Our Projects
OUR PROJECTS
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EXPERIENCE DAYS
Immerse yourself in ancient woodlands and experience the peace and tranquillity of nature. Carry out practical conservation, helping to preserve and shape this landscape, whilst surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. Practice centuries old crafts, working with an experienced leader, and create a craft item that you can take away. Finish the day by relaxing and sampling local Kentish produce in an idyllic sylvan setting.
Click here for more information and to contact us about your own personal Experience Day. You can also copy and paste this link to see our exclusive Experience Day You Tube video and learn more about what to expect from your special day: https://youtu.be/8ixJatsXHUw -
FOREST SCHOOL
Utilising the holistic value of woodlands and green spaces for health and wellbeing, Forest School is an inspirational learning process. We also run bespoke school sessions, teacher workshops and Forest School based public events.
Click here for more information. -
WILDLIFE SURVEYS
We are active in monitoring species and habitats in Kent. Our dedicated officers are able to carry out flora and fauna surveys. We use this expertise to plan and manage projects and provide advice, seeking to enrich the variety of habitats, species and landscapes in Kent.
Current survey work includes;
- Wildflower surveys
- ZSL Eel surveying and monitoring
- Dormice Surveys
- Barn owl surveys
- Invasive Non-Native Species surveysTo discuss a wildlife survey, please follow the link here to contact us to discuss.
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INVASIVE NON NATIVE SPECIES
This project aims to educate, raise awareness of and control several detrimental invasive non-native plant species across the Medway catchment.
Click here for more information on this project
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POND WORK FOR GREAT CRESTED NEWTS
Medway Valley Countryside Partnership are one of the CMP teams in Kent who are restoring and creating ponds for Natural England as part of the District Level Licensing Scheme. Ponds are being restored and created across large areas to boost Great Crested Newt habitat and numbers. Find out more here.
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RIVER MEDWAY AGAINST PLASTICS
Working with Maidstone Borough Council, Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP) are researching ways to tackle local litter, especially plastic pollution, in the rivers of the Medway catchment.
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VOLUNTEERING
We offer opportunities to volunteer to help conserve and improve habitats in Kent.
If you are interested in getting involved and you would like to find out more follow this link to discover our volunteering opportunities. -
EVENTS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION
We have a whole variety of outdoor educational events and wellbeing walks taking place throughout the year. Everything from an over 55's walks and nighttime bat walks to pond dipping and bushcraft events.
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PESTICIDE AMNESTY (NOW COMPLETED)
Many farmers have out-of-date or unwanted chemicals in storage and these chemicals can be costly and awkward to dispose of but having them in long term storage presents various risks. Chemicals may leach from containers and into the local environment and water courses, causing serious pollution and effecting local wildlife, habitats and the wider environment.
To avoid these potential scenarios, the Pesticide Amnesty was set up to offer the free collection of chemicals from working farm across the area.
Facilitated by Medway Valley Countryside Partnership and funded by a partnership between Southern Water, the Environment Agency, North Kent Marshes Internal Drainage Board and Kent County Council’s Flood and Water Management Team, 75 farms registered for the scheme and over 3,500 litres of chemical was collected and appropriately disposed of by the projects external chemical collection firm, ChemClear, in 2020. MVCP hope to repeat this successful partnership project in the future. Please watch this space. -
OLD CHALK NEW DOWNS
An exciting project we are working in close partnership with to deliver primary school education and school grounds projects is Old Chalk New Downs. This landscape scale scheme is looking at habitat restoration of what has been called the UK's rainforest, or species rich, chalk downland. The UK has approximately 50% of the world's resource of this rare, precious and species rich habitat. The project will not only make habitat connections through practical restoration projects, but link with the wider community seeking to educate, inform and entertain. Click here to visit their website.
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SECURING THE LANDSCAPE - with the Old Chalk New Downs Project
The Securing the Landscape Initiative was started via the Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership (VoV). VoV delivered landscape, habitat and heritage conservation improvement projects across the valley known as the Medway Gap between Rochester and Aylesford. Key to the success of VoV and a precursor to all other project targets was dealing with illegal access and anti-social activity in the area and this started the Securing the Landscape Initiative (SLT).
Now, the Securing the Landscape Toolkit is being collated by MVCP. The toolkit will be a ‘one stop shop’ for local landowners and residence, assisting you in easily finding information about certain crimes and, most importantly, in finding out how to report rural crime and what methods you can employ to potentially prevent the crimes from happening. The toolkit will focus on crimes which affect the landscape of the Old Chalk New Downs Project Area
The Securing the Landscape Toolkit is funded via the Heritage Fund and via the Old Chalk New Downs Project. The toolkit will be available in a digital format at the end of this year. Please watch this space for updates and future links and click here to find out more about the Old Chalk New Downs project.