Wilder Kent Blog

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

Wilder Kent Strategy A single chough in flight.

5 essential wildlife photography tips

If you're a wildlife enthusiast that wants to get started with photographing what you see, it's important to get the basics down so you can make the most of those precious trips. Kent Wildlife Trust's Content Creator, Tim Horton, talks through his essential tips in this blog.

Families and Schools family in woodland

Get outside with Kent Wildlife Trust this Bank Holiday Weekend

As the bank holiday weekend approaches (23rd-25th August 2024), there's no better time to connect with nature and explore the great outdoors. Kent Wildlife Trust offers a variety of activities that make it easy to immerse yourself in the county's stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a family looking for a fun day out, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, we have the perfect opportunity for you...

Nature Reserves A group of Ashford Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers standing with their Wilder Kent Award certificates.

August on Hothfield Heathlands: Barn owls & volunteers

By August, floral glory has passed from the orchids (heath spotted, southern marsh and a few large hybrids) to the heather or ling. As ever, we hope for a protracted display of purple in the heathy areas, which is likely if the cool nights persist. Orchid seed is now ripening. Dust-like, dispersed on the wind, the seed contains no nutrients to support germination so needs a mycorrhizal fungus to supply nutrients from the soil to its roots. From seed to flowering takes three years or more.

Wildlife Gardening

Summer flowers for a wildlife-friendly garden

Looking to create a garden that’s not just beautiful but also provides a range of benefits for wildlife, as well as ongoing summer flowers? There’s lots of consider when choosing plants. I’m the Wild About Gardens Officer at Kent Wildlife Trust and these are my favourite summer plants that are blooming in my garden this season.

Nature Reserves Three flying ants above short grass with a blurred background.
© Jon Hawkins

What is flying ant day & when is it?

Sara Booth-Card, ecologist, peatlands and Action For Insects campaigner at The Wildlife Trusts, looks out for the telltale signs of flying ant days and shares her love for the underground world of ants.