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Kent Wildlife Trust to attend public meeting to discuss proposed development near precious nature reserve in South Blean

Kent Wildlife Trust will be represented at a public meeting to discuss a proposal for a large housing development on the edge of a nature reserve in Swale.

Tonight, Monday 1st July residents will voice their views on the plans to build 1,740 homes and 170 retirement homes on land in Dunkirk, which borders onto Kent Wildlife Trust’s South Blean Nature Reserve. The massive development also includes cycle and footpaths, sports pitches and a new trunk road.

Kent Wildlife Trust representatives are concerned about the scale of the development and the impact it will have on local wildlife and have raised their concerns in a response to the planning application.

Planning Officers at the Trust say that, in addition to the light and noise pollution which will disturb wildlife, wildlife habitat will be lost to make way for the development. In particular, the Trust is concerned about the impacts the build would have on ground-nesting bird species such as skylark and nightjar and birds of conservation concern such as nightingale, which are classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern. Disturbance from an increase in recreational pressures and cat predation pose a serious threat to the bird population, as well as small mammals such as dormice which are present within South Blean Woods.

The rare and endangered heath fritillary butterfly, which has a strong population across the Blean landscape could also be affected by recreational disturbance, light and noise pollution.

Kent Wildlife Trust’s Planning Officer Emma Waller says: “South Blean is a tranquil, important nature-rich site which has significantly improved for wildlife over the years, part of its success is down to relatively low visitor numbers which significantly reduces pressures on the species that live there.

“We are deeply concerned about this proposal, the combined impacts from this Dunkirk development and the 2,000 homes earmarked for inclusion on Canterbury’s local plan in Blean will further squeeze and restrict the wildlife corridor across the district.”

It's not too late to have your say, though. Join us on Monday 1st July at Dunkirk Village Hall at 7:30pm for the public consultation and comment on the planning application here. Struggling with where to start? Check out our guide to responding to planning applications.

Editor's notes

Notes to editors: Some images of South Blean Nature Reserve and heath fritillary butterfly here: South blean

As an additional note, the Trust has objected to a reference by the developer that the local wildlife site has been “recognised by Kent Wildlife Trust as having been commercially managed and relatively poor for wildlife."

The way the developer has used this statement is disingenuous, speculative and enormously inaccurate. The comment does not reflect the current situation for the woodland. Since it has been under our management, it has seen huge benefits in biodiversity, including a rewetting project and the use of wilder grazing animals to manage the area for wildlife.

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