Nature And Landscape

Ranscombe Connect: Community Participation for Wild Plants and Fungi

Ranscombe Farm, Plantlife’s 660-acre nature reserve in Medway, Kent, is a site of national and international botanical significance, rich in botanical and cultural heritage. As we approach 20 years of stewardship in 2026, Plantlife seeks support to place the local community at the heart of Ranscombe’s future. This project will strengthen Ranscombe’s role as a valued green space, a nature-friendly working farm, and a leading example of community conservation. Funding will support a new Senior Participation Officer role, the creation of a local Community Panel, and 15 new volunteer roles that reflect local diversity. An accessibility audit, targeted consultations, and co-developed engagement and interpretation plans will ensure inclusive, meaningful participation - enabling more people to connect with and care for this special landscape. The project’s legacy will be a more resilient, inclusive, and well-connected reserve - and a model to guide similar community conservation initiatives across Plantlife’s UK reserves.