Past Plants, Future Flora
(Medway Valley Invasive Species Project)
Newsletter - March 2018
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Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Environment Agency, this project raises awareness off and an appreciation for our botanical heritage and aims to educate and reconnect people to plants.
We celebrate the historical passion for botanical discovery but also acknowledge, raise awareness of and control the invasive non-native plants which now threaten natural heritage, habitats and health.
This is the project's first newsletter in 2018 so please read on for exciting project updates, upcoming events and training activities. Thank you
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INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL - 2018
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It's that time of year again when we plan for our spring and summer invasive non-native plant control programme, funded predominantly by the Environment Agency.
If you are a landowner in this scheme, please note that letters and personalised 2018 consent forms are being sent out now and over the next few days.
A lot of hard work goes into this project at this time of year so we are ready to begin treating plants during early growth in Spring.
Help us help you and your local landscape and get back to us as soon as you can about 2018 control. We have a new Assistant Partnership Officer, Ms Jo Hill and emails are likely to come from myself (Andrea) or Jo. Please keep a look out for consent forms coming soon. Thank you.
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Part of the EU LIFE Programme, RAPID (Reducing and Preventing IAS Dispersal) LIFE is a 3 year project led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), with Natural England and Bristol Zoo as key partners.
RAPID LIFE will work in freshwater aquatic, riparian and coastal environments across England and will deliver a package of measures to reduce the impact and spread of Invasive Alien Species (IAS)*.
England has been divided up into five study regions and the project has various elements.
MVCP are delighted to announce that we have been contracted by APHA to work with the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) on the Biocontrol element in the South East region. The biocontrol trial is funded by the British Government through CABI and also by the European Commission through the RAPID LIFE project.
Invasive plant management requires vision and a long term plan. Some species such as Himalayan balsam are so widely dispersed and dense that effective and environmentally sympathetic control is virtually impossible. At the moment MVCP do very little control of Himalayan balsam due to these constraints. IAS funding is always a concern too and so we are very excited to be involved in this fascinating pioneering project and work towards a more sustainable and effective approach.
Biocontrol involves the introduction of rigorously tested natural enemies of an IAS, collected from its native range, to help reduce the distribution and vigour of the IAS, giving the native biodiversity a competitive edge.
Throughout our area and further afield MVCP will be building on previous work to select sites where biocontrol agents for Himalayan Balsam and Japanese knotweed can be released. Working with landowners and CABI we will carry out several releases at various sites and conduct post release monitoring over the next few years.
We are very excited to be involved in this and we look forward to updating you all very soon.
*MVCP usually say Non-Native Invasive Species or INNS and as such you are probably more familiar with this term. The team involved in RAPID LIFE usually say Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and as such this terminology is being used here and will continue to be used in reference to the RAPID LIFE project.
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We have lots of exciting, fun and interesting educational training sessions planned for 2018. The first is part of Invasive Species Week:
Invasive Non-Native Plant Training Event
Monday 26th March
Shorne Woods Country Park (near Gravesend)
Times: 10:00am - 2:00pm approx
(see below)
To book a space on this free training please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/invasive-non-native-plant-training-day-tickets-42418899069
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Pollination Training
Tuesday 17th July
Lullingstone Country Park
Times: 10:00am - 2:00pm (approx')
Learn all about pollinating insects, their importance and I.D and enjoy a guided walk to hopefully view some of these interesting species.
This event will be a lovely opportunity to meet fellow volunteers (if relevant) and MVCP staff and is being led by local Buglife Officer Laurie Jackson.
Tickets are being reserved for volunteers and relevant landowners/associates first so please book a space soon. The event is free but booking is required so please reserve yourself a ticket via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pollination-training-tickets-43344688129
If you would like to attend but can't access Eventbrite please let me know.
I'm afraid we can not supply lunch during this specific training event, but the park has a lovely picnic area and fingers crossed we'll have good weather so bring a packed lunch.
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Wasps © MVCP 2018. Wasps are not usually thought of as pollinating insects, but they will visit flowers for nectar and as such do move pollen around and assist with pollination. Unlike bees however, the bodies of wasps are less hairy and so they do not transport as much pollen on their bodies as their Hymenoptera cousins. Instead they are mainly valued for their predatory services.
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Ancient Trees at Mote Park
Friday 3rd August
Mote Park, Maidstone
09:30am - 4:00pm
In partnership with Maidstone Borough Council, join MVCP and learn all about local ancient trees and the work to record and protect them at Mote Park. This is a lovely opportunity to learn more about one of the largest parks in the area and the ancient trees that inhabit it. It'll be a very informative session led by local experts and includes a guided walk. More details to follow soon.
