FLYING AROUND THE FARLEIGHS WITH RAY MORRIS
PUT IT ON RECORD!
As usual, the hardworking editors have had to chase me for my monthly piece. They do it gently of course, but the subtext of their email inevitably contains words like break and legs, so I'll take no chances. My excuse is normally that I'm busy, as I am on this occasion, writing yet another response to a planning application in the space of a couple of months.
The first was for a development in East Farleigh and the current one is in Marden, but both have elicited similar objections from residents. In particular they have objected to, amongst other things, the loss of valuable wildlife. Yet few objectors have been able to quantify the wildlife they are valuing and therein lies their problem. Even if the developer has engaged professional (in both senses of the word) ecology consultants, evaluating the value of wildlife of the site, and surrounding area, is not easy. They may carry out extensive surveys over several years (unlikely - that is costly) but they will almost certainly consult the Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre and pay for an authoritative report on the wildlife in the area and its conservation status. This could be an important factor, even though prime ministers of at least two political parties like to lampoon 'newt counters' and their ilk for cheap public appeal.
If there is wildlife you value, and there are many and diverse reasons to do so, then, whatever and wherever it is, you need to record it.
Popular wildlife has many recording schemes available, most with their own easy to use apps. Two basic apps that will meet the need to identify and record just about everything are Obsidentify and iRecord - the former will open your eyes to even the simplest plant or creepy crawly and will amplify the pleasure to be gained from just sitting in the garden with a cup of tea; although it may require a little more effort, the latter will ensure the things you find pleasure in gain a little more protection by being officially recorded.
If you leave it to chance, there is a good chance it won't be left for posterity. So, get it recorded. It's what Smart Phones were invented for!