THE CHARITY KNOWN AS COBTREE MANOR ESTATE

COBTREE MANOR ESTATE CHARITY COMMITTEE

9^th NOVEMBER 2011

JOINT REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND THE COBTREE OFFICER

Report Prepared by: Eva Girling – Cobtree Ranger and Jason Taylor – Parks and Leisure Manager

1.                           RANGERS PROGRESS REPORT - COBTREE MANOR PARK

1.1                        Heritage Lottery Fund Grant Application

1.1.1                    A Round 1 application requesting a project development grant of £40,000 and a delivery grant of £590,000 was submitted to the HLF at the end of August. Those grants represent 48% and 47% respectively of the estimated project costs. The decision is expected in December.

1.2                        Conservation Statement

 As part of the grant application a 50page Conservation Statement was prepared describing what is currently known about the history of the site and its existing heritage features. The document is available in digital form from the Parks and Leisure Manager and from the Cobtree Park Ranger.

1.3                        On-going projects

1.3.1                   Events

Between April and October, 24 guided walks and one self-guided event took place attracting 298 adults and 76 children. Compared to the 2010 total of 184, this represents a 103% increase in attendance. The most popular events were: a self-guided trail using GPS, night-time nature walks, mini-beast safaris and walks-and-talks on the history of Maidstone zoo.

1.3.2                   Community Involvement

Involvement of volunteers with the park is on-going. Since May, a further 140 hours of voluntary work have been donated in the form of: assistance with maintenance tasks, leading of guided walks, assistance with the history research for the Conservation Statement, and proof reading the Statement and the HLF application form.

Since September a new work-experience student, from Hadlow College (Countryside Management degree course) has worked on a voluntary basis with the Park Ranger, one day a week.

1.3.3                   Publicity and Marketing

2,000 park leaflets were printed and distributed this year. The supply ran out in mid-October and it is suggested that next year 3,000 leaflets are printed.

1.3.4                   Park Maintenance and Development

As usual, the main maintenance task during summer was the control of grass and weeds. Meadow areas have been established in the upper parts of the park, those with the greatest botanical interest.

The renovation of the Sheep Wash has been completed by a contractor.

The trunks and branches of some of the mature willow trees that had fallen into the parkland pond have been removed. As a result, about 2/3 of the Pond is now clear of vegetation and the remaining 1/3 provides a refuge for wildlife.

The Parks and Leisure team are in the process of ordering a number of trees for the park which will be sponsored by Boxley Parish Council.

Kent County Council has donated a sculpture to the park. It is a work by a local artist Will Glanfield and is currently located near the Springfield Library. Subject to the Committee’s approval, the sculpture will provide an interesting and much needed focal point in the upper part of the park.

1.4                        Work planned for the autumn winter period

                     i.        Pruning of trees and shrubs

                    ii.        Spreading woodchip on woodland paths

                  iii.        Clearing out the contents of the Elephant House

                  iv.        Updating the park’s webpage

                   v.        Compiling the arboretum database

                  vi.        Updating the park’s leaflet for 2012

                 vii.        Subject to the HLF Round 1 pass and the Committee’s approval, work on the documents needed for the Round 2 application

1.5                        Staff changes at the park

The MBS operative assigned to this park in 2008 retired in September and has now been replaced by one of the Mote Park grounds men, initially on a trial period.

1.6                        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.6.1                   The alternative course of action is to carry out different maintenance works. Works above follow the agreed management plan and it is therefore recommended they go ahead.

1.7                        Impact on Charity Objects

1.7.1                   All the suggested work is required to maintain the park to a suitable standard for the benefit of the public.

1.8                        Risk Management

1.8.1                   Risk assessments will need to be followed throughout the planned works.

1.9                        Other Implications

1.9.1                            

Background Documents