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Achievements
May 2005 to March 2008

• Funding secured from 2005 - 31 March 2008 £70, 039

2008

• 31 March 2008 - Paths officially opened by Nigel Wheeler, High Sheriff of Kent; Cllr Paul Carter, Leader KCC and Cllr Denise Joy, Deputy Mayor of Maidstone.

• March 2008 - Restoration of several hundred meters of footpath completed. Total project cost £30,150

• March 2008 - 1st phase of coppicing completed, covering nearly 6 hectares of woodland.

• March 2008 - 3 additional kissing gates installed. Total for the area - 19

• March 2008 - 2 additional horse gates installed. Total for the area - 5

• February 2008 - 1 hectare of scrub cleared and 350m of fencing erected by BWAG volunteers.

2007

• During 2007, sixteen kissing gates installed on paths KH9; KH38; KH52; KH50; KH51 (Day Valley, Strawberry Banks, Arran Bank Farm and surrounding areas). A further three gates are due to be installed in March 2008.

• December 2007 - Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) introduced on byway KH94 and installation of gates at both ends of byway. Only permit holders and landowners are now allowed to use the byway.

• November 2007 - Royal Engineers begin path restoration on bridlepath KH56, which links byway KH94 to White Hill. They will return in February 2008 for another month to complete the work.

• November 2007 - BWAG volunteers & KCC Public Rights of Ways Officer installed 45 steps on footpath KH9.

• April 2007 - Extensive work in the White Hill area completed. This included the clearance of fly tipping; new fencing; a substantial metal barrier to deter further fly tippers and deny illegal access to off road vehicles.

• March 2007 - Several hundred meters of byway renovated.

• March 2007 - Coppicing and scrub clearance commenced of approximately 6 hectares.

• Spring 2007 - The Royal Engineers conducted a survey of Bredhurst Hurst.

2006

• November 2006 - BWAG winners of the KCC 'Awards for Volunteering Excellence' (environmental category).

• November 2006 - 2nd Fly-tipping clean up day. Over 30 BWAG members took part.

• July 2006 - Kent Wildlife Trust published a 5 year Management Plan for Bredhurst Hurst and a Schedule of Works for year 1 and 2.

• May 2006 - BWAG Membership Scheme Launched. Now have nearly 300 members.

• April 2006 - 1st Fly-tipping clean up day helped by 60 volunteers. Removed over 100 tons of rubbish from Bredhurst Hurst.

• April 2006 - A 1500 signature petition handed to Hugh Robertson MP demanding that action be taken to preserve our woodland. This has now been formally presented to Parliament.

• March 2006 - 1000m of fencing erected in Day Valley. This chalk grassland is open access land and of environmental importance due to the rare species of flora present. This was funded by the landowner and Mid Kent Downs Project.

• Spring 2006 - A Breeding bird survey was conducted in Monkdown Wood. This showed a decline in bird species and that urgent action was required to improve the situation.

2005

• November 2005 - 400m of fencing erected along Hurstwood Road from the village hall and along the byway. This was funded by the Mid Kent Downs Project.

• July 2005 - Land Registry search undertaken for Bredhurst Hurst. Of the 139 plot holders, 70 have now been traced, with 68 giving BWAG permission to carry out maintenance work and access to their land. 25 owners have indicated that they wish to sell and BWAG are currently fund raising to secure this land for future generations.