Cuxton Countryside Group was set up following the Kent County Council's Parish Paths Initiative in 1995, when there was a drive for Kent villages and hamlets to organise willing parishioners to keep access open to the surrounding countryside.
Our volunteers have had the opportunity to carry out over 17km of footpath maintenance and woodland management in a superb part of the North Downs.
The scenery is spectacular, with viewpoints in many spots. We are fortunate in having a carpentry volunteer, who enjoys making benches for us to place at these viewpoints.
Some of our initial work has included:
- adding steps to 2 steep slippery slopes into valleys, both still in use today
- setting up a nature trail within one wood used by the local school children
- 15 numbered posts dug in for them to follow the trail
- producing leaflets for winter and summer for identifying special features like fungi, shallow roots, certain trees, badger setts and more.
We normally meet on the third weekend of the month, but when sun and rain combine to accelerate vegetative growth, the Thursday team are also seen widening paths and holding back the brambles and Queen Anne’s Lace.
We can be seen dead hedging, coppicing, dormice monitoring and undertaking general woodland management.
We try to educate our volunteers through occasional identification of unusual plants, trees or bird calls as well organising BBQ’s and pub visits.
Email Jan Batley at ccg.volunteers@hotmail.com to find out how to get involved or visit Cuxton Countryside Group for more information.
