{"id":268682,"date":"2025-11-17T23:41:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T23:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/268682\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T23:41:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T23:41:11","slug":"two-new-wildlife-sites-designated-in-maidstone-borough-thanks-to-the-lawn-shrimp-and-the-green-hairstreak-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/268682\/","title":{"rendered":"Two new wildlife sites designated in Maidstone borough thanks to the lawn shrimp and the green hairstreak butterfly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A town centre green space has been officially designated as a Local Wildlife Site in what has been hailed as a \u201cmajor milestone for urban nature conservation\u201d.<\/p>\n

The newly recognised Buckland Hill Wildlife Site in Maidstone<\/a> lies tucked between Maidstone Barracks railway station and apartment blocks, and yet is a shining example of biodiversity thriving in the heart of the town.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Buckland Hill Local Wildlife Site in Maidstone\"AA lawn shrimp at Buckland Hill. Image Tony Harwood<\/p>\n

Despite its urban setting, the site supports a rich variety of wildlife, with the railway embankment providing vital connectivity for terrestrial species.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, surprised ecologists discovered a rare Landhopper – also known as a lawn shrimp – at Buckland Hill, only the second recorded sighting in Maidstone.<\/p>\n

Typically found near coastal areas, the tiny jumper\u2019s presence in such an urban location underscores the ecological importance of even the smallest of green spaces.<\/p>\n

Also newly designated as a Local Wildlife Site is an area known as the Veitch Land at Blue Bell Hill, where the rare Green Hairstreak butterfly has been spotted.<\/p>\n

Owned by the borough council, the site offers a rich mosaic of native woodland, chalk downland and neutral grassland, and is particularly famed for its downland orchids and butterflies.<\/p>\n

\"CllrCllr Tony Harwood at the Veitch Land\"TheThe Veitch Local Wildlife Site, beside the A229 Blue Bell Hill\"AA Green Hairstreak butterfly at the Veitch Land. Image Tony Harwood<\/p>\n

However, the Veitch Land is under threat. It lies within the proposed route <\/a>of Kent County Council\u2019s A229 widening plans.<\/p>\n

Kent Wildlife Trust\u2019s local wildlife sites officer David Shenton said: \u201cThese designations are a hugely positive step forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey show how well-managed green spaces can support thriving ecosystems, even in the heart of our towns.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuckland Hill and Veitch Land, which is a remarkably wildlife-rich area sandwiched between the A229 Blue Bell Hill and High Speed 1, are living proof that development and nature don\u2019t have to be in conflict.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can create vibrant urban communities while still making space for wildlife to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Broad-leavedBroad-leaved helleborine at the Veitch Land. Image Tony Harwood\"AA black and yellow longhorn beetle at Buckland Hill. Image Tony Harwood\"TheThe Buckland Hill Local Wildlife Site in the centre of Maidstone<\/p>\n

\u201cThese sites are a powerful case study in how coexistence is not only possible, it\u2019s essential.\u201d<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s cabinet member for climate transition and nature recovery, Cllr Rachel Rodwell (Green), said: \u201cWe are delighted. Buckland Hill is a hidden gem, nestled between homes and transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuckland Hill and the Veitch Land are now formally recognised for their ecological importance, and we\u2019re committed to working with partners to ensure their future is protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) added: \u201cAlongside many other local people, I have volunteered hundreds of hours to help care for both the Buckland Hill and Veitch Land Local Wildlife Sites, over many years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese Kent Wildlife Trust declarations are a vindication and big vote of confidence in all of the local commitment and hard work to protect and enhance these precious wildlife oases.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\"CandlesnuffCandlesnuff Fungus at Buckland Hill Nature Reserve. Image Tony Harwood<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some big battles ahead to defend the Veitch Land from KCC\u2019s road widening plans, which makes this citation particularly timely.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A town centre green space has been officially designated as a Local Wildlife Site in what has been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":268683,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[1397,1318,649,90,56,54,55,4407],"class_list":{"0":"post-268682","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wildlife","8":"tag-environment","9":"tag-maidstone","10":"tag-quirky","11":"tag-science","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-unitedkingdom","15":"tag-wildlife"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268682\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}