David B Dr Richard Bate Joshua Styles Leif Bersweden Rebecca Wheeler The Friends of Betteshanger are pursuing a legal challenge which hopefully will lead to Judicial Review. We do need money for this so please repost.crowdjustice.com/case/save-bett….

Man Orchids, Wild Asparagus, Broomrape and Rosie Garlic just starting to flower / come up at Sandwich yesterday (give it a week or two if making special trip for Broomrape, a month for Lizards)
#wildflowerhour

Lady Orchids, and very numerous Twayblade and Adders-tongue fern on arable conversion site near Wye / Canterbury. Scenery across the valley not bad either.
#wildflowerhour

A field and classroom study day at SBBOT with Butterfly Conservation Kent & SE London yesterday - Caterpillars. Just used google lens to remind me of the first, initially came up with python... perhaps not the best app! (I think it was Magpie moth)
#moths #caterpillars

Guessing this is a Sawfly, but not one I'm getting an instant i.d. for which might make it interesting. On the beach at Sandwich yesterday when not looking at caterpillars!
SBBOT Ian Beavis
#insects #pollinators

Bit of variety of different grass lengths and bare ground adds a lot - worth observing what is over the fence and near area.
#NoMowMay #nomowsummer #mowabit

Some striking Green-winged orchids at Kent Wildlife Trust Marden Meadow, made a largely wasted trip (but very nice drive) to Tenterden worthwhile - quite a lot else to see too, but no Cuckoo yet.
#orchids #wildflowers

Solitary bees were enjoying the dandelions - Ashy mining bee, several Red-tailed mason bee Osmia bicolor seen and many others. #bees #pollinators a bit late for the #wildflowerhour #DandelionChallenge , but better late than never!

Duke of Burgundy and Green Hairstreak butterflies put on a show while out looking for Black-veined moth caterpillar today - thanks to Dan Tuson and Rebecca Butterfly Conservation Kent & SE London for showing us all around.
#Butterflies #moths

Bur Chervil? #wildflowerid #wildflowerhour

Danish Scurvy-grass, more commonly seen at the side of the roads due to salt spreading, but flowering in the wet Saltmarsh, Swale NNR
#wildflowerhour

Hoary Cress and a Wallflower, on the beach, nr Shellness Hamlet, Leysdown
#wildflowerhour

One of three (or more) SEO still hanging around at Swale NNR this afternoon, bit annoyed to miss the Bittern that was flying straight towards me...
#birds #birding #kent

Swale NNR, 2 Bittern, 1 SEO, several Marsh Harrier, so far

Somewhere in there is a branch in focus, but also a fuzzy Yellowhammer, a red list bird - Oaken Wood Coppice. First one I have seen in some time.
#birds #kent

Can you help us?

Our Sevenoaks reserve was raided over the weekend! The cost to replace the stolen power tools and repair the site is estimated at around £20,000.

If you have information, report it. If you want to help us, you can donate to our appeal.

kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/police-in…

Woodland management 2/3 years ago has had a dramatic impact on a local Early Purple Orchid patch, probably 200/300 where there were 50 or less. Presumably impact of greater light.
#EarthDay2024 #trees #orchids
BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour Kent Wildlife Trust

The chalk grassland is waking up too - Wild Migonette, Milkwort, Common Gromwell & Glaucous Sedge (probably!)
#wildflowerhour