Kent Wildlife Trust -
KentOnline's 2013 charity
%20edit_l.jpg "Anenomes in East Blean. Picture, Jim Higham, Kent Wildlife Trust.")
Anenomes in East Blean
Wood near Canterbury. Picture: Jim Higham, Kent Wildlife Trust
A trust with 31,000 members in Kent and 64 free-to-enter nature
reserves has been named as KentOnline's charity of the year.
Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) aims to reconnect a mosaic of green
spaces across the county to create 'wildlife corridors'.
Families and groups can visit some of the nearly
8,000 acres of nature reserve land, as well as five visitor
centres.
The trust also manages more than 55 miles of Roadside Nature
Reserves, which run alongside many of the county's highways.
A volunteering programme sees 1,000 volunteers actively engaged
in projects throughout the county - not only leading to a healthier
lifestyle, but bringing together people from far-flung
communities.
But the charity also encourages youngsters to get down and dirty
- getting a dose of fresh air while sampling some of the county's
varied wildlife.
The charity's education and community teams reach thousands of
people of all ages annually - whether through an educational
programme or via a range of exciting events.
But the trust is keen to stress wildlife doesn't have to mean
trekking out to the countryside - it can begin at home, even with a
small window box.
A spokesman said: "KWT aims to encourage people of all ages
and abilities to get outdoors and reap the health benefits that
come from engaging with the natural world - whether on our reserves
or in their own back gardens."
Seal in the surf.
Picture: Tony Flashman, Kent Wildlife Trust
The trust also believes in campaigning for key issues affecting
wildlife in Kent.
Recently, the Trust has campaigned for the establishment of
Marine Conservation Zones, where marine wildlife is protected
from damaging operations and allowed to start recovering.
It has also worked with local councils and businesses to ensure
development takes place in a way which does not harm wildlife.
The wildlife trust has also campaigned for a white paper on the
natural environment, and advised landowners on how to manage their
land for wildlife.