Kent High Weald Partnership

What Kent High Weald Partnership does

Kent High Weald Partnership (KHWP) is a not-for-profit conservation organisation founded in 1991 and hosted by Kent County Council, operating from a base co-located with Bedgebury National Pinetum in Goudhurst, Kent. The organisation employs approximately 10-15 staff and delivers work across three interconnected service areas: conservation (greenspace and nature reserve management, biodiversity and habitat restoration including Great Crested Newt pond schemes, wildlife monitoring, and invasive species control), education (Forest School delivery through the Bright Sparks sub-brand, accredited Level 2 and Level 3 Forest School Leader training, curriculum-linked outdoor education visits at Bedgebury for primary schools, and team-building activities), and wellbeing (nature-based programmes such as Breathe and Bloom, Connect with Nature, Forest Time, Sherwood Shed, and the Monday Allotment Group, primarily accessed through the Live Well Kent referral pathway).

KHWP manages seven nature reserves and greenspaces across the Tunbridge Wells borough and wider Kent on behalf of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and local parish councils, including Barnett's Wood LNR, Sherwood Lake, Cinderhill Woods, Hilbert Woods, Snipe Wood, Southborough Common, and Crane Valley LNR. The organisation participates in Natural England's District Level Licensing scheme for Great Crested Newts and offers LEMP and Biodiversity Net Gain services to developers and landowners. Its technology footprint is light, relying on Microsoft Forms for bookings, iRecord for citizen-science wildlife data, Google Analytics, and WordPress/standard social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube).

Revenue is generated through three streams: grant and project funding (from Natural England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Southborough Town Council, and other public sources), programme fees (education visits starting at £200 per class, Forest School training at £550-£995, and adult team-building at £25-£45 per person), and donations and fundraising (PayPal, Amazon wishlist, TW Lotto). KHWP is not a registered charity and explicitly states all income is reinvested in projects. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with customers and volunteers reached via word-of-mouth, partner referrals (Live Well Kent, schools, parish councils, the Kent Countryside Partnerships network), direct email, and social media. Sub-brands include Bright Sparks Forest School and Bright Sparks Education.

Name

Kent High Weald Partnership

Legal name

Kent High Weald Countryside Partnership

Website

https://khwp.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kent High Weald Partnership is a not-for-profit conservation organisation hosted by Kent County Council, delivering nature reserve management, accredited Forest School education, and nature-based wellbeing programmes across the Tunbridge Wells borough and wider Kent area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM), Replanting, Infilling & Stand Rehabilitation (AFAMACAI)

Keywords

• Conservation services
• Environmental education
• Forest school training
• Nature reserve management
• Wellbeing programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Goudhurst

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant and funding income: KHWP is a not-for-profit organisation hosted by Kent County Council. It relies on grant funding from organisations including Natural England (Great Crested Newt District Level Licensing scheme), Heritage Lottery Fund (now National Heritage Lottery), and Southborough Town Council for project delivery. Funding supports conservation, education, and wellbeing programmes.
2. Programme fees: KHWP charges fees for paid programmes including education visits at Bedgebury (starting at £200 for up to 30 children), team-building activities (£25–£540 depending on group size and format), and Forest School training courses (Level 2 at £550, Level 3 at £995). Fees for corporate volunteering days are charged on a custom basis.
3. Donations and fundraising: KHWP accepts donations via PayPal, purchases from an Amazon wishlist, and support through TW Lotto. These donations support the organisation's conservation and community work. KHWP is not a registered charity; all income is reinvested into projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kent High Weald Partnership is a not-for-profit conservation organisation that connects people and nature through three core service areas: conservation (greenspace and nature reserve management, biodiversity restoration, and habitat work across seven sites in Tunbridge Wells borough), education (Forest School delivery, accredited Level 2 and 3 Forest School Leader training, curriculum-linked outdoor learning at Bedgebury Pinetum, and team-building activities), and wellbeing (nature-based mental health programmes such as Breathe and Bloom, Connect with Nature Online, Forest Time, Sherwood Shed, and Monday Allotment Group). Services are delivered directly by a small in-house team of qualified countryside staff and supported by a large volunteer network.

