If you have strolled down the Parkwood path recently you may have noticed the Landscape and Grounds Team (L&G) busy in the woods.

In winter there are number of habitat management jobs the L&G team undertake to support wildlife on campus; increase the biodiversity of plant life in our woodlands; and keep the campus looking great.

During each winter season, the team carry out coppicing on the Canterbury campus as part of our woodland management plan.

The practice of coppicing can be dated back to the Stone Age and is the traditional woodland management technique of repeatedly felling trees at the base and allowing them to regrow. On campus we usually wait around 15 years for a tree to regrow before we fell it again.

We work on defined areas within our woodlands, coppicing one section each winter, then moving onto the next section a year later. This means we end up with a very diverse range of ages in our trees across our three areas of woodland – Parkwood, Brotherhood wood and Bluebell wood. This winter we are coppicing in a section of Parkwood.

Coppicing was traditionally done in order to provide a sustainable supply of timber, however this is not why we coppice at Kent. Our primary goal for coppicing is to improve the health of our trees and create additional benefits for other wildlife. Coppicing is a human intervention that somewhat simulates the act of retrenching (when trees naturally drop their branches to extend their life) which helps our trees live longer within our woodlands.

By removing sections of canopy we are also increasing the amount of light that can reach the woodland floor. This allows other species of vegetation that are dormant in the soil seed bank the chance to grow and increase the diversity of that area. This increase in vegetation increases the amount of habitat and forage opportunities for insects, birds and mammals.

When we coppice, we do not clear fell the sections, instead we ensure that very mature trees are left in place, species such as oak and ash are left, and we leave a proportion of ivy, holly and bramble to ensure there is cover and forage for other species. We also leave any newly emerging vegetation and any deadwood we find which is useful for insects.

Whilst coppicing we also take the opportunity to remove any invasive vegetation from the area and collect any litter we uncover.

This year the L&G team are also creating some dead hedges around the site. A dead hedge is a barrier made from woody cuttings, that is woven between vertical stakes. They are utilising some of the coppiced material for this.

Dead hedges are great habitat features support foraging, nesting and providing small mammals and birds somewhere to hide from predators. They are also a useful alternative to traditional fencing.

Dead hedging.

For more information on what is happening for wildlife on campus please visit our website. You can also follow along with the Landscape and Grounds Team’s work on their Instagram.

The Global and Lifelong Learning team, along with the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), held events to bring together our (mainly) international students staying on or near campus over the winter break. 

Christmas craft and chat, 18 December  

In mid-December, students came together to create Christmas decorations and cards in Templeman Library. It was a great opportunity for students to make friends and build their network with others who were also around over the winter break. It was also a chance to embrace being creative, get in the festive mood and enjoy a free hot drink from the Library Cafe!  

New Year’s Dinner, 6 January 

Our annual New Year’s Dinner saw our international students enjoy a 2-course meal in Rutherford Dining Hall, as well as games such as Giant Jenga, Tic Tac Toe, Curling, board games and pool.

Thanks to Kent Sport for lending some of the games and to members of ISAB for helping host the event and for arranging the activities. There were plenty of laughs and smiles all round.  

It was also great to celebrate the New Year with some of Kent Students’ Union Officers and for them to hear directly about the international student experience.  

One student let us know – “I wanted to email you to tell you that the new years dinner was very nice and me and all of my flatmates that came really enjoyed it: the food quality was really good, it was all home made and fresh, and the activities were fun too :)”.

Support and events for international students 

Our next event is our January Global Hangout on Wednesday 22 January, where we continue to celebrate the New Year with a range of craft and other activities. Kent Sport will be present with many more exciting games, and there will be free food and performances from the winner of the Cultural Showcase, and even a Chinese Ribbon Dance as we head towards Lunar New Year!  Sign up for your free ticket.  

And look out for WorldFest, our celebration of cultural diversity at Kent, launching on 24 Feb 2025! 

See more support and events for international students. 

It’s the start of the Spring term! Welcome back and a huge welcome to our new students starting in January. Keep reading to find out what’s on this week.

Monday 13 January: Grad schemes and karaoke

Unsure about how to find or apply for a grad scheme? Join this online session all about grad schemes which will explain what they are, tips to get one and alternative routes.

Enjoy some karaoke at the weekly Karaoke @ K Bar event. Come along and enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with music and camaraderie.

Tuesday 14 January: Careers events

On Tuesday there’s lots on to help you get career focused. Clarify your career goals with the help of a mentor (online session), go to a CV and cover letter workshop in Canterbury or Medway, or if working abroad sounds good to you, join this thinking of working abroad online session.

Wednesday 15 January: Medway Welcome Fair and introduction to university studies webinar

New and returning students are invited to join the Medway Welcome Fair on Wednesday to meet student groups, university teams and more! Explore a diverse array of student societies, discover local services, and learn about campus resources. After the Welcome Fair, stick around for Sing it Loud Karaoke at The Deep End.

Just starting at Kent? If you are new to higher education or returning to study after some time, join this introduction to university studies webinar to help you get on the right track.

Thursday 16 January: Short-term and exchange student webinar, fun activities and alcohol and drug support drop in

If you’re a new short-term or exchange student, this webinar from the Skills for Academic Success team is for you. Learn what to expect in terms of UK academic culture and conventions, as well as writing formats, references and more.

Enjoy some chill out time with the ResLife Ambassadors in DG-01 in the Templeman Library with boardgames, Nintendo Switch and puzzles to choose from.

Are you worried about your or a friend’s drug or alcohol use? On Thursday, there’s a With You Kent drop-in drug and alcohol service where you can have a confidential chat and get support.

