TGS tote bag design

Inspiring Future Conservationists: Kent Wildlife Trust Partners with Tonbridge Grammar School

At Kent Wildlife Trust, we believe that engaging young people in conservation is essential. The future of our natural world depends on the next generation understanding, valuing, and acting to protect it. That’s why we’ve recently launched our Reconnect and Protect Nature’s Voice Appeal.

One way our education team works to engage young people in our work is through collaboration. In June this year, we were delighted to be invited to be a part of Tonbridge Grammar School’s Year 8 Interdisciplinary Week: an exciting, off-timetable programme designed to connect students with real-world challenges through creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking.

This year, Tonbridge Grammar School brought the project to life by engaging with charities with whom they felt a connection, with each student group working on behalf of a house charity. Kent Wildlife Trust was proud to be the charity of choice for Mitchener House, and were invited to give an introductory talk at the beginning of the week, introducing the pupils to Kent Wildlife Trust and some of the work we do, including key projects such as Wilder Blean and Chough reintroduction. 

The challenge the pupils were set was to act as an advertising agency pitching for a charity contract, creating a stop-motion animation, designing a tote bag or t-shirt to accompany the campaign and presenting their campaign to a  panel made up of teachers and Kent Wildlife Trust representatives. The result? A week full of energy, ideas, and innovative thinking, as students brought their disciplinary skills in English and Visual Arts to bear on a mission that truly matters.

Why Does This Matter?

Opportunities like this are more than just engaging classroom projects - they help young people see conservation in action. By taking an active role in creating an advertising campaign and accompanying resources, the pupils had to research the charity thoroughly, learning about our projects and our long-term goals.

The pupils clearly spent their time carefully researching and understanding Kent Wildlife Trust, including our vision and our values. Their campaigns were articulately put together, showing both deep understanding and unique creativity. Some of the campaign slogans were worthy of being used on our own social media accounts and the designs on their tote bags worthy of being sold in our shops! I was very impressed all round!
Tom White, education manager at Kent Wildlife Trust

Planting Seeds for the Future

We were truly inspired by the passion and creativity the students brought to the challenge. From inventive animation techniques to bold tote bag designs, each group showed how capable and motivated young people can be when given the tools and trust to create something meaningful.

We hope this project went some way to creating the conservationists of tomorrow. If the pupils we met at Tonbridge Grammar School are anything to go by, we can be confident that nature has a voice for generations to come. 

We’re incredibly grateful to Tonbridge Grammar School for including us in this innovative and empowering project. It’s partnerships like these that help us grow a #WilderKent.

Tote bag and t-shirt designs