Concerns rise over wildlife safety at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve amid new developments
Improvements for wildlife watching are great, but they need to be done carefully. We want to help wildlife, not make things harder for them.
Over the years, tools like cameras and apps have made spotting wildlife easier. But what about the habitats? It seems like we’re losing ground there.
Much of the land, especially heathland, has been developed. This is a big issue for our nature reserves. Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, a former gravel pit, is a prime example.
I’ve visited this place for over 50 years. It used to be famous for wildfowl shoots and even hosted Prince Philip. Now, it’s known for rare birds like the lesser spotted woodpecker, but I haven’t seen them lately.
When Kent Wildlife Trust took over, they removed some trees to create a children’s garden. Now, they’re clearing more trees for a coach park and a new route for cars.
This means losing bushes that attracted butterflies and flattening areas where bullfinches used to visit. On my last trip, I didn’t see any of those birds, just joggers and a woman with a pram.
I hope these changes don’t scare off the wildlife for good. If the animals leave, who will want to visit? Plus, parking now costs £2.50, which might deter visitors.
Some of the damage could have been avoided with input from local visitors. The same issue happened at Dungeness, where locals protested changes to viewing hides.
We all want progress, but wildlife should always come first in reserves.
