BREAKING
Medway Council has announced today that it is extending its consultation until 18 April. This is because it has yet to produce the key Sustainability Appraisal that should have informed their proposals.
We await that missing documentation with interest, and will let you know what it contains.
However, what we do know is that we have got a big fight on our hands to #SaveLodgeHill. If you have yet to complete our online action, please do. If you've done so already - why not use this extra time to send a personal letter to Medway Council. The fate of Lodge Hill's nightingales, and protected places everywhere, depends on it. Thank you
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Adrian Thomas, RSPB Project Manager, introduces our new video that shows Lodge Hill as the nightingales see it.
Lodge Hill SSSI is a fascinating place. It is big; it is packed with natural history; and it is steeped in military history.
In our new video, I reveal for the first time the Lodge Hill that the nightingales use, with the extensive woods, meadows and scrubby habitats that they so love. In our estimate, these habitats cover about 85% of the site. I make no apologies for focusing on that part of the site.
However, the other 15% does contain the evidence of former military activity (we'll visit the colourful military history of Lodge Hill in a later blog). There are areas of tarmac and gently disintegrating buildings scattered here and there. In fact, they're rather good for bats and reptiles! These bits are what is termed 'Previously Developed Land' (the site is not classified as a brownfield site, despite some mistaken claims to the contrary).
But make no mistake: where human eyes might notice the odd building, the nightingales see the swathes of woods and meadows that surround it.
You may wish to read more about People Needs Nature's trip to Lodge Hill and reflections on its value. You can enjoy an wonderfully varied selection of posts here.
And I hugely recommend Greg Hitchcock's blog here at Kent Wildlife Trust, our wonderful campaign partner.
How can you help?
We need as many people to stand up for Lodge Hill as possible by 18 April latest.
Respond to the consultation: Complete the easy online action. But if at all possible, please write a fuller response to the consultation instead. You can find useful information on how to do this here.
On social media: Follow #SaveLodgeHill on Twitter and Facebook. Every retweet, share and new account you tag helps us to reach as many people as possible before the consultation closes on 10th April.