Latest news with #KentWildlifeTrust
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Volunteers create mental health wellbeing garden in Maidstone
Volunteers have created a garden for NHS mental health patients and staff in Kent to Nature Recovery Garden in Maidstone has been officially inaugurated with a tree-planting took nine weeks for the team of volunteer gardeners to transform a neglected area into "a beautiful sensory garden" that "supports patients in their recovery journeys", the team Stenson, Kent & Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust chief executive, said the garden was "a remarkable sensory experience". She added: "This official opening not only celebrates our sensory garden, but also showcases the extraordinary spirit of our community and the commitment of our volunteers."The trust collaborated with Kent Wildlife Trust to conduct thorough wildlife surveys, revealing the area's ecological garden is a "mosaic of textures, vibrant colours, soothing sounds, and serene wellness spaces, all designed to promote healing and recovery", according to the from Mid Kent College also joined the volunteering team with the McInnes, charity and volunteers manager, said: "The feedback we've received has been overwhelmingly positive."Many patients and their loved ones find this space calming and enjoyable."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wild choughs spotted in Kent after two centuries
A bird that has been extinct in Kent for two centuries has been spotted in the county. Red-billed choughs, a member of the crow family, were wiped out by changes in farming practices. A project by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park saw captive-bred birds released near Dover in 2023. Choughs have now been seen flying in Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs. Liz Cory, from Wildwood Trust, said: "We'd been using GPS to track the birds and had a sneaky suspicion they were venturing further afield. The tags only collect location fixes every two hours so we had gaps in the data. "I started receiving reports from bird watchers of choughs flying over places like King George VI Memorial Park and Walpole Bay." With more captive-bred birds due for release, the charities are asking members of the public to report any sightings of the distinctive birds. Paul Hadaway from the Kent Wildlife Trust said: "These birds are not just a symbol of success for this project, they're indicators of a healthier, more resilient landscape. "By helping to rebuild the natural systems in key habitats like rare chalk grassland, we're able to bring back lost species like the chough. "These restored systems can then support biodiversity, climate resilience, and community connection to the land." In the long term it is hoped to expand the release programme so isolated breeding colonies can be connected along the south coast, in a bid to emulate the chough's successful reintroduction in Cornwall. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Experts chuffed at Cornish chough breeding success First wild chough chick for 200 years 'missing' Wild choughs to return to Kent after two centuries 'Bumper year' for Cornish choughs Choughs flourishing inland as pastures recover Record number of Cornish choughs fledge Kent Wildlife Trust Wildwood Trust
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wild choughs spotted in Kent after two centuries
A bird that has been extinct in Kent for two centuries has been spotted in the county. Red-billed choughs, a member of the crow family, were wiped out by changes in farming practices. A project by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park saw captive-bred birds released near Dover in 2023. Choughs have now been seen flying in Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs. Liz Cory, from Wildwood Trust, said: "We'd been using GPS to track the birds and had a sneaky suspicion they were venturing further afield. The tags only collect location fixes every two hours so we had gaps in the data. "I started receiving reports from bird watchers of choughs flying over places like King George VI Memorial Park and Walpole Bay." With more captive-bred birds due for release, the charities are asking members of the public to report any sightings of the distinctive birds. Paul Hadaway from the Kent Wildlife Trust said: "These birds are not just a symbol of success for this project, they're indicators of a healthier, more resilient landscape. "By helping to rebuild the natural systems in key habitats like rare chalk grassland, we're able to bring back lost species like the chough. "These restored systems can then support biodiversity, climate resilience, and community connection to the land." In the long term it is hoped to expand the release programme so isolated breeding colonies can be connected along the south coast, in a bid to emulate the chough's successful reintroduction in Cornwall. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Experts chuffed at Cornish chough breeding success First wild chough chick for 200 years 'missing' Wild choughs to return to Kent after two centuries 'Bumper year' for Cornish choughs Choughs flourishing inland as pastures recover Record number of Cornish choughs fledge Kent Wildlife Trust Wildwood Trust
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate sightings of wild choughs
A bird that has been extinct in Kent for two centuries has been spotted in the choughs, a member of the crow family, were wiped out by changes in farming practices.A project by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park saw captive-bred birds released near Dover in have now been seen flying in Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs. Liz Cory, from Wildwood Trust, said: "We'd been using GPS to track the birds and had a sneaky suspicion they were venturing further afield. The tags only collect location fixes every two hours so we had gaps in the data."I started receiving reports from bird watchers of choughs flying over places like King George VI Memorial Park and Walpole Bay." With more captive-bred birds due for release, the charities are asking members of the public to report any sightings of the distinctive Hadaway from the Kent Wildlife Trust said: "These birds are not just a symbol of success for this project, they're indicators of a healthier, more resilient landscape."By helping to rebuild the natural systems in key habitats like rare chalk grassland, we're able to bring back lost species like the chough."These restored systems can then support biodiversity, climate resilience, and community connection to the land."In the long term it is hoped to expand the release programme so isolated breeding colonies can be connected along the south coast, in a bid to emulate the chough's successful reintroduction in Cornwall.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Kent Wildlife Trust's bug survey reveals 'alarming' decline
A survey tracking the "staggering" decline in insect numbers across the UK and Ireland has Bugs Matter survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and invertebrate charity Buglife, runs from 1 May to 30 September each year and sees "citizen scientists" record the number of bug splats on their vehicle number plates after a results from 2024 found the number of flying insect splats recorded across the UK had fallen by 63% since 2021. Ireland was not included in last year's survey but will take part this Lawrence Ball, from Kent Wildlife Trust, said the decline could perhaps be linked to "the extreme climate in the UK in recent years". Insects play a vital role in the ecosystem by pollinating crops, providing natural pest control, decomposing waste and underpinning food chains that support birds, mammals and other wildlife. Curve may flatten Dr Ball said: "Without insects, the planet's ecological systems would collapse so this huge decrease in insect splats over such a short time is really alarming."Bug splats declined 8% in 2024, following sharper drops of 44% in 2023 and 28% in Ball said the slowing rate of decline shows the curve may flatten or even reverse next than 25,000 journeys have been analysed as part of the survey since 2021.
