Information for land owners
It is hoped that owners and managers of Local Wildlife Sites will want to consider wildlife when making their management decisions. Kent Wildlife Trust is able to provide advice about suitable management to managers and owners of Local Wildlife Sites, and may be able to help find sources of grant aid to support management work. Wherever possible, the Trust will try to provide this help and advice for free, or will seek to cover costs through grant aid.
Other organisations, such as the various Countryside Management Partnerships in Kent, may also be able to provide advice on suitable management and grant aid.
What it means to land owners
The designation of land as a Local Wildlife Site does not mean that anyone has rights of access to the site which they would not otherwise have.
Local Wildlife Sites have no protection in law. The
owner of land which has been designated as a Local Wildlife Site is not
obliged to carry out work to protect or maintain the land’s wildlife
interest however it is hoped that owners and managers of Local Wildlife
Sites will want to consider wildlife when making their management
decisions.
The Local Planning Authorities in Kent (the County Council, Medway
Unitary Authority, and the various district, borough and city councils)
recognise the importance of Local Wildlife Sites, and provide
protection for them in the Kent and Medway Structure Plan and the
various Local Plans or Local Development Frameworks. Generally,
planning policies protect against development which would damage the
wildlife interest of any Local Wildlife Site, except where the need for
development is so great that it is judged to override that interest.
Help for LWS owners
Owners of Local Wildlife Sites in Kent and Medway may be eligible for
free management advice, assistance with finding grant aid, or
help preparing Farm Environment Plans or management plans.
Contact Neil Coombs or Lyndsey Rule at Kent Wildlife Trust on 01622 662012
