Kent Wildlife Trust has been awarded a £1.28m government grant to support conservation work on the River Stour and the ancient woodland of the Blean, near Canterbury. The money comes through Natural England's Species Recovery Programme, backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and will benefit beavers, endangered butterflies and birds. The Trust said the award underlines Kent's national importance in conserving threatened wildlife.

The funding will strengthen the biodiversity of Kent's beaver population — England's largest — by releasing more animals and working with landowners to restore their habitat. A survey of the Blean will focus on six endangered species found there, including the heath fritillary, one of the UK's rarest butterflies, and the turtle dove. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds described the scheme as the "largest-ever investment in species recovery", while the Trust's Paul Hadaway said the knowledge gained in Kent would help shape species recovery across England.