Wilder Kent Blog

Kent Wildlife Trust volunteer, Margery Thomas, describes the snowy sights of the past month at Hothfield Heathlands and what we can look forward to in March.

The brightest greens on the reserve throughout winter are provided by the mosses, not just in the upper bog, where the SSSI citation mentions 12 species of sphagnum moss, but the many other species, in long and cropped grass, on bare soil and stones, and on tree trunks and stumps - anywhere with poor drainage and low soil fertility. Accurate identification requires a strong magnifying lens and a good guide to the 800 UK species.

Read about the life of a volunteer at Queendown Warren.

Want to know what our volunteers get up to? Read Richard's reflections as a new volunteer and find out what you could be expected to get up to.

It’s harvest and hibernation time, some systems shutting down while embryonic life in the form of seeds fall and scatter, insect pupae drop to the ground to overwinter, and the many species of fungus on the heathland continue their spectacular show.

Note from the warden: We do not allow collecting of mushrooms on the Hothfield Heathlands nature reserve, this is to protect the fungi and the species that rely on them and to allow all visitors to enjoy them in their natural surroundings.

Is it a Tuesday? Tuesdays mean it’s livestock checking day. Read more of my life as a livestock checker...

Kent Wildlife Trust Volunteer, Margery Thomas, takes a look at what Hothfield Heathlands Nature Reserve has in store for us this autumn.