Early morning mist

Some beautiful views this morning from the fields by St Mary's Church Sevington.

 

 

And next looking back from the stream towards the church.

 

Another view, this time from the ploughed field

 through the hazy mist.

Footpath AU53

Footpath AU53 starts at the roundabout at junction 10 of the M20. It is well signposted as you can see.

The footpath winds down the slope towards the open fields in the direction of St Mary's Church Sevington. Unfortunately, due to the proximity to the very busy road, the slope is littered with rubbish. But don't let that detract from the open aspect in front of you. Climb the stile and cross the field towards a line of trees.

 

A small stream runs through these trees, but it is not visible until you are standing over it. The footpath crosses the stream over what appears to be a stone built bridge which has been reinforced to take the weight of the farmer's tractor. Further along the stream is another crossing, this one a brick built structure.

 

Some more views of the stream.

 

 

 

 

I noted a clump of  cuckooflowers ( Cardamine pratensis), visited by bumble bees.

 

This footpath crosses directly over the land which is due to be developed and will undoubtedly be revoked if planning is approved. The land is currently planted with crops, and the path is not clearly visible, but it is easy enough to follow the directional arrows on the stile.

 



In my next post I will take you along another of the footpaths that cross the proposed development.

 

Parkland?

Here is a link to the digitally mastered, pristinely tidy parkland that the developers are proposing.

http://www.sevington.net/docs/PRESENTATION-TO-ABC-18.10.13.pdf

They plan to provide a unique sense of place. I am not sure what you feel about this phrase, but it means very little to me.

The relatively empty streets depicted will surely look different when filled with foreign lorries and the neat and tidy bushes lining the street will be littered with bottles of urine and human faeces. That is not an alarmist statement in any way, but simply a reflection on what has happened to all the surrounding roads in the retail parks.

Nearby is a medieval moat owned by the Sevington family in the 1200s.The original house was demolished and all that remains is the moat surrounded by a bank and listed as an ancient monument. Visitors are welcome to walk around it but you will need to watch where you put your feet as the area is badly contaminated with human faeces as it serves as a convenient toilet area for overnighting lorry drivers in the adjacent retail park.

 

What could be a useful and interesting community resource is neglected, with the information signs overgrown and damaged. Sandwiched between industrial units perhaps this is an indication of how future 'parkland' will appear.

Good luck reading these signs.

March Mud

Walking through the fields on that dreary March day, there was still much to attract my interest. The top field, nearest to the church is currently fenced off for grazing horses.

 

 

The public footpaths that cross the land are muddy due to the wet weather recently, but in suitable footwear, not impossible to follow.

The stand of old trees (between the  two fields bordering the dual carriageway) have suffered in the winter storms with some specimens fallen and many branches down. These broken branches provide an excellent wildlife habitat.

 

 

A pair of pheasants scampered in front of me when a man with 2 Golden Retriever dogs came walking across the open space.

To the other side of these fields, a large expanse of ploughed land opened out the landscape. On the bare brown soil were myriads of birds foraging among the clods of earth, scattering as I tried to photograph them.

 

Leading up to the church, there are daffodils lining the muddy track and a robin followed my progress closely as several dunnocks hopped around beneath the bushes. The ancient yew trees at the back of the church are worth a look. One has been badly damaged by recent severe weather, but the other stands firm as it has stood for hundreds of years.

 

 

 

Soon there will be blossom on the bushes and I look forward to recording the changing seasons in my photographic record of an endangered environment.

Diary of an endangered environment

Once upon a time there was a very beautiful 12th Century church, serving a small rural community in Kent. This church is now a Grade 1 listed building and nestles in countryside, protected from the surrounding network of roads by stands of trees and agricultural land.

 

All that is likely to change if  planning application 14/00906/AS is passed, when the agricultural land will be concreted over and large warehouses, open 24hrs a day, will swamp the little church.

 

Today is a damp and gloomy day in mid March. Despite the weather, there is a serene beauty to the church and  here are some views  which will be lost forever if this planning application goes ahead..