This autumn, we're celebrating your connections to our precious woodland habitats and sharing your inspiring stories.
Sarah's story - A morning in the Blean
For Sarah, a long-standing member from Herne Bay, West Blean is a place of renewal. "Every Sunday morning, my husband and I walk through West Blean and Thornden Woods. We see the changing seasons week by week - from bluebells and orchids in spring to fungi pushing up through autumn leaves. It's the only place I can fully switch off. We often hear woodpeckers drumming and spot treecreepers zig-zagging up the trunks."
Earlier this year, Sarah joined a volunteer woodland coppicing day organised by Kent Wildlife Trust. "I'd never done anything like it before, but I wanted to give back to a place that gives me so much peace. We spent the morning learning about coppice rotation, and by lunchtime, I was already planning when to come back. Being among the trees with others who care was incredibly grounding."
Jim's story - Creating woodland habitat at home
Jim, a member in Canterbury, was inspired by visits to the Blean to create a small woodland glade in his own garden. "I planted native hazel, hawthorn and field maple saplings in a shady corner to recreate a little patch of what I love in the Blean. Five years on, it's buzzing with life. I've got a wood mouse living under the log pile, and last week a speckled wood butterfly danced through the dappled light. It reminds me that we can all play our part for wildlife, even in a small suburban garden."
Get involved this autumn
Volunteer for woodland management - join coppicing, scrub clearance or wildlife surveying days.
Visit one of our woodland reserves - to see how your membership is transforming these landscapes.
Share your woodland photos and stories for our next magazine and social media - email comms@kentwildlife.org.uk
Meet the new chair of Kent Wildlife Trust
Having been a Trustee since 2021. I am delighted to become Chair of Kent Wildlife Trust. I am very much looking forward to working with my fellow Trustees and the wonderful and inspiring staff, volunteers and supporters of the Trust.
I have been fascinated by the natural world since childhood. I grew up in Nottinghamshire in a house which backed onto a large open field which was only cut once a year, allowing a mass of wildflowers and insect life to flourish. I remain a keen nature lover and gardener and enjoy spending time looking after my garden and encouraging the wildlife in. Highlights this year have included sitting quietly watching a goldcrest gather cobwebs to build its nest and seeing a grass snake exploring my garden pond.
I live in Sevenoaks. very close to the Sevenoaks reserve. Over the last few years, the reserve has become a very special place for me to take time and reconnect with nature. I also love seeing how much benefit the reserve provides both to wildlife and to the local community - it's always a delight to come across an excited school group busy pond dipping!
My background is as a risk manager with over thirty years' experience in financial services. I retired from full time executive life in 2020 and have thoroughly enjoyed becoming a Trustee, both for Kent Wildlife Trust and Canterbury Cathedral and using my risk management and governance experience in entirely new ways.
I'm excited to be taking on the role of Chair. While the Trust is operating in challenging times, there is much to celebrate in the success of our flagship projects and the tireless dedication of staff, volunteers and supporters in furthering the protection and restoration of nature. The Trust has a well-deserved reputation for innovation and for making a real impact, and my hope as Chair is that I can continue to provide strong support in furthering our mission to create a Wilder Kent.
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The competition closes on 31st October 2025. A winning entry will be picked at random and contacted after this date. Good luck!
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We'd love to hear from you
To ensure our magazine continues to inspire and inform, we need your feedback! Your insights and opinions are essential in helping us deliver the content that matters most to you.
Whether it’s about our articles, photography, or overall design, we would love to hear your thoughts! Contact us using the details below to update your contact details or preferences, let us know your date of birth to receive a gift from us on your special day or to share your ideas, questions or suggestions about how we could improve your membership.
Thank you for being part of the Kent Wildlife Trust family. Together, we can continue to make a real and lasting difference for wildlife in Kent.
Email us at membership@kentwildlife.org.uk
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