NEW
ROMNEY NEWS
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project will be ten years old
in July 2006. A special programme of events have been organised
to celebrate the tenth anniversary.
A guided walk, a guided cycle ride and a volunteer
event have all been organised on the weekend of July 14th
- 16th, representing the different types of events organised
throughout the year.
On Friday 14th July, volunteers will be working at New Romney
Warren Country Park to maintain footpaths and a pond created
by the Romney Marsh Countryside Project. Meet 11am at the
Visitor Centre, New Romney Warren.
On Saturday 15th July, join an easy afternoon guided walk
along a stretch of the Royal Military Canal with stories
about the history and wildlife. Meet 2pm outside the Hythe
station of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Light Railway.
On Sunday 16th July, join a gentle guided cycle ride from
New Romney around the quiet country lanes. Meet 2pm outside
St Nicholas¹ Church, New Romney.
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project organises a programme
of events throughout the year. In 2005/6, 129 events were
organised on Romney Marsh, which were attended by an estimated
3,977 people.
In addition, 24 volunteer days were attended by 303 local
people.
A full programme of events have been arranged for this summer,
with 21 events offered in the summer school holidays in
the forthcoming Green Gang magazine.
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project has done a great deal
to improve the landscape of Romney Marsh and Dungeness for
wildlife and people. The Project has worked with the RSPB
to attract £1 million of investment in Dungeness National
Nature Reserve. The Project has worked with other partners
to develop the New Romney Warren Country Park. A grant of
£42,000 was obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund
to improve access and information along the Royal Military
Canal. The Project has also helped improve many smaller
sites such as the Lydd House, the scout and guide grounds
at Greatstone and the New Romney Day Centre.
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project has created 19 new
circular walking routes around Romney Marsh and the Royal
Military Canal the 110 miles of walking routes would
take about 56 hours continuous walking to enjoy. In addition,
town walks have been created around New Romney and Lydd.
Romney Marsh is ideal country for cycling, and the Romney
Marsh Countryside Project has created 5 new circular cycle
rides there are 102 miles of signposted cycle route
to enjoy.
The walks and cycle rides take in all the towns and villages
of Romney Marsh.
Furthermore, the Romney Marsh Countryside Project has helped
in the implementation of National Cycle Route No 2 (Dover
West Country), which passes through Romney Marsh,
and in the implementation of the Royal Military Canal Path,
a new recreation path between Seabrook (near Hythe) and
Cliff End (near Hastings).
You may have noticed the many interpretation panels that
have been created and installed by the Romney Marsh Countryside
Project, to help people understand more about the wildlife
and history of the area. Panels have been installed at 19
sites, including Dungeness, New Romney, Lade, Littlestone,
Greatstone, St Mary¹s Bay, Newchurch, Hope All Saints
(near New Romney) and at ten locations along the Royal Military
Canal.
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project has been working with
the Environment Agency and English Nature to monitor rare
species such as water vole, medicinal leech, great crested
newt and greater water parsnip, all of which have populations
of national significance on Dungeness and Romney Marsh.
The Project has been advising landowners, and assisting
with works such as the construction of ponds and creation
of grassland buffer strips alongside drainage ditches.
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project has publicised the
Romney Marsh in the national press and on television. You
can find out more about the Project on the web site www.rmcp.co.uk,
or on the new web site for the Royal Military Canal www.royalmilitarycanal.com
A full Achievements Report will be published in the autumn
2006, when a new Project Officer for Romney Marsh has been
appointed (it is being advertised at present).
Further information from Owen Leyshon (01797 367934) or
Kirk Alexander (01304 241806, Mobile 07885 599182).
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