New Logo For Nature Park

Kent Wildlife Trust's artist has designed us a new logo. So things are moving. We have promises of funding for things like a sign, a picnic bench and possibly a few benches. If this all materialises then they should be on site before the summer.
In the spring we will be arranging a plant survey of the site as well as checking on recent plantings. It is also probable that this will include a survey of wildlife.

Volunteers
We are at present compiling our list of volunteers to help with tasks from just keeping eye on the site, ongoing gardening and maintenance to setting up a committee for administration. If you would like to help please contact us on the e-mail address at the top of this blog.

Thank You
A massive thank you to all those who have helped with getting this site registered as a Town Green and to those who helped with our launch and volunteer day.

Photos
For all you wildlife photographers if you snap any interesting wildlife on the site please email them to us and we will try to put them on this blog.

What a Perfect Day BRRRRRR!!

Crew Fed and Watered Thanks to Doug, Louise and Stan

Mick Tee Plants a Tree



Job Done

With A Lota Help from our Friends

We arrived on site at 10.30a.m. with the North East wind coming off the sea and waves crashing against the prom and wondered if this was going to happen. We put up the marquee and got set up. At noon people turned up in droves despite the cold and after a short introduction by Kent Wildlife Trust's Paul Pearce and address by Mick Tomlinson (mayor and ward councillor) we got to work whilst Stan in the 'Van' got the kettle on.

Wow what a turn out. Well over 60 people turned up to help and braved the cold. Soon we got to work on jobs like digging beds, clearing rubbish, raking grass and helping planting. Other people turned up with cake and other lovely food to keep the crew's energy levels up.

So much was achieved with something like a hundred shrubs planted and lots of wildflower seeds. About twenty sacks filled with rubbish were cleared from the site for collection today.

At the Village Green Hearing on 8th Feb 2011 the Chairman said "Now you have been granted your Town Green it comes with responsibility". Local people have shown that they take their open spaces seriously. I think it is wonderful how green projects like this bring communities together (even local politicians) and can make Thanet a better place. Well done everyone for making this a great success. Can't wait for spring.

Keep you ears to the ground as Kent Wildlife Trust will running other events around Thanet under the Thanet Wildlife Project of which our Town Green is part. So there will be an opportunity for other communities and people to get involved. Follow the link from this blog. We hope to run another event here in the summer when hopefully it will be warmer.

If you want to help with the Westbrook site please contact us on our email address.

Please leave comments as to what you would like to see on the site.

Come and Join Us

Reminder of Volunteer Day on Sunday 20th February

Fresh air, exercise and increasing biodiversity on Thanet's first New Town Green, come and join the fun.
Any updates will be posted on this blog but in the meantime hope to see you there.
Fine weather has been ordered for the day.

Westbrook has a New Town Green

Village Green Hearing
At the Village Green Hearing on 8th February 2011 it was decided by the KCC Regulation Committee that the land adjacent to Barnes Car Park on Westbrook promenade be registered as a Town Green. WASPS are delighted with the result that protects this land from development and ensures the continued use by local people.
The site on Westbrook Promenade remained on the asset disposal register awaiting the outcome of the village green application and we assume it will now be removed.
You have probably seen the publicity about the fact that we have persuaded TDC that an ideal solution for this site would be to create a nature park. This could be achieved involving local people in planting shrubs on the site and managing the grass to encourage wildflowers and biodiversity. This would be part of a larger project run by the Kent Wildlife Trust to manage cliff tops and other sites around Thanet under the Thanet Wildlife Project. This site will form an important part of this project. It is good to have support from TDC, Natural England and the Thanet Coast Project.
A presentation was given at the January Westgate and Westbrook Resident’s Association meeting by Paul Pearce of the Kent Wildlife Trust who outlined the scheme which will be supported by local volunteers.

Volunteer Day
There will be a volunteer day on Sunday 20th February 2011 and and full details of the event are in the previous posting. Following the event we would like to set up a group, possibly called Friends of the Westbrook Undercliff Nature Park. This could consist of local volunteers to help Kent Wildlife Trust manage the site and determine its future.
The success of the village green application will give protection and allow local people to create something on this site for the benefit of the community and wildlife. This also strengthens the protection under European law as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). This campaign has demonstrated to TDC the feelings of local people and the value of this site to the community. It has also made local politicians think carefully about other sites up for disposal.
I would like to thank all those people who have supported us and gave evidence. It has been a long road to reach where we are at present but it has been worth it.