Local Wildlife Sites

Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs) are Kent’s most common site designation for wildlife protection and are some of our most valuable wildlife areas. From the rolling chalk grasslands, humming with insects in the summer, or the quiet reverence of ancient woodlands, to the iconic white cliffs that frame our coastline, these precious sites hold a great deal of potential for our wildlife. 

We now have over 480 sites across Kent which cover a wide variety in size and habitats from small churchyards to expansive woodlands in the Blean and at Bedgebury, from coastal marsh to river corridors such as the Medway and Stour.

LWSs are vital for many reasons, some of which are set out below:

Stepping stones: LWSs help connect larger protected areas together rather than each protected area existing as an ‘island’. They therefore help to restore the landscape to a functioning ecosystem. This principle of establishing ‘wildlife corridors’ encourages otherwise isolated species to disperse and colonise new areas, crucial to species’ surviving climatic change.   

Buffers: LWSs act to buffer the impacts of development and help to mitigate the impacts of the urban environment on the wider landscape. 

Local green space: some LWSs are publicly accessible are vital for physical and mental health. Bringing nature closer encourages empathy with environmental issues, but also promotes wellbeing, improves health, and brings communities together.  

Ecosystem services: including cleaning our air, absorbing pollution, improving soil quality, and increasing flood resilience.  

LWS’s and Chalk to Coast: your countryside needs you!

Approximately 20% of LWSs are within the current Chalk to Coast area with examples including the River Medway and Marshes, Whitehorse Wood and Holly Hill at Birling, Eccles Old Pits, Spuckles Wood and meadows, Stalisfield and many more.

Current LWS landowners in the project area already have a key role to play in the drive for landscape connectivity and any potential new LWSs would clearly add to this and help develop key wildlife corridors. Please don’t hesitate If you have specific queries relating to your LWS and this initiative because despite the existing coverage, there remains great scope for more areas to become Local Wildlife Sites.

You can find out more details on Local Wildlife Sites at Kent Wildlife Trust’s website.

If you have any ideas for potential LWSs or any other questions relating to LWSs more generally, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with, Dave Shenton, Local Wildlife Sites Officer at KWT.