Medway Valley Countryside Partnership

Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP) works across the boroughs of Tonbridge and Malling and Maidstone in Kent to deliver a variety of:

• countryside management
• community engagement
• outdoor education
• access projects.

Habitat management, volunteering and ecological surveying

MVCP runs a weekly task group to do various local habitat management activities at various locations across both boroughs. Volunteers are supported by qualified staff, provided with PPE, and offered refreshments.

Our team of skilled and licensed staff conduct surveys for:

• barn owls
• hedgehogs
• dormice
• reptiles
• amphibians.

We also write management plans for different sites and participate in elver surveys at Allington Lock as part of the Zoological Society of London's long-term study on eel populations.

Email medwayvalley@kent.gov.uk to find out more about these services, volunteering opportunities with our task group, or helping with surveying.

Pond creation and restoration project

MVCP restores and creates new ponds, as part of the Natural England funded scheme to provide valuable breeding habitat.

If you have a pond that needs to be restored or you are interested in having a new pond on your land, contact our pond officer Sarah Harrington-James at Sarah.Harrington-James@kent.gov.uk or medwayvalley@kent.gov.uk.

Forest School

MVCP's Forest School program is led by experienced, qualified practitioners, offering children the opportunity to learn and develop in a woodland setting. This outdoor experience provides many benefits, including:

• improved health
• social skills
• confidence
• teamwork.

We offer Forest School programs in your school grounds, along with practical advice and assistance to help set up your Forest School site. We also offer teacher training workshops and sessions in woodland near Maidstone.

For more information, contact Kathryn Barton:

Events, wellbeing walks and activities

Funded by Involve Kent, MVCP runs weekly wellbeing walks for people aged 55 and over or those with health conditions. To learn about locations, themes, and to book a free spot, visit our Eventbrite page.

Contact us