Duncan Down is an open, public, area to the south west of Whitstable and is the largest village green in the United Kingdom. It is a 19 hectare (47 acre) area of grass and woodland incorporating two ponds and a brook.
The area is maintained by the Friends of Duncan Down with assistance from Canterbury City Council and has received a grant from the Lottery Breathing Places programme.
Originally intended for housing development in the inter-war years it is now protected by its
village greenA village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
status.
History
At the beginning of the twentieth century a plan was produced that would have involved the development of a large part of the downs for housing. Two very small sections of this plan were built but the remaining sections were never implemented. Until world war II the downs were
grasslandGrasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
but during the war the government directed that they should undergo cultivation and
flaxFlax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
and other crops were planted. After the war the area remained under cultivation, mainly for hay until problems of vandalism made continued use unprofitable. Throughout the 1980's Canterbury City Council provided minimal management of the area manly consisting of grass cutting and rubbish removal.
Since the 1960's four village greens have been registered. These, together, now comprise the area known by the name:
Duncan Down. The first, VG124, an area of scrub and woodland to the northeast of the site was registered in 1969. The second area, originally cultivated farmland, which forms the major part of the site was registered in 1992. The third and fourth areas, VG240 and VG256, both woodland, were registered in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
Ownership
The local council, Canterbury City Council is the main landowner. There are several plots of land under private ownership but the majority of the land has no registered owner.
Grassland
Approximately one quarter of the area of the downs is set aside as grassland which provides food for insects, birds, and the significant rabbit population. Although this grassland would ideally be controlled by animal grazing, the lack of ruminants on the site means that an annual hay harvest is undertaken.
Grass types present include perennial rye,
sheep's fescueSheep's Fescue or Sheep Fescue is a species of grass.-General Description:It is a perennial plant sometimes found in acidic ground, for example in the Portlethen Moss, Scotland and mountain pasture, throughout Europe and eastwards across much of Asia; it has also been introduced to North...
, sweet vernal, and
timothyTimothy-grass , is an abundant perennial grass native to most of Europe except for the Mediterranean region. It grows to 50–150 cm tall, with leaves up to 45 cm long and 1 cm broad. The flowerhead is 7–15 cm long and 8–10 mm broad, with densely packed spikelets...
.
Flowering plants within the grassland areas include: birdsfoot trefoil, buttercup,
cloverClover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
,
flaxFlax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
, ox-eye daisy, and vetch. The clover is of particular importance as bacteria within the root system fix nitrogen in the soil which is then used by other plants.
PoppiesA poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
appear occasionally but are rare as the soil is not disturbed.
Slow Worms and lizards are found within the grassland existing on insects and slugs.
Scrubland
Scrubland forms around one fifth of the downs and is an important feature of the assisted evolution of the site. It is the natural result of leaving an area uncultivated and consists of a broad mixture of native tree species, mainly
oakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and
sycamoreSycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....
. Naturally occurring shrubs include
blackthornPrunus spinosa is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America....
,
dog roseRosa canina is a variable scrambling rose species native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia....
,
hawthorn- Plants :* Crataegus , a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae* Rhaphiolepis , a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosaceae...
(also known as sloe, and
blackberryThe blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
(
brambleBrambles are thorny plants of the genus Rubus, in the rose family . Bramble fruit is the fruit of any such plant, including the blackberry and raspberry. The word comes from Germanic *bram-bezi, whence also German Brombeere , Dutch Braam and French framboise...
). As the scrubland matures areas of it are cut back leaving semi-mature trees standing. In some areas, clearings are made and various native species are planted. Bird ringing is undertaken at this location to assist in research into the behaviour, particularly migratory patterns, of the resident birds.
Woodland
Approximately half of the down is woodland. There are three named woods: Trench Wood, Gorrell Wood, and Benacre Wood. Trench and Gorrel woods have formed over the last 50-60 years from scrub land but Benacre Wood is a remnant of an ancient forest that once covered around 1214 hectare (3000 acres) of the locality. Trench Wood is so named because of the defensive trench workings that remain from World War II, Gorrell Wood is named for the stream which runs through it and Benacre Wood is the last surviving part of an ancient
bleanBlean is located in the Canterbury district of Kent, England. It is the name of the civil parish as well as the village within it: the latter is scattered along the road between Canterbury and Whitstable, in the middle of what was once the extensive Forest of Blean.The village name of Blean is...
remaining near the town of
WhitstableWhitstable is a seaside town in Northeast Kent, Southeast England. It is approximately north of the city of Canterbury and approximately west of the seaside town of Herne Bay. It is part of the City of Canterbury district and has a population of about 30,000.Whitstable is famous for its oysters,...
.
