Wilder Kent Blog

Welcome to a special episode of Talk on the Wild Side dedicated to just one subject, or rather just one place: the Knepp Estate in Sussex...

With input from Simon Bateman-Brown, Head of Land Management, and Evan Bowen-Jones, Chief Executive of Kent Wildlife Trust, we explore the conservation work we have done at Heather Corrie Vale since attaining validation against the Wilder Carbon Standard, by Soil Association Certification.

You hear “shark”, you think Jaws. Sadly, this is true for many of us… but then who hasn’t been slightly traumatised by Steven Spielberg’s enduring epic?

In Kent, our grazing animals roam the reserves using their instincts and experience to guide them towards delicious nutritious vegetation and away from potentially toxic plants. This deep-rooted wisdom is a product of evolution and survival instincts passed down from generation to generation but particularly prevalent in the old-fashioned breeds that we use.

As a keen gardener I’ve always been intrigued to visit Chelsea Flower Show. I finally had the chance this year. Despite it being slightly wetter day than I might have liked, it was a great experience!

On 19th May one hundred years ago, the first outdoors broadcast by the BBC was of professional cellist Beatrice Harrison playing to and with nightingales in the garden of her Surrey home. Around a million listeners tuned in to the midnight broadcast, and she performed for similar outdoor broadcasts over the next twelve years.

Our volunteers are at the heart of Kent Wildlife Trust’s work. With their time, skills, passion and energy we reach more people and work at greater scale and pace. Their contributions help ensure that Kent’s natural spaces are preserved for future generations. Through practical conservation work, data collection, education, community engagement and much much more, our volunteers are making a tangible difference.

Insects are often overlooked, and yet they play a crucial role in maintaining the health of ecosystems and supporting human survival.