The event, which was supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, saw 87 organisations shortlisted and their efforts resulted in a staggering 120,000 people in the county receiving the nature benefits from the actions taken by the entrants.
The finalists covered four categories, businesses, community groups, schools and villages, towns and cities. 18 received the highest accolade of gold, 23 silver, 27 bronze and 19 awarded commendations. They received their awards at a special ceremony at Canterbury University on Saturday, 20th July, hosted by TV presenter and producer of Talk on the Wild Side podcast, Rob Smith.
Judges commented that the standard of this year's awards was the highest yet, and made the judging process tougher than ever. However, there were some standout entries with some excellent examples of projects being undertaken across the region to create a wilder Kent.
One standout entry was gold award winner Communigrow, a sustainable food education charity based in East Malling that shows children, young people and adults how to grow fresh food in a chemical-free, sustainable way, working in partnership with nature to benefit their local community and the environment. In 2023 the charity extended their wetland habitats and planted a range of native hedges and trees, increasing habitats for a range of wildlife. They also run a range of workshops for local people, ensuring the positive impacts of their work are felt far and wide by the community.
Another charity, Spadework also reached the gold standard this year. The West Malling charity provides enriching experiences for adults with a range of needs, helping them live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Horticulture forms a large part of their provision and sustainability and environmentalism is a theme that runs through all they do. Spadework has enhanced their habitats for wildlife, including having larger areas of long grass and a greater selection of wildflowers planted across the site. Oil consumption has completely stopped on site and battery-powered electric mowers are now used and they have been working with a range of schools to provide forest school programmes.
A solar-powered effort led Broadstairs College, part of the East Kent College group, to receive gold standard recognition. Judges commented that they have made tremendous efforts towards sustainability and carbon reduction, in particular. Their “Our Future” campus building currently has 20 solar panels on the roof, with the rest of their energy coming from a green energy supplier. There have also been substantial efforts made to reduce the amount of waste produced on-site, with the Student Union taking an active role in removing single-use bottles from campus and single-use cutlery from the cafeterias. Food waste is actively composted on-site and is used in the on-site allotments, used by both students and the local community. On top of all of the above, students have had the opportunity to work with local communities in contributing to the upkeep of a small patch of local woodland.
Brabourne CEP, a small school with only 105 pupils also took the top step of the podium, achieving gold for their passion in teaching pupils about nature. This year, pupils got the chance to take part in the Mayor of Ashford’s annual Eco debate at the Chamber of Commerce as well as debating in school the relative green credentials of political parties’ recent manifestos for the general election. Judges were impressed by how well this school has collaborated with others to help make wilder spaces for all, including working with local volunteers, the Brabourne & Smeeth gardening society and local builders on numerous Ground Force Days, making every space available conducive to promoting nature.
Heath Farm School in Ashford, a specialist school catering for young people with a range of SEMH needs, also struck gold! Their entry contained a wide range of truly inspiring stories and unique ideas including creative thinking when transforming a flooded field into a bog garden. Last year, secondary students displayed a “Bug Barrel” at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show and this year supported primary pupils in showing their “Living Lawns Project” at the same show. They have worked with the Community Rail Project and the Parish Council to create a nature garden at Charing Station. Their newly planted hedges and trees also attracted a hibernating dormouse!
Pennies Nurseries in Maidstone has been part of the Wilder Kent Awards since 2021, progressing from a silver to a gold in 2022 and maintaining that terrific effort for the past 3 years. At both their Hockers Lane and Newnham Court sites, they work hard to create habitats for a variety of wildlife and always look to include their young children in the process, having them plant seeds, grow their own produce and put out food for birds over winter. Engaging children at such a young age in wildlife and nature is so important and Pennies should be incredibly proud of the actions they are taking.
Wellesley Haddon Dene, Broadstairs first applied for a Wilder Kent Award in 2022, achieving a bronze, which progressed to a silver in 2023 and now gold. Driven by a passionate cohort of pupils and an even more passionate teacher, they have achieved some great things in 2024, including organising their own Restore Nature Now march in Ramsgate, on the same day Chris Packham and others were hosting one in London. Within their community, Wellesley Haddon Dene have also been incredibly supportive of other schools, supporting them in their Wilder Kent Awards journeys and helping to spread the message of a Wilder Kent.
