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MBC installs first living roof bus shelter
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is proud to announce the installation of its first living roof bus shelter. Located on the junction of Loose Road and Anglesey Avenue.
The Living Roof has been purposefully designed to be long-lasting and low maintenance, while increasing biodiversity. Its 13 wildflower species will attract bees and other pollinators, while improving air quality and capturing carbon dioxide.
The plants will also absorb rainwater, reducing the run-off to our streets and drainage systems. This will benefit people and planet, all while brightening up the journeys for bus users on bus route 89.
This is the first of several living roofs planned - keep an eye out for the next arrival.
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Green Flag awarded to four of MBC's parks
MBC’s Clare Park, Cobtree Manor Park, Mote Park and Whatman (Millennium River) Park were awarded the coveted Green Flag award in July 2024, recognising them as amongst the country’s best.
The Green Flag Award is a scheme run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under license from the UK Government. The award sets the benchmark quality standard for managing parks and green spaces, including how well they meet the needs of the communities they serve. Teston Bridge Country Park managed by Kent County Council also received the award.
Congratulations to Bearsted Woodland Trust (BWT) who received a Green Flag Community Winner Award for the fourteenth consecutive year, recognising the hard work and dedication of Trustees and Volunteers. BTW’s effective Volunteer training practices, links to schools and involvement with the wider community were all noted as good examples for similar organisations.
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Shaun in the Heart of Kent
Spot Biodiversity Shaun amongst the flock
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Shaun the Sheep has arrived in the Heart of Kent and will be in Maidstone until 30 August 2024, raising money for the Heart of Kent Hospice.
MBC is proud to be the Official Presenting Partner and has two large Shaun’s as part of the trail.
The MBC Shaun’s are ‘Unearthing Iggy’ and ‘Flock to Maidstone’ and they can be found in Jubilee Square and in Maidstone Museum’s courtyard.
Keep a special eye out for the Biodiversity Shaun, whose colourful coat is inspired by regenerative and sustainable practices around biodiversity.
This Shaun is celebrating Kent's hop gardens and reputation as the 'Garden of England', with flora native to Kent.
We are sure you will agree Biodiversity Shaun looks very pretty in pink and hope he will be one of many you can spot.
More information and the trail map are available on the link below
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'Flock to Maidstone' in Jubilee Square
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'Unearthing Iggy' in Maidstone Museum's courtyard
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Get your organisation listed in the Sustainable Business Directory of Maidstone
To celebrate and support local businesses who provide environmentally friendly solutions and services, MBC has created a Sustainable Business Directory. The aim is to empower residents and organisations to make environmentally-conscious choices by providing a comprehensive list of local companies offering sustainable solutions. These include heat pumps or insulation and more that promote eco-friendly practices.
Any company wishing to be included in the Directory can find more information on our website and email:
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MBC supports planting of 5,000 trees on Maidstone vineyard
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In February 2024, the Council supported the planting of 5,000 trees at a vineyard in Maidstone. This initiative not only combats climate change and biodiversity loss, but also benefits farmers by protecting crops, enhancing soil health, and attracting beneficial wildlife.
Special thanks to Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP), whose volunteers braved wet and windy conditions to plant 1,000 of the trees, establishing a new hedgerow.
MBC invites local landowners to collaborate on future tree planting projects to enhance biodiversity and improve our environment
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Removal of unsafe poplar trees
River Len Local Nature Reserve
Plans are in place for the removal of eight-10 poplar trees on the River Len which have been deemed unsafe after monitoring of their root movements in high winds.
The trees are located close to the entrance from Square Hill Road. The removal is planned to take place after the nesting period ends at the end of the summer and contractors will conduct bat roost surveys before any felling takes place.
The resulting wood will be cut into logs and used to create a hibernaculum – a protective sheltered habitat for insects and amphibians during winter. River Len Local Nature Reserve has recently benefited from the planting of 150 native trees and shrubs.
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Rural England Prosperity Fund
Grants to Maidstone community groups
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is bringing significant improvements to community hubs across Maidstone. The council was allocated £539,728 to invest in capital projects between 2023 and 2025, with £134,932 available for 2023-2024 and £404,796 for 2024-2025.
The grant aims to modernise rural community assets, creating multi-use spaces that enhance health and wellbeing, reduce rural isolation, support the local economy, and promote community cohesion. Projects are also expected to have a positive environmental impact and contribute to net-zero goals.
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Improvements that have already been made through the REPF include the installation of solar panels, low carbon heating upgrades, insulation improvements, and replacement of windows and doors.
The second round of funding applications has recently concluded, with a total of 19 community hubs receiving grants.
These grants are set to make a lasting difference in rural Maidstone, enhancing community facilities and promoting sustainability.
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Forestry Commission and DEFRA visit
Boughton Monchelsea
Recognising rewilding and habitat creation efforts
The efforts of volunteers and Parish Councillors of Boughton Monchelsea in rewilding and creating habitat around their parish, have been recognised by a visit from DEFRA (Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs) and the Forestry Commission.
