Late summer & early autumn on Hothfield Heathlands
Margery Thomas, volunteer, has been writing articles about Hothfield Heathlands' flora and fauna since 2016. In this month's article, she reflects on some of August's sightings and recent updates.
Topics: Hothfield Heathland
Lichens for beginners
-Make a start on identifying these notoriously difficult yet intriguing, beautiful and environmentally sensitive plants.
August on Hothfield Heathlands: Moths and rushes
It's been a hot few months on Hothfield Heathlands! Long-time volunteer, Margery Thomas, reflects on recent work and sightings.
Volunteer spotlight: Margery Thomas
This year marks 10 years since Margery Thomas began volunteering at Hothfield Heathlands. Since 2016, she's written monthly articles on the reserve's flora and fauna, bringing readers into the heart of the heathlands through rich, observant writing, whatever the season. Here we chat with Margery about her decade with us.
July on Hothfield Heathlands: Orchids & bats
Hothfield's evening bat and amphibian walk revealed pipistrelles, newts, and a nightingale's song, while rare heath spotted and Southern marsh orchids bloom in the reserve's acid bogs.
June on Hothfield Heathlands: Cuckoos & nightingales
Hothfield Heathlands is abuzz with life in June! In the sky, on the ground, above the water, and under the surface - the reserve is busy, and so are our volunteers.
May on Hothfield Heathlands: Magical bluebell weeks
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 changes with the light and is tricky to catch accurately in photos since the flowers are not one solid colour.
Kent Wildlife Trust removes highland cattle from Hothfield Heathlands after viral TikTok sparks wave of visitor disturbance
Kent Wildlife Trust has taken the difficult decision to temporarily remove its Highland cattle from Hothfield Heathlands nature reserve, after sustained visitor pressure in the wake of viral social media content made it impossible for the animals to carry out their conservation grazing role safely.
April on Hothfield Heathlands: Highland cows & nesting birds
We are into full nesting season including the birds who nest on the ground or very low down in scrub, which is over half of Britain’s breeding species including the stonechat, robin, blackbird, skylark, yellow hammer, tree pipit and chiff chaff, not to mention the migrants such as whitethroats who will arrive from the South in May.
Kent Wildlife Trust urges visitors to keep their distance from highland cattle at Hothfield Heathlands following viral TikTok
Kent Wildlife Trust is urging visitors to Hothfield Heathlands nature reserve to keep a safe distance from its highland cattle, following a surge in visitor numbers linked to viral social media content.