Jeskyns
Encyclopedia
Jeskyns is near Cobham
, in Kent
, England. A former farm, now large open-space recreational area with areas being developed as new wildlife habitats.
's last acts as the head of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister
, money from the ODPM's sustainable communities fund was given to the Forestry Commission
to buy the land and turn it into a community woodland. However when tractors ploughed up the arable
crop fields and with them went around 60 nests full of newly-born skylarks
and their eggs.
A Forestry Commission spokesman later admitted that the ploughing was an "operational misjudgement which we regret". "We certainly had no intention of harming any birds," he said. "We have commissioned an ornithologist to advise us on the way forward."
The design of the new woodland, was similar to Thames Chase (another Forestry Commission Wood http://www.forestry.gov.uk/thameschase). The site is part of the Green Belt
around Gravesend
. The west part of the site is a Special Landscape Area
and east part of the site is in the North Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
.
Since then, 150,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, 2054 traditional orchard trees have been planted, 6.8km (4 miles) of all accessible paths have been laid (this includes disabled friendly paths as well), 5556m2 of new ponds created (Henhurst Lake - wildlife lake and Ashenbank Pond - quiet, meadowland pond), 765 people planted a tree (or ten!) not including independent contractors, 145 tonnes of rubbish removed from the site (including over 700 tyres, 3 cars and many washing machines!).
Also 13 local Cobham area schools and 14 uniformed children’s groups have been involved in the project.
The opportunity to reinstate elements of a traditional Kentish farm landscape was also being investigated by the Forestry Commission.
Jeskyns opened to the public in July 2007,
Jeskyns works in partnership with five other sites in the local area? They are Shorne Wood Country Park
, Ranscombe Farm Reserve, Cobham Park
, Ashenbank Wood and the Cobham Leisure Plots.
Five marked trails lead around the site;- Court Wood Trail 1/4 mile (walkers), Henhurst Lake Walk 1 1/4mile (walkers and cyclists), Broomfield Loop 1 3/4 mile (walkers and cyclists), Orchard Walk 2miles (walkers and cyclists) and Horse trail 5miles.
Other major achievements for the site include the creation of ‘natural play features’ including a tree house, a cone pool (based on a children's ball pool but with pine comes instead of plastic balls) and a sandpit, and a number of environmental art sculptures. Mostly all designed and created by Walter Bailey
. Mostly of the huge figures have come from a single piece of oak
or sweet chestut and then carved by a chainsaw
.
dual carriageway at Sole Street/Gravesend
junction. Along Henhurst Road towards Sole Street. The car park is on the left.
Cobham
- Towns or districts :* Cobham, Kent, England* Cobham, Surrey, England* Cobham, Virginia , multiple places- Other place names :* Cobham Intermediate School* Cobham Sports and Social Club...
, in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England. A former farm, now large open-space recreational area with areas being developed as new wildlife habitats.
History
This was once a large farm of 360 acres (145.7 ha), which was put on the market in 2005, following the death of its owner. The guide price for the land was between £1.1 million and £1.3 million. As one of John PrescottJohn Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
's last acts as the head of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
, money from the ODPM's sustainable communities fund was given to the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
to buy the land and turn it into a community woodland. However when tractors ploughed up the arable
Arable
Arable relates to the growing of crops:* Arable farming or agronomy, the cultivation of field crops* Arable land, land upon which crops are cultivated.* Arable crops program, a consolidated support system operated under the EU Common Agricultural Policy....
crop fields and with them went around 60 nests full of newly-born skylarks
Skylarks
Skylarks is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox and Nancy Burne.-Partial cast:* Jimmy Nervo - Jimmy Doakes* Teddy Knox - Teddy Cook* Nancy Burne - Marion Hicks* Queenie Leonard - Maggie Hicks...
and their eggs.
A Forestry Commission spokesman later admitted that the ploughing was an "operational misjudgement which we regret". "We certainly had no intention of harming any birds," he said. "We have commissioned an ornithologist to advise us on the way forward."
