Plans to turn 26-acre farm into nature reserve

Kent Wildlife Trust has raised enough money to purchase 26 acres of farmland in Polhill, Sevenoaks

A 26-acre farm in Sevenaoks is set to be transformed into a nature haven.

The Kent Wildlife Trust launched a fundraiser to buy the site in Polhill, achieving its target of £195,000 with a day to spare.

Previously a commercial farm, the charity plans to transform the site into a biodiverse chalk downland.

Director of conservation, Paul Hadaway, thanked supporters and said: “This is a hugely positive and exciting story at a time when nature faces so many challenges."

The trust had until 1 June to secure the money and said it was "delighted" when a flurry of last minute donations saw it hit the target.

It said a total of £195,970 had been donated by the public and a further £84,000 was pledged by a "wonderful" match donor.

Mr Hadaway said: “This is an opportunity for us to buy an area of arable land that we can revert into wonderful chalk grassland habitat that neighbours our existing nature reserve.

"Thank you for being part of nature’s recovery in Sevenoaks.”

'Biodiversity boost'

The charity said it plans to turn the arable land into a "thriving nature habitat".

It says chalk downlands are an incredibly important and biodiverse ecosystem, but they are "rare and fragile", and require "careful management".

The trust acquired the nearby 40-acre Polhill Bank site a few years ago where, it said, nature was "thriving" with insects, lizards and yellowhammers.

It said these "precious species" nearby will have "a further 26 acres to grow, bringing a much-needed biodiversity boost at a time of nature crisis".

The money raised will go to purchasing the site, sowing seeds, livestock management, tree safety and ash die-back mitigation.