LEADING conservationist and TV personality David Bellamy will today open Fowlmead Country Park, created on the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery tip, near Dover.

The once-bleak landscape is now a rolling panorama of woodland, walks, small lakes and terraces, opening new sweeping views across east Kent’s coastal plain.

Since the final coal was produced at the pit in August 1989, the spoil heap has been out of bounds and neglected.

But for the past eight years and at a cost of £18.8million, the 200-acre site, which is the equivalent of about 100 football pitches, has been given a new lease of life, thanks to English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency led by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

David Bellamy has been invited along to perform the official opening ceremony this afternoon at 3pm.

today and 8.30am until 4pm on Monday.

After the big day, admission will be from 8am until 8pm every weekend, as well as to groups for special visits between Monday to Friday.

This week’s East Kent Mercury and Dover Mercury contains an eight-page souvenir pullout supplement about Fowlmead Country Park, with stories and pictures of the wide range of attractions on offer and full details of the opening ceremony.

It is hoped the park will be open daily in time for the school summer holidays.

At the moment, there is a temporary visitor centre with public conveniences. It is hoped a more permanent building will replace it within a few years.

Horse riders, cyclists and runners will be welcomed as regular users of the park and other visitors can delight in watching it evolve into a peaceful haven for wildlife, from badgers to bats.