Members News

NFU Mutual donation funds a lovely new home for Kenward alpacas

Ben Warner, Marketing Manager at NFU Mutual Sevenoaks & Meopham and Hetty Palmer, Marketing & Fundraising Manager and Idris the Alpaca.

Ben Warner, Marketing Manager at NFU Mutual Sevenoaks & Meopham recently presented a generous £6379 in support of The Kenward Trust.

This donation is specifically in support of Kenward Trust’s residents of the animal variety! Kenward Trust’s 8 gorgeous alpacas are an important asset in many ways, the residents in addiction recovery receive animal care education and receive daily walks as part of their wellbeing recovery plan. Daily walks are also open to the public as part of Kenward’s social enterprise. The NFU Mutual charity funds have gone towards building the alpacas a well-deserved new home on site at Kenward, giving the current field a rest. By rotating our alpacas, the caring staff can ensure the animals stay in optimum condition and will reduce food costs as the Trust will need to purchase less hay. The cost of living crisis means Kenward has to tighten its belt all round, and this is just one of the many ways in which the charity will make long term investments for a sustainable future. Ben Warner at NFU Mutual says: “NFU Mutual have been a champion of rural communities the length and breadth of the UK for over 100 years, supporting local causes is part of what we do day to day. We are proud to be supporting Kenward Trust, we love the fact that by using their land efficiently, raising and caring for alpacas as part of their offering at a rehabilitation centres, whilst providing a valuable service to the community.” Penny Williams, CEO Kenward Trust; “We are so grateful to the NFU Mutual, the existing alpaca paddock was becoming tired, and after having sought advice and receiving the NFU Mutual charity donation, we are now in the process of creating an alternative paddock to keep the alpacas rotating and remain healthy. A Big thank you to NFU Mutual"

Avondale clearing

the way for Kent’s footpaths

If you’re using footpaths across Kent, they might be maintained by Chamber member, Avondale Environmental Services.

The Chatham-based company is responsible for clearing 82 miles of footpaths and bridalways across Canterbury, Tonbridge and Thanet to make sure they are accessible and safe for everyone who uses them.

They’ve been out either twice or thrice this year to each area, to make sure that walkers, ramblers, hikers, dog walkers and horse riders can make their way through, both easily and safely, taking care of vegetation that can cause irritation to human, hound and horse.

It’s a thankless task; when the first cut in May is completed by late June, they go back and start all over again for the July/August cut. A third cut takes place in October ahead of winter.

They’re a company that has invested in technology to speed the process up, relying on their custom-built machinery to cut and shred the vegetation quickly and easily. Innovation for efficiency is what’s behind the business, with MD, engineer Andy Back having looked extensively at how machinery can be designed to do a job quicker and more safely. Avondale works with both the highway and railway industry to clear vegetation along road or railway verges. For highways, they are contracted to wash road tunnels too. These clients need to avoid lengthy closures of tracks and roads to minimise disruption to passengers and drivers and Avondale has developed the most efficient way to do this through their use of customised plant machinery. Speak to Avondale about their services – they work across Kent and also across the UK too.

Avondale Environmental Services https://avondaleuk.com/

Restoring Kent's Nature

In July, Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust released three bison into West Blean and Thornden Woods as part of a ground-breaking wilding project funded by Players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

These eco-system engineers represent the concept of Wilding. They create an environment for nature to thrive through their natural behaviours of grazing, dust bathing, eating bark and felling trees.

Nature is our life support system, it’s the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and the energy that sustains us. Wilding projects like Wilder Blean are giving nature the opportunity to recover and grow.

Kent’s nature and wildlife is in real and dramatic decline. • 80% of Kent’s rivers and lakes are below standard

• Pollution levels in Kent are double the

World Health’s average annual maximum recommended limit

• Population growth and projected expectations for a county that is already the most densely populated county in the country is growing at a rate that is higher than the national average.

• 10% of the species found in Kent are classified as threatened with extinction

Data taken from The State of Nature in Kent Report 2022 https://kentnature.org.uk/state-of-nature/

But all is not lost because nature has the power to heal itself and to heal us if we let it. That’s what wilding is all about; restoring ecosystems to the point where nature can take care of itself and sustain us.

Find out how your business can restore Kents nature in real and practical ways. Email our Corporate Team corporate@kentwildlife.org.uk

CAROLS at Christmas

Tree of Hope are delighted to be hosting ‘Carols at Christmas’ at the beautiful St Augustine’s Chapel at Tonbridge School!

Join us on Wednesday 21st December from 3:30pm and for the service to start at 4pm, with a reception of mince pies and refreshments to follow afterwards.

We are very pleased to be joined by The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover who will deliver the Christmas message. Musical performances will be led by children from the Pauline Quirke Academy, a performing arts Academy providing tuition for children and young people, and students from Radnor House School, Sevenoaks, an “outstanding” co-educational day school. We will also be joined by the Tonbridge Community Singers and the Orpheus string quartet who will be performing some well-loved Christmas Carols, for you to join in with. Readings will be delivered by some of Tree of Hope’s generous supporters, including Great British Bake-off Finalist Jane Beedle, and the Deputy Mayor of Tonbridge, Cllr James Lark.

Ticket proceeds will be donated to Tree of Hope, a charity which supports families with sick and disabled children, to help them fundraise for medical treatment, equipment, therapies and operations which are not available on the NHS. Fundraising under the umbrella of a registered charity offers donor reassurance and ensures that families are able to benefit from gift aid donations, corporate support and match funding potential, enabling them to get to their target quicker. This truly is the perfect way to start your festive celebrations.

To find out more information visit: https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/event/carols-at-christmas/

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