Topics: Volunteering

Rewilding a churchyard in Sandwich

A run down and overgrown medieval churchyard in Sandwich has been restored to a beautiful wildlife haven by a group of local volunteers who live locally and are part of the congregation at the church. In this amazing story, you'll hear from the people who brought this churchyard back to life and find out what they discovered when you peeled the ivy back from the tombstones.

Darland Banks Practical Team Volunteer

Join our dedicated team at Darland Banks in the heart of the Medway Towns, you will help with removing scrub and improving the chalk grassland for butterflies and wildflowers. Rotational scrub coppice and ride management to encourage breeding birds along with orchids and Adders. In summer we count one of the biggest populations of Man Orchids in the country.

Queendown Warren Practical Team Volunteer

At Queendown Warren you will help with removing scrub and improving the chalk grassland for butterflies and wildflowers. Rotational scrub and woodland coppice and ride management to encourage breeding birds such as Nightingale and Turtle Dove, along with orchids and Adders.

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.

Volunteer spotlight: Lisa Hoey 

So much has happened since joining Kent Wildlife Trust as a Volunteer Trainee Warden on 3 July 2023. My life has done a complete 360 (for the better, I should add!). 8 months ago, I was working as a Graphic Designer leading a very lone existence in my small study at home or making the very sad commute to a grey, industrial, business park on the Medway estate. But now?... my life is surrounded by the calming colours of nature and days are spent either shadowing 2 Estate Wardens, helping out on task days, on training courses, completing wildlife surveys or attending study days.

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