News

Tourism and educational organisations in Kent and France which have teamed up to promote rural areas on both sides of the Channel are shortly to announce a programme of visits to the Boulogne area for Shepway school groups.

In an area of forests and dunes west of the town, the purpose-designed Arena centre is one of the most important learning centres of its kind in France and receives scores of thousands of visitors every year.

Plans for visits by school groups from Shepway were agreed at a recent meeting between the six partners in the Transmanche Green Network scheme - four in Kent, two in France.

The Boulogne Shepway Canterbury Co-operation Organisation (BOSCO+) co-ordinates the project, -which is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund to promote 'green' tourism and to help conservation management on the Romney Marsh, at Reculver, near Herne Bay, and in the Boulogne region.

To enable students to understand the evolution of the landscape and to experience the environmental diversity of Arena, the programme will include escorted walks on forest and countryside trails as well as use of bilingual self guided tools and a visit to an inter-active exhibition area.

Lynn Dockar, of BOSCO+, said the meeting of partners had been 'most productive' in taking forward ideas and plans formulated when the Transmanche Green Network project was launched at venues on the Romney Marsh in January.

"We plan an early start for the school visits programme which will continue into next year. It is designed for primary school children between 7-10 years old and we look forward to a good take-up right across the district.

"Similar arrangements will enable French school groups to visit and learn about the Romney Marsh and Reculver centres. Trans-frontier media promotion, eco-fairs and other events are also planned to raise public awareness of the three areas which will share the benefits of the TGN project, worth some £650,000 (€772, 864)".

Partners in the scheme are Kent Wildlife Trust, Shepway District Council, Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, Canterbury City Council, Communaute d'agglomeration du Boulonnais and BOSCO+.

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010