Kent Wildlife Trust, in partnership with the Botanical Society for Britain and Ireland (BSBI), is hosting three Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) test days at Tyland Barn on the 1st June, 20th July and 7th September 2017.

Eight members assembled on St George's day 2017 (23rd April) for a look around Rose Hill Woods, on the outskirts of Sittingbourne.

For a month famous for April showers, an amazingly low 5 mm was recorded here. Only 7 days produced any measurable rain, with 1.6 mm falling during the 24 hours ending on the morning of 27th April. Increasing evaporation and transpiration at this time of year has left pond levels even lower than they were last month. Maximum daytime temperatures ranged from a very warm 22⁰ C on the 9th to a raw 10⁰ C on the 26th. There were dense fogs on the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th; a strong wind-chill on the 17th and 18th, and sharp overnight frosts on the 19th and 27th, the former of which appears to have wiped out much of our Victoria plum crop for the year, and the latter to have set back our potato crop! 

Kent Field Club’s meeting at Hungershall Rocks on 11^th March 2017 came 54 years after their previous visit to the site. 

February’s rainfall was a moderate 47 mm, but this still left our ponds about 30 cm below normal levels for the end of the month. Our maximum daily recording over a 24-hour period produced 10 mm on the morning of the 28th. Maximum daily temperatures ranged between 2⁰ C on the 11th, and 15⁰ C on the 20th. A cold snap from the 8th to 13th produced light snow-flurries on the 11th, and saw the return of the solitary fieldfare to our garden for its helping of apple chunks, but it quickly moved on. There were fresh to strong winds from the 22nd to 27th around Storm Doris on the 23rd.