Catch up on all the latest climate news with Daisy Page.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to Kent on Climate, live on KMTV. I'm Daisy Page and in this show we
00:17discuss all things related to environmental issues in the county. How is climate change
00:22impacting Kent, what are communities in the county doing to tackle it and how can you
00:26help at home? First night, a chicken charity in Aylesford has managed to find new homes
00:31for around 200 of their feathered friends. Fresh Start for Hens sees its volunteers rescue
00:37the lives of ex-commercial egg-laying hens and give people the chance to adopt them.
00:42It's this initiative that stops many retired chickens from going to slaughter and the organisation
00:47is always looking for public to help out either through volunteering or adopting the birds.
00:52Our reporter Henry Luck has more.
00:55It's fact that you can't make an omelette without breaking a couple of eggs. But it's
00:59also true that chickens can't be happy without a proper home, which is what Fresh Start for
01:06Hens in Aylesford are providing for the whole coop by letting the public register and collect
01:12them.
01:13Fresh Start for Hens are here in Aylesford to donate all the chickens they've rescued
01:18to new forever homes. These hens have retired from commercial use and would have traditionally
01:25been put to slaughter if not for charities like this.
01:29The birds being donated are the egg-laying kind, meaning they're not fit for human consumption
01:36because unlike broiler hens, they don't have much meat on their bones.
01:41These hens weren't rehomed, they would go to slaughter and they're only 72 weeks, they've
01:46got a good few years of egg-laying left in them and they've got personalities, they're
01:51friendly, they've got a lot of life to live so they don't deserve to be killed.
01:56Speaking to volunteers, they talked about the benefits owning these types of chickens
02:01can bring.
02:02So I've kept chickens for about four years now, I have quite a few. I think most people
02:09who own chickens realise that once you have one chicken it's very easy to start getting
02:12more chickens. They call it chicken math. So I actually have about 70 chickens now in
02:19my garden and they are fantastic. We love fresh eggs every day and they're great for
02:24kids. I have two children and they absolutely love them.
02:27Fresh Start for Hens are also encouraging more people to get involved with the scheme
02:33as they're looking to return with more chickens on the 8th of March.
02:37So please, if you can, support us by supporting the hens, by rehoming if you can. We just
02:46ask you to register on our website, please www.freshstartforhens.co.uk, ask for a minimum
02:53donation of £2.75 a hen. We ask for pictures of your set-up. We have a wonderful back-up
03:00system where someone is always available to give help and advice. You're not on your own,
03:07we have vets. It's fantastic. It is so worth it.
03:14With many more birds in need of homes, Fresh Start for Hens are hoping more people take
03:19up their feathered friends for the upcoming spring season. Henry Luck for CAME TV in Ellsford.
03:31Now a cat who went missing in Raynham is finally back with her family, 10 years after her disappearance.
03:37Candy wandered off from her family back in 2015, sparking a widespread search by her
03:43family. They had given up hope of ever seeing her again, but were reunited this month after
03:48Candy was taken in by Wisteria Cat Rescue. She was taken there after the person looking
03:54for her passed away. But when staff at the rescue centre checked her microchip, they
03:59found she had been reported missing a decade earlier. Candy's original owner, Katie Millgate,
04:04was in a state of shock when she heard the news. The rescue centre says the story represents
04:09the power of the microchip.
04:11Tonight, managing your waste is never fun, but dealing with rubbish is an important skill
04:16that will help with the cleanliness of both your home and the planet. One way that we
04:23can reduce our waste is by swapping out the single-use plastic for reusable containers.
04:28Our reporter Zoe Fode went to a refinery in Canterbury to find out more about sustainable
04:32living and how to make an eco-break.
04:34Studies show that each year one person in the UK produces 400 grams of waste a year.
04:41Now imagine that times by everyone who lives in the UK. So I've been out today looking
04:46for fun and affordable ways that can help improve the amount of waste we are producing.
