The Blean Re-Wetting is a Green Recovery Challenge Fund (GCRF) project, delivered by a partnership of RSPB, Kent Wildlife Trust and Councils across the Blean Woods complex. This year-long project will see the implementation of natural flood management techniques to increase the amount of water in the woods. From heavy-duty earthen banks to small scale leaky dams; staff, contractors and volunteers will carry out a range of interventions to slow the flow of water through the woods, encourage the formation of meanders and reinstate flood plains.

The purpose of this project is twofold – combatting the effects of climate change and tackling the biodiversity crisis. Kent is on the frontline when it comes to feeling the effects of a warming climate, and increased moisture retention will fortify the woods against aridification. At the same time, wetter soil will support greater and more diverse populations of invertebrates and it is hoped that this will in turn benefit other wildlife.

 While nature-based solutions like this are becoming increasingly common, there is little data on the benefits it can bring to wildlife.  The project team consider it a high priority to gather as much robust data as possible on changes in soil moisture, invertebrates, and any other potential beneficiary. Not only will this be an important measure of the project’s outcomes, clear evidence of benefits to wildlife will also support the case for similar projects elsewhere.

The team are seeking volunteers with some level of ecology expertise to inform and assist with this monitoring, with a high priority on gathering baseline data prior to work commencing in September 2021.. Monitoring will continue until the project completion in March 2022 and beyond. Please get in touch if you are interested or if you have any questions. Email 

 Furthermore if you would like to receive updates regarding project events or volunteer work parties, please contact  and they can add you to the appropriate mailing list (we send a maximum one email a week).