Kentish Express Ashford & District

River project will help wildlife

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A new programme aimed at improving the environmen­t and wildlife on the River Stour has been launched in Godmersham.

Leaders at the Kentish Stour Countrysid­e Partnershi­p won a grant of £85,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund the scheme, called Our Stour.

They launched the programme at Godmersham Park off the A28 for World Rivers Day.

Partnershi­p manager Jon Shelton said: “The event attracted new volunteer river wardens, local groups, sponsors and mayors.

“The outdoor part took place at the riverside where people learnt about river restoratio­n techniques, barn owls, conservati­on volunteeri­ng and had an opportunit­y to do some river dipping. They also had a chance to see our Aqualab educationa­l bus. Our Stour will be working with school groups on river education and this outdoor classroom will be put to good use.”

World Rivers Day takes place in the last week of September.

It was establishe­d by Canadian conservati­onist Mark Angelo after the United Nations launched the Water for Life Decade in 2005, to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for our water resources. Last year, several million people across more than 60 countries took part.

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