Police investigate following break-in at Sevenoaks Nature Reserve

The incident happened between Sunday 21st April and Monday, 22nd April 2024 at the site in Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks. The thieves caused significant damage to the containers to gain entry before stealing power tools and several nature trail cameras which are used to monitor wildlife in the area.

The cost to replace the stolen strimmers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, pruners, safety equipment, trailer jokey wheel and wildlife cameras, and to repair the two shipping containers is estimated at around £20,000. The burglary has been reported to Kent Police and Kent Wildlife Trust is urging anyone who may have been offered the cameras or has any information on the crime to contact police.

The incident has been described as a “bitter blow” to the conservation charity, who have said that the crime will significantly impact their ability to practically manage their sites in the West Kent area. Those wishing to support the charity can do so by donating to their nature nightmares appeal, which was set up to help the trust cover the cost of crime on their sites.

Kent Wildlife Trust’s Simon Bateman-Brown said: “This incident is a bitter blow for us, we are working hard to restore nature in and around the Sevenoaks area and this is yet more expense and time that could be best put to helping wildlife in the county. They have taken the tools we rely on each day to practically manage our nature reserves in West Kent, these tools help us to create an environment for wildlife in which they thrive and for the time being, we will be unable to manage these areas in the most beneficial way.

“If anyone has any information, or has been offered a wildlife trail camera, please get in contact with the police and report it. Those wishing to support us as we work towards protecting more of the Sevenoaks area for nature can do so by supporting our Nature Nightmares campaign, set up to offset the cost of criminal behaviour on our nature reserves.

Anyone who would like to help the Trust by way of a donation can contribute to the Nature Nightmares Appeal.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting SD-6681-24-4646-IR01.