Progress at Jeskyns

 

Work is well underway to create a 146 ha (360-acre) community greenspace near Gravesend in Kent

News from Forest Research: November 2006

Jeskyns rubbish pits after clearance

After more than a year of planning, designing and liaison with local interest groups, real progress is now being made on the site that was previously intensive arable farmland.

Forest Research is providing Forestry Commission colleagues with technical support and expertise in areas such as soil analysis and surveying, archaeological and heritage preservation, as well as offering advice on how best to assess and remediate areas of potentially contaminated land.

A substantial achievement has been the clearing of two large pits of refuse (see photo). The chalk pits had been full of decades’ worth of agricultural and domestic rubbish – a massive 145 tonnes – which included almost 700 tyres and even a number of cars. The clearout was carried out with the help of Petersfield firm Land Clean Ltd, and is in accordance with environmental protection and waste laws, including a new law that came into force in May this year, banning the use of farm refuse tips. Not only did the waste potentially pose a hazard to the health of visitors to the site, it was also a possible threat to the underlying chalk aquifer.

In keeping with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, assessments will now be carried out to ensure that no unacceptable risk to human health and the environment remains. 

Forest Research will continue to provide the East Anglia Forest District team with technical support throughout the remaining restoration period. The site will be open to the general public in Spring 2007.

Further information

More information about the Jeskyns project

Forest Research - land regeneration and urban greening research 

Forestry Commission - land regeneration programmes     

Contact

Kieron Doick
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU9 0DE

Tel: 01420 22255
Email: kieron.doick@forestry.gsi.gov.uk