Heaths Countryside Corridor Grants

Firstly HCC would like to thank Kent WildLife Trust, Rail Link Countryside Initiative, Kentish Stour Countryside Project and Mid Kent Downs Project for the continued support they have provided to HCC free of charge. Without this help HCC would not have acheived the results it has. We would also like to thank all of the grant bodies who have supported this community initiative.

The following grants were awarded to cover Events, Activities, development and interpretation:

• Rail Link Countryside Initiative £1547 - awarded
• Awards for All £660 - awarded
• Environment Agency Action Earth Project £50 - awarded

The following grants were awarded to cover Chilston Park purchase, development and interpretation:

• Heritage Lottery Fund £50,000 – awarded
• Kent County Council £3,000 - awarded
• Maidstone Borough Council £5,000 – awarded
• Rail Link Countryside Initiative £28,250 - awarded
• Countryside Partnerships Small Grants Scheme £2500 - awarded

Four grants were awarded and used to purchase Hurst Wood and for improvements at this site:

Four grants were awarded and used to purchase Bull Heath and for improvements at this site:

• Countryside Agency £28,845 - awarded
• Kent County Council £1,000 - awarded
• Mid Kent Downs AONB £1,500 - awarded
• Rail Link Countryside Initiative £1178- awarded

Three grants were awarded and used to cover the cost of planting 2000 trees on the CTRL embankment (Heath Farm): 

• Kent County Council £1,000 - awarded
• Kentish Stour Countryside Project - £3,000 - awarded
• Rail Link Countryside Initiative £3,704 - awarded

Three grants were awarded and used to cover the cost of a feasibility study for the project:

• Rail Link Countryside Initiative £12,248 - awarded
• Kent County Council £1,000 - awarded
• Kent Rural Development Area fund - £1,000 - awarded

HCC also received a set up grant from Rail Link Countryside Initiative of £1,035

We are hoping to submit further applications for grants to cover other sites within the project area.

In particular we are hoping to apply to reduce the overgrowth in the Chilston ice-pond, provide a path through Hurst Wood and to write an educational pack to encourage local schools to make the most of these sites. We will also be encouraging local societies and groups to take guided tours of the HCC sites.

The following grants were applied for to cover further land purchase and development:

English Nature £100,000 – not successful
Tubney Trust £105,000 – not successful

Last updated November 2007