Advocating for nature
A year of action
2025 has been a pivotal year for Kent’s wildlife. Across the county, we’ve continued to use our voice - and the power of our supporters - to stand up to damaging developments and champion policies that put nature and communities first.
Challenging the Sea Link project
Our campaign to urge National Grid to Rethink Sea Link has continued this year. This proposed development at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay would cause lasting harm to fragile habitats and the species that depend on them. We’ve worked to highlight these risks and encouraged communities to register as Interested Parties in the planning process, ensuring local voices for nature are heard loud and clear and spoken ourselves at the recent Examination Hearings.
Holding Government to account on the Lower Thames Crossing
In the wake of the Government’s approval of the Lower Thames Crossing, we challenged the lack of robust safeguards for wildlife and local communities and called for stronger mitigation and meaningful nature recovery measures.
A win for the Blean and more work ahead
A standout moment of 2025 was the success of the Save the Blean campaign. Canterbury City Council removed a 2,000-home development on the Blean site from its draft District Local Plan, thanks to powerful community action and collaboration with Kent Wildlife Trust.
However, we are deeply disappointed that the University of Kent intends to press ahead with these plans despite the site’s removal. We are committed to ensuring the Council does not reverse its decision and are engaging fully in the current consultation.
We’ve presented the University with a positive alternative: a Blean Biopark combining research, wilding, regenerative farming, and sustainable tourism. We’re urging them to work with us to protect the Blean, not destroy it. We will continue to campaign for other threatened parts of the Blean, including Brooklands Farm and Winterbourne Fields in Swale - vital to our Blean Wildscape vision.
Defending nature in planning law
This year also saw Government consultations proposing changes to planning and legal protections for wildlife. Rather than delivering on promises to address the housing and nature crises together, these proposals risk weakening vital environmental safeguards. We’ve campaigned for crucial amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to remove the most harmful elements and ensure nature isn’t sidelined.
Find out more and how you can get involved at kwtg.uk/campaigns-winter
A huge thank you to all our members who have got stuck in with the MyWilderKent app since its September launch. It’s been wonderful seeing all the fantastic things you’ve been up to in helping nature across Kent!
Our MyWilderKent journey together so far
As our community grows, now’s the perfect time to install the app and add your amazing contributions from 2025 if you haven’t already.
Here's our quick-start guide to your MyWilderKent journey
1. Visit mywilderkent.app or scan the QR code and install the app via your browser's 'Add to Home Screen' or 'install' options.
2. Create an account and verify your email.
3. Complete your profile to start recording your actions for nature and browse resources and the community for inspiration.
4. Try adding one of these great starter actions:
- Join/continue being a Kent Wildlife
Trust member – this is an easy action all
members can be proud to add!
- Create a wildlife-friendly window box –
perfect for helping pollinators in whatever
space you have available.
- Conserve water at home – small changes
make a big impact.
5. Why not join an activity too? Changing throughout the year, these are a great and easdy way to take part in the wider conservation community...
- Record wildlife sightings on the
iRecord app (year-round) – this is an
easy way to help monitor wildlife.
- Take part in RSPB’s Big Garden
Birdwatch (23rd - 25th Jan) –
the new year is a great time to help
wildlife in your garden or community.
- Join the WWF’s Big Winter Wander
(9th - 22nd Jan) – this is a great
opportunity to get outside and
fundraise for nature!
Join the community today, record your incredible nature impact and get yourself some fantastic badges and rewards in the process. We’re looking forward to seeing you all on MyWilderKent soon!
Image credit - Steven Falk
Counting splats for science
The now-international Bugs Matter survey continues to shine a light on the state of our insect populations. Run by Kent Wildlife Trust in partnership with invertebrate charity Buglife, the survey asks participants to record the number of insects splatted on their vehicle number plates after a journey – a simple but powerful way to monitor changes in insect abundance across the UK and beyond.
Analysis from this year’s survey shows a worrying 21% decrease each year in insect numbers across the UK since the survey began in 2021. There has been a 20% annual decrease in England, a 21% annual decrease in Scotland, an 18% annual decrease in Wales and an 8% annual decrease in Northern Ireland. In 2025, the survey expanded to include the Republic of Ireland, providing a new baseline for future comparisons.
Growing engagement across the UK
This year has seen remarkable growth in participation. There are over 10,000 registered citizen scientists, and 10,603 journeys were logged covering 480,842 miles - up from 8,837 journeys in 2024 and 6,766 in 2023.
