Young refugees take action for nature
Young people from Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) have become Blue Influencers, part of a national programme empowering young people to take action for nature and their local “blue spaces” – rivers, ponds, coasts and harbours. For this group of young asylum seekers, the project was not only about protecting the environment but also about finding a sense of belonging in their new community.
Exploring local blue spaces
The group began by discovering the natural places on their doorstep. They visited Radnor Park ponds, traced the hidden Pent Stream to the harbour and learned about sustainable fishing while sampling Folkestone’s freshly caught seafood. One participant reflected, “I feel I know Folkestone and Dover better, like Connaught Park, and the Harbour.”
Being outdoors helped them feel connected: “I feel good, better - my feet feel more connected.”
Building wellbeing through movement
Working with Primal Runners, a local group that uses outdoor spaces as a natural gym, they explored how running, breathing and exercise support wellbeing. When students were asked about their achievements, one said: “I learned about running and breathing and how to clean the river.”
Taking action for rivers
Joining Martha Noakes, Freshwater Officer for the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, our Blue Influencers collected six bags of rubbish along the River Dour. “People are grateful when you clean the rivers,” one participant shared. They also learned about local wildlife such as trout and caddisflies.
About the Blue Influencers Scheme
Run by The Ernest Cook Trust with the #iwill Fund, the £2.25 million scheme aims to engage 4,000 young people and 15,000 community members across England. Through this scheme, Kent Wildlife Trust has appointed Jenny Luddington as a Blue Mentor, responsible for recruiting young people aged 10-14 to become ‘Blue Influencers’.
Find out more at kwtg.uk/blue-influencers
Two Kent woodlands gain wildlife status
In 2025, we saw two important woodlands recognised for their biodiversity and community value, as Dane Valley Woods in Margate and Old Park and Chequers Wood on Canterbury’s eastern fringe were designated Local Wildlife Sites.
Image credit - Friends of Old Park and Chequers Wood
Both are shining examples of community-led conservation, supported by Kent Wildlife Trust. Dane Valley Woods, managed by the local volunteers from the Dane Valley Woods Group, was created on a former landfill site and provides a vital green oasis between housing and railway. Old Park and Chequers Wood, cared for by the Friends of Old Park and Chequers Wood, spans 200 hectares of diverse habitats, supporting rare species.
Both are shining examples of community-led conservation, supported by Kent Wildlife Trust. Dane Valley Woods, managed by the local volunteers from the Dane Valley Woods Group, was created on a former landfill site and provides a vital green oasis between housing and railway. Old Park and Chequers Wood, cared for by the Friends of Old Park and Chequers Wood, spans 200 hectares of diverse habitats, supporting rare species.
These designations are a powerful reminder of what grassroots action can achieve for wildlife, helping to protect these special spaces for generations to come.
Hoathly Farm goes wild!
Kent Wildlife Trust achieved a major milestone with the purchase of Hoathly Farm, our largest land appeal to date. Thanks to the generosity of supporters and donors, we raised an incredible £1.65 million to secure the site for nature!
Hoathly Farm adjoins Furnace Farm, creating a 350-acre wilding corridor linking Kent and Sussex. Over the coming years, this intensively farmed land will be transformed into a thriving landscape of speciesrich meadows, woodland, ancient hedgerows and re-wetted river habitats. These changes will not only boost biodiversity but also improve water quality, store carbon and increase climate resilience, creating a landscape where wildlife can flourish.
wilding project that shows what’s
possible when people come
together for nature’s recovery.Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation and Engagement
A win for nature at the Kent Charity Awards
We were thrilled that Kent Wildlife Trust was named Animal and Environment Charity of the Year at the 2025 Kent Charity Awards.
This award recognises the incredible difference our dedicated team, volunteers and supporters are making for wildlife across Kent. It also highlights the scale and ambition of our work – from species recovery programmes and wilding projects to education and community engagement.
The award belongs to you, our members, whose support makes all our conservation work possible. Thank you for standing with us for wildlife and helping to make 2025 a year to remember for nature in Kent.
