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REWILDING RESTORING KENT’ S NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, REWILDING PROJECTS HAVE GAINED SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM ACROSS THE UK AS THE COUNTRY ACCOUNTS FOR SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN THE WORLD. THESE INITIATIVES AIM TO RESTORE NATURAL HABITATS BY EXPANDING VITAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CREATING GREENER SPACES WHERE WILDLIFE CAN THRIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
RAGGED ROBIN
WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM CONSERVATION ORGANISATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WILDFLOWER AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ARE ON THE RISE, AND WITH KENT’ S RICH LANDSCAPE PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN REWILDING INITIATIVES, RESTORATION PROJECTS CAN HELP TO BRING THESE VITAL ECOSYSTEMS BACK TO LIFE.
Across the county, rewilding projects continue to expand in scale and ambition. Many rewilding sites are open to the public, offering opportunities to experience the impact of these projects firsthand, while educational programmes help people to understand the important role they can play in supporting environmental recovery.
Keystone species have a significant impact on Kent’ s natural landscape by maintaining biodiversity and recovering habitats that have gradually disappeared. Their return can help restore native species to the county’ s meadows, woodlands and coastal regions, allowing locals and tourists to discover how Kent is taking innovative steps to support its natural landscape.
© Paul Rogers
COMMA BUTTERFLY
The following three projects are just some of the rewilding initiatives happening across the county and by spending a day out learning about them, you can understand how Kent is restoring its natural heritage for future generations and reinforcing its celebrated reputation as the Garden of England.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REWILDING
Kent is fortunate enough to be one of the most biodiverse counties in the country. Across the diverse countryside, rewilding efforts continue to expand and help play a vital role in repairing fragile ecosystems that are still heavily under threat. These initiatives are essential for supporting the reestablishment of lost habitats, from ancient woodlands to open wild grassland. Without such efforts, Kent’ s damaged ecosystems would have limited opportunities to recover, making it increasingly difficult to reverse the loss of biodiversity.
Rewilding can be seen as a long-term process of ecological restoration that aims to allow natural ecosystems to eventually take care of themselves, reducing the need for human intervention. There are a number of methods taking place to help support this recovery, including the reintroduction of large herbivores, which have been lost through centuries of hunting and loss of habitat.
WILDER BLEAN REWILDING PROJECT
kentwildlifetrust. org. uk
One of Kent’ s flagship rewilding projects is the Wilder Blean Rewilding Project in West Blean and Thornden Woods, near Canterbury. The project is led by a partnership between the Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust to help generate innovative rewilding strategies to successfully restore keystone species and revive vital ecosystems across one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in the UK.
With accessible walking routes starting from nearby car parks to the woodland and cycling trails from Canterbury, when you visit the West Blean and Thornden Woods a rare sight you may discover is the UK’ s first free-roaming herd of wild European bison. Although the bison are managed within a large fenced conservation area for safety reasons, there are designated viewing spots where you can see these majestic creatures roaming in their natural habitat.
Alongside the bison, Exmoor ponies, English Longhorn cattle and Iron Age pigs have also been introduced to West Blean and Thornden Woods to help with clearing woodland and to assist with the rewilding efforts. These herbivores are the missing key to successfully managing woodland and performing natural rewilding processes without human intervention. www. insidekent. co. uk • 33