BWT #1 - First Past the Post Traditional Cache
Long Man: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache, I'm archiving it.
Andy
Long Man
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BWT #1 - First Past the Post
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is hidden in the fairly new Bearsted Woodland Trust, a protected 16 acres of woodland and meadow. The cache is just off a rough gravel footpath and is not difficult to get to.
My first ever cache!
The cache is a small circular lock-it container, hidden just to the side of one of the footpaths in the beautiful Bearsted Woodland Trust (hence the BWT). It’s very easy to get to from the path, but you may need a pair of garden gloves/ long sleeves as there were a few nettles about when it was first hidden!
Contained when hidden: A log book, pencil, pretty shell, shiny pebble, mini highlighter pen, badge and a gold medal for the FTF.
Parking: Either along the Ashford Road, and then take the footpath nearby, or at the Holy Cross Church/ Bearsted Tennis Club carpark along Church Lane.
The nearby cache 'Church Micro 756 ... Bearsted' could also be hunted, and visit Bearsted's Village Green if you get the chance and grab a drink at one of the pubs!
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When I was younger and this land was undeveloped I spent many an afternoon exploring or playing Wide Games as part of the local Guides group, and it’s very lucky that the land was saved from development by the actions of the villagers. Its history is fascinating, and it wouldn’t be here today if not for the support and dedication of the local people who fought against plans to turn it into housing. Now that the villagers have recently won another epic battle to STOP KIG (the Kent International Gateway) it seems the perfect time to draw attention to what their efforts have achieved now and in the past!
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History of the Bearsted Woodland Trust
The story of Bearsted Woodland Trust began in 1987, when Wards Homes property developers acquired the site, which had probably originally belonged to the manor of Moat Hall as early as the 18th century.
A year later, Wards discussed proposals for a new housing development on the land, with the Bearsted Parish Council agreeing as long as they included six low-cost homes, a football pitch, pavilion and car park. The villagers, however, strongly disagreed. By 1991 an Action Group was formed to fight the plans and the third public meeting was so well attended that it had to move out of the W.I. Hall and on to the village green! A motion against the development was carried by 487 votes to 45.
Over the next ten years Wards modified their application and a new society was formed to fight it, but when Wards suddenly began to clear trees from the site on the afternoon of 2003’s Bearsted Fayre, they provoked public outcry. It was at this point that Mr and Mrs Ashness, the owners of Mote Hall, generously decided to buy the land from Wards to protect it, and gave the majority to the village.
By the end of that year, a charity had been formed to own and manage the land and volunteers had started to clear rubbish from the site. It wasn’t long before armies of volunteers were planting new trees and laying new paths, with land being donated by some families and money raised by family membership to the Trust. An energetic and well- supported campaign in 2007 won a substantial grant towards footpaths from the National Lottery People’s Millions Competition and in the same year a Ghurka Squadron built the bridge over the Lilk stream.
2008 saw the Grand Path Opening. Finally, Bearsted Woodland Trust was a beautiful area of meadow and woodland, open to the public!
(Information from www.bearstedwoodlandtrust.org)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svaq gur fvta obneq ... Uhag gur cbfg.