The Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership works closely with landowners and local communities to promote both landscape and nature conservation, and develop opportunities for appropriate access and informal recreation. It operates as a working partnership of sponsoring organisations, staff and local people. Partnership staff have many years of experience of habitat management, practical conservation, working with farmers and local communities on a wide range of projects.
Duncan Downs was my playground as a child in the 60’s and it’s now nothing like it was. Gorrell Stream more or less follows its old route though me and m friends often used to dam it and alter its direction. I knew the exact source where it started as you could see it emerging from the ground all day, every day of the year even in hot dry summers. I can remember riding along stream walk on my bike when Whitstable was flooded and it was flowing from the old Luckhurst corner shop all the way to the reservoir. It was half way up (at least) the tunnel under the railway line and we tried to ride through it on our bikes. Before the railway tunnel was the allotments, a poultry farm (for eggs mainly) and the old coal yard. Why is it lesser now? Housing. To damn much of it. Water extraction means that the Gorrell is going to cease to exist. 10,000 houses going to be built in this area, probably more now that Two Tier’s regime is in power, there’s not enough water for the present population let alone another probable 60,000. Local and National Government have ruined Whitstable, the influx of DfL’s and Air BnB’s is going to finish it off.
In answer to your question, 'When is a river not a river?' the answer is in the title: when it's a bourne. Calling it 'the Nailbourne river is a tautology.
I see what you mean, however, this watercourse is frequently referred to as "the River Nailbourne" by local people. And among professionals, the word 'river' is used as a catch-all term that includes small watercourses like streams and 'bournes' 🙂
Where they come to the end of Stream Walk it shows an old photo of the stream and showing a workman making a road over the stream. The house on the left of the black and white picture with two people passing on the pavement, that was the house I was brought up in from the age of 2 until I was 22. It brings back many happy memories of my childhood.
