Wilder Kent Blog

Volunteer, Margery Thomas, shares her November update from Hothfield Heathlands - one of Kent's last four valley bogs and one of its few remaining fragments of open heath.

Ashford Area Warden, Will Glasson, explores autumn conservation and wildlife at Hothfield Heathlands - and how you can get involved.

Margery Thomas, volunteer, has been writing articles about Hothfield Heathlands' flora and fauna since 2016. In this month's article, she reflects on some of August's sightings and recent updates.

It's been a hot few months on Hothfield Heathlands! Long-time volunteer, Margery Thomas, reflects on recent work and sightings.

This year marks 10 years since Margery Thomas began volunteering at Hothfield Heathlands. Since 2016, she's written monthly articles on the reserve's flora and fauna, bringing readers into the heart of the heathlands through rich, observant writing, whatever the season. Here we chat with Margery about her decade with us.

Hothfield's evening bat and amphibian walk revealed pipistrelles, newts, and a nightingale's song, while rare heath spotted and Southern marsh orchids bloom in the reserve's acid bogs.

Hothfield Heathlands is abuzz with life in June! In the sky, on the ground, above the water, and under the surface - the reserve is busy, and so are our volunteers.

The glossy green spears that pierced dense leaf litter in late winter are now transformed into sheets of violet-purple-blue in the woodland edges of the reserve. The magical bluebell weeks began fairly early, a soft scent and a flood of colour that changes with the light and is tricky to catch accurately in photos since the flowers are not one solid colour.