A note from the Chairman, Chris West

My tenure as a Trustee – and Chair – comes to an end this July. It has been a genuine privilege to have served alongside many skilled and experienced Trustees, guiding the governance of the Trust in line with achieving our Wilder Kent 2030 strategy.

The past decade has seen us successfully navigate some unexpected and significant challenges, most notably the Covid pandemic. Alongside this, we have faced the growing realisation that traditional conservation management practices have not been enough to halt the decline of nature in Kent. The Trust has responded by investing in innovative approaches to habitat restoration, pioneering the use of ecosystem engineers, trialling nature-based solutions across the county, and developing Wilder Carbon – a truly forward-thinking model.

Among the many memories I will cherish, I want to highlight just a few from this past year. First was seeing red-billed choughs flying wild once again over Dover – a powerful symbol of decades of work led by the Trust to restore chalk grasslands and build partnerships that made their return possible. Second is witnessing the success of conservation efforts in Marden, where farmers and the local community, supported by the Trust, have worked tirelessly to protect lower Wealden habitats and turtle dove populations – now boasting the highest number recorded in the UK. And finally, attending a beaver study day – one of many excellent events run by the Trust – took me back to the banks of rivers I knew as a child, now visibly transformed by the return of this incredible species.

So, I stand down as Chair with immense pride in the achievements of the Trust’s talented, committed and inspirational staff. But there is no time to rest – the clock is ticking towards 2030. The Trust must remain brave, bold and resilient, continuing to lead the way in delivering solutions to the nature and climate crises.

I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my fellow Trustees, and to all the wonderful staff, members, volunteers and supporters of Kent Wildlife Trust. You each play a vital role in achieving our collective mission to create a Wilder Kent.