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In an effort to encourage people to behave responsibly, the charity has created a top five list of things people can do to help keep the county’s countryside safe for wildlife this Halloween and bonfire night:

1. Leave no trace, take your litter home, and clean up after your dog.
2. Don’t discard your Halloween pumpkins in the woodland, they impact the ecosystem and create a big slushy mess.
3. Never have a fireworks party on a nature reserve; it will cause wildlife disturbance and potentially injure the grazing animals on the site.
4. Don’t buy balloons. Each year, our Wardens clear hundreds of balloons from nature reserves which pose a serious risk to grazing animals and wildlife.
5. Help Kent Wildlife Trust offset the cost of anti-social behaviour by donating to the Nature Nightmares appeal.

As the darker nights have drawn in, Wardens are reporting more incidents as they go about their daily checks across the charity’s 90 reserves. This week a herd of cows was left unsettled after being chased by a group of teenagers at Coombe Down, Dover and, at Bluebell Hill, Aylesford, staff were left to clear smashed glass and human excrement ‘dumped’ on the site. At Polhill Bank, Sevenoaks a field gate was unbolted and stolen and it will cost the charity several hundred pounds to replace.

The historic rise in incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour at Halloween and bonfire night has been dubbed “Nature Nightmare” season by those dealing with the aftermath of incidents and the conservation charity is keen to try and raise awareness of the issues caused by this thoughtless behaviour. It is hoped that people will think twice about leaving litter and acting irresponsibly at nature havens.

Kent Wildlife Trust’s Area Manager, Stephen Weeks says:

“Wildlife is in trouble and our reserves should be their safe space; these sites are helping to combat the nature emergency we find ourselves in. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with only a tiny percentage of our land set aside for wildlife and through sheer selfishness, even that is threatened.

“Year on year we see a rise in anti-social behaviour on our reserves and each morning spent litter picking is time we could have used making the sites better for wildlife and our visitors. Instead, we find ourselves clearing up and making the areas safe again so people can walk their dogs without them cutting a paw on broken glass or picking up fireworks that pose a choking hazard to our cattle. It is all completely avoidable; we hope people will realise the issues they are creating and modify their behaviour so that everyone can enjoy these precious wild spaces.”

Can you help?

People can help Kent Wildlife Trust fight back against anti-social behaviour by volunteering, joining a litter pick, or donating to the Nature Nightmares appeal.