Conservation

This was completed in conjunction with Trees for Thanet group, which worked with school students undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Estate is involved with several environmental schemes and currently has a total of 174 acres in conservation management.

18 miles of field margins totalling 71 acres is dedicated to wildlife strips planted with native grass species to encourage insects, small rodents and birdlife.

40 acres dedicated to low level grazing management adjacent to the River Stour, to encourage native plant species and ground nesting birds and 25 acres of summer fallow to encourage all bird species.

Numerous pollen and nectar blocks have been established which provides food for butterflies, bees an natural predators.

Quex is also home to chalk caves which are home to three species of bat. The Estate works closely with the local Bat Preservation Society. Near to these caves, beehives are also kept by local beekeepers and the honey is sold locally.

Operation Turtle Dove

The Estate is part of the ‘operation turtle dove’ project which aims to prevent the extinction of turtle doves in the UK.

The once prevalent bird, the turtle dove has declined by 80% over the last 30 years and Kent is the one of the last remaining counties where they still return in the spring from Africa to nest. Plants that turtle doves love to eat such as fumitory are planted, scrapes created to allow them to drink and a supplementary feeding is carried out from mid-May for 10 weeks.

Wildlife partners:

• RSPB
• Kent Wildlife Trust
• Linking Farming and Environment (LEAF)
• Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN)