Vinters Valley Nature Reserve!
Vinters Valley Nature Reserve
Wildlife on your doorstep.
Vinters Valley Nature Reserve is your local wildlife
oasis tucked away between the Vinters Park and Grove Green housing estates and
also close to Vinters Community School. Whatever the season there is always something to see, something to enjoy and something to treasure. Comprising 90 acres
and once part of a large 18th century country
estate the area has been transformed, with the help of people from the local
community, into a much loved nature reserve.
There is a variety of
habitats to enjoy including woodland, grassland, scrub, lake, stream and
marshland and being former parkland there is a mixture of both native and exotic
flora to enjoy with some magnificent trees to admire. There is always a variety
of bird life to see from ducks and geese swimming on the lake, kingfishers along
the stream and songbirds throughout the woods. In spring and summer the
grasslands are alive with the buzz of insects and the gentle flight of
butterflies as they flutter amongst the wildflowers. If you are quiet, you may
also catch a glimpse of a fox sleeping in a sunny glade, or maybe a rabbit
chewing at the grass or see voles scampering along the banks of the stream.
You are welcome to visit
on any day of the year and spend some time exploring the reserve on one of the
many pathways provided, or just to sit and breathe in the quiet atmosphere on
one of the seats dotted around the reserve. The entrances to the reserve are via
New Cut Road, Lodge Road, Bargrove
Road, Newenden Close, Netley Close or the footpath running between Huntsman Lane
and New Cut Road. So whether you want to spend 20 minutes or a couple of hours,
re-acquainting yourself with nature, do come and see the joys available in your
local wildlife reserve.
Leased from the Kent
County Council and Maidstone Borough Council the reserve is managed by a Trust
set up by local people. It is through the support of both of the local community
and especially Boxley Parish Council that we are able to ensure that this
wildlife oasis is available to the community. We run a Friends of the
Reserve scheme where people can contribute money towards the upkeep of the
reserve and in return receive a quarterly newsletter and the opportunity to
participate in wildlife events on the reserve. Additionally, we also organise
monthly volunteer workdays during the autumn and winter each year, where you can
gain hands on experience on the practical side of conservation. If you would
like to find out more about this schemes look out for details on the notice
boards around the reserve or contact the me either by phone 01622
693557 or email vintersp@yahoo.co.uk.
So, whether you just
visit the reserve on sunny days or become one of our more regular visitors or
supporters, I hope you enjoy the little oasis of wildlife, close to the heart of
Maidstone, that is Vinters Valley Nature Reserve.
Steve
Songhurst,
Warden
A Potted History
Vinters
Valley Nature Reserve is a green oasis to the North East of Maidstone,
surrounded by two housing estates, a school and the M20 motorway. The
site covers about 90 acres, and is the remaining part of a large country estate
with a long and eventful history.
Roman remains have been found on the site in the past, but the first recorded history was when a Roger de Vinter bought the land from the Abbott of Boxley in 1343, and built the first house. He also created the park and gave his name to the property.
There were many other owners from then on, one of the most notorious was Henry Isley. In 1554, he took part in the Sir Thomas Wyatt the Youngers Rebellion and was executed for his trouble. His property was seized by Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) who bequeathed it to a Henry Cutts of Bynbury.
After several more owners including Sir William Tufton the Governor of Barbados, the Vinters house was bought by a local businessman, James Whatman of Vinters. His father (James Whatman the elder) had married into Turkey Court Paper Mill nearby, and although he didnt ever live in Vinters his son did. James Whatman of Vinters moved into the house in 1782, having bought it some time previously from the then Lord Ongley. The estate then covered 86 acres, and was extensively improved before they moved in, spending the princely sum of £5000. During 1797 after his retirement at 53 following a stroke, he bought more land and property, adding Newnham Court Farm and some local houses.
He died in 1798 aged 57, and like many Whatmans was buried at Boxley Church. His son also called James, inherited the estate and had three sons. The estate passed again onto his eldest son James in 1852. Around this time there were extensive alterations made to the house with many rooms added such as a Diary, Brew House, Still room, Larder, Servants hall, Pantry Study and Bathroom. Like many fine houses of the day, it could boast an icehouse, boat house, landscaped grounds with many exotic trees and plants, and a large walled kitchen garden with heated glasshouses and extensive stables. This James died in 1887 where his widow remained there until 1905. They had had daughters who one by one inherited the estate until the last Whatman was Miss Louisa who died in 1950 aged 92. She hadnt lived in Vinters for many years, residing instead in Newnham Court, and had rented out the estate to various occupiers.
During the war the house was taken over for Military purposes and many Army units passed through the park. The fine furniture and effects were locked away, but the ATS girls stayed in the house, with the men in billets near the kitchen garden.
