asked via the Downs Mail page to submit suggestions to celebrate the anniversary but none were received so the Council decided on this project. There is a tradition in this Country that Local Authorities mark the major anniversaries of the Monarch with something that lasts for future generations. Boxley Parish Council thinks that transforming a heavily mown area with trees, which have the benefit of fruit to harvest and which will attract wildlife, sustain honey bees etc. an ideal long term celebration of Her Majesty’s reign.

“Shouldn’t you be spending your money on something more worthwhile?” Boxley Parish Council has been very careful with its finances and has long planned a project to celebrate this anniversary.  A Parish Council is limited to what it can spend its money on and it cannot use its reserves to lower the Maidstone Council Tax for its residents. It considers this is a worthwhile project that will probably also attract grants

“What is being planted?” Most people won’t know that the site already has hazel nut platts, Kentish cobnuts and damsons.  The plan is to add apples (cookers and eaters), more hazel nut platts and cherries.  It is hoped that residents will submit recipes for an orchard cookbook to encourage people to use the fruit and produce their own jams, pies and chocolate cobnuts (these were available from Harrods).

“What about on going costs?” The Parish Council will be responsible for the trees and grassed area and is hoping that volunteers will help out.  Maidstone Borough Council has stated that it will retain responsibility for the play equipment as long as the new equipment the Council installs is reasonable.

“Can I still walk my dog there?” Yes as long as you are responsible and clean up after your pet.  Dog walkers are an important set of eyes and ears.

How can I become involved?

Attend the open day at the site on

Saturday 1^st October 2011. Contribute your memories and cooking ideas.

Log your e-mail with the parish office for updates (bowdery@boxleyparishcouncil.co.uk).

Become a volunteer for the site either for the initial set up and/or long term to help maintain the trees etc.  Supply your contact details to the parish office.

Come and see the plans for the site and talk to councillors.

WANTED your

Opening and dedication.

It is hoped that the Duchess of Wessex might attend to open the site which will be called Weavering Jubilee Orchard. The Duchess’s diary will be decided in January 2012

X marks the proposed orchard

Community Orchard – Penhurst Close, Grove Green – UPDATE.

Tree and hedge planting will take place at the site on Wednesday 21^st December commencing at 9.00 am.

99 Year lease – the legal agreement is being processed by Maidstone Borough Council. The Parish Council is currently working under licence to enable the work to progress.

Grant application. An application has been made to Awards for All for the refurbishment of the play area and this is going through the system.

Play area. A job specification for the work is being cleared by the Parish Council’s Orchard Working Group.

The site and new fencing. This is currently being investigated by the Parish Council.

Information boards. The Parish Council will start on this project soon.

Help needed. At the moment there is a need for local eyes and ears. If you are able to keep an eye on the trees/site the Parish Council would be most grateful. If you hear or see any problems could you please notify the following

Police or nuisance (rather than emergency) 01622 690690. If happening the day time it might be possible to get the PCSO Andy Hawthorn there so his number is 01634 604390.

The parish office is generally open 8.30 – 3.00 Mon- Fri 01634 861237.

Top of Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Mid Kent Downs e-Bulletin

Latest News

Grants Update

This fund is available throughout Kent and is looking to support initiatives that are both initiated and involve local people supporting the ‘spirit and wellbeing’ of the community. There is a preference for projects that involve volunteers and environmental projects. Grants of up to £3000 are available and the deadline for applications is 7th June 2012. Visit the Kent Community Foundation website for more information as they are the organisation that administers the grant.

Events

Action Day (conservation task TBA) Tuesday, February 7th (10.00am - 2.00pm)

Action Day (conservation task TBA) Saturday, March 10th (10.00am - 2.00pm)

Volunteer Task Days usually every 3rd Sunday of the month.

