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Sir Bob Geldof submits plans for wildlife pond inspired by artist Claude Monet in grounds of Faversham home at Davington Priory

06:00, 05 August 2020

updated: 11:08, 05 August 2020

Sir Bob Geldof wants to install a pond inspired by Monet's famous water lily paintings at his historic estate in Faversham.

The town's most famous resident has submitted his proposals to Swale Borough Council as he bids to create a haven for wildlife at Davington Priory.

Sir Bob Geldof. Pic: Phil Houghton/philhoughtonphotography.co.uk
Sir Bob Geldof. Pic: Phil Houghton/philhoughtonphotography.co.uk

Taking inspiration from the famous Giverny pond in France, planners have drawn up blueprints for a 40-metre pool to go in the paddock behind the 68-year-old's long-term home.

If approved, it will contribute to the government's One Million Pond Project which bids to increase and enhance freshwater wildlife habitats across the country for endangered plants and animals.

The Boomtown Rats singer, who is regularly spotted around the town, has owned the 12th century Davington Priory since the 1980s.

Documents compiled by planning agents state: "The design inspiration for the pond has come from Monet’s pond at Giverny, with a mix of fresh-water plants and trees to maximise the biodiversity value.

"The environmental benefits are considered to outweigh any perceived ‘less than substantial’ harm to the setting of the listed buildings nearby, however the buildings are well distanced to be physically unaffected by the development.

The plans for Davington Priory have been inspired by Monet's paintings
The plans for Davington Priory have been inspired by Monet's paintings

"A critical element of the project is that these new ponds will have clean water.

"This is important because most countryside ponds are now badly damaged by pollution, and evidence shows that pond wildlife is declining across the UK."

The pond would be installed in the Priory's paddock, to the west of the house.

Stephens Close resident Jennifer Pout has backed the Live Aid founder's plans.

She said: "The priory already has a thriving wildlife population which we benefit from seeing, bats, owls, squirrels, birds, stag beetles.

The pond is proposed to go to the right of the lone-standing tree. Pic: Lee Evans Partnership
The pond is proposed to go to the right of the lone-standing tree. Pic: Lee Evans Partnership

"It's great news that this area will benefit from another type of wildlife haven. Let's hope it'll not get swamped with the mozzies we're already plagued with."

Claude Monet's water lily oil paintings are a series of 250 art works done by the French master at his home in Normandy during the early 1900s.

Many of them were completed while he was suffering from cateracts and now sell for tens of millions of pounds.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham

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