Save The Date!

This year's Kent Wildlife Conference will be held on the 12th October at the University of Kent, Canterbury campus.

Registration forms and the programme will be available in coming months.

‘Carbon Storage in Intertidal Environments’ (C-SIDE) is a research project looking at the importance of salt marshes in absorbing CO₂ to combat climate change.

C-SIDE is collecting lots of soil samples from salt marshes across England, Scotland and Wales. In the lab, we’re measuring how much of this soil is organic carbon (made up of things like roots and dead leaves) and we are then using the samples to go back in time - 12,000 years in fact - to see how carbon storage has changed since the Last Ice Age. You can find out more about the C-SIDE project at https://www.c-side.org/.

Though we’re covering as much of the British coastline as we can, we can’t do it on our own. We need Citizen Scientists to help us! Here’s what we’re asking volunteers to do:

1. Head down to their nearest saltmarsh and follow instructions using the ‘Saltmarsh App’ to complete a simple plant and soil survey

2. Collect nine small soil samples using equipment we’ll provide by post

3. Return the samples to us with a pre-paid envelope

If you or your team/network could help, please let me know at and I’ll send out an information pack with instructions on how to carry out a survey. The survey doesn’t take long, and it’s a great way for people to explore their local salt marsh!

If you know of another group that might be able to help, I’d be grateful if you could pass on this letter. Everyone can find their nearest saltmarsh using the interactive map at www.arcg.is/08nWvX. We’re hoping to get volunteers out collecting samples over the upcoming summer period.

To thank volunteers for their hard work, they’ll be credited in any output we produce. We’ll also keep you updated about how the project’s going and how it’s making a difference.

Thank you for your time,

   Cai Ladd

Total monthly rainfall was 45.5 mm with a maximum daily rainfall of 11 mm on March 10th. The rainfall during the month was rather moderate, which is not unusual at this time of year. There was no measurable rain at all from the 20th to 31st. Maximum temperature on the warmest day was 18°C on March 30th, while on the coldest it was 8°C on March 12th. There were light frosts from the 26th to 29th of the month.

We have recently heard from the toad patrol coordinator in East Langdon near Dover. They are desperately short of volunteers to run their toad patrols.

If you think you could help please contact:  

Total monthly rainfall was 69 mm with a maximum daily rainfall of 18 mm on 2nd February; altogether there were 13 days with measurable rain, and 67.5 mm fell during the first ten days of the month. There were also 13 days when cloud-cover reached 100% for at least part of the day.