Orchids destroyed amid no-deal fears
BREXIT no-deal planning meant a council destroyed 17,000 of Britain’s rarest orchids in one day – and it will take up to eight years for them to grow back.
Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers had been tending the purple carpet of rare bee, man and common spotted orchids for over 15 years. A spokesman said they were “devastated” by the news.
Not only did they attract a thriving population of bees, but 20 different butterfly species were sustained by the verge on the A229 where they grew.
Now, all that remains of the verge is a lump of mud after Kent county council ordered it to be bulldozed to make way for a drainage ditch due to Operation Brock, intended to tackle queues coming to and from Dover in the case of a no-deal Brexit. The plan includes resurfacing and strengthening roads in anticipation of increased use. Operation Brock has now been deactivated due to the Brexit delay.
The council has apologised to the Kent Wildlife Trust and given it permission to restore the nature reserve and replant orchids.
Trust member Christine Hodgetts said: “I’d be interested in joining in restoration work but I’m still furious that this has been made necessary by totally insensitive work on a totally unnecessary drainage ditch.”
A Kent county council spokesman said: “Drainage works were required to renew and improve the existing system to prevent flooding and aquaplaning. We have met with the Kent Wildlife Trust and will be funding remediation works alongside discussions about the long-term management of the site for wildlife and highway safety.”