The design of the new woodland, was similar to Thames Chase (another Forestry Commission Wood http://www.forestry.gov.uk/thameschase). The site is part of the Green Belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
around Gravesend
Gravesend
Gravesend may refer to:Places in the United Kingdom:*Gravesend, Kent*Gravesend, Hertfordshire, a hamlet of Albury, HertfordshirePlaces in the USA and Australia:*Gravesend, Brooklyn*Gravesend, New South WalesOther meanings...
. The west part of the site is a Special Landscape Area
Special Landscape Area
A Special Landscape Area is a non-statutory conservation designation used by local government in some parts of the United Kingdom to categorise sensitive landscapes which are, either legally or as a matter of policy, protected from development or other man-made influences.The term is commonly used...
and east part of the site is in the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
.
Since then, 150,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, 2054 traditional orchard trees have been planted, 6.8km (4 miles) of all accessible paths have been laid (this includes disabled friendly paths as well), 5556m2 of new ponds created (Henhurst Lake - wildlife lake and Ashenbank Pond - quiet, meadowland pond), 765 people planted a tree (or ten!) not including independent contractors, 145 tonnes of rubbish removed from the site (including over 700 tyres, 3 cars and many washing machines!).
Also 13 local Cobham area schools and 14 uniformed children’s groups have been involved in the project.
The opportunity to reinstate elements of a traditional Kentish farm landscape was also being investigated by the Forestry Commission.
Jeskyns opened to the public in July 2007,
Jeskyns works in partnership with five other sites in the local area? They are Shorne Wood Country Park
Shorne Wood Country Park
Shorne Wood Country Park is in Gravesend, in Kent, England. It was once part of a large estate and then later passed to the council to be used as a country park.-History:This park was once part of the large Cobham Hall Estate...
, Ranscombe Farm Reserve, Cobham Park
Cobham Park
Cobham Park is a former country house, situated to the north of Downside, Surrey, England which was formerly the seat of John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier. It was later the home of Harvey Christian Combe, who was Lord Mayor of London and a partner in the Combe Delafield and Co...
, Ashenbank Wood and the Cobham Leisure Plots.
Facilities
The site has five areas for different uses:- Jeskyns Wood - large newly planted woodland (mainly broadleaf trees) along the A2A2A2 is a letter-number combination.The terms A2, A02, A002, A², A.II or A-2 may refer to:-Media:Gaming :* A2 Racer, a 1997 Dutch racing computer game series...
transport corridor, adding to the current woodland habitats, - Jeskyns Glades - this is a wildflower meadow, surrounded by pockets of naturalised woodland,
- Jeskyns Meadows - the site has various archaeological finds, these are protected by a large area of grazed meadowland, this also gives the added bonus of open views across the park,
- Jeskyns Orchards - has over 900 different varieties of cherry, plum, apple and pear trees planted to make up the 2504 tree traditional orchard,
- Jeskyns Grove - wildflower meadow open area, with a backdrop of informal woodland, with occasional orchard planting within,
Five marked trails lead around the site;- Court Wood Trail 1/4 mile (walkers), Henhurst Lake Walk 1 1/4mile (walkers and cyclists), Broomfield Loop 1 3/4 mile (walkers and cyclists), Orchard Walk 2miles (walkers and cyclists) and Horse trail 5miles.
Other major achievements for the site include the creation of ‘natural play features’ including a tree house, a cone pool (based on a children's ball pool but with pine comes instead of plastic balls) and a sandpit, and a number of environmental art sculptures. Mostly all designed and created by Walter Bailey
. Mostly of the huge figures have come from a single piece of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
or sweet chestut and then carved by a chainsaw
Chainsaw
A chainsaw is a portable mechanical saw, powered by electricity, compressed air, hydraulic power, or most commonly a two-stroke engine...
.
Location
Situated off the A2A2
A2 is a letter-number combination.The terms A2, A02, A002, A², A.II or A-2 may refer to:-Media:Gaming :* A2 Racer, a 1997 Dutch racing computer game series...
dual carriageway at Sole Street/Gravesend
Gravesend
Gravesend may refer to:Places in the United Kingdom:*Gravesend, Kent*Gravesend, Hertfordshire, a hamlet of Albury, HertfordshirePlaces in the USA and Australia:*Gravesend, Brooklyn*Gravesend, New South WalesOther meanings...
junction. Along Henhurst Road towards Sole Street. The car park is on the left.