Having been empty for a few years the entire estate comprising of 660 acres was sold to a property developer in 1956. Shortly after this the house burnt down, and was demolished. Vinters housing estate was built on the hop gardens and wheat fields to the West, and later Grove Green covered the former market garden on the East. Parkland became school playing fields, and the rest of the land fell into ruin. A local couple Donal and Lida MacGrory found the site one day looking like a neglected wild garden and set about saving the land from further development. With the support of other local residents further planning permission was reduced and eventually the Kent County Council bought the remaining land.
Lida worked as unpaid warden and Donal became a parish councillor to fight for the park. Eventually the KCC opened the land up as a nature reserve in 1987 and began to employ Lida, and was transferred to a Trust in 1987 with a 99 year lease. The site was awarded Local Nature Reserve status in 1992 and has become a thriving and much loved Nature Reserve from that time.
The Trusts principal aims are to:
 | preserve a valuable habitat; |
| preserve threatened species; |
| provide an education source for local schools and community groups; |
| provide a peaceful and tranquil site for members of the local community and beyond. |
Lida retired in 1999. The Warden now is Steve Songhurst, and is contracted for 25 hours a week, otherwise the Trust is run by volunteers. The Trust is made up of the Trustee and the Management Committees who are responsible for the charitable status and fundraising, and the daily management of the park and producing the annual management plan respectively. The Trust endeavours to ensure the maintenance of the diverse habitats while also providing an important leisure facility for residents seeking peace and quiet and an educational facility for nearby schools.
Vinters Nature Reserve: facing the future.
Charitable Trust Number 1004726
Vinters Valley Nature Reserve is managed by Vinters Valley Park Trust for the benefit of wildlife, with free access for the public to enjoy this open space. Management costs are modest only about £18,000 per annum, and part of this is met by grants from Boxley Parish Council and Maidstone Borough Council.
The Trust now looks forward to the future
During the summer of 2000, the financial forecast showed that the Trust would be bankrupt in four months. Major fundraising at that time, and the establishing of the Friends scheme has resulted in over £8,000 per annum of commitment by local people, this has been a very encouraging result. However, the Reserve still needs to raise additional income to keep going. The immediate crisis is over and thanks to the support of local people, the long-term security of the Park looks more secure. However, we would like to be able to build on this support, and to make the park a safer and more pleasant place for local people to visit. We are now seeking funds for capital works such as path improvements, improving access for wheelchair users, notice boards, grassland management and vital forestry work. We have made great strides to save the land, its wildlife, and the public access to this green lung. Now, with a little help from YOU, its future will be more secure and can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Please help support the park by becoming a friend of Vinters Valley!
Its so easy! Being a Friend means that your support will greatly contribute to the conservation of our rapidly disappearing native wildlife in Maidstone. You will receive the quarterly newsletter "Parklife": four pages of history, information, and seasonal articles about the park, as well as invitations to any volunteer work days such as scrub clearing or pond building, fun events, guided tours and the AGM.
Join the friends! We suggest a donation of £4/5 per household per month, more if you can, or whatever you can afford.
Please fill in this form and send to The Treasurer, Vinters Valley Park Trust, Vinters Lodge, Lodge Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5EH
STANDING ORDER FORM
Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss) Forenames ... Surname
Your Address .
.. Postcode . .
To the Manager (of your bank) ..
Bank address . .
.. .
Your bank account number ..Bank Sort Code .
Please pay the sum of £ .. each [month] [quarter] [year]
for a period of .. . .years / until further notice.
Make the first payment on the . ..(date)
to Vinters Valley Park Trust, A/C No 33593124, National Westminster Bank PLC. Sort code 60-60-08,
3 High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XU
Signed ..Dated
I confirm that I pay income tax of at least equal to the amount I am donating Yes/No (delete as appropriate). Please notify us if this no longer applies. Treat all my donations under this standing order mandate as Gift Aid donations.
You can cancel the standing order at any time by writing to your Bank Manager.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Trustees :- Mr. Peter Lott (Chairman); County Councillor - Paulina Stockwell; Borough Councillor - Mark Wooding; Parish Councillor - Vic Davies; Grove Green Community Association - Mr. Paul Bolas.
Reserve Warden :- Mr.Steve Songhurst
Hon Officers :- Mr. John Hiscock - Treasurer; Mrs. Sue Smith - Secretary.
Management Committee :- Mr. Harry Lowder (Chairman); Mr. Martin Brown (Secretary); Mr. Jon Roy (Health & Safety); ; Mr. Kevin Perry; Mr. Peter Kirby; Mrs. Pauline Campbell; Mr. Kevin O'Malley
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