Falling leaves, lasting legacies
As you wander through a woodland this autumn, surrounded by birdsong, with autumn leaves gently drifting to the forest floor, it’s hard not to be moved by the peace and beauty of nature. These places, rich with life, have been shaped not just by the passing seasons, but by the care of those who came before us.
Nature protected by people like you
The towering trees that were once delicate saplings and the creatures that call the woodland home all exist thanks to people who loved nature enough to act. People who believed that future generations deserved to walk beneath the same leaf canopy, to breathe the same fresh air, to listen to the same chorus of wildlife.
Nature needs our help, now more than ever
Nature gives us so much, yet for so many years we’ve taken it for granted. Climate change, development and human destruction are placing unbearable pressure on our wild spaces. The truth is that without your help, we will lose the places and species that have shaped our lives and memories.
A lasting gift for future generations
A simple yet effective way to protect the woodland giants and tiny saplings, along with the species that call this wild place home, is to leave a gift to nature – a legacy that will last far beyond a single season. A gift in your Will is a powerful and personal way to protect what matters to you. It’s not a case of choosing between family and your love for nature; by pledging just 1% of your estate to support nature restoration, you can create the future you want for your loved ones.
Your promise, our commitment
Your legacy could help us rewet precious habitats, restore wildflower meadows and safeguard woodlands for years to come. This autumn, if you’re thinking about the future, we invite you to consider investing in the future of nature. In return, we promise to use your gift responsibly, to respect your wishes and your loved ones, and to keep working to protect and restore Kent’s wildlife.
To make it easier, we’re partnered with Octopus Legacy who are experts in helping establish what you want for the future and guiding you to make choices that work for you.
To access their will-writing service free of charge, visit kwtg.uk/octopus-legacy-autumn and use the code KENTWTFREE at the checkout or call them on 020 4525 3605.
We're here to talk
To speak to us personally about your legacy and the difference it could make, please call Terri on 07740 182878 or email terri.chalkley@kentwildlife.org.uk
© Tom Marshall
A wilder autumn for the kids
Little conservationists
This time of year is busy for wildlife, and your family can lend a hand!
Hedgehogs will be starting to settle in for hibernation soon, so a safe space for them to hide away is always appreciated. Leaving a log pile or wild corner in your garden could be the perfect sanctuary for a spiky visitor – and make sure you’ve installed a ‘hedgehog highway’ (small gaps in fences at ground level) so they can easily find your patch. You could even have a go at making your own hedgehog house!
Simple but exciting – now is the best time to become a tree detective! Take a closer look at the leaves, berries and nut casings... what can you see? What shape are the leaves and what colour are the berries? How does the tree look different from one season to the next? Perhaps you could take a photo of it now and compare the image in the winter, spring and summer of next year! To download a free detective spotter sheet, visit kwtg.uk/family-autumn.
Another activity we like to do around this time of year is empty and clean any bird boxes that have been used over the summer. It’s important to remove leftover materials, including unhatched eggs, and to clean the box with hot water. Make sure you wear gloves while doing this activity and leave the box out to dry before popping it back up in place.
Seasonal sensations
There’s nothing quite like the squeals of joy as the little ones launch themselves into a crunchy pile of autumn leaves!
Head out to one of our reserves for a magical minibeast hunt, stomp in some spectacular puddles or even have a go at building a den out of fallen branches.
Whatever it is that lights up your kids’ imagination, grab the wellies and get wild this autumn!
Bella creates resources and delivers education sessions at our nature reserves and across schools in Kent. With a background in environmental social sciences, she cares deeply about the relationship between people and nature, and how this can impact wildlife and the environment.
Show us your wild side!
Volunteer spotlight
Gary Taylor, Blean volunteer
I first became inspired to get involved with Kent Wildlife Trust as I have always had a love and appreciation for flora and fauna.
It is so rewarding to be personally engaged in your local area, making a positive contribution to the wilderness that surrounds you. We are lucky in this part of Kent to have so much woodland nearby.
I first joined as a member of the Canterbury area volunteer group in about 2018. In 2024, the group moved to volunteer with the Bison Ranger team based in Blean Woods.
This season, we have been doing brush clearance, scything bracken, using bow saws and loppers to remove overreaching plants (so that when the electrified fences are live, only bison set off alarms, not brambles!), maintaining fences, checking the pigs are well and doing some litter picking.
The most memorable moment while volunteering for me has been seeing the European bison herd grow over time and hearing from the Rangers how things are progressing with this important project.
To see such amazing natural forest engineers is beautiful. They are having a positive impact on the biodiversity of the area they inhabit by their foraging, trampling, controlling tree encroachment, debarking, and seed dispersal through their dung.
Since I started working with the Bison Ranger team, we have done a lot of land management by opening up areas to allow butterflies to breed as well as ensuring that public access is kept to a high standard. In the last few months, we have successfully gained about 10 new volunteers, which is wonderful. I hope that word will spread and we can get even more people of all ages involved.
If you are thinking about volunteering in the Blean, as long as you go at your own pace and get pleasure from being outdoors, then you will definitely enjoy it! We are a friendly crowd who welcome new people; we know what it’s like being the new person!
In 10 years’ time, I hope that the Blean Woods will still be as wonderful as they are now. With our work we are continuing to look after the site for nature under the careful guidance of the Kent Wildlife Trust staff.
Want to get involved?
Here are a few of our volunteer roles...
West Blean Practical Team Volunteer
Join the Blean volunteer team and get stuck in with helping to look after the iconic Blean Woods. It takes a lot of effort to keep the woodland great for wildlife, and we have ambitions for it to be even better. We are particularly looking for volunteers with a chainsaw licence.
Wilder Coast Volunteer
Wilder Coast Volunteers are ambassadors for Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve, raising awareness about how and where people can share the bay responsibly with its wildlife. As a volunteer, you’ll be a vital Kent Wildlife Trust presence helping to protect a sensitive and important reserve and acting as extra eyes and ears for the warden team.
Livestock Checker
Our livestock play a huge part in looking after our nature reserves. Their grazing is essential in providing places for our wildlife to live. All our livestock need checking every day to ensure they are healthy, safe and happy. You’ll receive full training and the opportunity to get out onto our beautiful nature reserves.
Kent Dolphin Landwatch
This project’s main goal is to identify the distribution and abundance of cetaceans in Kent. This data can be used to protect our marine environment and ultimately safeguard cetaceans. As a volunteer, you’ll be taking part in Landwatch surveys to monitor cetacean activity in a specific area.
