Nature Heroes - Benji Fallow | Kent Wildlife Trust

Hi, I’m Benji, I’m 10 years old and I’ve been trying to do everything I can to help the environment.

I’ve turned our little garden into a wildlife garden, with a pond, a bug area, a bed of pollinators and a meadow. We’ve had frogs and newts, sloe worms and foxes, so many birds, including black caps and spotted woodpeckers, jays and even a sparrowhawk. We’ve made a hedgehog house and I’m hoping we’ll get hedgehogs soon!

I love drawing and painting nature too, and I started sharing my artwork online during lockdown. I didn’t know if anyone would be interested, but so many people got in touch to say it made them think, and made them want to help nature, so I kept on sharing it, and I hope that when people see my artwork, they will remember to stand up for our planet.

Benji Fallow holding up art - nature hero

It's hard to know what we can do to help the environment, but there are things we can do to help. I’ve been raising money, by selling prints and cards of my artwork, and by doing sponsored walks and climbs, and I’ve protected over 4 acres of the cloud forest reserve in Ecuador, and raised money for the wildlife trusts and wild justice too!

Sometimes it’s hard to realise we have power as a young person, but we do. Every child can make a real change for the good of our planet, so do just try to take the first step. If you have the chance, why not make a wildlife garden yourself? Litter picking, recycling, and trying to avoid foods with palm oil, and try to eat less meat, all these things help.

Whenever you see nature, try to learn from it and really get into it. Try to speak up for nature and the planet whenever you can.

When I saw that Kent Wildlife Trust had introduced 3 bison into the wild in the UK, I was so excited! I used the video of the bison being released to draw this!

Bison are amazing for the ecosystem, they’re a keystone species, which means they can keep a whole ecosystem and habitat together. They push down trees and make space for new species to grow through, but they do it gently, so the woods aren’t harmed, and the trees can rot down to help the mycelium in the soil. They stir up the ground so that seeds that have sat in the ground for years and years can germinate. They give space for really delicate new plants to grow, because they naturally push out invasive species and help keep the ecosystem full of diversity!

Wild European Bison came close to extinction, and they’ve returned through the rewinding programmes across Europe. When I heard the Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust had started Wilder Blean, where these bison were released here in the UK I thought it was such brilliant news!

I couldn’t believe it when I shared my bison drawing online and got the chance to go along and meet bison ranger Tom and find out all about the project!

Tom is one of 2 bison rangers working with these amazing creatures. He was so generous with his time and knowledge. Thanks so much to Tom for taking the time to show my mum and I the bison of rewilding project, and answering all my questions! We both had the most amazing time, and it’s such an inspiring project to see! I can’t believe I actually saw them in real life, they’re such incredible creatures. I’m always going to remember meeting Tom and seeing this amazing project. Thanks so much again for letting me glimpse these incredible creatures!