Wilder Kent Blog

Learn more about the wildlife and wild places in Kent and beyond.

Species Chiffchaff on a branch
©️Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography

Top migratory birds to spot this spring

Have you heard an extra harmony in the dawn chorus recently? You might be hearing the passerines (songbirds) that have been migrating north to breed after spending the winter feeding in warmer climates.

Species Female Brown Banded Carder Bee
©️ Clare Marshall

Buzzing with purpose: Volunteering for bumblebees at Queendown Warren

I have been a BeeWalk volunteer with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) since 2024. I have also been a Kent Wildlife Trust volunteer joining the Pine Marten project at Bedgebury in 2025. I live near Queendown Warren and the South East Area Manager (BBCT) was interested in how a chalk cliff area traditionally managed for butterflies supported bumblebees in this rare habitat.

Species a black pony walking through ferns

Konik ponies in conservation

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.

Species Hornet Robberfly
Stephen Weeks

Insect highlights from our reserves in 2025

Winter may not be the season for surveying, but it is the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the extraordinary insect life found across Kent Wildlife Trust reserves.