Product overview

Kent High Weald Partnership is a not-for-profit conservation organization operating as a single unified offering under the KHWP brand, connecting people and nature through three interconnected service areas: Conservation (greenspace and nature reserve management, biodiversity restoration, wildlife monitoring, and environmental projects), Education (Forest School delivery through Bright Sparks, Bedgebury outdoor education visits, team building activities, and accredited Forest School Leader training), and Wellbeing (nature-based programmes including Breathe and Bloom, Connect with Nature Online, Forest Time, Sherwood Shed, and Monday Allotment Group). The organization manages multiple nature reserves across Tunbridge Wells borough including Barnett's Wood, Sherwood Lake and Woodland, Cinderhill Wood, Hilbert Woods, Snipe Wood, Crane Valley, and Southborough Common, supported by corporate volunteering and business partnership services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bright Sparks Forest School: Forest School programme delivered by KHWP at Bedgebury Pinetum and other locations around Tunbridge Wells for children.
• Bright Sparks Education

Products and services

• Bedgebury Outdoor Education Visits Curriculum-linked outdoor learning sessions at Bedgebury National Pinetum for primary school children (Reception through Year 7), covering topics including trees, habitats, seed growth, and map skills. Sessions last approximately 2.5 hours (morning or afternoon) and include free parking and visiting staff/helpers.
• Bright Sparks Forest School Forest School sessions delivered at countryside locations around Tunbridge Wells and at Bedgebury Pinetum, helping children develop confidence, resilience, and communication skills through outdoor learning activities such as fire-lighting, den-building, and craft work.
• Forest School Leader Training Nationally accredited Ofqual RQF qualifications for prospective Forest School leaders at Level 2 (5 days, £550) and Level 3 (8 days, £995), delivered at Bedgebury National Pinetum and endorsed by the Forest School Association. Trainers available for 12 months post-course for consultation and support.
• Bedgebury Team Building Outdoor team-building activities for schools, youth groups, and adults at Bedgebury, including classic team challenges, den building, shelter building, and chair making. Half-day sessions from £225 (up to 30 children) and full-day sessions from £360 (up to 30 children). Adult team-building from £25 per person for the Team Challenge.
• Breathe and Bloom 8-week nature-based wellbeing programme for women, connecting participants with nature through practical activities such as woodwork, natural crafts, gardening, and bushcraft skills at the allotment. Funded by Live Well Kent and Medway and accessed via referral.
• Connect with Nature Online 8-week online course connecting people with nature through weekly group sessions and nature challenges. Participants are referred via the Live Well Kent service.
• Forest Time Outdoor family-focused therapeutic intervention combining Forest School methods with strength-based family support for families experiencing relationship or behavioural difficulties.
• Sherwood Shed Men's Shed initiative providing a practical workshop space for making, repairing, DIY projects, skill-sharing, and social connection for men in the community.
• Monday Allotment Group Weekly community gardening group providing wellbeing benefits through growing, weeding, planting, and crafting in a friendly supportive setting.
• Wildlife Monitors and Citizen Science Community wildlife monitoring initiative enabling local people to record wildlife sightings using the iRecord app or paper forms across designated nature reserves, contributing to local biodiversity data.
• Great Crested Newt Pond Project Pond creation and restoration scheme as part of Natural England's District Level Licensing programme, with Kent Countryside Partnerships (including KHWP) having created or restored over 300 ponds across Kent; KHWP specifically restored and created 24 ponds, with over 50% found to be inhabited by Great Crested Newts.
• Corporate Volunteering Corporate volunteer days providing meaningful practical experiences for company staff while delivering environmental and social impact, including construction projects, planting, and habitat management. Quote-based pricing via [email protected].
• Business Partnership Opportunities Environmental and social project sponsorship, corporate volunteer days, team-building activities, and nature-based health and wellbeing experiences for businesses seeking CSR opportunities.
• LEMP and BNG Services Land Management (LEMP) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) services for developers and landowners, supporting habitat creation, biodiversity improvements, and regulatory compliance.
• Practical Conservation Volunteering Weekly Wednesday and Thursday practical volunteer tasks including coppicing, hedge laying, tree planting, woodland management, meadow management, and construction work on managed greenspaces and nature reserves.
• Conservation Services Greenspace and nature reserve management, biodiversity and habitat restoration, environmental awareness raising, and nature-based solutions to climate change, delivered across seven nature reserves in the Tunbridge Wells borough on behalf of local councils.
• Education Services Forest School programme delivery, leadership training and CPD courses, outdoor education enrichment, and school ground improvements offered to schools and educators across Kent and the Tunbridge Wells borough.
• Wellbeing Services Nature-based wellbeing activities and programmes for adults with mental health needs and learning difficulties, including face-to-face delivery (Breathe and Bloom, Forest Time, Sherwood Shed, Monday Allotment Group) and online delivery (Connect with Nature).
• Volunteer Trainee Conservation Officer Programme 12-month voluntary traineeship providing training in habitat management, volunteer leadership, species identification, and community engagement for individuals seeking a career in conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 ponds created or restored across Kent under the Natural England District Level Licensing scheme for Great Crested Newts
