Valley Conservation Society

08/06/2026

🌿 Spring Walk – This Coming Weekend! 🌿
Join us this Saturday, 13 June for what promises to be one of our biggest Spring Walks yet, in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council's Big Day Out.
Starting at Hayle Park Nature Reserve, we'll explore new routes across land managed by the Loose Amenities Association, Bockingford, and VCS land at Crisbrook, before finishing with tea and cakes in the beautiful garden of Hayle Place Manor House ☕🍰
🚗 If you're coming by car, please use the parking space available on the corner of Hayle Park Nature Reserve, with access via Teasaucer Hill and Hayle Place, ME15 6DW.
✅ We'd love to see you there! Please click "Going" on the Facebook event and let us know you're joining us 👇

04/06/2026

🌿Join us for the Valley Conservation Society Spring Walk on 13 June 2026! 🌿
Discover local wildlife, enjoy the fresh air, and connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. See the poster below for details and how to take part.
Please share so others can come along

30/05/2026

🌿 Crisbrook Meadow is blooming beautifully! 🌿
We’re excited to share the latest progress at Crisbrook Meadow, with vibrant poppies, cornflowers and verbascum now growing on the wall, while teasels, knapweed and foxgloves are flourishing in front of it. Even more exciting, the wildflower seeds in our new beds are starting to grow – a wonderful sign of what’s to come! 🌸
If you’re visiting Crisbrook Meadow, we’d love to see it through your eyes. Please send us your favourite photos of the meadow for a chance to be featured in next year’s VCS calendar 📸.
What we’re looking for:
🌄 Landscape shots (wider than tall)
📷 Clear images (8MP+ is perfect — most phones have this!)
🌿 Scenes from the meadow, ponds, woodland & nearby areas
📩 Send your photos to: [email protected]
If you like this, please like & share so we can spread the word — and get even more amazing local shots! 💚

Thank you for helping us celebrate and showcase this special space!

12/05/2026

12/05/2026

This week we continued on with stone wall pointing and repairs in Loose Valley using traditional lime mortar to bond the stones in the walls

10/05/2026

WE NEED YOUR PHOTOS!

📸 Love Crisbrook Meadow and the Valley conservation area? Help us showcase its beauty in our 2027 Calendar! 🌿
We’re looking for your best landscape photos — from sunny meadow walks to misty woodland mornings. Whether you use a camera or your phone, we’d love to see the Valley through your eyes. ✨
✅ Landscape photos (wider than tall)
✅ High quality images (8MP+)
✅ Seasonal scenes, wildlife, ponds, meadows & woodlands

📩 Send your favourite shots to: [email protected]
Please share this post and encourage others to get involved! 💚

08/05/2026

🛠️ TOVIL REPAIR CAFÉ – TOMORROW! 🛠️
Don’t bin it — bring it along and give it a second life! ♻️

Join us tomorrow, Saturday 9 May, at the Tovil Repair Café for an afternoon of fixing, learning, and community spirit. Whether it’s a wobbly chair, a toaster that’s lost its spark, clothing in need of repair, or a beloved item you can’t bear to throw away, our brilliant volunteers will do their best to help — all for a voluntary donation to support the café.

✨ Why come along?
✅ Save money
✅ Reduce waste
✅ Learn new repair skills
✅ Meet friendly local people
✅ Enjoy refreshments while you wait ☕🍰
We’ll also have children’s arts and crafts activities to keep little hands busy! 🎨

📅 WHEN: Tomorrow – Saturday, 9 May
🕐 TIME: 13:00 – 16:00 (Last repairs accepted at 15:30)
📍 WHERE: YMCA, Barfrestone Close, Tovil, ME15 6FG
Help us keep usable items out of landfill and show that repair is better than replace! 🌍
Tag a friend who has something needing repair, and come along tomorrow! 👋

07/05/2026

Helping out in Loose this week! 🛠️
Our team carried out minor repairs to the village’s stone walls, using traditional skills and lime mortar to restore missing joints and secure loose stones along Old Loose Hill. It’s all about keeping this lovely spot looking its best.
A big thank you to Mark and Tony from Virgin Media for volunteering their time, and to a kind local from the allotments for the much-needed refreshments!
We’re not quite finished yet—watch this space as we return next week 👀
Please like and share to support the work! 💛

04/05/2026

🛠️ TOVIL REPAIR CAFÉ - DON’T THROW IT AWAY—FIX IT! 🛠️

Join our friends at the Tovil Repair Cafe this Saturday, 9 May for an afternoon of fixing, learning, and community spirit! Whether it’s a wobbly chair, a toaster that’s lost its spark, or a shirt that needs a quick stitch, our amazing volunteers are here to help you. All we ask is a donation to help cover our running costs.

While we tinker with your items, you can enjoy a friendly atmosphere with refreshments. We even have children’s art and craft activities! 🎨

♻️ Save money, learn a new skill, and help save the planet by keeping items out of landfill.
• 📅 WHEN: Saturday, 9 May
• 🕐 TIME: 13:00 – 16:00 (Last repairs accepted at 15:30)
• 📍 WHERE: YMCA, Barfrestone Close, Tovil, ME15 6FG

(Note: Voluntary donations are always welcome to help keep us running! ☕🍰)

👍 Please like and share to spread the word and support your local repair community!

See you there! 👋

28/04/2026

🌼 Working together to grow wildflowers in Maidstone 🌼
This week, our Tuesday work party visited Pennies Day Nursery in Bearsted to help create a new wildflower area. Together, we cleared a bank and planted wildflower seeds that will soon provide vital food and shelter for insects, boost biodiversity, and brighten the space for everyone to enjoy. 🐝🦋

We’re incredibly grateful to Pennies Day Nursery for supporting VCS with a grant to help expand wildflower cultivation at Crisbrook Meadow, and to Guy from Bee the Change Maidstone for his knowledge and support in planning and delivering these projects.

By working together, we’re helping make Maidstone greener, more wildlife-friendly, and full of colour for future generations. 🌿

Please like, share, and help spread the word about the importance of creating spaces for nature to thrive! 💚