Nature reserve's project to expand access

Elmley Nature Reserve wants to draw in more local visitors

A nature reserve in Kent is helping community groups and schools access its site.

Elmley Nature Reserve has hired a trainee nature guide, is arranging group visits, and plans to offer free lifts from Swale railway station to the site.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded over £200,000 to the reservation, which covers roughly a fifth of the Isle of Sheppey, in 2024 to expand access.

Fundraising project manager Grace Spooner says many local people "have got out of habit of going out into nature".

"A lot of the problems are transport related and I know that, for many of the children on the island, nature is not part of their everyday life," she added.

Local schools have received invitations to the family-owned reserve and an events programme aims to attract new visitors.

Wellbeing organisation Sheppey Matters, and Kent Wildlife Trust have partnered with the reserve under the programme to encourage local communities to take advantage of the expanded access.

Julie Calder from Sheppey Matters said: "Most of the people that we work with come from low socio-economic groups so affordability and transport can be very difficult for them."