Wildlife Study Day

Wildlife Study Days

Wildlife Study Days are designed to help the people of Kent to learn more about the wildlife of the county. Beginners are very welcome and those with some experience will be able to improve their knowledge and identification techniques.

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Nature is in trouble! Discover how you can protect wildlife for the future by attending one of our Study Days. Increase your knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of Kent’s wild plants and animals - and learn how to manage habitats to encourage them.

Our Study Days offer the chance to enhance your wildlife knowledge, identification and management skills.  Our face to face courses are held outside or in our centres across the county and we are now also offering courses online. Leaders are knowledgeable in their own topics but are also pleased to discuss other points of interest as they arise. We aim to create an informal atmosphere in which everyone can progress at their own speed.

Please note that only adults aged 18 and over can now attend our Study Days.  This is for safeguarding and insurance reasons.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] 

Upcoming Study Days

We have over 40 Study Days planned for this year. This Study Day homepage only shows the next 12 courses. However, all our Study Days can be accessed by clicking the ‘View all study days' button.
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Folkestone Ammonite by Philip Hadland
Folkestone Ammonite (Philip Hadland)

Fossil Walk at Folkestone

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A walk to explore the geology and fossils of the Folkestone area. You will have the chance to find Cretaceous Fossils from the Lower Greensand, Gault and Chalk formations.

Photo by Dave Watson

Introduction to Wildflowers

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Learn to identify wildflowers and how to use keys

Common Carder Bee
Common Carder Bee ©Rachel Scopes

Dandelions, Daisies and Thistles

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Get to grips with the basic features of the largest family of flowering plants

© Ian Rickards

Plant Identification in the Field

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Five days learning to identify and record wild plants in nature reserves in Kent.

Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
©Derek Moore

Introduction to Pollinators

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Find out how to identify pollinators and learn about their ecology.

beaver ham fen swimming terry whittaker

A morning at Ham Fen

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Learn about wilding and how keystone species have been restoring Kent's last remaining Fen.

Folkestone Ammonite by Philip Hadland
Folkestone Ammonite (Philip Hadland)

Fossil Walk at Folkestone

Event
to

A walk to explore the geology and fossils of the Folkestone area. You will have the chance to find Cretaceous Fossils from the Lower Greensand, Gault and Chalk formations.

Shoresearch

Intertidal Investigations

Event
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Learn how to identify marine plants and animals and then carry out an intertidal survey

Ancient hornbeam pollard

Ancient and Veteran Trees

Event
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Learn about Ancient and Veteran trees and how to recognise and record them.

beaver ham fen swimming terry whittaker

A morning at Ham Fen

Event
to

Learn about wilding and how keystone species have been restoring Kent's last remaining Fen.

Other courses and programmes

Botany study day with lots of plants laid out on a table with a screen and microscope
Alex Lockton

Botany Classes

Information page

Our Botany Classes cover the Botanical identification of wild and naturalised British plants. Participants will learn how to confidently identify and record plants and seek confirmation when necessary.

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Frequently asked questions

The prices for our normal Study Days in 2026 are as follows:

  • Standard fee: £42.50 per person per day.
  • Concessionary fee: Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers, senior citizens, unemployed and students £5 off.

Prices for our other courses vary.  Please visit the relevant page for further details on pricing for a particular course or event, and note that a concessionary rate is not given for these.

Proceeds from our Wildlife Study Day programme support the wider work of the Kent Wildlife Trust.

Please book places on our courses online via the individual Study Day webpage. 

If you have problems booking online, please email [email protected] stating the course you wish to book and a contact phone number.

Places on our courses are limited and booking is essential.   Many courses are very popular, so early booking is recommended.

Please note that we need at least 10 working days' notice of cancellation for refunds or transfers to another day.  This is because we need time to find someone to take your place and so cover the course costs. 

Please note that we need at least 10 working days' notice of cancellation for refunds or transfers to another day.  This is because we need time to find someone to take your place and so cover the course costs.