Marden farmers are using novel conservation and regenerative farming ideas to enhance the landscape for wildlife. Learn more about their work here.
Working with Marden Wildlife group, they are boosting populations of scarce farmland birds like turtle doves and yellowhammers. Extending areas of rare weald meadow is benefitting plants and insects too. But these are just the tip of the iceberg!
Crucial to working as a farmer cluster are regular meet ups in order to share ideas, findings and encourage each other to help make more farmland work for wildlife as well as food production. Last December, the Marden Wildlife group and farmers within the cluster wrote and published a book, with a section on farming and wildlife, which sold close to 300 copies locally, helping to bring a better understanding of the farmed landscape to those living in the area.
If you live or farm in Marden and want to get involved, check out the Marden Wildlife website and Facebook group.
If you are a farmer and interested in joining this or another local farm cluster group, please email ellen.wilson@kentwildlife.org.uk
Alexa Murray-Mujtaba provides the facilitation of the Marden Farmer Cluster, helping to coordinate meetings and sign post to funding opportunities for farmers.
Marden Wildlife group support us with citizen science and promote farming and biodiversity through a thriving FB group of over 450 members, a website and a core of highly knowledgeable naturalists. Cooperating in work on cluster initiatives, and monitoring wildlife on members’ farms has strengthened bonds between farmers and the wider community. Natural England has been a big part of this story, looking to Marden and its farmers and citizen scientists for inspiration.Lou Carpenter, Member of the Marden Farmer Cluster
In the 9th episode of Talk on the Wild Side, Rob Smith talks to Emma Loder-Symonds about Nonington Farm (near Canterbury) and their regenerative approach to farming. They have managed to cut costs AND fertilisers and pesticides, while keeping yields high.…
Rory Harding explores how Kent Wildlife Trust are getting involved in the developing Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Kent and Medway and why.
The Darent Valley Farmer Cluster is comprised of farmers and landowners who are committed to sustainably farming and managing this precious landscape, situated in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
