Wildlife trust launches conservation appeal

A charity is urgently trying to raise £120,000 to support a large-scale conservation grazing project.

Kent Wildlife Trust says it has nearly 900 animals, including longhorn cattle, konik ponies, Hebridean sheep, goats, pigs, and European bison, that are restoring habitats across 52 sites.

The trust warns more than 200 species in Kent are now threatened or endangered as natural habitats continue to "shrink and degrade".

Alison Ruyter, wilder grazing lead, said grazers "help bring life back to landscapes that machinery simply can't reach".

"These amazing animals are recreating the dynamic processes that once shaped Kent's countryside, building a rich mosaic of habitats for countless species," she added.

The charity says the funds will go towards hay, fencing, monitoring equipment, animal welfare and expanding grazing areas.

It says traditional conservation methods can be expensive, time-consuming and heavily reliant on staff and volunteers.

The charity explains animal behaviour such as churning soil and creating open ground can help create different conditions for other wildlife to thrive, including nightingales, turtle doves, dormice, bee orchids, and dung beetles.

The Amazing Grazing appeal supports its Wilder Grazing programme, which introduces animals to land where their natural behaviours facilitate nature recovery across Kent.

The campaign was launched on Monday and hopes to raise the funds by April.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.