The campaign to save Covert Wood in the Kent Downs

Kent Wildlife Trust is asking for support in restoring this ancient woodland and the species that call it home.

Covert Wood is a wonderful 26-hectare area of ancient woodland, nestled within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and it needs protecting. This woodland has recently been put on the market for £475,000, and Kent Wildlife Trust wants to purchase it.

Covert Wood offers a significant opportunity to connect up our fragmented woodland habitats, vital for species such as woodpeckers, nightingales and pine marten, which require healthy woodland that they can move between unimpeded.

With over £100,000 already received towards the appeal, a further £362,500 is sought to secure this precious nature-rich habitat within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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This site is comprised of striking broadleaf woodland, quintessential of East Kent, alongside oak, beech, hornbeam and sweet chestnut. You’ll also find swathes of bluebells, wood anemones, bee and purple orchid and other key ancient woodland indicator species.

Because of this extremely special amalgamation of British woodland species, Covert Wood is classed as being of high conservation value.

Simon Bateman-Brown, Head of Land Management at Kent Wildlife Trust said: “Covert Wood is a rich ancient woodland and there is a risk that it could be sold off in smaller individual sections. If this happens, it would be impossible to manage for the benefit of nature.

“Under the management of the trust we can protect it indefinitely, running it as a nature reserve for wildlife. It is perfectly situated to help us connect the landscape for nature, something that our wildlife depleted country desperately needs.