UPDATE

Published: 01 February 2024

The Parish Council has been developing numerous environmental projects in recent years, updates for some of them are below.

Tayne Field Stream 

Following a decision, by LPC in January 2024, to approve the request by Lyminge Scout Troop to conduct regular monitoring and occasional cleaning of the Nailbourne Stream along the boundary of Tayne Field, it has been suggested that it would be good to organise a Chalk stream monitoring and awareness session, open to everyone in the community. This would probably be best organised as an LPC event. Various local experts would be invited to participate, so it needs a bit of time to select an appropriate date, but April, May or June are likely to be good months to organise such an event. 

Bumblebee workshop with Bumblebee Conservation Trust on 27th March  

Following our successful bee Walk & Talk last August (see September report and also July and September newsletters), the Bumblebee Conservation Trust team has kindly offered to run a beginners bumblebee identification workshop for us this spring. It will take place on Wednesday 27th March from 9.30am to 3.30pm, based at the scout hut in Lyminge. They will bring a host of resources to teach participants how to identify our local bumblebees, and will have numerous resources available to purchase including identification books and leaflets. This event will also help us to set up a monthly bumblebee monitoring programme in the Parish (see beewalk.org.uk). The workshop has been advertised in the February Lyminge newsletter. The proposed monthly monitoring programme would include areas of PC-owned land, including Court Lodge Green, Well Field, and Tayne Field.

Ornamental willow tree by St Eadburg’s Well

There is a young ornamental willow tree growing by the stream close to St Eadburg’s Well. I am not sure when or why this was planted here. Concerns have been raised by local residents that the location of this tree may compromise the integrity of the nearby wall. I suggest that LPC tries to get some advice on this matter. 

Tree planting

900 native tree whips were provided by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) to Lyminge Climate Action, they were delivered on the 24th January and almost all have been planted by LCA volunteers by the end of the month. A few remain to fill in the gaps in the hedge at the top of Tayne Field and to plant in appropriate places along Ethelburga Grove (see Sep 2023 report and Full Council meeting minutes). This latest delivery brings the total number of trees donated by TCV over the past 6 years to 8,000. In addition we have planted at least 242 other trees during this time, provided by various other organisations including LPC. The six Salix trees donated by Kent Men Of The Trees as part of the succession plan to replace the weeping willows along the stream in Tayne Field are still waiting to be planted, we will try to get that organised as soon as possible. 

Grounds maintenance schedule 2024

Every winter LPC reviews the grounds maintenance schedule in order to make any appropriate modifications. Modifications will be discussed in March. 

Lyminge Pond

The contractors continue to say they intend to carry out the additional ground works on the new pond, we hope the works can be completed this year.