Wildlife

Kent's wildlife icons

Iconic species are associated with a habitat or an area that is easily identifiable and popular with people. Kent is the home to iconic species that largely stem from our county's varied geology and land use history, and are now nationally rare or declining rapidly.

Among the range of characteristic species, five capture the imagination:

• the Leafhopper (Aphrodes duffieldi), which is not known to occur anywhere else in Britain or the world!
• the Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) and the Man Orchid (Aceras anthropophorum), where Kent is a stronghold
• the Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) of which Kent holds approximately 25% of UK's breeding population
• the Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). This is widespread in Kent, however it is likely that it has been suffering a decline, reflecting the national trend.

Threatened species

Many of the plant and animal species found in Kent are globally threatened, or are rapidly declining in the UK. In our county, there are 85 species that are threatened and these are recorded in the Kent red data book.

Additionally, the Kent Landscape Information System (KLIS) holds 28 fact sheets on important species for those who want to know more about their conservation. These can be viewed on the KLIS website.

Information on these 28 species and what is being done to protect them can also be found on the Kent Biodiversity Action Plan website.