This is another free event but booking is essential. Spaces are being offered to volunteers and relevant landowners and associates first so please book your tickets soon via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ancient-trees-of-mote-park-tickets-43344006089
If you wish to attend but can't access Eventbrite, please let me know.
Image from: https://www.visitmaidstone.com/things-to-do/mote-park-p12581
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Micah from St James the Great Academy, enjoying one of MVCP's tree identification sessions
© MVCP 2018
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Many of MVCP's projects include education and the engagement of local schools. The Past Plant, Future Flora school sessions usually relate to plant life generally or celebrate historical plant discoveries, however some sessions relate to the invasive species which now cause harm.
Delivering a plant themed outdoor session for each year group in the school, MVCP are delighted to be working closely with St James the Great Academy in East Malling.
Utilizing the local community woodland near the school we have been teaching the kids about trees and identification features in winter. Alongside Ash and other native trees, the site includes interesting (and non invasive / friendly) non-native species too such as Larch, Sweet Chestnut and London Plane. As such we have been able to include heritage and history alongside native tree identification.
'The children have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions so far. The lessons are exciting, interesting and informative for everyone and the facilitators are engaging and fun as well as being knowledgeable with their love of nature shining through' - Mrs Osmond from St James the Great Academy
The school, along with others in the area and further afield, has also taken advantage of the project's free School Pack, which is full of information with an emphasis more on invasive species. The school pack includes the projects own Children's Book 'Our Riverbank'.
If you work or are associated with a school, please get in touch to discuss 1 to 1 sessions and the free School Pack.
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The Past Plants, Future Flora School Pack © MVCP 2017
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As part of the Past Plants, Future Flora programme, MVCP continue to plan and deliver a whole variety of educational and fun events.
Whilst a lot of our work is focused on invasive non-native species (INNS), our public engagement events focus more on the heritage elements of the project and promote a greater interest and appreciation for wild plants generally.
We've already had a very successful Wonderful Wintery Woods event, where over 40 people came along to take part in winter tree identification and woodland arts and crafts. We have more family fun plant themed activities throughout the year so for information on any of these please follow our Facebook page.
We also have some adult only public events.
One such event is Eco Poetry at Ditton Community Centre in the evening of Thu 5th July (18:30 - 21:30).
Enjoy a guided evening walk around the lovely Ditton Quarry site to look at wildflowers, then with Chris from 'Go to the Pine' Eco-Poetry Workshops and Courses, head inside to put pen to paper to capture your creative thoughts in ecopoetry.
FREE but booking is essential and spaces are limited. To book please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eco-poetry-workshop-tickets-42534158814
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Flower Power Family Fun Day
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To celebrate our project we are hosting a Family Fun Day on Saturday 9th June at Leybourne Lakes Country Park.
Come and join in with a variety of activities including:
- Plant Hunters Theatrical Performance and Plant Hunting Expeditions
- Guided Nature Walks
- Face Painting
- Demonstrations
- Live Music
- Arts and Crafts
Booking for this event is not needed but please take a look at our Facebook page to register your interest.
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MVCP via our Heritage Lottery Fund and Environment Agency funded project, are delighted to be able to occasionally fund external training for our hard working volunteers.
I'm pleased to say that we are currently funding our River Warden volunteer, Cath on a Botanical Illustration course. Cath has kindly agreed to share a recent sketch (see the notorious Japanese knotweed below).
This year Eco - Poetry events, next year Botanical Illustration events!
We are also currently funding our volunteer Lee on a Botany course with Kent Wildlife Trust. Good look in your training Cath and Lee and we'll look forward to updates.
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Japanese knotweed sketch courtesy of Cath Jobbins 2018
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Do you farm or have land in or around the Low or High Weald of Kent?
Would you like to be paid to make or restore a pond?
A new approach from Natural England (NE) to conserving Great Crested Newt will offer farmers and landholders a chance to bid for funds to manage existing and create new ponds on their land. NE is interested to know your views on and potential interest in such a scheme.
Please spare 5-10 minutes to answer an online questionnaire and have your say. The questionnaire can be found via the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7NP8CKS
A Word version of the questionnaire is available from: paul.cobb@fwagsoutheast.co.uk
Responses received by Tuesday 27 th March will go into a prize draw to win a Macknade food hamper worth £85. |
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‘The Business Benefits of Biodiversity’
The Campaign for the Farmed Environment Event and Tree Shears Coppicing Demonstration
Thursday 22nd March 2018
9.30am to 2:00pm @ Juddwood Farm Tonbridge TN11 8AB
Courtesy of David Foster and Jane Bastable
The is a free farm event focussing on the benefits to wildlife of the coppice management of hedges and trees, and their value in providing timber for fuel and fencing.
For more information and to book contact paul.cobb@fwagadvice.co.uk or go to
www.nfuonline.com/CFEevents
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