Parish Cake Autumn 2020

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
LEFT: The “green feel” of Cranbrook from St.
Dunstan’s Church tower
ANDY FINN
JUNE BELL
Landscape
and Natural
Environment
ABOVE :
Cranbrook
allotments
were welltended
during
lockdown
LEFT: Ox-eye
daisies attract
bees and other
pollinating
insects vital for
blackcurrant
and apple
crops at
Hallwood Farm
Cllr. Nancy Warne on the landscape chapter of
the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Neighbourhood
Development Plan
NIGEL WICKHAM
HOW LUCKY we are to be
surrounded by so much
beautiful countryside! Whether
we enjoy watching the birds
and butterflies in our gardens,
walking the dog along one of
our many footpaths or growing
our own food on an allotment,
getting out and about to
appreciate the natural world
is good for our well-being and
our mental health. This was
especially noticeable during
the coronavirus lockdown
earlier this year, when access
to a garden and open green
space become even more
important.
During consultation
workshops, residents told
us how much they valued
the open green spaces in
the parish, the beauty of the
historic Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (AONB)
landscape, and the variety of
the wildlife and their habitats:
meadows, trees, hedges,
streams and ponds.
The distinctive “green feel”
to our parish is something we
want to protect, for the benefit
of people and nature.
Building future resilience to
climate change by protecting
and making the most of our
natural resources is essential
to guard against flooding
and maintain good quality
air, water and soil. Ensuring
that new developments make
a positive contribution to
the ecological networks and
biodiversity of the parish is
vital.
To prevent further
fragmentation of wildlife
habitats, and to increase the
amount and range of species,
policies will ask developers
to demonstrate a net gain for
nature. We want to protect
special places for nature
conservation, as well as
ensuring plenty of access to
green spaces for all.
10 Parish Cake • Autumn 2020