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Roadside Nature Reserves in Kent

. There are 134 RNRs in Kent.. Protecting Wildlife for the Future. What are Roadside Nature Reserves?. Kent's RNRs protect about 90 kms of important roadside habitat.This includes threatened habitats such as ancient woodland, chalk grassland and heathland.Some RNRs hold locally or nationally rare species such as Lizard orchid on a verge in Thanet and Saw-wort on a verge in Tunbridge Wells..

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Roadside Nature Reserves in Kent

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    1. Roadside Nature Reserves in Kent RNR scheme running since 1994 – managed by Kent Wildlife trust and funded by Kent Highways Services History – road verges surveyed and the 10 best sites in each district were selected. Criteria for designation – habitat based and no. of indicator species – presence of particularly rare species.RNR scheme running since 1994 – managed by Kent Wildlife trust and funded by Kent Highways Services History – road verges surveyed and the 10 best sites in each district were selected. Criteria for designation – habitat based and no. of indicator species – presence of particularly rare species.

    2. Approx 134 RNRs in Kent covering approx 90 km of road verge The map shows the disatribution of the sites. Note the concentration of sites along the north downs 70% chalk grassland sites 20% ancient woodland edges Remaining 10% are hathland, neutral and acid grasslandApprox 134 RNRs in Kent covering approx 90 km of road verge The map shows the disatribution of the sites. Note the concentration of sites along the north downs 70% chalk grassland sites 20% ancient woodland edges Remaining 10% are hathland, neutral and acid grassland

    3. Another verge in Tunbridge Wells was designated mainly because it has a good population of coralroot bittercress which is a nationally scarce species.Another verge in Tunbridge Wells was designated mainly because it has a good population of coralroot bittercress which is a nationally scarce species.

    4. Aim is to keep the management prescription as simple as possible for highways cutting contractors. On the sites where we can work with volunteers, we can carry out more detailed/specific management to suit the species for the site. For example sites where we know there are reptiles present we will create areas with habitat piles and some scrub/long grass and may position refugia to help with monitoring of the species.Aim is to keep the management prescription as simple as possible for highways cutting contractors. On the sites where we can work with volunteers, we can carry out more detailed/specific management to suit the species for the site. For example sites where we know there are reptiles present we will create areas with habitat piles and some scrub/long grass and may position refugia to help with monitoring of the species.

    5. This shows a typical management plan, which provides details about the location of the site, length, width, habitat type, some of the key species and a simple management prescription. The management plans are being updated to a similar format for the Local wildlife Sites.This shows a typical management plan, which provides details about the location of the site, length, width, habitat type, some of the key species and a simple management prescription. The management plans are being updated to a similar format for the Local wildlife Sites.

    6. All the RNRs are on a GIS layer which is available to Kent Highways services, utility companies and Jacobs (the organisation responsible for verge management). In addition, we have individual maps for each site as shown here. This particular site shows the existing RNR (in purple) and the new areas which are being added to the complex (bright green).All the RNRs are on a GIS layer which is available to Kent Highways services, utility companies and Jacobs (the organisation responsible for verge management). In addition, we have individual maps for each site as shown here. This particular site shows the existing RNR (in purple) and the new areas which are being added to the complex (bright green).

    7. This verge is adjacent to a road which has been closed – hence no high visibility jackets.This verge is adjacent to a road which has been closed – hence no high visibility jackets.

    8. The role of the Volunteer Warden There are over 65 volunteers helping with the Road Verge Project They report back on time of cuts and general condition of the site Carry out occasional litter picking Report back on problems such as, fly tipping, overriding or missing RNR signs/posts The information that the volunteers provide is vital to help keep up to date with what is happening on all the sites.The information that the volunteers provide is vital to help keep up to date with what is happening on all the sites.

    9. The role of Volunteer Wardens Help with monitoring during the summer months Counting key species e.g. orchids Recording other flora and fauna Some volunteers help with management tasks over the winter, such as, scrub clearance, brushcutting and raking

    10. A small section of the Blue bell Hill RNR. The complex of RNRs in this area support no less than eight different species of orchid.A small section of the Blue bell Hill RNR. The complex of RNRs in this area support no less than eight different species of orchid.

    11. Working on the Blue bell hill Cuttings are raked and then put into drag bags and taken to skip (not in view) for green waste. When I first started, cuttings went to landfill Not very sustainable . Working on the Blue bell hill Cuttings are raked and then put into drag bags and taken to skip (not in view) for green waste. When I first started, cuttings went to landfill Not very sustainable .

