With more than 300 native animals to see in 40 acres of woodland, Wildwood, at Herne Common, near Herne Bay, is well worth a visit at any time. But did you know how green the site is? Here are 10 reasons the park, run by conservation charity the Wildwood Trust, should be on your list of eco-friendly destinations.

1. Energy

The park is powered by the large 20kw wind turbine, which stands near the car park. It started generating renewable energy in 2008. Wildwood makes every effort to be completely powered by sustainable sources. Sometimes when there is no sun or wind, the park has to rely on the national grid. When it creates more power than is needed it goes into the grid. It is set in ancient woodland, traditionally managed by coppicing. The chestnut wood is used for the railings around the park and the extra wood – a natural, free fuel which is completely sustainable – is used to run wood stoves. The site also has solar thermal systems for hot water, and solar electric panels.

2. Learning

Wildwood Trust’s courses give hands-on experience of conservation. You can learn to identify mammals from tracks and signs, and be instructed in how to survey for our smallest mammals. See our story on the right for details of what’s coming up this spring.

3. Oil

All the used cooking oil from Wildwood’s restaurant is sent to a local company to make bio-diesel.

4. Food

Many of Wildwood’s animals dine on supermarket leftovers collected daily from local stores as well as Canterbury’s Goods Shed farmers’ market and the Thanet Earth greenhouse complex. Waste animal food is composted.

5. Recycling

Many of the buildings and enclosures at Wildwood, such as the new conservation building and aviary have been built using recycled materials. These materials have included timber, tiles, telegraph poles and internal fittings. Local firms supplied unwanted timber, including damaged sheds which went into the build.

6. Conservation

Each of the animals at Wildwood is linked to a conservation programme so that every species in captivity there is working to conserve its wild cousins (except those that have been rescued, or are very common in the wild). This is either by helping scientists understand more about the needs of these animals in the wild, or by practical work like conservation grazing. As a registered charity, Wildwood takes part in conservation programmes of many native species, such as the water vole and hazel dormouse. Its breeding programme with the red squirrel has ensured that the squirrel population in the Welsh island of Anglesey is safeguarded as when fully grown, the squirrels are transported to the island to live wild.

7. Conservation Grazing

Aims to create semi-natural nature reserves managed by large herbivores such as deer, konik horses and highland cattle. The diversity of many British habitats is a direct result of the grazing habits of large herbivores that inhabited Britain after the last Ice Age. The koniks – Polish for wild horse – are hardy animals that live well on wetlands, their grazing encouraging a wider variety of plants and invertebrates.

8. Go Carbon Neutral

Every time you travel to Wildwood your car emits carbon into the atmosphere. Wildwood is asking all its members to contribute an additional £1 per month to their monthly membership fee to offset the carbon they produce on their journeys. Wildwood will help conserve nature reserves, where the carbon produced as you travel to Wildwood will be locked back into nature.

9. Beavers

Wildwood has brought in beavers from Norway and Bavaria. They are now living on a 130-acre wetland at Ham Fen, harvesting the trees and plants, raising the water table with dams and enriching the wetland habitat for other endangered species, including the otter, water vole, great crested newt and wetland birds. This five-year habitat management trial is being monitored by Oxford University.

10. Half-price entry for cyclists

If you can make your way to Wildwood by bike, you can enjoy half-price entry. Cyclists are always welcome but the park advises children do not cycle as Wildwood is only accessible along the A291 which is a very busy road with no cycle paths. Bikes can be locked up outside the shop. The trust is working with Canterbury City Council and The Blean Initiative to make a cycle path that links Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay to Wildwood.

WILDWOOD EVENTS

Every month

Keeper for a Day: See what it is like to be a zoo-keeper. Includes food prep, enclosure work and animal enrichment. £149, including refreshments, T-shirt and photo. Call for available dates.

Monday, April 2 to Thursday, April 5

Easter Animal Craft Workshop: Make hares, rabbits and chicks to take home. Daily 11.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm, £2 per person, one adult free per family. Drop in.

Thursday, April 5

Frog Moon Night Tour: See the animals under the moonlight on a guided night tour to coincide with the full moon. 7.30pm to 10pm, £25 each includes a hot meal at 7.30pm, 10 years and above.

Tuesday, April 10

Back to the Stone Age: All-day event in two parts to discover life in the Stone Age. 11am to 12.30pm, learn Stone Age skills in the woods. 2pm to 3.30pm, make beads, shell amulets and leather pouches. Seven years and above, £3 per person, one adult free per family. Must book.

Saturday, April 28

Foraging Day: Discover which plants are edible (and taste a few) during a woodland walk 2pm to 3pm, Free. Must book.

Sunday, April 29

Leapers and Creepers: What’s the difference between snakes and slow-worms, or lizards and newts? Learn about reptiles and amphibians with our experts. 11am to 3pm, free. Drop in.

Sunday, May 6

See animals under the moonlight on a guided night tour of Wildwood. The event coincides with the full moon. Tours run from 8pm to 10pm, arrive at 7.30pm for food. Costs £25.

Wednesday, August 8 and 22

Children can find out what it is like to look after wild animals at these junior zoo keeper workshops. These are short, half or whole-day courses according to age. Costs £50 per child.

Wildwood is at Herne Common, Herne Bay, CT6 7LQ

Online:www.wildwoodtrust.orgCall: 01227 712 111