Darent Nature Partnership
Our Mission
Collectively, we manage more than 6,000 hectares of this globally rare chalk river catchment, bordering London, in the Kent Downs National Landscape. Our aim is to restore the natural functions of the River Darent and create a connected mosaic of wetland, floodplain meadow, chalk grassland, woodland and scrub habitats across the valley. In so doing, we will boost biodiversity, capture carbon, improve water quality, increase climate resilience, and enhance food production.
Fund Us
We are unlocking the natural capital of the Darent Valley, which through emerging nature markets and partnering with like-minded funders, will benefit its landscape, ecology, and community, whilst providing long-term financial returns and supporting sustainable farming.
The Project
Our Landscape Recovery project will deliver environmental, social and economic benefits through several ambitious plans. As well as habitat and river restoration, we will enhance people’s access and connection with nature and develop innovative ways of funding our plans.
Community
Collaboration and public benefit are at the heart of what we do. We provide opportunities to connect with nature through volunteering and events, work with local schools and businesses, strengthening community relationships and sense of place.
Our Goals
We have identified many environmental, social and economic outcomes and longer-term impacts that we aim to achieve through our pioneering Landscape Recovery project.
5 of our key goals are:
Improve Water Capture & Quality
We will deliver actions and land use change that increases river connectivity and holds more water in the landscape - replenishing supply, improving water quality and resilience to drought and flood events.
Nature recovery
We will create a mosaic of connected habitats across the Darent Valley, significantly increasing the diversity and abundance of wildlife and supporting recovery of key priority species.
Connect the Community
We will enhance public access and provide greater opportunity to connect with nature, through volunteering, community events, education and interpretation, and school activities.
Capture and store carbon
Creation of more woodland, scrub and wetland habitats, through natural processes where possible, will enable the ecosystem to fix and hold more carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.
Financial Sustainability
We will make it more financially viable for farmers to manage land for nature by creating new partnerships and provide sustainable returns to investors through ecosystem services and nature markets.
Providing Support
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WELCOME!
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Our Development Partners
Contributing expertise are the project partners; South East Rivers Trust, Adonis Blue Environmental Consultancy, Northwest Kent Countryside Partnership, BTF Partnership and Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme. They each bring knowledge and skills to the project, working on river restoration, habitat re-creation, species monitoring and recovery, site access and community engagement.
After the Landscape Recovery development phase, the project enters implementation. Here the project becomes Darent Nature Partnership, securing investment to ensure the future of this valuable ecosystem in the Darent Valley.
Our Development Partners
Contributing expertise are our project partners, including: Kent Wildlife Trust, South East Rivers Trust, Adonis Blue Environmental Consultancy, Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme, Kent Downs National Landscape Unit, North West Kent Countryside Partnership and BTF Partnership. They each bring knowledge and skills to the project, working on river and habitat restoration, species monitoring and recovery, site access, community engagement and green finance.
The development phase of our Landscape Recovery project is funded and supported by Defra, the Environment Agency and Natural England.
