The GORRELL VALLEY NATURE RESERVE (incorporating Duncan Down and Benacre Wood) now spans 90 acres and is one of the UK’s biggest village greens.
The legislation, which protects the perpetuity of the land and prevents unlawful activity and building, enables local people to walk dogs, fly kites, exercise and just enjoy nature.
Between 2005-2024, the Reserve has tripled in size under Cllr Ashley Clark, Head Warden of the site.
Every Sunday, a team of volunteers devote their time to the development and maintenance of the Reserve.
So far, this year alone they have put in 1,100 hours working on the land, maintaining woodland, paths, and the permanent reservoirs.
Ashley’s stance on preservation and the enhancement of the Reserve is that “nothing is beyond our capabilities, and we can always work out a way”.
The effective management of woodland, grasslands and wetlands has created a diverse habitat for the ever-expanding range of wildlife and flowers.
For example, the bird population has hugely increased within this time with kestrels, sparrow hawks and buzzards now being spotted on the land.
The Reserve provides locals with a break from urbanization, a space to pause, and also enables school children to learn about nature and wildlife.
The St Alphege Infant School in Whitstable even visit the Reserve up to 40 times a year.
In the future, Ashley and his team of volunteers plan to increase the habitat and wildlife value yet further by asking those who use the Reserve to pick up their rubbish and by an ongoing program of planting native trees, e.g. horse chestnut trees.
Through the determination of the Group, Ashley and his team have successfully won 19 successive green flag awards – a symbol of excellence for green open spaces.