The South East once again led the way in the number of journeys logged, followed by the East and South West of England. One dedicated citizen scientist deserves special mention, having logged an impressive 1,066 journeys since the survey began.
Why these results matter
Insects underpin healthy ecosystems. They pollinate plants, recycle nutrients and provide food for birds, bats and countless other species. The ongoing decline in insects signals wider environmental challenges, but projects like Bugs Matter help reveal where and how change is happening.
By taking part each year, hundreds of people are turning everyday journeys into valuable data. Your contributions are helping us understand what is happening to our insects and how we can act to protect them.
Find out more about this year's results at kwtg.uk/bugs-matter-winter
Wilder Wellbeing
In 2025, Wilder Wellbeing (our Green Social Prescribing initiative) supported over 200 individuals to improve their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing through time spent in nature. Participants in our programmes shared how powerful they found nature to be in lifting the mood, reducing stress, easing anxiety and sparking creativity.
This year also saw the expansion of our Weekend Wellness sessions for adults, offering new ways to slow down and reconnect. From Forest Bathing in West Blean and Hothfield Heathlands to Mindful Walks and Seasonal Crafts in Sevenoaks and Maidstone, these experiences have invited people to pause, breathe deeply and rediscover joy in the natural world.
Find out more about Wilder Wellbeing at kwtg.uk/wellbeing
Explore upcoming wellness events at kwtg.uk/wellness-events
Wild About Gardens
This year has been a vibrant one for our Wild About Gardens team, bringing people together to share ideas and inspiration for creating wildlife-friendly spaces. This year, we held an Open Garden at our head office, Tyland Barn, and held our first ever Open Garden Safari in partnership with our farming team. Over 200 people attended these events, taking part in farmer garden tours, community garden tours, pond dipping, seed sowing and chatting to our garden advisors.
We also launched our successful Wilder Gardening Workshops, running four seasonal sessions that engaged 40 participants, from professional gardeners to community groups and home growers. Meanwhile, our dedicated volunteer garden advisors have been busy giving talks, running stalls, supporting events and engaging with land managers across the county, helping more people discover how simple changes can make gardens thrive for nature.
Find out more about Wild About Gardens and book upcoming workshops at kwtg.uk/WAG
Show us your wild side!
Volunteer spotlight
What a year it's been for our volunteers!
We awarded 100 long-service pins, welcomed new faces across volunteer teams, both outdoor and desk-based, and volunteering applications and enquiries continue to flow in. Many teams are now at full capacity, a sure sign of the growing passion for protecting Kent’s wildlife. 2025 has been a year of impressive energy, dedication and impact.
The People and Volunteering Team has also been on the move, visiting volunteer groups across the county. From sunny celebrations at Darland Banks and Sevenoaks to hillside hikes in Kemsing, each meet-up has been a chance to share stories, say thank you and connect as a community.
Volunteer voices
It’s not just about numbers – it’s about the moments that make volunteering special. Here are just a few reflections from over the year:
“The Chough Champions thank you event was not only a celebration of dedication, but a reminder of how vital every contribution is to the success of the red-billed chough project. We’re deeply grateful for the passion and enthusiasm of our volunteers.”
- Suzanne, Chough Champion Coordinator
“At Wilder Holiday Club, I end the day tired and often muddy… but I also have the satisfaction of knowing I’ve been useful. My overall feeling is that I’ve had a fun day out with friends – just what volunteering should be!”
- Julie, Education Volunteer
“Helping the children experience this special environment through a combination of structured activities and free play has been so much fun. I’ve felt very much part of the friendly team and I’m already looking forward to future volunteering opportunities.”
- Kim, Education Volunteer
Wildlife wins and team efforts
This year has seen incredible progress across our sites. There are too many examples to share them all, but here are just a few highlights:
Image credit - Will Glasson
Adders return to Tyland Barn
Thanks to habitat improvements by our garden volunteers, adders have been recorded on site for the first time since the 1990s.
A milestone moment for this vulnerable species.
Chough Champions
Volunteers played a vital role in the Chough Reintroduction Project, from monitoring nest cams to spreading awareness at community events. The first successful wild-born fledgling was recorded this year!
Image credit - Tim Horton
Image credit - Carly O'Brien
Darent Valley surveys
Volunteers collected baseline data across almost 60 sites, monitoring everything from water voles to butterflies. This vital work underpins the Landscape Recovery Project.
Reserve-based teams
Whether tackling ragwort under the midsummer sun or daily livestock checks with our expanding army of animals, practical volunteers have kept our reserves thriving.
