Project work

BNG projects provide an additional tool to extend and link our east kent downs farmers' long term habitat creation work. Working closely with this BNG project has enabled over 30ha of new wildflower grasslands to be added to the portfolio of habitat creation and expands our network of new wildflower grasslands in the East Kent Valleys, linking some key areas of habitat creation

Our program of green hay and wildflower seed harvesting continued apace in 2025 with several of the new grasslands treated with species rich hay and seed

Recording the presence of bumble bee species that colonise the new grasslands

Enhancing habitat diversity with a network of newly created ponds in the Barham Downs project area

A Natural England Field Unit survey to assess colonisation of Hymenoptera on newly created wildflower grasslands

An annual program of green hay spreading to boost species diversity in the wildflower grasslands

Working with Kent County Council's 'Kent Plan Tree' and Butterfly Conservation our farms are planting disease resistant elm trees to benefit the White letter hairstreak butterfly

Working with the Species Recovery Trust, an exciting project is utilising our new wildflower grassland creation areas to reintroduce Kentish milkwort

A team from Natural England are measuring carbon levels within a selection of the new wildflower grasslands to see how carbon levels change in relation to the age of the grassland

Winter bird surveys have been undertaken to see how farmland bird populations are responding to wildlife friendly practices such as providing wild bird seed and insect-rich plots within the farmed landscape

A regular winter programme of conservation tasks, partnering with Butterfly Conservation Kent Branch volunteers and helping to benefit rare butterfly and moth species such as duke of burgundy and black veined moth

A study undertaken by a University of Kent student investigating insect abundance and diversity in newly created wildflower grasslands was undertaken in 2022.

Working with Kent Bat Group to undertake monitoring of bat species in our East Kent Valleys farmer group area, using static detectors and infra red cameras

Working with Plantlife' on a reintroduction project to bring back the rare arable plant, red hemp nettle into the east kent downs area.