At Medway you can join a Crafternoon at The Hub  where you can paint a plant pot or pebble. It’s an opportunity to chat, share advice and connect with others.

On Thursday evening the Pop n Soul choir is back and new members are welcome! It is open to students, staff and the local community and there are no auditions and no need to read music. Just come along and enjoy singing as a group.

Friday 17 January: Academic CV support and cinema night

Are you a PhD candidate who is an aspiring lecturer or researcher? Join this online session for PhD students about how to write an academic CV.

Come together with the ResLife Ambassadors for a sleepover themed cinema night at the Lupino, Canterbury campus. Enjoy free hot chocolate and snacks while you watch a sleepover classic. The film will be decided by a vote on the day out of Mean Girls, Clueless and Legally Blonde.

See all student events

The Medway Engagement Support team would like to remind you that we are here to provide you with support and guidance if you need any assistance during your studies. Please do get in touch with us or book a support meeting (online or in-person) if you require any support.

If you are experiencing any extenuating circumstances that are preventing you from fully engaging with your studies, please do get in touch. Our team will be able to offer you information, guidance, and support. For your reference,  see helpful information and guidance about the University’s extenuating circumstances procedures.  You can also contact your Academic Advisor and the Skills for Academic Success Team (SAS) if you require any additional support during your studies.

As part of our role, we monitor your attendance in accordance with the University’s Student Attendance and Engagement Policy.  If you are unable to attend a timetabled teaching event, please ensure that you report your absence via Presto.  You should also contact your teaching staff directly regarding your missed lectures/seminars to catch-up on any work missed.

We would also like to highlight the University’s Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) service that you may wish to access for additional support. The Medway SSW team are located on the First Floor of the Medway Building and are available Monday to Friday 9:00 – 17:00. You can contact the service via email or via telephone on 01634 888474.

We hope the above information is helpful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Music Performance Scholar Heather is a unique student, balancing her studies with performing and teaching folk music, as well as excelling in hockey and other sports. A perhaps unlikely pairing of passions, but she makes it work harmoniously! Hear from Stand-out Scholar Heather:

“I’m Heather Moss. I study Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Kent and have just started my second year. I am a sports fanatic, playing mainly hockey at Uni but also running, swimming, and going to the gym in my spare time. However, I am also a Folk Flute Musician. This has taken me all over the country, teaching workshops and tunes to many young people. A fun fact about myself is that I have been attending folk festivals since the year I was born!”

Tell us about the Folkshop group and your Folk-filled summer.

“I started Folkshop last year, about two months into Uni, not knowing what to expect from it. It started off with just a few people turning up but now has expanded into about 8 of us! The main difference between Folkshop and other music groups at the Uni is that I teach the music by ear rather than with sheet music which has been a new experience for the folk group members. We have just come back from playing our first professional gig at a Tenterden folk festival, which was an amazing experience! I hope to continue expanding Folkshop and have some new opportunities regarding folk music over the next couple of years.

“My folk-infused summer was a hectic, crazy but amazing opportunity! The summer started when I stewarded at Ely Folk Festival, helping at the box office and also playing in many different sessions throughout the weekend. Then Sidmouth Folk Festival followed this, which is a weeklong festival! I was a core tutor running youth music workshops, which happened daily and concluded in the participants performing all the tunes that we had taught them in a performance at the manor pavilion.

Then next stop was Folk East, where I helped steward on the youth tent which included helping in all the youth music workshops and other activities. I then attended Halsway Manor Advanced Youth Summer School for a week where I learnt so many different skills from new tunes to how to set up my own PA system and creating our own tunes. This week was led by some amazing and very talented musicians in the folk industry. I then attended Towersey Folk festival where I led a youth music workshop every day which involved teaching the participants tunes and arrangements and ended in a performance to the public.

My summer concluded with me running a two-day folk music residential alongside Finn Collinson. We taught youth participants, who had never played folk music before. Teaching them the basics of folk music and all the different styles of folk tunes.”

 What advice would you give to other students?

“My advice to other students is to go for any opportunity you have. I never imagined when I started at the University of Kent to set up and run my own folk group, but here I am running this amazing group. It has given me some great opportunities and I have made some wonderful friends. So even if it might seem scary, give it a go!”

What are your plans for the next year?

“Next year I will hope to have another crazy, folk-infused summer, attending all the same festivals as last year. I am also hoping to go abroad and attend an Ethno world music camp. This is where participants from many different countries meet and teach different tunes that originate from their own country (i.e., folk music). Then of course I will come back to Uni next year and hopefully finish my degree and live my crazy sport/music Uni life!

I will also continue to run Folkshop for another year. I am looking into maybe running my own folk music festival along with some other friends from around the area of Kent as unfortunately Tenterden folk festival is not happening again. I will also hopefully find someone to continue the tradition of folk music at Kent even once I’m gone!”

Do you know an inspirational student or student group? Let us know.

Learn more about the Kent Stars campaign.

From 1 January 2025, the Medway Building opening times will be 08:00 to 18:00 hours, Monday to Sunday.  

Outside of these times, the Medway Building will be card access only from 18:00 to 22:00 hours. After 22:00 until 08:00 is out of hours, and the Medway Building should be empty. 

The Medway Campus, shared with Greenwich and Christ Church, will still have 24/7 security patrols and CCTV on site. However, the Walking Taxi Service will not be available at Medway during out of hours times. 

You can still contact security on the same number but out of hours you will need to go to the Gate House on the Medway campus (on Central Avenue).  

If students, including KMTV students, need access to the Medway Building out of hours, this should be directly associated with your studies and agreed with your academic supervisor. Once you have staff approval, you will need to email security@kent.ac.uk in advance and activate the SafeZone app when in the Medway Building.