The
oakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
is the predominant species of tree forming the woodland but
yew-Botany:* Any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus Taxus:** European Yew or Common Yew ** Pacific Yew or Western Yew ** Canadian Yew ** Chinese Yew...
and
hollyIlex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
, both of which can survive below the canopy of oak leaves are in evidence. Various other trees including
field mapleAcer campestre, common name Field Maple, is a maple native to much of Europe, north to southern Scotland , Denmark, Poland and Belarus, and also southwest Asia from Turkey to the Caucasus, and north Africa in the Atlas Mountains...
and
willowWillows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
can be found at the margins of the woods.
As evidence of its age, Benacre wood is host to large quantities of
bluebells-Plants:* genus Hyacinthoides** Common Bluebell ** Spanish Bluebell * genus Mertensia** Virginia Bluebell * Scottish Bluebell...
in the spring. Other flowering plants present include
primrose-Botany:* Primulaceae, a family of flowering plants* Primula vulgaris, commonly known as the Primrose * Oenothera, commonly known as Evening Primrose, a plant genus...
,
snowdropGalanthus is a small genus of about 20 species of bulbous herbaceous plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae...
, and
celandineCelandine is a common name for three species of flowers:*Greater celandine, Chelidonium majus, in the poppy family*Lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria, in the buttercup family*Celandine-poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum, in the poppy family...
. Non flowering plants include
ivyIvy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
. Various fungi are present including bracket fungi which are largely responsible for the natural recycling of dead wood.
In 2011 an area of hawthorn was removed from Trench Wood and a collection of native tree species was planted.
Stream and Ponds
The Gorrell Stream runs through the downs providing a valuable source of water. During the summer there is only a very slow flow of water which may dry up completely during dry periods. During the winter the flow can become torrential which keeps the channel clear.
Two ponds have been created to provide a more reliable source of water for the local wildlife. Frogs, newts, and toads have all been identified in the ponds and the margins provide
reed- Musical instruments :* Single-reed instrument, a woodwind instrument that uses only one reed to produce sound* Double reed instrument, a woodwind instrument that uses two reeds to produce sound...
and
rush- United States :* Rush, Colorado* Rush, Kentucky* Rush, New York* Rush, Ohio* Rush City, Minnesota-People:* Rush, a nickname for Canadian mixed martial artist Georges St...
cover for the young froglets which are otherwise taken by various predators including birds and grass snakes.
The banks of the stream are home to a number of old willows which provide a home for woodpeckers.
BatsA bat is a flying mammal in the Chiroptera order.Bats may also refer to:-Films:*Bats , starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Bob Gunton*Bats: Human Harvest -Groups:...
are also present in the older trees.
Green flag award
The downs have been awarded a green flag indicating a well maintained and cared for public green area.
Ponds
The ponds support frogs, newts and toads. Insects present include
dragonflyA dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
,
mayflyMayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera . They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies...
, and
waterboatmenNotonectidae is a cosmopolitan family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly called backswimmers because they swim upside down. They are all predators, up to nearly 2 cm in size. They are similar in appearance to Corixidae , but can be separated by differences in their...
(notonectidae).
Grassland
Slow worms,
Grass SnakesThe grass snake , sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake is a European non-venomous snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians.-Etymology:...
, lizards, and some small rodents occupy the grassland.
Scrub and woodland
Various rodents including squirrels and
mice-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
, together with small mammals such as foxes, and rabbits are to be found in this habitat. Resident birds include blackbird,
blue titThe Blue Tit is a 10.5 to 12 cm long passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and western Asia in deciduous or mixed woodlands...
,
chaffinchThe Chaffinch , also called by a wide variety of other names, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Description :...
,
great titThe Great Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa in any sort of woodland. It is generally resident, and most Great Tits do not migrate except in extremely...
,
wood pigeonThe Wood Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columba genus in the Columbidae family. It is a member of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae.- Distribution :...
,
owlsOWLS is a mnemonic used by general aviation airplane pilots to assess an unprepared surface for a precautionary landing.Like all mnemonics this check has become part of aviation culture and folklore.OWLS:* Obstacles* Wind direction...
, and
woodpeckerWoodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
.
BatsBats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
are also known to be present on the site.
Maintenance
The primary maintenance of the down is undertaken by Canterbury City Council through their contractor: Serco. In addition the 'Friends of Duncan Down' organise a wide variety of activities for the improvement of the area including monitoring of the site, planting of spring bulbs, minor maintenance and construction of seating benches.
Major maintenance activities include: regular grass cutting of the pathways, annual cutting of the grassland and removal of hay and clearance of areas of scrub that encroach on paths and grassland.
The friends of Duncan Down undertake responsibility for the provision and maintenance of various bridges across Gorrell Stream together with paths that provide access to the newer areas of the village green.
Provision for activities
A small area at one corner of the downs has been set aside as a playing field and football goals have been installed there.
Possible Expansion
In September 2011 a proposal was put forward by a property company that they would donate a significant amount of land for the expansion of the downs if they were allowed to build a new housing development nearby. A public consultation has been held and the matter is being considered by the responsible council. The additional land would nearly double the size of the downs and would include meadowland, a lake, tennis courts, a village hall and a green burial area.