04:52I'm here at the refinery in Canterbury talking to the founder about how reducing our plastic
04:57waste can help improve our sustainability.
05:00So it's a place where you can come and refill groceries into your own containers or into
05:04our paper bags. I think it's totally realistic to become more sustainable. I also realise
05:10that it's totally impossible to live entirely plastic free. But my position is that recycling
05:15is not the answer and people have to move away from the idea that if they recycle that's
05:20the end of the problem and it isn't. Recycling is just reusing plastic and what we have to
05:25do is stop using as much plastic as we do as a society.
05:29I always say people aren't addicted to plastic but they are addicted to convenience. But
05:33it is absolutely possible for everyone to take individual actions to improve their sustainable
05:38living and reduce their plastic footprint. So if it's readily available and affordable
05:45and accessible to buy something in a refill format, to deposit and dispose of your waste
05:53into the right waste streams, then I think students in particular are totally aware of
05:57the challenges and the crisis that we're facing. So there's a lot of goodwill but the
06:02infrastructure has to be there.
06:04Although Catherine said that we should try and cut out from using all plastics as much
06:08as possible, sometimes that's not always an option.
06:12Another great way of getting rid of waste such as single-use plastics is by using an
06:16ecobrick. This is where you fill a plastic bottle with plastic labels or food packaging
06:22until it's solid and then you donate them to drop-off centres. These plastic bottles
06:27can then be used for building bricks, for building playgrounds or buildings.
06:33Making an ecobrick is simple. You take all the single-use plastic, clean them beforehand
06:38and then put them inside a one-litre bottle.
06:48You need the plastic to be tight so using a spoon to push the plastic down might help.
06:55Or if you have a larger piece of plastic, you might need to cut it up first.
07:02Now you can make your very own ecobrick at home.
07:06Now recently, on the 28th of February, the UK government announced a plan for licence-free
07:11introduction of beavers into the wild in several parts of England. This historic move will
07:17help to create more wetlands and increase their biodiversity as beavers are natural
07:21ecosystem engineers. The government have committed billions of pounds on hard infrastructure
07:27in order to mitigate flooding. Releasing the beavers into the wild offer a more natural
07:32approach to reduce flood peaks.
07:35Now it's time for this week's Creature Feature. This week's animal shed their flight feathers
07:39twice a year, leaving them grounded until they grow back. Well have you guessed it?
07:43If not, let's take a closer look.
07:46This creature can be typically found in and around ponds, marshes and streams, dipping
07:50underwater or foraging for food. If you guessed the mallard duck, you'd be correct. The
07:55mallard is the most commonly found duck in the Northern Hemisphere. The males are easiest
08:00to identify as they are brightly coloured with their green head and purple-brown chest.
08:05The females are a mottled brown with an orange bill, and since the two look so different
08:09it was originally thought that they were two separate species. It is estimated that mallards
08:13can fly at speeds up to 55 miles per hour and have a wingspan between 81 and 98 centimetres.
08:21Ducklings can swim, run and even forage on their own in as little as two days after hatching.
08:26Since they are omnivorous birds, they use a range of plants, fish and insects which
08:30they find through searching on land and dipping their heads underwater. If you happen to see
08:35them flying overhead, they might be migrating. They typically fly in a V formation and rely
08:40on rivers, valleys and coasts to find their way.
08:46Now, trees have been planted in memory of those who we lost to COVID-19. It comes as
08:51this month commemorates the fifth anniversary that the UK went into lockdown because of
08:56the COVID-19 pandemic. And in Ellington, Maidstone Borough Council have invited residents to plant
09:01more than 600 trees, one for each person that died in the area. Our reporter Henry Luck
09:07has more.
09:08Five years on and many people think about the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the toughest
09:15challenges of community and the human spirit. To remember those who lost their lives to
09:20the virus, Maidstone Borough Council invited residents to plant trees in this open space
09:27in Ellington. Each tree represents a lost life in Maidstone and 633 are being planted.
