In this exciting episode of Talk on the Wild Side, Rob heads to the stunning Pegwell Bay to chat with Adrian Pierssene from National Grid about their ambitious Sea Link Project.

This multi-million-pound initiative aims to supercharge the Grid's renewable energy capabilities by connecting Kent and Suffolk with an underwater cable. But there’s a twist—plans for a massive converter station at Minster Marshes, a cherished Local Wildlife Site, and a landfall point at Pegwell Bay, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, have Kent Wildlife Trust sounding the alarm.

Adrian shares National Grid’s vision of boosting biodiversity as part of the project, but can cutting-edge infrastructure truly coexist with nature? Tune in for a candid conversation as we dig into the details, debate the possibilities, and explore the balance between progress and preservation!

Update: Since the recording of this episode, the proposed mitigation site has been revised. On this update, National Grid states:

“Following ongoing discussions with stakeholders including local authorities and Natural England, we have removed the wetland from our proposals. Instead, we have identified an area of existing arable farmland, approximately 10ha in size. In this new location, it is proposed to adapt existing arable farming practices in a way that is beneficial to important bird species such as golden plover. This will include measure such as maximising the amount of time that bare ground is maintained over winter, so that the foraging environmental is enhanced. We are also proposing skylark plots in these areas, which are unsown areas within arable crops, providing skylarks with access to nesting habitats throughout their breeding season.”

Kent Wildlife Trust remains concerned about the suitability of this mitigation, saying:

"The new site is situated near a busy A-road, with considerable noise and light pollution from the bustling Discovery Park. Furthermore, it lies outside the flight range of the Golden Plover, a species that thrives in large numbers at Minster Marshes. As a result, the Trust remains doubtful about its suitability as a refuge for wildlife."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A run down and overgrown medieval churchyard in Sandwich has been restored to a beautiful wildlife haven by a group of local volunteers. In this amazing story, you'll hear from the people who brought this churchyard back to life and find out what they discovered when they peeled the ivy back from the tombstones.

It takes a community of passionate people to make a difference and you can really tell that has happened here in Sandwich. With a bit of organising and hard work, each person has found a role, whether that be to document the history of the place and the people buried here or clearing overgrown vegetation, they all work so hard to make this place a special site for anyone who wants to visit.

Visit the project site here: https://stclementsandwich.org.uk/churchyard/

Watch a shortened version of this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tmD5vOYhqOU

Read the transcript here: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/rewilding-churchyard-sandwich-podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iain Tolhurst NBE is a pioneering organic farmer and owner of Tolhurst Organic Farms. This farm has made quite a name for itself because it is able to feed 350 families on 14 acres of what is classified as poor quality agricultural land up to now, without any government subsidies. He manages this land with minimal external inputs to the farm. This means no chemical fertiliser or pesticides. He also does this without any livestock or external fertility from animals. Nearly 20% of his farm is trees and an additional 40% set aside for green manure. So how does he do it?

Iain's farming methods have been so well recognised that he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to agriculture. Iain believes in using natural farming systems to create soil fertility and enhance biodiversity. Could this be the future of farming?

Visit the Tolhust Organic website to find out more: https://www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.