WILDER BLEAN FESTIVAL
9 - 13 July
Book now at kwtg.uk/wilder-blean-festival
Celebrate the opening of the UK's first bison bridges with us, as well as the third anniversary of the herd arriving in Kent. We're putting on an exciting selection of Wilder Blean events over one fantastic weekend!
Online talk: Meet the Bison Rangers
9 July. 6.30 - 7.30pm
Meet the Bison Ranger team for an online talk to find out what it's like to work at this pioneering wilding project and hear the latest news firsthand
Introduction to Forest Bathing
10 July, 10am - 12pm
Meet our qualified Forest Bathing instructor for this calming and restorative practice.
Introduction to woodland crafts
10 July, 2 - 4pm
Crafting outdoors is great for your wellbeing1 use the wild West Blean woods as your inspiration and get creative with natural materials.
Bison Ranger woodland tours
11 & 12 July, 10am - 1pm
Don't miss this special opportunity to explore West Blean woods with a Bison Ranger.
The Bison and the Butterfly - Meet the author and illustrator
13 July, 10am - 12pm
As part of the first Canterbury Children’s Literature Festival, Alice Hemming and Nancy Leschnikoff will be visiting us at Heather Corrie Ranger Station for a fun morning of storytelling and character drawing.
FAMILY EVENTS
Pond dipping
Every Friday from 25 July - 29 August
10.30am - 12pm & 1 - 2.30pm
Join us at Tyland Barn for some pond dipping this summer. See what creatures you can find, discover the ways they have evolved and adapted to live in an underwater environment, and meet them all up close through the magnifier!
Thinking ahead?
You can book now to secure your space on our Autumn term of Nature Tots (ages 2 - 5) or Home Educated Nature Explorers (ages 4 - 11) to ensure a season of wildlife and adventure.
Are you a teacher?
You can book your class for a school trip to one of
our education centres and have a wild day out, with
available sessions including Pond Dipping Detectives,
Magical Minibeasts, Perfect Plants, Birds of Prey,
Beavers of Kent, and much more!
Get in touch at education@kentwildlife.org.uk
WILD ABOUT GARDENS
OPEN GARDENS AND WORKSHOPS
Tyland Barn Open Garden
26 July, 11am - 3pm
Join us at our headquarters for a
summer open garden with free tours
and advice from our knowledgeable
gardens team. The Pond Cafe will be
open, and we’ll also have plants for
sale. Additional activities for all ages
include seed sowing, pond dipping and
cyanotype printing.
Summer into Autumn Wilder Gardening Workshop
25 September
Get hands-on learning about wildlife gardening with this seasonal half-day workshop. Get immersed in talks, tours, Q&As and practical activities such as taking cuttings or making a mini bug hotel to take home.
WILDER KENT EXPERIENCES
Join our Area Wardens and Rangers for a special selection of wildlife experiences across the county.
Beavers, Nature's Engineers
20 July, 10am - 1pm
Ham Fen
Ham Fen is home to the UK’s first official beaver release project and Kent’s last remaining fenland. Over the last 20 years the resident beavers have transformed the reserve. Come and see for yourself the evidence of their activity including gnawed tree stumps, dams and lodges.
Walk with Cows
Oare Marshes - 19 August, 1 - 4pm
Ham Fen - 10 September, 1 - 4pm
Join our Wilder Grazing Ranger for a walk around Oare Marshes to meet the cattle who work to manage the land naturally. Oare has a mix of habitats, and you’ll find out how the behaviour of the cattle improves these for the benefit of other species.
WELLNESS EVENTS
Soothe your mind and spend a couple of hours with us, connecting with the great outdoors and soaking up all the wellbeing benefits nature has to offer.
Crafting with Nature at Tyland Barn
19 July, 10am – 12pm
Walk and Craft at Sevenoaks
19 July and 16 August, 10am – 12pm
Wellness Walk at Hothfield Heathlands
17 August, 10am - 12pm
BISON RANGER EXPERIENCES
27 July, 10 August, 23 August, 14 September, 10am - 2pm
If you can’t join us for the Wilder Blean festival, there’s still plenty of opportunity to meet the Bison Rangers for unparalleled insights into the characteristics of the bison and the impact they’re having in the transformation of the woods.
STUDY DAYS AND COURSES
Attend a Study Day or course to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of Kent’s wildlife. This is just a small selection of events we have available – you can view all our Study Days and Courses below.
Ecology of Bumblebees and their
Identification for Intermediates
9 August, 10.30am - 4pm
Tyland Barn, ME14 3BD
An identification day covering all bumblebee
species of Britain. Dive deeper into their
ecologies and life cycles and receive an
update on the Bombus subterraneus
reintroduction project.
Butterflies of Kent
20 August, 10am – 4pm
Tyland Barn and Queendown Warren
Butterflies can tell us so much about the
quality of a habitat and the impacts of
climate change. Learn how to identify
and about the ecology of the butterflies
we have here in Kent before heading
out to spot some butterflies found in
chalk grasslands.
Autumn Migration in Kent
5 September, 10am – 4pm
Oare Marshes
Observe wetland birds and learn how to
identify them. Find out how birds navigate
and the remarkable migrations they make.
Introduction to Shieldbugs
and Leatherbugs
13 September, 10am – 4pm
Tyland Barn, ME14 3BD
Find out how to identify these curious
critters, where to find them and about
their life cycles.
Pine Marten Ecology
and Conservation
20 Sep 2025, 10:30am - 2pm
Wildwood Trust, Canterbury
Find out more about Pine Martens and
learn about the South East Pine Marten
Restoration Project.
SHOP FOR NATURE
Bugs Matter
Celebrate the little guys! We know that
bugs can get a raw deal. They’re seen
as pests, inconvenient to our modern
lifestyle and sometimes perhaps a bit
creepy. But these little superheroes are
vital to life on Earth. Our latest collection
creates the opportunity to create space
for them in your gardens and show your
support for these often-misunderstood
critters.
Adopt a species
Our adoption packs mean you can
champion Kent’s most iconic species.
Will you choose the playful beaver,
majestic Highland cow, mighty European
bison, vibrant red-billed chough or
the graceful grey seal? Each adoption
pack comes with a certificate, stunning
photograph, facts sheet and the latest
project updates. Plus, you’ll receive a
soft toy or unique lithograph to treasure!
Gift Membership
By giving the gift of wildlife, you and your loved ones can help weave wildness
back into the fabric of our county across
countless sites and reserves, and protect
our communities, families and the Garden
of England for future generations to come.
They’ll receive our brand-new welcome
guide and all of the perks you enjoy.
You can also include a personalised
message to welcome them to the herd!
Gifts for Nature
Enhance your garden’s biodiversity with
our nature-loving gifts! Choose from our
range of bird feeders, cosy nest boxes
and charming insect hotels to create a
haven for wildlife outside your window.
We also offer wildlife-focused gift bundles,
thoughtfully curated to bring nature
closer to home.