09:37COVID-19 was the worst peacetime disaster that the world's had since World War II, really.
09:4720 million or so people died globally. Many, many more people bereaved and still people
09:55suffering with long COVID. It was an appalling pandemic and it's good to remember, particularly
10:03the people who died but also the people who put their lives at risk to help save the lives
10:09of others. Speaking to a few of the residents taking part, they reflected on the challenges
10:15they faced during lockdown. I thought I'd come down. I lost my mum during COVID. It
10:21wasn't to coronavirus but she was just very poorly at the time and due to the circumstances
10:26we couldn't really get to visit her in hospital, which then later obviously come funeral time
10:32and we had limited numbers on the funeral. So I don't know, it made the whole experience
10:36just a little bit more challenging than probably what it should have been but what better way
10:41to come down and plant some trees on a sunny day, eh? I didn't have any friends directly
10:46affected or die but I had relatives who were badly affected by COVID and also new friends
10:53who lost relatives so it's important to remember their lives. Trees are great for the environment
10:58and this memorial here in the middle of Allington will act as something which we can all think
11:05about when we walk past as to what happened in those strange days. Sunday the 9th of March
11:12will be the day of reflection which will see Kent and the rest of the country remember
11:18the sacrifices made by many during the unprecedented times of the past. This right here is one
11:25of the trees that will one day grow and serve as a powerful reminder to the residents of
11:31Maidstone of the challenges, losses and sacrifices the county and the world faced during the
11:39COVID-19 pandemic. Henry Duck for KMTV in Allington. Now it's time for a break, we'll see you soon.
14:55Hello and welcome back to Kent on Climate live on KMTV. Now a planning inquiry into plans for more than 8,000 homes on rural land in Kent is set to start today.
15:15Swellborough Council was set to refuse it but the government intervened. The developer argues it will bring schools, jobs and much-needed relief roads
15:24while hundreds of residents fear it will destroy village life and ancient woodlands. Local democracy reporter Gabriel Morris has been looking into the arguments for and against the scheme.
15:34The first signs of spring blossoming in this quaint rural village. But little joy in Robinsham as more than 8,000 homes are planned for the land around this community.
15:45A 12-week planning inquiry is starting this week into the proposals which will transform the area. The developer arguing for its economic benefits whereas hundreds of residents fear the end of rural life.
15:58We're not just NIMBYs, we do want to make sure there's housing provision for our community. But we do think we've got a really strong chance of pushing forward what are the many ecological, landscaping and other factors that develop this right and not just right here.
16:10What would the feel of the area be? Would it still be a village?
16:13I don't think you could call it a village at all. I think one of the things we're most worried about is that we'll look off into the distance of what was the shadow of Robinsham Church and now we will see an empty junction motorway.
16:22St Nicholas has been here since medieval times. The urban sprue of Sittingbourne getting ever closer.
16:29So we're at the top of Robinsham's Church right now. If the development does go ahead, what would we be able to see from up here?
16:36So over here would be thousands of houses all the way across the field here, all the way up to Dully. Over here would be sports facilities along with the Southern Relief Road which weaves all around the villages here.
16:48This is not affordable housing that's being offered here. In the northern scheme it's only about 4.5% is going to be affordable. I mean that's outrageous. It's a huge land grab taking up huge swathes of some of our best agricultural land in the country.
17:04The development would see new schools, health centres and sports facilities and quinn estates as more than 50% of the site will be publicly accessible.
17:13This is the proposed plan for Highstead Park. You can see the balance of the 8,500 homes with the country park as well in the middle.
17:23An incredibly controversial development. People living around Robinsham don't like the idea of thousands of homes around them. However, down at the south, the Science Park and businesses could get a big boost.
17:35The Brookies are having one of the best seasons yet and believe Highstead Park could help them go from strength to strength.
17:42In the 70s we used to get good crowds and things like that and there's signs that it's coming back and it's a big population here now, over 60,000 in Searingbourne. So yeah, it's been fantastic.
