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Scottish wildcat kitten

A rare Scottish wildcat kitten carries the hopes of its species on its tiny shoulders.

The male kitten was born to two pure bred Scottish wildcats, said to be Britain's rarest mammal, at Wildwood Discovery Park, near Canterbury, Kent.

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The newborn kitten with mother Flora (2007)

Its parents, Hamish and Flora, are among only 400 Scottish wildcats left in the world and scientists warn they could become extinct within our lifetime.

Wildcats have been resident in Britain for more than two million years, sharing the land with the mammoth, cave bear and cave lion long before humans found their way through Europe's forests.

The youngster explores his surroundings

After centuries of persecution, deforestation and competition from introduced species, the numbers of Scottish wildcats have plummetted.

The kitten's birth will help boost the increasingly important captive population in the UK, which could save the species from future extinction.

"The kitten was born earlier this month but it is only now that the proud mother has brought the kitten out to meet the public."

Originally a forest dweller, the Scottish wildcat is 50 per cent larger than a domestic cat and preys mainly on rodents and small mammals but also on birds, insects, reptiles and fish.

With extinction a possibility as soon as this decade, the next few years will be key in deciding whether the Scottish wildcat will survive.

BBC CBeebies SPRINGWATCH ON AIR FROM WILDWOOD

The fourth Springwatch series hits the BBC TV screens next week. While, presenters Bill Oddie and Kate Humble will be broadcasting the show live at Fishleigh estate Devon, The junior version of Springwatch will be coming to you from Wildwood, Kent's Unique Woodland Discover Park.

CBeebie presenters, Jelly and Justine, will be broadcasting five nature report specials from Wildwood. You can watch Jelly's special Nature reports on CBeebies and BBC2 starting on the 4th June.

Jelly & Justine have made 5 nature report specials about different animals you find in Wildwood. These where our wild boar piglets, badgers, our baby red squirrels, some water voles from our breeding programme and Britain's most adorable animal the dormice.

Visitors to the Canterbury Based Conservation Centre over the last few weeks, especially children, have been delighted to discover their favourite television presenters, lurking in the undergrowth followed by a camera crew.

CBeebies Springwatch is a family event; it aims to get children out and about looking at nature, encouraging them to find out about the world about them.

Justin Fletcher, who is very knowledgeable about wildlife and runs his own tortoise sanctuary, has agreed to become a Patron of Wildwood Trust and promised to visit us again. So keep an eye out for him or his alter ego 'Mr Tumble' as you walk around the park.

Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at www.wildwoodtrust.org or telephone 0871 7820081.

For more info on CBeebies Springwatch, go to the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/springwatch/

WILDWOOD LEADS THE WAY TO GREEN TRANSPORT

We have launched our green plan to cut carbon emissions of visitors to Wildwood. We are offering FREE entry to children, students and senior citizens who travel to us by bus or bike. This scheme has the added benefit of attracting people who do not own a car, often the most disadvantaged in our community.

A valid bus ticket is needed to present to our reception staff to take advantage of this offer.

We will be launching the scheme at a media event on the morning of the 27th March.

Wildwood have put together a bold plan to cut our net carbon emissions to zero by the end of 2007.

We are have been shortlisted for a grant by Canterbury City Council that will demonstrate renewable technology to 100,000s of Canterbury residents and school children. Proposals include demonstrating all forms of renewable energy at the Wildwood site, to include woodburners in the restaurant and new visitor centre, a 20kW wind turbine & solar hot water for the loos.

We are developing our own project to lock away carbon from the atmosphere. This process called carbon offsetting will allow us to combat the effects of global warming. Funds will be directed into projects restoring and growing new wildlife areas. Businesses wishing to offer carbon offsetting to their customers should contact myself at the Wildwood Office. Visitor & members will be able to offset the carbon emissions from their cars when they visit Wildwood.

Wildwood are currently calculating average carbon use of visitors and members

Night Tours

• FEEL the wolves tracking you silently through the birch woods like silver shadows on silent feet
• HEAR the otters splashing in their pool
• SPOT the badgers foraging under the oak trees

ALL UNDER THE MOON AT WILDWOOD!

Why not come on a tour by moonlight (clouds allowing) and experience the woodland and the animals that live here at a time when the darkness belongs to them.

Attendance: Minimum - 15; Maximum - 30

Age restriction: Minimum - 10 years old.

Cost: £15 per person

Booking: please use our Booking form and send it back to us:

Night tour booking form - pdf document (142k)

Night tour booking form - Word Document (83k)

For more information contact the education department on 01227 712111 or email: anne@wildwoodtrust.org
                       

Night tours are open to anyone over the age of 10 years (children must be accompanied by a responsible adult). They are scheduled to last approximately 2 hours and, from April to October, include feeding our family of badgers (please note: our badgers are reluctant to leave their sett on winter nights, so their appearance cannot be guaranteed).
           
Places MUST be booked in advance by completing and returning a booking form, together with full payment of £15 per person - unfortunately, telephone bookings cannot be accepted. Places will be allocated on receipt of a completed booking form and payment, strictly on a first come, first served basis. While we will make every effort to fit you in on your chosen date, we may have to offer you an alternative if your preferred date is fully booked. Tours will run if there are more than 15 people booked up to a maximum of 30. If a tour should have to be cancelled for any reason, we will contact you to reschedule. Please make sure we have a daytime and an on the night emergency contact  number for you.

To read some of our documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is free and can be downloaded from www.adobe.comAdobe site.