Kent Wildlife Trust is excited to announce that it is to open its first charity shop in Paddock Wood. Set to become the county’s first wildlife charity shop at a time where conscious consumerism is becoming increasingly popular and evermore important. The new shop will allow you to indulge in retail therapy whilst helping to restore and protect local wildlife and contributing towards a more sustainable future – a win-win for both people and nature.

With the average person in the UK throwing out 400kg of waste a year, Kent Wildlife Trust’s  charity shop provides you with the platform to become part of the solution by providing an affordable and sustainable alternative to the throw-away fashion that is detrimental for the environment.

The conservation charity is urging people to reconsider their consumerist behaviour in light of the climate and nature crisis we face and to think globally but act locally. You can help by donating your pre-loved goods, volunteering at the shop or indulging in some retail therapy there. All profits will support the Trust’s work to protect nature and restore biodiversity, and help create a Wilder Kent.

Items on sale will include a range of traditional charity shop, pre-loved items including clothes, books and DVDs and our new Wilder Kent range, including eco bamboo coffee cups, notebooks, water bottles and much more.

Joe Gluck, Head of Commercial services at Kent Wildlife Trust said, “These are exciting times for Kent Wildlife Trust, as we become more ambitious in our conservation work in the county, we must become equally ambitious in how we fund our vital projects. Having our first charity shop in Paddock Wood will not only help raise those funds, but also raise the profile of what we do in this area of Kent.

It is encouraging that more consumers are choosing to buy second hand goods as a way to reduce their impact on the planet. With our charity shop, you have the added bonus of all profits going back into our conservation work across Kent.

People can support us by donating quality pre-loved items. We look forward to meeting our new customers in and around the Paddock Wood area and welcoming them to our shop, which we hope will be a welcome addition to what is already a fantastic local High Street.”

Anybody wishing to donate can drop off their items to the charity’s Headquarters at Tyland Barn. The Trust also needs volunteers to help run the shop. If you are interested you can contact Joe or Keeley on 01622 622012 or email volunteering@kentwildlife.org.uk

Find out more here.