Wilder Kent Volunteer Award Winners 2023

Despite most of them not being from ecological backgrounds, this team are extremely passionate about the natural world and supporting it in the challenges it faces. The volunteers take part in practical conservation task days, keenly developing their knowledge and understanding of how Kent Wildlife Trust supports local flora and fauna. They have attended a number of study days, taken part in surveys and engaged others with their learning through a range of activities. Even though their current project is due to finish soon, the volunteers have shown great ambition to continue their work if funding allows, recognising that their efforts help to restore the biodiversity of the area in the long-term. So far, the volunteers have helped to establish surveys and contribute to species records which has been of a great help to staff who had not yet found the time to do so. They also interact with members of the public who are walking on the common to share their good work and the value of conservation. These volunteers have keenly demonstrated their passion for nature through their contributions to this project and have inspired others to act in a way that benefits the natural world.

Despite the challenges resulting from the pandemic, these volunteers persevered to complete habitat restoration and management work across the Medway Wetland Reserves. They have made a noticeable impact on the local environment, spending hours pulling ragwort to help restore the chalk grasslands, removing brambles to create habitats for various creatures and pulling weeds to allow wildflowers to thrive. Their efforts have made a huge difference to the natural environment, and have also helped out the livestock checkers in the area who can find their animals on the land much easier now that it has been cleared. The volunteers are extremely passionate about the reserves and always willing to teach others about the wildlife that live there. They work hard in all weathers to maintain the reserves, coming up with solutions to problems that arise and showing ambition for what they want to achieve. The volunteers work incredibly well as a team and are always welcoming of new volunteers who join them.

The Wilder Blean project helped to establish which wildlife species are present in the West Blean and Thornden Woods, and what the vegetation and soil looked like before grazing animals could be introduced to the area. This volunteer team were a true asset to Kent Wildlife Trust through the summer that they worked, showing dedication through spending hours behind a microscope to identify the tiniest of invertebrate specimens. Their contributions meant that the samples were looked through much faster than expected, which helped to create important reports and valuable data evidence for nature-based solutions for conservation. The volunteers are crucial to the ongoing strategy for Kent Wildlife Trust as they contribute to ecological monitoring which is vital to developing programmes around environmental protection and habitat management activities. The team are incredibly passionate about nature and people’s experience of nature, which is demonstrated by their diligence to create such vital data resources for staff to interpret.

Joanne is a passionate and dedicated volunteer with the Chough Project, helping to reintroduce this species of bird to the local area. She has been involved from the early days of the project and her enthusiasm shines through when she is engaging with the public. Joanne understands the value of effective community engagement and is more than willing to attend all events to help raise awareness of the project. Due to her dedication, she has also developed a deep understanding of the ecology and psychology of the chough, which has helped to shape the methodology of its reintroduction. Joanne conveys her knowledge and experiences to local people in a non-scientific language which helps to engage the community with the project and is of great benefit to Kent Wildlife Trust. As well as her contributions to the chough project, Joanne has been a volunteer with Kent Wildlife Trust for a long time throughout a range of volunteering roles. She is passionate about nature and wildlife, and making people more aware of the nature on their doorstep.

Peter is an invaluable asset to Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, especially in his role as a Hide & Trail Volunteer, where he helps the staff to maintain clean, comfortable and tidy hides, trails and facilities at the reserve. He responds proactively to issues on site, and is not afraid to put his DIY skills to use where necessary. Peter also undertakes regular bird-watching walks around the reserve, which are often fully booked, which helps to provide additional income for Kent Wildlife Trust and also provides visitors with a unique experience and a wealth of knowledge so that they can better understand and appreciate their local environment. He has also helped with delivering corporate volunteering days at the reserve, providing valuable insight into the reserve and its wildlife for the corporate volunteers and encouraging them to be more involved with their local environment. Through his various volunteering roles and engaging with the public, Peter demonstrates his passion for nature and inspiring others to also develop a similar passion.

