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This article from the September 1993 issue of Kent Area News
describes the work involved in the project to create the Medway
Valley Walk.
Getting the Medway into Shape
Brian Smith, Medway River Project Manager,
describes the results of 5 years of work
Established in March 1988, the Medway River Project is funded
by the National Rivers Authority, KCC, Tonbridge & Mailing and
Maidstone Borough Councils, and the Countryside Commission. The
Project aims to:
- manage and enhance the landscape and wildlife of the Medway;
- maintain and enhance the access and recreational use of the
Medway:
- promote local community awareness of, and involvement in,
the enhancement of the Medway's environment;
- encourage landowners to take a positive role in enhancing
the Medway and its surrounding countryside.
Since its launch, the Medway River Project has:
- involved volunteers in over 6,500 days of action
- provided access and recreational facilities for disabled
visitors
- enhanced the river environment through a sustained campaign
of action against litter
- created environmental education opportunities for local
schools
- reintroduced traditional management for the conservation of
landscape features
- established new landscape features and wildlife habitats
- provided advice and support for community led schemes.
The Project's initial priority was to enhance access to the
riverside path and surrounding countryside. Work
included replacing footbridges and stiles, and improving
waymarking. Three circular walks at Teston, East Peckham and
Allington were published in 1990 and are now included in KCC's
walks packs.
Key access issues include reinstatement of the 'missing link'
and the restoration of major erosion sites. The missing link
is a 1.5 mile section from Wateringbury to Hempstead Lock which
was omitted from the definitive map, causing inconvenience to many
walkers. Over the last five years, the Project has made the
designation of this link a priority objective. Substantial
progress has now been made, and we hope to open the path in 1994.
In 1989, six sites were identified for major restoration
schemes where erosion made access dangerous, and where there was
no suitable alternative path. Restoration of these sites
involved reconstructing the river bank, work which is beyond the
resources of any single authority. The first sites, at East
Farleigh and Hartlake Bridge, were completed in March 1992 at a
cost of £130,000. Both sites required the use of
construction methods which left minimal scope for environmental
enhancements. But the scheme at Branbridges and Oak Weir, to
be implemented in November 1993, will utilise traditional
techniques which provide valuable habitat and can outlast most
modern alternatives.
Enhanced access facilities for visitors with special needs,
including the installation of kissing gates, have been created
wherever practical. In October 1991, with enthusiastic
support from HM Prison Rochester, sponsorship from local industry
and advice from disabled volunteers, the Project constructed a
450m disabled visitor trail at Brookland Lake, Snodland.
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Many community groups are now taking the initiative on footpath
issues, and it would be inappropriate for the Project to duplicate
the excellent efforts of these groups. It is now the Project's
aim to support other agencies (statutory and voluntary) in the
enhancement and promotion of access. The Project will continue
to promote the restoration of the a missing link* and river bank
erosion programmes.
Effective landscape management is a key priority, and the Project
has been working with many landowners to restore or create important
landscape features. The Countryside Stewardship and Hedgerow
Incentive Schemes have provided a vital stimulus, as has the
Forestry Authority's Woodland Grant Scheme. To date, over 50
acres of traditional orchards, 1.5 miles of hedgerow and many acres
of woodland and meadow have been brought back into good management.
Additional habitat enhancement has been achieved by working with the
NRA to restore areas of emergent vegetation within the river
channel.
The Project has endeavoured to promote enhancement through
responsible conduct by all river users. The Clean (n Green
campaign, launched in partnership with the Clean Kent Campaign,
promotes awareness of litter and nuisance on the river. The
Medway Litter Wardens, established in 1991, have won two national
awards for their commitment in keeping the river banks clean. In the
process, they have walked at least 3000 miles, removed over 500 bags
of litter and have visibly changed the attitude of some river users.
The Yalding Fen Educational Nature Reserve, managed in
partnership with ICI Agrochemicals and the Kent Trust, enables
primary school pupils to explore, with support from qualified
wardens, the wildlife of marsh, pond and woodland. Study
packs, based at Allington and Teston, sponsored by Kimberley-Clark,
encourage pupils to explore a range of themes including; why people
visit the countryside, the impact of leisure on wildlife and the
country code.
The growth from 225 volunteer work days in 1988/89 to 1,500 in
1992/93 is evidence of the strength of community support for the
Project's work. New grants, eg Rural Action, enhance the Project's
ability to support community led initiatives, and the Project is
placing priority on schemes which integrate landscape and wildlife
enhancement with access.
If you are not already a member of the Ramblers, please join
us to support our continuing work to protect and improve walking opportunities
in Kent.
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