Conservation
Spring Grove, Stour Valley

The KWCA purchased land in the Stour Valley to the north of Ashford in 1996. This purchase signaled that the the interests of the Association extend beyond the traditional catchment area of North Kent

This reserve is situated at Spring Grove, near Wye, and consists of a small area of land alongside the river. It is a unique site in an otherwise agricultural belt, being created by the former owner as a wildlife reserve. By careful construction of a pond, ditches and with extensive planting the site was transformed into that which exists today.

The main feature is a pond surrounded by alders and dense stands of reed and bramble. Low lying areas of rough pasture flooded occasionally in winter.

A considerable diversity of birds species visit the site including mallard, teal, shoveler, gadwall, wigeon, shelduck, coot, moorhen, snipe, pheasant, turtle dove, cuckoo, dunnock, yellow wagtail, sedge warbler, reed warbler, whitethroat, goldfinch, linnet, yellowhammer, reed bunting, and corn bunting.

The Association appointed a Site Manager and introduced a strictly controlled shooting regime of 10 days shooting per year. A shooting syndicate was formed under the direction of the Site Manager, with no more than 3 Guns shooting on any single day.

After the initial "getting to know you" period the Association decided that the site could be further developed. The KWCA's Conservation Officer drew up a plan whereby the rough pasture would be worked on to create new ditches and a scrape. The new scrape can be seen on the plan, which is one of the pictures on the left.

This was an extensive piece of conservation work, and upon completion in 2000 gave an added dimension to a site which already provided a diverse range of wildlife habitats.

The work was funded on a 50:50 basis by the KWCA and by a grant made by the Wildlife Habitat Trust (WHT). The WHT grant was greatly appreciated by the KWCA as it allows precious funds to be retained by the Association for use on other projects throughout North and Central Kent.

Spring Grove is now entered into our Higher Level Stewardship agreement with Natural England. In line with all of our other reserves work can only start after the breeding season in the Autumn. A unique feature at Spring Grove is the construction of an Otter Holt. In addition we will be constructing and erecting a series of bird and bat boxes around the site.