Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Workshop – 7-8 March 2026
Wildwood Trust, Wealden Forest Park, Canterbury Road, Herne, Kent CT6 7LQ
Organised for Woodpecker Network volunteers and professionals from conservation organisation.
Programme – Saturday
10.00-10.30 Arrive & coffee
10.30-10.40 Welcome and 2025 breeding season Ken & Linda Smith
10.40-10.55 NE species recovery plans for LSW Daria Dadam/Matt Livesey
10.55-11.30 2025 Kent survey & Blean project Heather Mathieson/Dave Smith/Paul Cox
11.30-12.30 Regional roundups (5-10 mins each)
- New Forest/Hampshire - Rob Clements
- Southwest - Gus Robin
- Wales - Stuart Keenor
- Herefordshire - Toby Fountain/Sam Durham
- Wyre Forest - NE/Craig Reed
- East Anglia - Keith Bilverstone
- Sussex & others - Ken Smith
12.30-13.30 Lunch in the Wildwood Trust café
13.30-13.50 Rare Breeding Bird Panel latest update Mark Eaton
13.50-14.10 RSPB/NE/HOS Hampshire project Paul Bellamy
14.10-14.30 Acoustic monitoring of LSWs Simon Gillings/Ken Smith
14.30-14.50 National survey/ecology plans Simon Wotton/Paul Bellamy
14.50-15.20 Break
15.20-16.00 What next – monitoring, research, action on ground All
16.00 Close
Field trip Sunday looking at Lesser Spotted Woodpecker habitat in the East Blean Woods.
Map – how to get to Wildwood,
Wildwood is located half-way between Canterbury and Herne Bay on the A291, Canterbury Road. The full address is:
Wildwood Trust, Wealden Forest Park, Canterbury Road, Herne CT6 7LQ.
Please note that satellite navigation can sometimes misdirect. On the A291, look out for the large road-side ‘Wildwood’ sign showing a wolf, bison and bear and turn into Wealden Forest Business Park. Follow signs to the park entrance.
What 3 words : cross.reviewed.stilted
By bus Wildwood is on the Stagecoach 600 and 601 bus route between Canterbury and Herne Bay. Ask your bus driver for the Wildwood stop, it stops just outside.
The nearest train stations to Wildwood are at Herne Bay and Sturry, with Wildwood a short bus or taxi journey from either station.