Temple Ewell’s Chough Champions
Blog
Temple Ewell is a proud to be the pilot school for Chough Champions, a recent addition to the Wilder Kent Awards. Learn more about the initiative here.
There was a huge public reaction to Thomas’s death. Pilgrims began to arrive at Canterbury Cathedral from across Europe and King Henry II received many high-status visitors.
Henry invested in Dover Castle, creating the great tower keep as a fitting venue, suitable for important travellers on their way to Canterbury, and making it truly ‘fit for a king'.
Sometime after his death, Thomas was attributed a coat of arms featuring three choughs, which first appears about 100 years later in Canterbury Cathedral, and, in the 14th century, the City of Canterbury adopted a coat of arms with three choughs and a royal lion. But no one really knows why the chough became associated with Thomas, other than the legend of the blooded crow. Whatever its origin, the chough has a long history in heraldry in glass, sculpture, coats of arms, flags, and even pub signs!
How many chough symbols can you find near you? Let us know at [email protected]
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Chough: Inspiring the next generation through community engagement
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Kent Wildlife Trust's Chough Appeal is more than just a conservation initiative—it’s a powerful tool for community engagement and education. This blog is written by Jenny Luddington, the Youth Education and Engagement Officer for Kent Wildlife Trust...
Top migratory birds to spot this spring
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Have you heard an extra harmony in the dawn chorus recently? You might be hearing the passerines (songbirds) that have been migrating north to breed after spending the winter feeding in warmer climates.
The magical bluebell weeks - May on Hothfield Heathlands
Blog
The glossy green spears that pierced dense leaf litter in late winter are now transformed into sheets of violet-purple-blue in the woodland edges of the reserve. The magical bluebell weeks began fairly early, a soft scent and a flood of colour that…
Why chalk streams must be granted irreplaceable habitat status
Blog
Chalk streams are among the most precious and rare freshwater ecosystems on Earth, which we are so lucky to enjoy across Kent. They are characterised by their crystal-clear, mineral-rich waters, filtered through ancient chalk bedrock, which support a…