17:53And on that it could be about to get even bigger. Highstead Park development, going to Planning Inquiry, you guys are set to benefit from that aren't you?
18:01We are very much so. We've got over 40 teams, we need a bigger footprint, bigger site and this is going to be a school or a doctor's I think here. We're going to move nearer the motorway if the development goes through with a 125 year lease for the community.
18:16Not for us, just for us, but we'll run it for them, but it'll be for the community and it will benefit because the whole of this town is so far behind with its sports. I think even the two all-weather and three grass pitches we put in at the new stadium will still be behind the requirement for the country for sports.
18:34They say the proposed relief road could greatly benefit the community and are calling for this to come first. It'll see a new junction from the M2 to Sittingbourne.
18:43The key thing about this development is those houses pay for the road. They pay for other things as well like primary schools, secondary schools, health centre, new football club, but they actually pay for the road.
18:54And we all know the state the country's in at the moment with a lack of big infrastructure, but also how tight public finances are. Effectively this is a great way potentially of using housing development to also build the infrastructure.
19:08And what really matters is we get the infrastructure first and that's what currently is being proposed by the developers.
19:13The developer has said the new road is chronically needed in the local area, but local environmental campaigners say it's not worth it as it'll cut through this ancient woodland.
19:24No one really knows the full impact of what will happen when you do this. What we do know is it'll fragment their habitat. It means that we'll get reduced gene pool for certain species.
19:34And if we fragment them too much, those particular species will die out altogether in close to those areas because they haven't got enough habitat.
19:43Across the next 12 weeks, all these arguments and many more will be heard. It'll then be in the hands of the planning inspector to decide whether this land stays as it is or if this huge development can go ahead.
19:57And if it's given the green light, it'll take two decades to complete.
20:03Gabriel Morris in Sittingbourne.
20:07Now, from new-build canopy coverage and self-vaccinating bisons to a near-sewage disaster caused by a bird feeder, it's time for Kent's Climate Roundup.
20:17The Woodland Trust is urging councils across England to declare a nature emergency as just one in eight local authorities have an action plan to help the UK's decline in nature.
20:27100 out of 395 councils have declared an emergency and less than half have an action plan in place.
20:35The Trust wants housing developers to commit to 30% tree canopy cover on all new builds and councils to commit to protecting and managing 30% of public land by 2030.
20:47Andy Eden, the Trust's Head of Conservation Policy, compared the crisis to the climate crisis itself.
20:54Two young bison at Wildwood near Canterbury have amazingly been taught to vaccinate themselves by leaning on the needles.
21:00This method has been implemented by Becky Copeland, an animal behaviour management officer, who says the current method, darting, can be quite a stressful process.
21:09She hopes that giving the two-year-old bison more control over the movement and procedure should make things much smoother for them.
21:16A very smelly crisis was narrowly avoided in Queensborough after one avid bird feeder accidentally let bird seed fall through a manhole cover in their garden.
21:25Over weeks and months, the seed germinated in the sewer, having found the perfect conditions to grow, and threatened to create a blottage, if not for the sewer-level monitor alerting the waste management company.
21:37During COVID, reporter Cameron Tucker showed us some social distance-friendly walks.
21:41Since that series, a lot has changed in both the world and his personal life, which now includes a very special addition.
21:48In his new series, Tiny Treks, Cameron shows us a variety of pram and family-friendly walks around Kent with his newborn son and partner.
21:56He now joins us in the studio to tell us a bit more. So your new series, it's in production at the moment, but it's called Tiny Treks. What is it all about?
22:03That's right. So as you said, back in lockdown, really weird time for everyone. And obviously, you know, everyone's, you know, it was clamoring to get outside.
22:13And we, you know, we could do that. There was obviously the one hour to do it and you had to be socially distanced and stuff.
22:18So during that time, my partner and I decided to do a series looking at those walks that people could do and could enjoy during that time.