Building community
Community organising in Dover and Folkestone has shown the power of collaboration. Volunteers, alongside our staff, have empowered communities to act for nature - and each other - helping schools tackle river litter and inspiring young artists to create sustainable biosculptures.
Looking ahead
2026 is set to be another incredible year for our volunteers with even more impact.
A huge thank you to all of our volunteers for every hour they have spent giving back to nature, whether that’s fixing fences, surveying species, helping at events or all of the above!
Discover volunteering
If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution and have been inspired by this amazing community, visit our website to explore the latest volunteering opportunities and discover how you can get involved.
In 2025, the Wilder Kent Awards have continued to inspire and motivate groups across the county to take action for nature. Schools, community groups, parish councils and businesses have continued to sign up to the awards and throughout the year have been taking a range of actions for nature and wildlife in Kent.
The awards recognise and celebrate everyone doing their bit to make Kent wilder, from first-time participants taking simple steps to seasoned nature champions leading community projects.
Shoreham School
The awards don’t just recognise and reward, they also support and encourage, offering advice and guidance, as well as highlighting opportunities for grants and funding. So if you’re looking to do more for nature and wildlife, sign up to the awards today and find out how we can support you.
As we look ahead to the next round of entries, we’re excited to see what the people of Kent have been up to over the past year and how the movement continues to grow. Whatever your starting point, the Wilder Kent Awards are a chance to learn, share ideas and make a real difference for wildlife.
Wilder Schools in the Blean
This year, our Wilder Schools programme has been helping pupils in the Blean connect with nature through the exciting Bison Bridges project, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Working with Chislet C of E Primary School, Herne Junior School and Hoath Primary, our Education Team supported pupils and teachers to both engage with local conservation projects and to take action for nature as part of the Wilder Kent Awards.
Each school took part in a series of hands-on workshops exploring climate change, sustainability and the importance of wilding projects like the Wilder Blean Project.
Pupils from Hoath were fortunate enough to visit the ancient woodlands, being among the first to climb the newly installed bison bridges and discover how European bison are helping to restore natural processes as part of the Blean Bison project in partnership with Wildwood Trust.
Pupils at Herne Junior received a special visit from Alice Hemming, author of the children’s book The Bison and the Butterfly.
From mapping habitats and running BioBlitzes to writing eco-manifestos and tackling eco-anxiety through creative activities, every child played a part in making their school a wilder place. Through the Wilder Kent Awards, these young conservationists are continuing their journey, proving that every action, whether big or small, brings us closer to a Wilder Kent.
Wilder business
We are delighted to welcome Saga Group Ltd as our largest corporate partner to date.
Based in Folkestone, Saga (saga.co.uk) offers a range of products and services exclusively for the over 50s including insurance, holidays, money and publishing.
In July, we joined Saga’s Partners Day to introduce their team to Kent Wildlife Trust’s work and the difference their support can make. Together, we’re developing a range of initiatives, including nature-based wellbeing sessions, team-building days and corporate volunteering days, connecting Saga colleagues with Kent’s wild spaces.
Corporate partnerships like this play a vital role in helping us deliver our mission for a Wilder Kent, funding essential conservation work and inspiring more people to take action for nature.
Fancy teaming up with us?
We’re delighted to welcome Tanith Brown, Senior Partnerships Officer, to the team. Tanith, alongside Memberships and Partnerships Manager Paul, works with Kent businesses that want to help create a Wilder Kent. Contact Tanith to discuss how we can help you be wilder!
Explore our partnership opportunities at kwtg.uk/business-winter or email us at corporate@kentwildlife.org.uk
Kent farmers restoring nature despite an uncertain future
2025 has been a testing year for farmers, with drought conditions and unexpected policy changes, including the removal of crucial nature-friendly support payments like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Despite these challenges, Kent’s farmers, with our support, continue to lead the way in restoring nature on agricultural land – developing and delivering Nature-based Solutions (NbS) at the scale our landscapes need.
We’ve reached the final stages of the Darent Valley Landscape Recovery pilot project, completing a fully-costed plan to restore the Darent River and surrounding catchment across 17 farms. The Upper Beult Farmer Cluster has also developed two new NbS wetland projects, working with South East Rivers Trust and receiving funding from Southern Water.
Image credit - Thomas Alexander
Our innovative Co-Op Foundation-supported regenerative farming project concluded this year, and now we’re building on its findings about the crucial role of soil biology in a healthy farming ecosystem.
As we speed up our delivery to 2030, we’re excited to drive forward into 2026 with a new Farming team.