Winter tree guided walk Sunday, February 19th (10.00am – 1.00pm)

Practical Day Sunday, March 18th (10.00am – 4.00pm)

Practical Day Sunday, April 22nd (10.00am – 4.00pm)

Bluebell and reptile guided walk Saturday, April 28th (10.00am – 1.00pm)

Bat and Amphibian Survey evening. Thursday, May 17th (8.00pm - 10.00pm)

Blossom Day Sunday, April 15th

Amphibian Survey Evening Thursday, March 15th (7.00pm - 9.00pm)

Contact Us

TN25 5LL Click here to subscribe to MKD newsletters and bulletins

Additional Sources of Help

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    

Top of Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Action with Communities in Rural Kent

Action with Communities in Rural Kent has a number of very interesting and worthwhile work experience placements available for young people across Kent. These opportunities are part of our European funded project, Progress, Greener Futures for Young People. Please see attached project information and recent press release.

We are looking for young people ideally between the ages of 17-25 (but this is flexible) who want to find a job for themselves in the not-for-profit sector. Job description attached.

They will work as volunteers for 3-6 months helping to develop a project within their host organisation. All this is based on Social Enterprise and Community Entrepreneurship, which is the theme of our project.

There’s an interest and very practical training course that runs alongside the work placements and the young people will become part of a county-wide network to exchange ideas and to develop their knowledge (and confidence) in the hope that with mentoring of their host organisation’s staff plus the project team etc, they will be able to help generate new income that could lead to creating a career for themselves.

In this project we are working with partners in Sweden, France and Spain, all from the Social Economy and each with a really interesting way of working. Keen young people will be able to take part in the wider work of the project and could enjoy some travel to our partner countries (this would be optional of course).

We have a number of community groups and social enterprises waiting for a young person to join them on placement. We also have one or two spaces left for organisations who might wish to offer a placement to a young person.

So, if you are working with, or know of, a young person who might be interested in our project would you please put them in touch as soon as possible? Equally, if your organisation would like to benefit from being part of our project please let us know.

Please contact Maureen Walby on 077030 48602 or email Maureen.walby@ruralkent.org.uk for more information.

Top of Page

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Dog Fouling

Many dog owners are responsible and put a large proportion of this mess where it should be, in a bin. However, sadly there are still owners out there who are prepared to leave their dog’s mess littered on our streets, in our parks and around our countryside. 

Dog fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our treets and is constantly rated as one of the most important issues blighting their local area by the public. 

Having our streets, parks and open spaces caked in dog mess is disgusting.  It looks unsightly, can make areas appear run down, is unpleasant for those who stand in it and is dangerous to our health. 

Being a responsible dog owner means picking up after your pet.  A large percentage of the public are unsure as to where they can bin their dog’s mess - the simple message is any general litter bin.

In recent years, there has been a growing problem of dog waste bags found hanging on trees, on railings or stuffed in hedges.  It would appear that some dog owners are picking up their dog’s mess but are then simply dumping the bags.  Keep Britain Tidy’s latest campaign aims to raise awareness that any litter bin can be used to dispose of dog mess. 

Boxley Road/Beechen Bank 40mph speed limit 

After attempts to get KCC to reduce the speed limit failed the Parish Council offered to pay KCC’s costs if it undertook the work. This offer was considered by KCC and accepted. At its meeting on the 14^th November the Parish Council’s Environment Committee agreed to paying £3,198.83 to reduce the speed limit on this road. This amount will cover the legal notices, new signage, friction surfacing and the associated work required. It is not clear when this work will be undertaken however details will be placed in the Downs Mail when they are received.

It is likely, for safety reasons, that the controlled crossing point will be installed in the February half term (13^th – 17^th February 2012). This will be a significant improvement for all people having to cross this road but especially for the school children attending the school. The crossing will have an audible sound to indicate when to cross and this will be muted at night so as not to disturb nearby residents. Immediately after its installation PCSO Hawthorn will be attending the school to teach the children how to use the crossing safely.

Funding of £28,652 has come from the parish councils reserves, with £16,000 from County Cllr Paul Carter’s devolved budget, £1,000 from Cllr Wendy Hinder and £5,000 from St John’s School .

The school has written to the parish, thanking it “for working tirelessly” on its behalf for the crossing. It is hoped that the crossing will encourage more walking to school.