Mote Park improvement
Preparation of bid to BIG/Heritage Lottery Fund
The bid, to be submitted in September 2008, will be for funding
a scheme to improve the access and facilities of Mote Park, at the same time enhancing its
wildlife and safeguarding and interpreting its heritage.
If the bid is successful, the development of detailed
design and management proposals will take place during 2009, and
construction will begin in 2010. The cost of the project is likely
to be about £2.5million.
Consultation of the proposals
Park users are invited to examine the draft proposals at an
exhibition at the park maintenance building between 5 and 20 July
2008, and fill in a comments form at the exhibition or submit
their comments online.
The proposals include:
Major pedestrian
access improvements - an inner and outer
circuits around the 500 acre park providing a variety of
attractive routes for people of all abilities
Local centres - with toilets, catering and
parking in the northeast and southeast areas to serve the
communities living nearby
Wetland wildlife - the former rich wetland
wildlife habitats around the lake will be re-instated and the
wetlands along the river Len will be managed as a nature
reserve
Restoring the
landscape park - enhancing the fine collection of
parkland trees with new plantings, following the early 19th century
design
Management for wildlife - working with the Kent
Wildlife Trust, the council will enhance wildlife habitats across
the park and is considering the reintroduction of cattle grazing in
selected areas
Interpreting the Park’s Heritage to the widest
possible audience
Detailed reports
Thanks to a project planning grant from the BIG/Heritage Lottery, a
landscape consultancy
ACTA have produced a set of reports (plans) that describe
the park’s past and its present-day situation, and outline the
proposals for the future.
The following plans are now available in draft form for
consultation: