July: Wilder Verge

West Farleigh will be judged in this year's South East in Bloom competition in the morning of Tuesday 6th July. We have entered both the Village and the Churchyard categories again and hope to build on our Silver Gilt certificates achieved last year.

 

One of the areas on the route that we will show our judge, Nick Hagon, is the layby on Lower Road. The Bloom team have been working with Kent Wildlife Trust to manage the grass cutting of this verge in a more environmentally conscious schedule. Kent Wildlife Trust have designated 'Wilder Verges' around the county which contain threatened habitats or wildlife. Roadside Nature Reserves can link existing wildlife areas, helping to reconnect and restore landscape so that wildlife is no longer struggling to survive in isolation. This supports a living landscape, which benefits both people and wildlife and makes nature more resilient to future change. 

 

In partnership with Kent Highways they will now designate this area to have a 'Conservation Cut'. This means it will be fully cut once in April and once in October, whilst the in between months will only be the edges to ensure good vehicle visibility and to ensure it looks cared for. We can see already wild annual flowers are growing and looking beautiful. Normally Kent Wildlife Trust give a signpost like the photo attached, however due to cost cuts we will have to make our own signage this year.

 

For more information on the Bloom project, please contact Bloom@TheFarleighs.co.uk