The Romney Marsh Countryside Project is one of numerous projects on the Romney Marsh that is funded in part by the Single Regeneration Budget Round Five (SRB5). In 1999 a bid submitted on behalf of the CASK (Community Action for South Kent) Partnership by Shepway District Council secured £2.7million SRB funding to support a programme with a total value of £10 million. This CASK Partnership links Local Government, Community Support Networks, statutory and non-statutory agencies and the voluntary sector as well as local residents to the benefit and revitalisation of local communities within the project area.

The RMCP has a role to play in the regeneration of the Romney Marsh Area through promotion of sustainable ‘green’ tourism and facilitating local community landscape enhancement projects.

Green Tourism
Green Tourism is about promoting the Romney Marsh for tourism in a sustainable manner, ie using the local environment as an economic resource without compromising its use for future generations. So far the Countryside Project has promoted Green Tourism through:

• Production of ‘Magic of the Romney Marsh’ walks pack
• Production of ‘Romney Marsh Meanders’ cycle pack
• Installation of the New Romney Town Trail Panels and associated leaflet
• An annual programme of Countryside Activities
• Production of nine coastal panels
• Actively protecting the environment and wildlife

The value of these activities to the local community is the money spent and jobs created by visitors attracted by these products and activities.

If you are intending to stay on the Romney Marsh please click here for local accomodation providers.

Working with local people
The Romney Marsh has several interesting websites specifically geared towards local communities, town councils, parish councils, with local forums to discuss relevant issues. The websites also include business directories, useful links and information on Whats On and Places of Interest.

www.romneymarsh.org
www.dymchurchonline.com


Community News

Newchurch Panel. A wildlife panel has been produced and installed at an area in front of the church in winter 2002. This is to complement work the RMCP has carried out in conjunction with Newchurch Parish Council and the local community during 2001. Sponsorship came from Community Action in South Kent (CASK) partnership.

Lydd House. The RMCP have carried out several planting schemes within the grounds of Lydd House through 2001 and 2002. A hawthorn hedge was planted around the boundary of the garden, several raised beds created and several trees have been planted, including a walnut tree. Sponsorship came from Community Action in South Kent (CASK) partnership and BNFL Magnox Generation for the trees.

Lydd Housing. A total of seven trees were planted in Lydd, in conjunction with the local residents. The trees which included aspen, oak and silver birch were sponsored by BNFL Magnox Generation.

Lindsey Field, Lydd Football Ground. The football ground has benefited from several planting schemes in the winters of 2001 and 2002 by the RMCP. A 75m hawthorn and blackthorn hedge has been planted, as well as a group of 20 aspen and alder trees in 2001. At the entrance to the grounds another eight trees have been planted in 2002. Sponsorship came from Community Action in South Kent (CASK) partnership and BNFL Magnox Generation for the trees.

Brookland School. The RMCP carried out a pond construction and wildlife area in the grounds with the help of the school wildlife group in winter 2001. We await the first amphibians to this delightful pond. Sponsorship came from CASK partnership.

Toad Fencing, New Romney. The RMCP carried out a task to construct toad fencing on the Ashford Road, New Romney again in February 2002. We hope the toads appreciate it. Sponsorship came from CASK partnership and British Energy for the materials.

Romney Marsh Visitor Centre & Romney Warren Country Park.

The Project.
Opened in 2004 the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre – managed by Kent Wildlife Trust on behalf of Shepway District Council – aims to let people know about the Marsh’s special wildlife and history, serving as an educational facility while supporting tourism locally.

The centre is also a focus for other activities at the Romney Warren Country Park including:-
• Habitat management of the Local Nature Reserve/SSSI by volunteers
• Countryside activities including children’s Green Gang events and “Green Learning” days led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Romney Marsh Countryside Project
• Training for disabled and unemployed people attached to South Kent College and Kent County Council’s Environmental Task Force Team

Project Supporters.
The project has been developed by a core group including the Romney Warren Project Advisory Group, Shepway District Council, Kent Wildlife Trust, Kent County Council, South Kent College and the Romney Marsh Countryside Project.

The centre and exhibition cost £230,000 and funding and support has been received from many organisations including:-
• Community Action South Kent (CASK) SRB Partnership/SEEDA
• Shepway District Council
• SAGA
• EPAC Landfill Tax Scheme (British Energy)
• The Environment Agency
• Kent County Council Rural Revival
• The Dungeness Trust
• SEEBOARD
• Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

The Building.
Designed by architects BBM Sustainable Design the environmentally friendly timber-framed centre has been built on “brownfield” land, has rendered straw-bale walls, a sedum covered “living roof” and incorporates materials including recycled motorway surface.

As part of the Romney Warren Project’s wider aims much of the construction work was completed by unemployed and disabled trainees attached to South Kent College under the supervision of builders Eco-Librium.

The centre accommodates:-
• A beautiful exhibition featuring the area’s history landscape and wildlife - built using recycled material and low-impact materials
• mini-café
• shop – with sales of local interest items and plants grown on-site by the College trainees
• WC’s

Country Park.
In spite of being sited on a former gravel pit, landfill site and highways depot much of Romney Warren Country Park is an attractive Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated for its fixed dune grassland and seasonal ponds. With nationally important populations of great crested newts, diving beetles, rare medicinal leeches, dragonflies and spiders present Shepway District Council has declared the Park a Local Nature Reserve.

A boardwalk over seasonal ponds and a way-marked trail around part of the SSSI already bring visitors into contact with the site’s wildlife and further improvements are planned including:-
• Construction of a railway halt linking the site with the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
• Interpretation of the site’s wildlife and landscape
• Provision of picnic areas

The Park’s landscaping and management proposals are being developed in the context of a nature conservation management plans provided by the Romney Marsh Countryside Project and Kent Wildlife Trust. Much of this work is being carried out by RMCP and KWT volunteers, KCC Environmental Task Force and South Kent College trainees.

You can be involved too.
Kent Wildlife Trust and Romney Marsh Countryside Project are keen to hear from you if you would like to become involved as a volunteer at the centre or helping to manage the wider site.

Romney Marsh Visitor Centre Opening Times, Location and Contact Details.
Opening times and events will be changing throughout the year so for further information please this website or click onto:-
www.kentwildlife.org.uk/reserves/VisitorCentres/romney_marsh_visitor_centre.htm