Total monthly rainfall was 40mm with a  maximum daily rainfall of 15 mm  on September 28th. The maximum temperature (hottest day) was 20°C on the 6th while the coldest day of 15°C  was on the 17th. September was neither too hot nor too cold; too wet nor too dry. It produced green pastures, but made no noticeable difference to the very low pond-water levels we have witnessed this year. The main feature, Storm Aileen, struck overnight into the 13th, depositing yellow and green leaves, twigs, and small-to-medium sized branches on the fields and woodland floor.

The total monthly rainfall this month was 57.5 mm; the maximum daily rainfall of 16 mm was recorded on August 31st. A maximum temperature of 27°C was recorded on August 29th while the previous day was the coldest day (14°C). There were 20 days when the maximum temperature was 20°C or more, and 11 days when it was below 20°C. The driest week was between the 21st and 27th August when only 5 mm of rain fell.

The first 18 days of July were largely dry and often very warm, the exception being the 11th going into the 12th. On the morning of the 12th, we recorded 29.5 mm of rain, the wettest 24 hours of the month. After the 18th, the weather tended to be cooler, windier, and wetter, and altogether July produced a respectable 71 mm. The hottest days were the 6th, 8th, and 9th, with 27°C, while the coldest daytime maximum was 16°C on the 24th.

The Kent Wildlife Conference, now in its seventeenth year, was created as a way for field naturalists to meet, learn about and discuss the county’s wild plant and animal species.

Fourteen members of the Kent Field Club and Kent Botanical Recording Group met for a joint meeting at Tutt Hill on 16th July to record the arable flora on field margins close to the HS1 railway.