Volunteers begin work on White Cliffs of Dover after National Trust appeal success
National Trust rangers
and volunteers at work on the White Cliffs. Picture: National Trust
/ Sylvaine Poitau
Work has started on looking after the latest section of the
White Cliffs of Dover to be bought by the National Trust.
It followed a fundraising campaign – with the KM Group as media
partner – to secure the land between Langdon Cliffs and the South
Foreland lighthouse.
Fencing is now being installed as part of a plan of returning
the land to chalk
grassland, which is an ideal habitat for hundreds of rare species
of animals and plants. It can be home to up to 50 species per
square metre.
The fencing will allow the area to be grazed by Exmoor ponies,
clearing it of the large plants that have been allowed to grow and
shade out the smaller, rarer ones.
As well as improving the area for wildlife, the £1.2million
appeal, was crucial to safeguard public access along the cliffs in
the face of ongoing natural erosion processes.
National Trust property manager for the White Cliffs Ginny
Portman said: "We were overwhelmed by people's generosity. They
showed how much they care about and love this amazing place by
donating in their thousands and helping us raise the money earlier
than expected.
"Now we feel privileged to be able to start looking after the
new land and improve it for all those people who donated and all
those who will visit and enjoy it in the future."
04/02/13
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