Nice ice
I still find myself musing over the contrast with last winter - bitter winds, snow on the ground for weeks, people muttering about climate change. People still seem to be muttering about climate change, but this time due to the oddly mild winter - only a couple of frosts so far this year (by the coast).
;)
Frost on the Downs - 14th Jan 2012
Frost Mystery plant
These "mystery plant" plant pictures will probably be popping up more and more often as the year progresses. The wildlife survey by KWT last year identified about 150 species, and that was from one guy (Fred Booth) visiting a dozen or so times across the year.
What caught my eye about this one was simply that it was flowering in middle of January (well, 8th Jan). The rest of the plant, best described as a lightweight bush, was just brown twigs. Any ideas?
;)
Mystery Plant QE2 Coastal Park in Herne Bay
Question asked at HBAMP on 3 January 2012
Phil Rose:
I am very concerned that Members are mistakenly believing that the ongoing village green application requires that a number of activities on and around the Downs at Herne Bay must be deferred until the outcome of the application is known. None of the Items in the QE2 Coastal Park Action Plan that are being deferred pending the outcome of the village green application actually need to be deferred for that reason.
A couple of examples:
- Why should Community Cleanups on the application land over the coming months (Item 2.3) be affected in any way by the outcome of the application?
- Why should the outcome of the application have any effect on the clearance of the channel at Bishopstone Glen (Item 3.8)? The Glen is entirely outside the application area - the bridge across the Glen is ¼ kilometre west of the application land.
Response
The Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee Field — Herne Bay Coastal Park puts the Downs into a legal trust that Fields in Trust states "protects forever the land for leisure and recreation". As this is a consultation report we are seeking feedback on the proposal.
As the Downs Village Green application is still ongoing it is not appropriate to discuss the legal issues relating to it. It is worthy of note that the implications of a successful village green application are not part of the decision making process.
One result of a successful Village Green application is that enhancements that take place between the date of the application and the final decision may be at risk of being removed once the application is decided, particularly if they breach the Victorian statutes that govern village green land.
Fields in Trust will not consider any external funding application until the village green application is resolved.
This means that many potential projects on the Downs are on hold due to the application for village green status. With regards to the two examples given:
- The existing community clean ups can continue, but we cannot access the funding to obtain extra equipment specifically for the community group.
- The clearance of the channel at Bishopstone Glen can proceed because it is outside the Downs Village Green application area, thank you for the feedback.
Bishopstone, Litter, QE2, Village Green The Bounds of The Downs
The Mid-winter Bounds of The Downs starts from the King's Hall at 10am on Sunday 18th December 2011. Feel free to start from the beginning, or anywhere along the Bounds. If the weather is filthy, stay indoors - this is supposed to be for fun! - as there'll be another chance later:
- Sunday 18th Dec 2011
- Sunday 18th Mar 2012
- Sunday 24th Jun 2012
- Sunday 23rd Sep 2012
Borrowing from the tradition of beating the bounds of a parish, walking The Bounds of The Downs is an opportunity to appreciate The Downs from every angle. Walking the Bounds will happen on the Sunday nearest each solstice and equinox, so that we also get to appreciate The Downs throughout the year.
The plan is to go clockwise, starting from the King's Hall. The full tour of The Bounds of The Downs is about 3¼ miles, but there are shorter routes. The blue shortcut, up the Hundred Steps, brings it down to a very manageable 1¼ miles. The green shortcut, up the slope leading to The Lees makes a 1¾ mile circuit.
Bounds