Abandoned golf course is transformed into wildlife haven to help businesses safeguard nature - Kent Wildlife Trust

• Kent-based GrowUp Farms becomes the first approved buyer of carbon units generated by the Heather Corrie Vale wilding project.
• The reserve, a former abandoned golf course in the Darenth Valley, is a project certified under the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate, a not-for-profit natural climate solution. For which Kent Wildlife Trust is a Trusted Deliverer.
• GrowUp Farms has been confirmed as an Approved Buyer under the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate following an assessment of GrowUp Farms’ long-term plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Purchasing Wilder Carbon units will help GrowUp Farms to fight climate change and boost biodiversity.

A nature reserve in the Darenth Valley which is helping businesses safeguard nature has reached a milestone as Kent-based vertical farm and salad producer, GrowUp Farms, become the first approved buyer of carbon units generated from the site.

The once abandoned golf course, Heather Corrie Vale, is at the heart of a landmark initiative developed by Kent Wildlife Trust – Wilder Carbon. The project aims to rapidly scale up native habitat restoration in the UK offering carbon units to approved buyers.

Heather Corrie Vale is a 50-hectare site situated in the Darenth Valley, in an extremely valuable part of the Nature Recovery Network for Kent. It currently consists of grassland, heathland and scrub habitats that have low floral biodiversity, however, through the process of wilding and the use of grazing animals the site will be transformed – locking up carbon and providing space for nature to thrive. The restoration of the site is funded by carbon finance meaning Approved Buyers directly contribute to a project with demonstrable positive outcomes for nature and climate.