Kent Wildlife Trust’s Tom White, said: "We were absolutely bowled away by both the quantity and quality of this year's entries. The work that is going on in the county to create a wilder Kent is outstanding.
“When we are constantly faced with negativity about the nature and climate emergencies, it can be overwhelming, but here are 87 projects that are making a significant difference to the people living in Kent from which around 120,000 would have benefitted. From community gardens to schemes to tackle food waste and other harnessing renewable energy, these awards empower people, and demonstrate that we all have it in us to do something special that makes a difference."
The event also encompassed the Trust’s Volunteer of the Year Awards which opened with a tribute to Bill Hickmott, a former recipient of the award who sadly passed away two weeks before the event. Bill was one of the charity's longest-serving volunteers having started with the trust in the 90s and despite being over 80 years old, was still volunteering at Tyland Barn, just weeks before his passing. Bill did so much to create a wilder Kent and will be sadly missed, a montage of photos was shown to the audience which was met with a heartfelt round of applause.
Two volunteers received top honours. Ashford Green Team and Swale Task Day volunteer Dennis Fryer and Darland Banks Reserve volunteer, Lynda Taylor.
In the Team of the Year category certificates were handed out to the Shoresearch Citizen Science Team, Sevenoaks Green Team and Wild About Gardens Team.
A surprise for host Rob Smith concluded the presentation when he was honoured for his hard work producing the Trust’s Talk on the Wild Side podcast.
Gold award winners
- Holy Trinity and St John's CEP Woodland School
- Dandelion Time
- Brabourne CEP Primary
- The Sustainability Team at University of Kent
- Oaklands School
- Blean Primary School
- Allington Millennium Green Trust
- Communigrow
- EKC Group, Broadstairs College
- Spadework
- Heath Farm School
- Parkside Community Foundation Primary School
- Tenterden Town Council
- Friends of Broomhill
- Wellesley Haddon Dene
- Pennies Newnham Court
- Pennies Hockers Lane
- Valconia
Silver Awards Winners
- The Fenn Bell Conservation Project
- Lower Halstow School
- Bearsted CAN
- GRASS Cliftonville CIC
- Friends of Milton Creek Country Park Trust
- Iwade Community Primary School
- Lynsted Community Kitchen Garden
- Friends of Victoria Park
- Inspire Academy Movement Trust, Seal C of E Primary School
- Anthony Roper Primary School
- Crook Log Primary School
- Ramsgate Holy Trinity C.E (Aided) Primary School
- ALP Schools The Lodge
- Tredegar Biodiversity Allotments
- Shorne Wildlife Community Group
- Wouldham All Saints Primary
- ALP Sittingbourne
- High Halden CEP School
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Newington CEP School
- Rochester Independent College
- Junior King's School Canterbury
- St Nicholas At Wade C of E Primary School
Bronze Award Winners
- Amazing Animal Encounters
- Long Mead Primary School
- Holborough Hedgehogs
- Westmeads Community Infant School
- St George's Childcare
- Chattenden Primary School
- No Walls Gardens CIC
- Healthy Living Centre Dartford - Cedar Road Community Garden
- Shoreham Village School
- Horton Kirby CE Primary School
- St John's CE Primary School, Sevenoaks
- Lyminge Primary School
- Bobbing Village School
- St Mary's CofE Primary School and Nursery
- The Malling School
- Pennies Forest School
- Tonbridge School
- Horizon Gardeners - Horizon Primary Academy
- Rainham Eco Hub
- Smarden Primary & Nursery School
- Eynsford Green Team
- Bromstone Primary School
- 8th Deal (Wingham) Scout Group
- Westerham Day Nursery
- Newingate School
- Sunken Garden Society
- Harrietsham Church of England Primary School
Commendation
- Barton Court Grammar School
- 8th Folkestone Guides
- Horsted School
- Barming Primary School (Gardening Club)
- Radnor House Sevenoaks
- Christ Church Junior School
- Wilderness to Wonderland
- First Ditton Scouts (Lion Cubs)
- Wye School
- The Lenham School
- The Rosewood School
- EKC Folkestone College
- Ursuline College
- Medway Foodbank
- Foreland Fields School
- Westlands School
- Water Meadows Primary School
- Fairview Community Primary School
- Hextable Parish Council