The Parish historically several parcels of land which are now managed under the charity BMAT (Boughton Monchelsea Amenity Trust). Driven by concerns around climate change and biodiversity loss, the Trustees have focused their efforts on rewilding and creating different habitats for nature to thrive.
Much of this land is open for residents to enjoy, bringing them closer to nature and experience the health benefits of getting outdoors. Salts Wood is a beautiful new woodland with 22,000 young trees and walks full of flowers. Other sites have species-rich meadows, wetland creation and hedgerow restoration, as well as several thousand more trees, which attract rare wildlife species, including nightingales.
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Final round of Solar Together applications opens 19 August 2024
Solar Together Kent solar panel and battery storage group-purchase scheme allows residents and small businesses to install solar panels on their homes and businesses at a discounted, affordable price.
Any homeowner, landlord, or small business in Kent can register, with applications limited to 50 solar panels per property. If you already have solar panels installed, you can apply for battery storage to maximise the benefits of your existing solar panel installation. You can also apply for EV charging stations.
There were a total of 3,279 registrations across Kent in the most recent phase, comprising of 3,131 for solar panels and 148 for battery storage. Of the 466 solar panel applications already accepted and paid for, 40 are in the borough of Maidstone, along with eight of the 47 battery storage applications that have been accepted and paid. Installations should be completed by January 2025, allowing these residents and small businesses to reduce their carbon footprints, contribute to MBC’s Net Zero 2040 goal, and save money on their energy bills.
The solar panels already accepted will save an estimated
74,471 tonnes of CO2 over the next 25 years.
The third and final of the scheme is due to open on 19 August 2024, with registrations closing 18 October 2024. Sign up to be notified when the next phase opens and find more information on the link below.
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Free trees for schools and communities
The final round of free tree applications for 2024 closes on 26 August 2024, to be delivered in November. The Woodland Trust has thousands of trees to give away, with packs of different native species of trees and shrubs to suit different sites and purposes.
Before you apply, you will need to know the OS Grid reference of your land using the online OS Mapping tool, and have the permission of the landowner. All the information you will need and how to apply can be found on the Woodland Trust website.
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Great British Insulation Scheme
This Government scheme is designed to deliver insulation improvements to the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.
As well as supporting low-income and vulnerable households, it is available to homes with an energy performance certificate rating of D to G, and within council tax bands A to D in England.
You can find out more about the scheme from Ofgem, who administer the scheme, here: Great British Insulation Scheme - Homeowners and tenants | Ofgem
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Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Grants of £7,500 for air or ground source heat pumps, or £5,000 for biomass boilers.
To meet the UK's Net Zero target, we need to reduce emissions from home energy by 95% in the next 30 years and low emissions heating systems will play a vital role.
Through this Government scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler. Fossil fuel heating systems include oil, gas, electric or LPG.
You must own your home (this includes a business, second home, or if you rent it out). The property must also have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
If you’re not sure whether your property is suitable for a low carbon heating system, speak to an MCS certified installer.
They can inform you about your options.
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'Get around for £2'
Extended until
December 2024
The UK Government has extended its cap on bus fares for many routes across the country, until December 2024.
This makes it much more affordable to leave cars at home and take the bus for certain journeys - this is great news for our carbon footprint and air quality.
You can find details of routes included on the link below:
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We want to hear from you!
Maidstone Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (2024)
Active travel is a key part of the MBC Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan and improving access and availability of safe routes will have many benefits to the health of our borough.
The Council wants to hear your views on proposals for new and improved walking, wheeling and cycling routes. The aim of this consultation is to gather your views on the proposed routes and walking zones to enable residents and visitors to make more journeys on foot or by cycle. Your feedback, local knowledge and insights will be invaluable in understanding the challenges and opportunities for active travel improvements in the borough of Maidstone.
The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete and closes 19 August.
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Calling all Budding Gardeners
Involve Kent Green Spaces gardening sessions throughout August
Involve Kent are looking for volunteers to get involved and join their experienced gardener to help keep Maidstone’s Green Spaces looking great this Summer.
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Anyone aged 18+ can get involved and no experience or expertise is required – just a willingness to give a couple of hours and get involved!
All sessions are held between 10am – 12pm and volunteers are welcome to come as often or as little as they wish.
Date
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Location
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Other information
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Wednesday 14 August
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Trinity Park
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Clearing weeds, cutting back shrubs, general tidying and litter-picking.
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Wednesday 28 August
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Maidstone Museum
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Help tidy the front courtyard of Maidstone Museum, filling new planters and tidying flowerbeds.
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Every Thursday
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Brenchley Gardens
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Gardening for Wellbeing in Benchley Gardens with Mid Kent Mind, meet next to the Museum at 10am.
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Every Friday
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Fairmeadow
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Fairmeadow Fridays along the riverside of the River Medway, meet at the Old Boat Café 10am.
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For more information, please email grow@involvekent.org.uk or just pop along and say hello at any of the sessions.
