Please complete this questionnaire, it will only take a few minutes:
http://www.dover.gov.uk/leisure,_culture__tourism/countryside-1/white_cliffs_landscape_partner.aspx
The landscape around Dover and Folkestone is internationally important for its rolling chalk grasslands, intersected by woodland and scrub, which is home to a colourful range of wildflowers and animals. The value of the landscape has been further enhanced by people's interaction with it over hundreds of years, represented by, amongst other things, tiny villages, churches, place names, burial mounds and, of course, castles.
The importance of this landscape has been recognised by the Heritage Lottery Fund with the allocation of £2.3 million for a Landscape Partnership Scheme.
Over the next year, Dover District Council will work with partner organisations and the public to plan this five year scheme, which, if successful, will begin in the summer of 2012.
The White Cliffs Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to work with local communities, schools, organisations and landowners so they can better understand, conserve and engage with this unique landscape.
So far the following projects have been identified across four key themes:
Conserve and restore built and natural features
Conservation, improvement and extension of the chalk downland landscape
Increase habitat connectivity through Roadside Nature Reserves
Conservation, restoration and research of historic buildings and features
Increase community participation in local heritage
A mobile outreach vehicle to help people engage with and learn about the landscape across the scheme area
Building new partnerships with local communities and farmers and landowners to assist with habitat management
Increase access to and learning about the landscape
Creation of new access trails
Improve interpretation to help people better understand the landscape
An education shelter at Samphire Hoe
An interactive education programme for schools and local communities
An initiative to address misuse and abuse of the countryside
Increase training opportunities in local heritage skills
A programme to help people engage with the landscape through art and new media
Providing skills for local people to help conserve the landscape
These projects are just indicative at this stage and we will be developing them further with partners and local communities over the coming year.
Have Your Say
Please fill out our online questionnaire to tell us what you value about this landscape and how you use it and have the chance of winning a local produce hamper.
To find out more information or how to get invloved please contact Richard Haynes on 01304 872130 or email
richard.haynes@dover.gov.uk
The White Cliffs Landscape Partnership Scheme is being hosted by Dover District Council. The partnership currently includes Dover District Council, Shepway District Council, Kent County Council, Kent Downs AONB Unit, White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, Kent Wildlife Trust, National Trust, Eurotunnel and Natural England.