Julie is an exceptional volunteer and an invaluable member of the education team. Her tireless dedication to her work and unwavering commitment to the team keeps the cogs turning and ensures success in all their programmes. Julie selflessly contributes her time and energy towards a range of activities that make school visits successful, including printing materials for schools groups, preparing resources and keeping data sheets up to date. Thanks to her continuing efforts, Kent Wildlife Trust are able to put on birthday parties which help raise additional income and encourage the younger generation to be inspired by nature. Julie’s dedication and contributions help to ensure that the education team are able to successfully deliver high quality education sessions and family events which help to build a respect and an understanding of the importance of wildlife and nature throughout the county. She really demonstrates the value of collaboration between staff and volunteers and is always willing to support and lend a hand where it is needed, often asking for more jobs to do and more activities to support.

David has been volunteering for the Kent Wildlife Trust for many years primarily involved with the practical Green Team, regularly attending tasks at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. He is a skilled power tools operator, and is more then happy to put his training to use. David also has a keen interest in wildlife photographer, and has put his trail camera and underway filming ability to use for the Trust benefit.

David has been volunteering for the Kent Wildlife Trust for many years, and during that time he has taken on multiple volunteer roles covering just about every aspect of the Trusts outdoor conservation work.

David’s is primarily involved with the practical Green Team, regularly attending tasks with the roving Thursday team on the Darenth downlands and sites, but he has also taken on the role of Honorary Warden for Magpie Bottom Nature Reserve, and is a key member of the Ecology Group team, helping cover livestock checks on ad-hoc basis and assisting with guided walks too.

Each year, the team perform beyond expectations with the management works on the Dover sites. These sites are hard to work on, with steep slopes, inaccessibility, exposure to the coastal weather among other things. Despite that, the team work hard every year, clearing huge areas of scrub to restore chalk downland, repairing fences in tough soil and slope conditions and controlling numerous invasive plant species. This year, along with doing the usual scrub management, the team helped finish the boundary clearance at Coombe Down, one of our newest sites, ready for contractors to install stock fencing so the reserve can be grazed. They also cleared a huge amount of historical litter left on the site. Another achievement is they have nearly finished installing a new 300m stretch of fence at Nemo Down (by the time this award is given, the fence will have been finished). They are all hard-working, dedicated and get on with the job with little(!) complaint. Despite me telling them otherwise, they are a great joy to work with.

Fidelity Weston has always worked tirelessly in making improvements to Seal and the wider Sevenoaks area for people and wildlife. In particular she was involved in the Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project from the outset (initial scoping in 2010 when she was still Chairman of KWT, a voluntary position) and was instrumental in shaping the vision for the project, working closely with Kent Wildlife Staff (KWT), Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), Parish and Town Councils and local people. 

Fidelity rolled her sleeves up and put herself wholeheartedly into every aspect of supporting myself and others involved with developing, and then delivering the project. Fidelity had stepped down as Chairman of KWT, but continued to Chair the SGC steering group and has always acted as great ambassador for the project. 

The project was worked up into applications for a Development Stage Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and then a Delivery Stage Grant. Including match funding the project has a value of £712,500 to help restore and improve the commons, improve access, all very much underpinned by volunteer and community involvement. 

Adrian is a long-term supporter of and volunteer for the Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project. In addition to supporting our practical conservation work, Adrian has singlehandedly created walking routes for several of our sites, spending hours of his free time exploring the commons on foot to map exciting and accessible walks. His close attention to detail has made the walks user-friendly - for example, the use of his own photographs of site landmarks - which has made the quality of the routes outstanding.

The Greensand Commons of Sevenoaks, Westerham and Seal have a deep connection to the residents of West Kent; in fact, the rare lowland heathland habitat that occurs on the commons is the result of historic land use by local people. In recent decades, public use and awareness of these biodiverse sites has sadly declined. Heathland restoration is the project’s top priority, however, restoring the connection between local people and the land is vital to the ongoing management of the commons.

Adrian’s passion for the Greensand Commons is a true asset to our project. Thanks to his efforts, we are now able to provide local people with scenic walking routes that promote the heritage and conservation value of the commons. Through using Adrian’s resources visitors can reconnect with the wildlife on their doorsteps, all while benefitting their physical and mental health and well-being. Adrian’s work has provided an excellent legacy piece to the five-year long project. He has inspired new groups of people to explore and appreciate the commons, strengthening community ties to the land and ensuring that there are local voices to ensure they are valued and protected beyond the scope of the project. Adrian has made a MASSIVE impact on the success of our project.