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Dig in for National Potato Day
19 August 2024
The perfect time to plant your winter crop
The humble potato is the UK’s favourite vegetable and, from fish and chips to roast potatoes, it’s easy to see why! National Potato Day is an annual event dedicated to the versatility of this delicious staple.
What better way to celebrate than by planting some little spuds of your own?
August is the perfect time to plant early and second early varieties, outdoors or in a greenhouse, to be ready for your Christmas dinner.
You will need some cold-stored tubers that have been held back from the winter, ready for summer planting, or you can buy seed potatoes for planting.
Find tips and advice from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) on the link below.
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Free Wildlife Wellbeing Walks
Medway Valley Countryside Partnership
MVCP is offering a series of free gentle guided walks in a variety of beautiful countryside and green space locations, funded by Involve Kent.
Walks are aimed at people aged over 55, or under 55's with long-term health conditions.
Designed to help people embrace the health benefits of getting outside, while discovering the Kentish countryside and spotting wildlife, the walks range between one to two hours, with plenty of breaks.
Find out more about the fantastic work of MVCP and volunteer opportunities on their website
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Walks throughout August 2024:
9th: Cobtree Manor Park, Aylesford
13th: River Medway, Allington
16th: Whatman Park, Maidstone
20th: White Horse Woods Country Park, Detling
23rd: Manor Park, West Malling
27th: Teston Bridge Country Park, Teston
30th: Dene Park, Tonbridge
All walks are free.
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Bearsted Climate Action Network (CAN)
Bearsted CAN community organisation brings together like-minded people from Bearsted and surrounding areas to work together to face the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
They have a full calendar of exciting events planned for 2024, including:
- Bearsted CAN Allotments Tour - Monday 12 August, 9:30 am
Local experts will guide you on a tour of two allotment sites in Bearsted followed by tea and cake at the church.
Free to join, but please reserve your spot
- Bearsted CAN Batwalk - Saturday 17 August, 19:30 - 21:00 pm
A brief introduction from Kent Bat Group, followed by a walk around Bearsted Woodland Trust to see and hear the bats and identify different species.
Tickets cost £6 each, and booking is essential (Over 16's only)
- Communigrow Tour and Knowledge Share - Wednesday 21 August, 11:30 am
Join a tour with Bearsted CAN of the beautiful Communigrow Field in East Malling and gain valuable insights about the project. Communigrow use chemical free methods, no-dig and companion planting, as well as other environmentally-friendly practices.
Free to join, but please reserve your spot
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Kent Wildlife Trust Events
A wild summer with KWT
Upcoming events at Tyland Barn Nature Park and Gardens, Maidstone:
- Pond Dipping and Family Fun Friday 16 August
Learn how to pond dip safely and identify the creatures you find.
- The Bison and the Butterfly – Activity Trail and Exhibition Thursdays and Fridays throughout August, 10am – 4pm
Celebrate the new children’s book inspired by the West Blean and Thornden Woods wilding project, where European bison have been introduced as ‘ecosystem engineers’ to manage this ancient woodland.
- Summer Family Fun, Plants and Flowers, Friday 30 August
Have a go at ‘Calico bashing’: making art with leaves and petals, and plant some seeds to take home.
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Come and visit the Maidstone Repair Café
Maidstone Climate Action Network will run the new Repair Café on the first Saturday of every month at Lockmeadow Market Hall, ME16 8LW
If you have broken items that you would like repaired for FREE, take them to the next Maidstone Repair Café on Saturday 7 September
between 10am and 2pm.
There is no need to book, just turn up on the day!
Items that could be repaired include toys, jewellery, electricals, clothing, textiles, furniture, wooden objects, bicycle maintenance and computers and IT.
Let's save our items from landfill!
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Hayle Park Nature Reserve
Bat Walk and Open Day
Bat Walk – Saturday 17 August, 20:00 – 21:30pm
Join the Hayle Park team for a dusk walk through the Nature Reserve to hear and see these nocturnal creatures. Bat detector supplied! This event is free, but booking is required and participants are asked to consider making a donation to Hayle Park Nature Reserve.
Open Day – Sunday 1 September 12:00 – 15:00pm
A fun-filled programme of family friendly events, including an visit from River’s Rodents and Reptiles, providing the chance to meet and learn about some live animals, all while enjoying this beautiful reserve.
You can find more information about booking these events and about Hayle Park’s regular volunteer ‘Work Parties’ on their website.
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Thanks for reading our Climate Change and Biodiversity update. Why not sign up to our other newsletters to find out what’s happening across Maidstone Borough.
Environmental Services –parks, open spaces and waste services
What’s On in Maidstone – for all events
News – to keep up to date
Consultations – share your views
Visit Maidstone – the best places to visit and stay
Business in Maidstone – workshops, events and business support
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We want to improve our communication and engagement with you around climate change & biodiversity in Maidstone. If you want to contact us please email climateandbiodiversity@maidstone.gov.uk
If you have enjoyed reading our Climate Change & Biodiversity update, why not forward this email onto your friends and family so they can 'Stay Connected' to news from Maidstone Borough Council.
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