22:27Like I said, a lot has changed. Partner and I are now engaged. And as you can see on screen, we've got a new little addition to our family as well.
22:34A little Alistair born in October. And we've always been really keen to, you know, show him the sights, get him out and about in nature.
22:43And this is what this series does. It's, you know, we explore the county. We go on routes that other parents can go on with prams or slings, as you can see in shot there.
22:55And really to A, show the wonderful sights around Kent and B, to also give tips to those parents as well.
23:03All based on NHS and advice from experts on how to wrap up warm, where you can go and get baby changing facilities in these places.
23:15And it's been it's been a real joy doing the show.
23:18And Alistair, as we already know, he's made a couple of appearances on KMTV already. But more about you and your partner.
23:24Have you noticed any impacts of going on these walks? Have they helped you in any way at all?
23:29Yeah, 100 percent. I think it's so well documented now going outside, going on walks, the impact that has on the physical and mental well-being.
23:37And every time we go on these walks, even if it's just one round the block, you do feel like, you know, it's like a big exhalation at the end.
23:46It's a real, you know, it's a real relief and respite after, you know, what could have been a stressful day.
23:52Whether that was work, whether that was with, you know, little man was teething and it was a particularly difficult day.
24:01Everyone going out and about and having that access to nature, you know, we're seeing on screen from the coasts to the woodlands.
24:07It all really helps a soul.
24:10Yeah. And I didn't know this, but I learned and I might say it really wrong.
24:15So you might need to tell me if I am. Apparently babies, is it circadian rhythm?
24:21Circadian rhythm. Yeah.
24:22Yeah. I'm not going to attempt to say it again. It doesn't develop until they're around two to three months old.
24:26So this means that they don't actually know the difference between when it's daytime or nighttime, I believe.
24:30So do correct me. I think you've got centuries of parents that who can who can attest to that.
24:36And it is it is true that like he a lot of the walks we've done so far, he's actually been asleep through.
24:41But now he's coming up to the four and a half month old phase.
24:45And you can see he's a lot more alert. The last walk that we did, he was very wide awake for large parts of it.
24:51He's taking it all in. And, you know, because you can see that development and how he's how he's going to face the world.
25:00And that's an amazing thing to witness.
25:02Yeah. And I suppose for him to be outside and seeing all these new things must be so exciting.
25:07So how's baby Alistair? Have you seen any differences in him?
25:11Yeah, it's like I said, he's been he's a lot more alert now. He's he's a very chatty man.
25:18And it's you know, you're talking about skating rhythms and that's definitely changed.
25:23He's always been quite a good sleeper, actually. And, you know, touch wood that last.
25:28But, you know, his kind of routine is slightly changed.
25:32The amount he feeds changes. I've mentioned about the teething.
25:36He's definitely getting interested in what mum and dad are eating now as well.
25:41And again, like I said, seeing all of those developments is amazing to witness firsthand.
25:47Really quickly, just before we go, can you tell us a couple of walks that you've done so far?
25:50Yeah, we've tried to go all around the county. So so far, we've done Tentaden, the Jewel in the Weald.
25:55We've done Whitstable, the amazing coaster walk there. Hithe as well along the promenade.
26:00And we've been to Horton Kirby as well, right in the Darren Valley.
26:03And we've got plenty more to come.
26:05We're hoping to do loads of walks to really showcase the county and all its all its splendor for parents.
26:11Yeah, maybe I'll have to recommend a couple of beach walks.
26:14Absolutely. We're definitely that's what we want.
26:16Anybody who watches and has walks that they recommend, we definitely get in touch and we'd love to do them.
26:20Brilliant. Thank you very much for joining us today, Cameron.
26:23So that's all we have time for on this week's episode of Kent on Climate.
26:27We'll be back next week with another episode discussing more matters relevant to environmental issues in the county.
26:33In the meantime, you can keep up to date with all things climate related by visiting our website, kmtb.co.uk
26:38or following us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
26:41But for the time being, I'll see you soon and goodbye.