    12. What to do with the cuttings? What to do with the cuttings?

    13. Cutting, raking, in bags to transfer to recipient site (nearby farm with arable margins)Cutting, raking, in bags to transfer to recipient site (nearby farm with arable margins)

    14. Volunteer work party at Lydden Hill RNR, creating open chalk grassland scallops in wooded/scrubby vergeVolunteer work party at Lydden Hill RNR, creating open chalk grassland scallops in wooded/scrubby verge

    15. CA03, Covet/Covert Wood RNR following a full width cut of the verge during the winter –road through a woodland area can act as a woodland ride. This cut is normally undertaken by a highways contractor and the verge is raked by volunteers in some years.CA03, Covet/Covert Wood RNR following a full width cut of the verge during the winter –road through a woodland area can act as a woodland ride. This cut is normally undertaken by a highways contractor and the verge is raked by volunteers in some years.

    16. CA07 chalk grassland verges becoming scrubbed over Difficult to work here with volunteers because the road is narrow and quite busy Hairy Rock cress Arabis hirsuta (nationally scarce) has been recorded here – I spike seen about 3 years ago CA07 chalk grassland verges becoming scrubbed over Difficult to work here with volunteers because the road is narrow and quite busy Hairy Rock cress Arabis hirsuta (nationally scarce) has been recorded here – I spike seen about 3 years ago

    17. CA04 Breach Downs RNR Cowslips - CA04 Breach Downs RNR Cowslips -

    19. Early purple orchid on RNR near Hawkhurst, Tunbridge WellsEarly purple orchid on RNR near Hawkhurst, Tunbridge Wells

    20. Avoiding cutting grassland verges during the summer allows flowers such as ox-eye daisy to flower and set seed and attract invertebrates such as this 7 spot ladybird.Avoiding cutting grassland verges during the summer allows flowers such as ox-eye daisy to flower and set seed and attract invertebrates such as this 7 spot ladybird.

    21. Spiny restharrow (County scarce)- which grows along the Old Thanet Way RNRSpiny restharrow (County scarce)- which grows along the Old Thanet Way RNR

    22. Close up lady orchid, nationally scarce can be found on a few woodland RNRs in Kent – in Covet/Covert wood and the RNRClose up lady orchid, nationally scarce can be found on a few woodland RNRs in Kent – in Covet/Covert wood and the RNR

    23. Scarlet elf cap recorded on RNR through Covert Wood (never recorded this far east in the county before)Scarlet elf cap recorded on RNR through Covert Wood (never recorded this far east in the county before)

    24. Bird’s nest orchid, a saprophytic plant appears on woodland verges. Tends to grow under beech. It has a n association with a fungus and derives its nutrients from dead leaf litter. This occurs on some of the woodland verges in the canterbury district – not seen every yearBird’s nest orchid, a saprophytic plant appears on woodland verges. Tends to grow under beech. It has a n association with a fungus and derives its nutrients from dead leaf litter. This occurs on some of the woodland verges in the canterbury district – not seen every year

    25. Greater and lesser butterfly orchid have been recorded at the Covert Wood CA03 RNRGreater and lesser butterfly orchid have been recorded at the Covert Wood CA03 RNR

    26. Bee orchid, likes the chalk and disturbed groundBee orchid, likes the chalk and disturbed ground

    27. Man orchid nationally scarce (photos taken by John Kemp )Man orchid nationally scarce (photos taken by John Kemp )

    28. Chalkhill blue, Adonis blue needs horseshoe vetch , 8 spot burnet moth and Small blue needs kidney vetch Chalkhill blue, Adonis blue needs horseshoe vetch , 8 spot burnet moth and Small blue needs kidney vetch

    29. Marble white on Gt Knapweed can be seen along Featherbed LaneMarble white on Gt Knapweed can be seen along Featherbed Lane

    30. Common lizardCommon lizard

    31. Constraints Financial Re-organisation at Kent Highways Incorrect management Safety issues for some sites Lack of manpower

    32. Benefits Wildlife corridors Improve aesthetics of road verges Raise Public awareness Engage the local community Vital reservoirs for rare species Connections in the Living Landscape

    33. Lydden seed harvesting project Seed from a section of the RNR was collected and distributed on arable field margin close by (both sites on chalk) to enhance the site. Joint scheme between KWT and Rural Development service (DEFRA) with co-operation from DDC and obviously the farmer.Seed from a section of the RNR was collected and distributed on arable field margin close by (both sites on chalk) to enhance the site. Joint scheme between KWT and Rural Development service (DEFRA) with co-operation from DDC and obviously the farmer.

    34. Distributing the seed along arable margin

    35. Lydden Complex Lydden Complex – A unique partnership with DDC, KCC, DEFRA (CSS), Adjacent Farmer and KWT(Photo J McAllister)Lydden Complex – A unique partnership with DDC, KCC, DEFRA (CSS), Adjacent Farmer and KWT(Photo J McAllister)

    36. Cattle grazing compartment 1 Lydden Hill (photo by John McAllister). The cattle belong to the adjacent farmerCattle grazing compartment 1 Lydden Hill (photo by John McAllister). The cattle belong to the adjacent farmer

    37. Equipment for the future!Equipment for the future!

    38. Cutter with collector on the back Cutter with collector on the back

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