A Town Council who transformed a piece of land into an oasis for bees and butterflies was among those recognised for their efforts as part of the 2022 Wilder Kent Awards.
In addition to creating a beautiful bee and butterfly garden, Westerham Town Council also established an Eco Action Plan and organised litter picking events.
They joined nurseries, schools, community groups and colleges receiving a Wilder Kent Award at a special event held at Kent Wildlife Trust’s Tyland Barn, Maidstone on Saturday 22 July 2022.
Also recognised were:
- Sutton Valence Primary School, who introduced a wildlife pond, set whole-school recycling challenges and established Forest School classes.
- Brymore nature group, who actively compost and use water butts to capture rain water for use.
- Canterbury College, whose student environmental committee meet regularly to discuss and implement their Wilder Kent action plan and enact sustainability pledges such as recycling.
- University of Kent, who have created ponds and wildflower meadows across their campus, created a Landscape and Biodiversity strategy and set up the Kent Community Oasis Garden.
The Wilder Kent Awards, which has proudly entered its third year of running, recognises the efforts of education groups, community groups and parish councils that have been taking positive actions to protect nature and wildlife.
Two new categories were introduced for the 2022 awards: Wilder Universities and Wilder Villages, Towns and Cities. Schools, community groups and parish councils have been working hard over the last year to improve their sites and community spaces to ensure that people and wildlife can co-exist now and for future generations. There have been many inspiring and valuable projects to help combat the climate and nature crises and numerous schools and community groups have even improved on their award from last year.
At a time when the effects of the climate and nature crises are being felt ever more, the positive actions that local communities are taking are equally as important as large-scale habitat restoration projects such as Wilder Blean, which has introduced European bison to naturally manage an ancient woodland and improve carbon sequestration. Grassroots efforts from schools, communities and parish councils are key to making a beneficial impact on the global situation we face.
Lee Mason-Baldwin, Head of Education and Lifelong Learning at Kent Wildlife Trust said: “The entries into this year’s Wilder Kent Awards were impressive and it is encouraging that there are so many groups, schools and councils standing up for nature and creating a Wilder Kent.
‘It was great to see a range of entries across the whole county, because we know that only through a joined-up approach can we make a difference and give nature the room and space it needs to thrive, and the awards are reflective of that.
‘I would like to congratulate all of the worthy winners across the categories and look forward to seeing what exciting new projects are put forward next year.
Kent Wildlife Trust will open registrations for the 2023 Wilder Kent Awards at the end of this year. If you work or volunteer for a nursery, school, college, university, community group or parish council and have a passion for wildlife, please get in touch.
