Learn more about the wildlife and wild places in Kent and beyond.
At Kent Wildlife Trust, we are working hard to create a Wilder Kent, but this isn’t something we can do alone. That’s why Goal 2 of our Wilder Kent 2030 strategy is to Inspire and Collaborate: working with people and communities across Kent to take meaningful action for nature, now and in the future. Our education work lies at the very heart of this goal.
Hothfield Heathland's bogs are one of only a handful of wet heaths in the Southeast, supporting a variety of dragonflies...
The mysterious nightjar has fascinated humans for generations and their presence can be an indicator of healthy heathland ecosystems. Learn all about them here.
Bob is the most striking and charismatic of our longhorns; he is well loved by our staff and volunteers. He is good natured and respects the 10-metre distance that should be kept between people and livestock. Bob can sometimes be quite stubborn; if he is feeling particularly restful he will refuse to move for anything.
We have had the driest spring since 1956, with river and stream flow already well below average for the time of year, a worry for everyone. Area Manager Ian Rickards reports that “this crazy weather has been beneficial for some insects, but the vegetation is already struggling, which will have a knock-on effect other insects later in the year. Water levels are dropping dramatically, with ponds and water bodies drying out very quickly.” The livestock have water troughs but the thin layer of peat in the bogs can dry out easily and be eroded by wind when exposed as plants adapted to damp conditions wither. The successive broods of nestling birds mostly eat insects and larvae, which provide moisture as well as protein, so they are also at risk.
Koniks (sometimes referred to as Konik Polski) are a non-native primitive breed that originate from Poland. They are a descendant of the tarpan, a type of European wild horse that went extinct in the 19th century. They have been bred for almost 80 years to be the ideal breed for use in conservation grazing, specifically for traits of hardiness, longevity and ease of handling, and are used successfully across Europe in conservation grazing schemes.
Hedges - they sit at boundaries, at the edges of gardens, fields, and roads. But too often, they’re relegated to the edges of our minds...
Planning & Policy Manager for Kent Wildlife Trust, Nicky Britton-Williams, explores our concerns with The Planning & Infrastructure Bill.
