We are the Friends of Betteshanger. We intend to provide a voice for the wildlife at Betteshanger Country Park in the face of developments that threaten both habitats and wildlife survival.

The Country Park, in the parish of Sholden, near Deal, was set up in the early 2000s and is the spoil tip of the old Betteshanger colliery that closed down in 1989. It has been developed as a home for wildlife and a well-needed open green space providing a tranquil and restorative place for local people and visitors to enjoy for over 20 years. Millions of pounds of public money were spent nurturing the park and making it accessible as a place where local people could benefit from light recreational activities, such as walking and cycling, and where wildlife could thrive. In 2019, the site was sold to a developer with a very different vision. 

Already, the pithead area of the mine, another important wildlife refuge and a sister site, is to become a housing estate, after a planning application for 210 houses was agreed despite huge opposition. This was home to the grass poly, a rare and protected plant as well as well as turtle doves whose numbers have declined by 98% since 1980. This site has now been cleared and awaiting the start of construction. 

In September 2022, the developer, Quinn Estates, made two planning applications for a luxury hotel and surf lagoon in the Country Park. 

At risk are the second largest colony of lizard orchids, water voles, turtle doves, fiery clearwing moths and many other rare and protected species. It is a unique haven for wildlife but for how much longer? 

We had thought our efforts to protect the Country Park were successful when the newly elected Dover District Council (DDC) planning committee voted to reject the luxury hotel (6 against; 3 abstentions; 1 in favour) on the grounds that the ecological loss would far outweigh the claimed economic gain. However, a week later, before the posting of a formal ‘decision notice’, the developer withdrew their application, nullifying the council’s decision and effectively returning us to the beginning and we are now expecting a new modified application soon. The application for the surf lagoon is still in the pipeline, waiting to go before the planning committee. 

The developer argues that commercialising the park with theme park type activities, including the proposed developments, will benefit the local economy but once again it is obvious that wildlife will be paying the price. Nature, as we all know, is in deep trouble everywhere. Habitats are being degraded and species lost at a rate never seen before. The Betteshanger proposals are a prime example of why we are losing our wildlife at such an unprecedented rate and why the Government’s target of halting wildlife declines by 2030 is a distant dream.  Actually, we believe that apart from savings brought about by health benefits, tourists visit our area to enjoy the landscape and wildlife and, once destroyed, this can’t be recreated. 

The proposed location for the surf lagoon is in an area of the Park that was designated as a habitat exclusion zone when the Park was first set up. Maps from that time show that the area was for the benefit of plants, birds and invertebrates. Indeed, since that time it has remained a relatively undisturbed part of the Park with no cycling or walking tracks. 

A S106 agreement attached to the original planning application (02/00905) stated that Dover District Council and the owner of the Park would designate a Local Nature Reserve at the Park. Even though this was a legal obligation it was never implemented. Dover District Council planning officers are unable to explain why. We believe that the habitat exclusion zone would have been part of that Nature Reserve. This is the area of the Park where the developer now wants to build the surf lagoon. 

Together we can make the difference so future generations will be able to enjoy the purring of turtle doves and the unique natural environment of Betteshanger Country Park.

You can help by raising your voice by signing and forwarding this petition:

‘We believe that the precious ecology in Betteshanger Country Park needs to be protected for future generations. That current and future planning applications that damage this ecology should be refused and that Dover District Council should enforce the section 106 agreement made in 2004 and declare the Country Park a Local Nature Reserve.’

If you want to find out more – please look at our Facebook page: ‘Save Betteshanger Country Park’

or send an email: betteshangerfriends@gmail.com

or visit our web page: https://friendsofbetteshanger.co.uk/

or our Facebook page ‘Save Betteshanger Country Park’: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093668679199

or contribute to our crowd fund for legal costs: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-betteshanger-wildlife/

or follow us on twitter: @SaveBHCP

or register an objection on the DDC planning portal:  for the surf lagoon (22/01158)