Garden of England

Prior to the quarrying of chalk, the historic maps show the chalk quarries included areas of orchards and arable land. Local tithe records include cobnut platts and hops gardens. Collectively, this heritage as part of the Kent Garden of England should be recognised in the design of the public realm.

Industrial Heritage

The industrial heritage of the chalk quarries is linked to the existing landscape through the presence of chalk cliffs in Eastern Quarry, Croxton Gary and Craylands Lane. This heritage functions to internally focus views on the chalk cliffs and blue lakes and forms the inspiration for the use of white, chalky concrete within this character area.

Chalk cliffs

Within this landscape character area chalk cliffs are clearly visible and will undoubtedly form distinctive landscape features given the inward focus of views. The bright white colour and texture of the chalk cliffs form inspiration for the areas hard materials and planting palettes in chapters 5 and 6.

Water

The removal of chalk has resulted in the creation of lakes in Eastern Quarry. The recently implemented Castle Hill Lake is a distinctive recreational amenity characterised by blue water, a fringe of reed beds and a backdrop of chalk cliffs. Additional consideration should be given to the quarrying activity impact on each sites hydrology and drainage.

Design Guidance:

The shaping of views and the enhancement of the existing chalk cliffs and water bodies within the public realm to strengthen the local sense of place (see chapter 3)

• The integration of sustainable urban drainage systems to help mitigate the effect of new development on the local hydrology of the quarries (see chapter 3).

• The use of quarried chalks, chalky white concrete or local by-products such as flint within the material palette of the public realm (see chapter 5).

• The integration of multi-functional productive landscapes into neighbourhood parks and city parks in line with Kent’s role as the Garden of England (see chapter 6).

• The planting of orchards or the visual reference to orchards through the planting of ornamental flowering trees in hard paved areas & streets (see chapter 6)

• The planting of cobnut (hazel nut) platts or the planting of multi-stem trees within the soft landscape (see chapter 6)

• The use of the agricultural pattern of predominantly rectangular shape and associated rhythm of sparse hedgerows, orchards and shelterbelts (see chapter 6)

• The use of trees with white bark, such as birch trees, to pick up on the white colour of the chalk cliffs (see chapter 6).