Kent Wildlife Trust

Analysis

Kent Wildlife Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Maidstone. It was registered in March 1965, 61 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00633098). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Kent Wildlife Trust reported income of £9.0m and spending of £8.0m, spending 89% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £8.0m to £9.0m (+12%), an average of +2.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 24%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Kent Wildlife Trust sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (£8.9m), North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust (£9.1m) and Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust (£8.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 48%, charitable activities 39% and trading 13%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.2m. Charitable activities took 80% of spending and raising funds 18%. Reserves of £9.4m would cover about 14 months of spending at that rate. It employed 105 people.