On Tuesday, 16th May, to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, Deputy Lieutenant General John Moore-Bick CBE DL, the King’s official representative in East Sussex, planted an oak tree at Bodiam station on the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Also present at the ceremonial tree planting was the Chairman of the Kent & East Sussex Railway, Simon Marsh, General Manager Dr Robin Coombes, invited guests, and members of the railway’s forestry and environment team. The tree is a feathered oak, which was supplied by Coppice Wood and forestry team member Paul Davies.

As well as this oak tree planting, in the last two years the railway’s forestry and environment team have planted about 3,000 trees on railway land. Plans are also in place to plant many more trees, and wildflower meadows to encourage pollinators and to improve wetlands with the overall aim of creating a sustainable nature corridor.

The oak planting coincides with the start of a major ecological survey that the Kent & East Sussex Railway has commissioned for its full 10½-mile route. This is in collaboration with Tenterden Wildlife, following a successful bid for funding to the environmental, heritage and community charity the Janus Foundation.

The Kent Wildlife Trust Consultancy and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust are undertaking the survey. Although its primary focus is on birds, their habitat, and bumble bees, all species are being recorded. Early results have recorded 77 bird species; ten of which are on the British Trust for Ornithology’s Red and Amber lists for highest conservation concern, and a least one rare bee has been recorded.

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is currently responsible for an estimated 95-100 hectares of land, most of which is linear next to its tracks. The railway hopes that, as the saying goes that ‘from little acorns, mighty oaks do grow’, its increased focus on wildlife habitats on either side of its tracks and around its stations will grow a new army of visitors and supporters, keen to appreciate the natural world as well as its heritage trains.

Kent & East Sussex Railway Chairman, Simon Marsh, said: “We hope that this King’s oak will not only represent a long-lasting memory of this historic event of our times but will also be a symbol of the positive contribution we wish to make to the environment in which we operate.

“We are very conscious of our responsibilities as they relate to environmental sustainability and are constantly seeking ways to contribute to this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including caring for the natural habitats that exist for wildlife along the line.”

Chair of Tenterden Wildlife, Richard Masefield, who was a guest at the ceremony, said: “With such encouraging evidence (from the survey), Tenterden Wildlife are hoping that adjoining landowners in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and in the Rother Valley will also benefit from Government grants, in effect to ‘widen’ this already important wildlife corridor, with the addition of enhanced wildflower meadows, planted woodland and managed wetland on their own land. A very exciting prospect!”