Heath fritillary butterfly with its wings spread as it perches on a flower head
© Jim Higham

Kent Wildlife Trust to lead ambitious wildlife recovery across Kent

Kent Wildlife Trust has secured £1.28 million in government funding to help some of Kent's most vulnerable wildlife recover over the next three years.

The investment will support major conservation projects across the county, from strengthening the River Stour's nationally important beaver population and protecting rare woodland species in the Blean, to supporting the recovery of turtle doves.

The funding has been awarded through Natural England's Species Recovery Programme (SRP), backed by Defra, as part of the Government's Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife campaign. Kent Wildlife Trust will lead two key projects and support a wider programme of species recovery across the county.

Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said “Nearly one in six species in Britain are threatened with extinction and this Government is taking action to reverse that decline. 

“Through the largest-ever investment in species recovery, we are backing projects across the country to protect threatened wildlife, restore habitats and secure the future of some of England's most iconic species.” 

Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation and Engagement at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "This investment recognises just how important Kent is for some of England's most at-risk wildlife. It gives us the opportunity to strengthen our nationally important beaver population, deepen our understanding of some of England’s least known woodland invertebrates, and create the conditions for them to recover and thrive.

"By working alongside landowners, local communities and conservation partners, we want to see more resilient wildlife and the return of species that have declined across our county. The knowledge we gain here in Kent won't just benefit local wildlife - it will help shape species recovery across England."

Helping beavers and people thrive together 

The River Stour is already home to England's largest population of wild beavers, and this funding will help secure its future. Led by Kent Wildlife Trust, the project will strengthen the genetic diversity and long-term resilience of the beaver population through carefully managed wild releases, while creating a nationally significant model for beaver coexistence. This will include working with more than 250 landowners, farmers and local organisations to develop practical ways for people and beavers to live alongside one another, restore riparian habitat, and create solutions that can benefit communities in Kent and inform beaver management across England.

The work will be delivered in partnership with Beaver Trust, South East Rivers Trust, the East Kent Beaver Advisory Group, the North East Kent Farmer Cluster, the University of Kent (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology) and Natural England.

Protecting rare invertebrates and butterflies in the Blean

The Blean, one of Britain's largest areas of ancient woodland, is home to some of the UK's rarest woodland invertebrates, including several species found almost nowhere else in the country. Working alongside Butterfly Conservation, the RSPB, the University of Kent (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology), and Natural England, Kent Wildlife Trust will survey six nationally scarce species - including four spiders and a beetle - to better understand their distribution and habitat needs.

The project will also focus on the heath fritillary butterfly, one of the UK's rarest butterflies and a flagship species for the Blean woodland complex. By investigating why populations decline in some areas and testing different ways of managing woodland, the project will develop practical guidance to help create the conditions this butterfly needs to thrive.

Heath fritillary butterfly. @Kent Wildlife Trust

Alongside this work, Kent Wildlife Trust will contribute to a range of collaborative projects helping threatened species recover across Kent and beyond.

Securing a future for turtle doves 

Once a familiar sight and sound of the Kent countryside, turtle dove numbers have declined dramatically in recent decades. Led by the RSPB and in partnership with, Natural England and Marden Wildlife, the project will help improve understanding of where the birds are now and support conservation work in the places where they have the greatest chance of recovery.

Tony Juniper, Natural England Chair, said: "For decades Natural England's vital species recovery work has revealed how even the rarest of the rare can be brought back from the brink. The red kite, lady's slipper orchid, pool frog, beaver and large blue butterfly are among examples that demonstrate the many opportunities at hand and what can be achieved for nature and wider society. 

“We know that good science and effective partnerships can help restore species to favourable status, and this funding will enable us to support many initiatives to help halt and reverse the decline of our wonderful wildlife." 

Kent Wildlife Trust is also supporting the recovery of a number of other threatened species, including:

  • Safeguarding the Dusky-lemon Sallow moth, led by Kent County Council Plan Tree and in partnership with Kent’s Plan Bee, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Butterfly Conservation, Kent Countryside Partnerships, The Tree Council and local conservation partners. The project aims to identify which elm trees provide the best habitat for the Dusky-lemon Sallow moth, helping to guide future elm tree planting and habitat management across Kent.
  • Ensuring the Future of Threatened Moths, led by Butterfly Conservation. After its discovery last year, the project will learn more about the Dover twist moth, including its diet, habitat and why it is so rare. The team will also plant marshmallow plants to encourage the marsh mallow moth and use drones to study the breeding behaviour of the scarce aspen knot- horn moth. 
  • Wart-biter cricket recovery, led by Buglife. The wart-biter is one of the UK's largest crickets, restricted to a handful of sites nationally. Kent Wildlife Trust will deliver habitat management work at its Lydden Temple Ewell nature reserve to help this species spread beyond its current range. 
  • Red-billed chough reintroduction, led by Wildwood Trust. The project will use DNA analysis to uncover the diet of Kent's reintroduced choughs, combined with surveys of key foraging habitats, to identify the best places to support future population expansion. Kent Wildlife Trust will support the project with survey design, GIS mapping, and data analyses. 
  • Water vole recovery, led by Waterlife Recovery Trust. The project will deliver water vole recovery across a suite of contiguous counties in Southeast England by means of eradicating American mink. Kent Wildlife Trust will work with partners and farmer clusters to expand trapping within Kent.
  • Nightingale recovery - The British Trust for Ornithology is leading a national Species Recovery Programme project on nightingale with Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants (ABEC) as core partner. Kent has the most nightingales in the country so has an important role to play in the species’ recovery. Research will include continued tracking studies to boost knowledge about nightingale habitat use.

Beaver @ Terry Whitaker