The Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy is Published!

The Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been published and launched. Under the Environment Act 2021 this is now the 18^th of 48 of Strategies to be produced across England.

Many of the individuals that were involved in developing the Strategy were at the launch in East Malling on Friday 28 November, attended by 200 people.

Presentations have been uploaded here and include ones from:

Dr Edel McGurk, Natural England’s Regional Director Southeast.

Elizabeth Milne, Head of Environment at Kent County Council.

Nick Johannsen FLI, Director of the Kent Downs National Landscape and UK Lead for the Cross Channel Global Geopark.

Guy Nevill, Managing Partner, Birling Farms.

Ray Morris, Marden Wildlife Group, also covering Marden Farmers Cluster.

Roland Brown, Chair of Butterfly Conservation, Kent & South East London.

Mitchell Rae, Senior Land Manager (South East), Environment Bank

Dr Nikki Gammans, Conservation Manager South East England, Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Thea Cox, Senior Restoration Manager, Transforming the Thames, Zoological Society of London

The Marden Farmers Cluster provided a great example of where communities and farmers have come together, extending grassland habitats to the benefit of butterflies and wild flowers and carrying out research and acting on this to the benefit of species such as Turtle Dove and Nightingale. The farming community and landowners were involved in developing the Strategy and will be essential in terms of delivering many of the measures on the ground.

The Strategy also has priorities for urban areas which will bring nature closer to people and benefit their health, both in terms of having a connection with nature and through, for example the planting of trees to improve air quality and to provide cooling shelter and shade during our increasingly hot summers.

Kent has a long and varied coastline, and the Strategy provides a range of coastal priorities and measures including for seagrass restoration, a topic presented at the launch by the Zoological Society of London. Their work in the Thames estuary has not only helped to restore seagrass beds but in doing so has provided a habitat for two species of seahorse and the seagrass itself is a food source for wintering flocks of Brent Geese.

The launch event ended on a positive note with an address from farmer Claire Eckley who said: –

“Kent is still largely a rural county, and many farms are already providing a haven for wildlife, but most don’t have any protection for nature. The fact that this nature recovery strategy has a strong focus on these areas, provides an opportunity to direct more action on the ground.

At present, many farmers are having to diversify their approach to maintain a consistent income, therefore when a Strategy for nature recovery is presented alongside new funding streams, this will be an increasingly appealing proposition.

On a personal level, I look forward to continuing to improve the fortunes for wildlife and to deliver the Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy in my area.”

The Nature Recovery team at Kent County Council would like to thank all those that took part in developing the Strategy. The team will now be providing help and advice to deliver it on the ground, as well as keeping track of progress in the coming months and years.