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kent County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP is a not-for-profit conservation organisation hosted by Kent County Council. KCC collects, uses, and is responsible for personal information processed by KHWP. KCC staff support the partnership through governance, data protection (Data Protection Officer: [email protected]), and operational hosting.
• Live Well KentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP delivers nature-based wellbeing programmes (Breathe and Bloom, Connect with Nature, Forest Time) funded through and referred via the Live Well Kent service. Live Well Kent acts as the primary referral pathway for adults with mental health and social care needs accessing KHWP wellbeing services.
• Involve KentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP works alongside Involve Kent as part of the collaborative health and wellbeing partnership delivering nature-based interventions for adults with mental health needs in the Tunbridge Wells area.
• Tunbridge Wells Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP manages greenspaces and nature reserves on behalf of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. TWBC revived the Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom campaign in 2010, with KHWP involved in managing public greenspaces and environmental projects across the borough.
• Town and County Housing FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP partners with Town and County Housing Foundation as part of its collaborative approach to health and wellbeing in the community, likely providing nature-based activities for housing residents.
• Natural EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP participates in the Natural England-led District Level Licensing scheme for Great Crested Newts, creating and restoring ponds across Kent. This is a fully-funded scheme for landowners in Tunbridge Wells borough with suitable sites for pond creation or restoration.
• Southborough Town CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP works closely with Southborough Town Council on the management of Southborough Common following a Heritage Lottery Fund project. The council continues to fund practical management task days with KHWP volunteers. KHWP also manages greenspaces on behalf of other parish councils including Cranbrook and Sissinghurst PC and Matfield and Brenchley PC.
• Kent Countryside Partnerships (CMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP is a member of the Kent Countryside Partnerships network. Together, the Kent Countryside Partnerships have created or restored over 300 ponds in Kent under the Natural England District Level Licensing scheme for Great Crested Newts.
• Live Well Kent and MedwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP's Breathe and Bloom wellbeing programmes are funded by Live Well Kent and Medway. Participants must be referred via the Live Well Kent service to access these programmes.
• Forest School AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP's Forest School training courses are nationally accredited Ofqual RQF qualifications endorsed by the Forest School Association. This accreditation ensures training meets national standards for Forest School leadership.
• Forestry EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP operates education visits, Forest School, and team-building activities at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, which is managed by Forestry England. Bedgebury is the base for KHWP's training programme. KHWP works closely with Forestry England and other site partners to coordinate visitor access.
• University of Sussex – Laboratory for Apiculture and Social InsectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP partnered with the University of Sussex's Laboratory for Apiculture and Social Insects for the Cross Pollination Project (2016–2020), which brought together scientists, gardeners, artists, and communities to grow pollinator-friendly gardens and collect citizen science data on bees in Tunbridge Wells.
• Royal Tunbridge Wells Town ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP supports the Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom campaign, which was revived in 2010 by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum to encourage residents, schools, and businesses to improve the town through flowers, gardens, and wildlife habitats.
• The Southborough SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP partnered with The Southborough Society as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded 'Secrets of Southborough Common' project, which also involved Southborough and High Brooms Amateur Archaeological Society (SHAAS) and Southborough Town Council.
• Southborough and High Brooms Amateur Archaeological Society (SHAAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKHWP partnered with SHAAS as part of the 'Secrets of Southborough Common' Heritage Lottery Fund project to investigate and document the archaeology of Southborough Common alongside practical conservation work.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Forestry England: Government agency managing the nation's public forests. KHWP delivers its programmes at Forestry England's Bedgebury site, and the two are directly comparable in offering outdoor education, Forest School and team-building in woodland settings, though Forestry England operates at national scale.
• The Woodland Trust: UK-wide woodland conservation charity managing extensive free-access woodland estates with active education and community programmes. Comparable mission and engagement model to KHWP, but operates at national scale with paid membership and broader volunteer networks.

Others

• Live Well Kent: Kent-based health and social care referral hub that acts as the primary referral pathway into KHWP's wellbeing programmes. Not a direct competitor but a strategic channel partner whose funding and referral volumes directly affect KHWP's wellbeing programme utilisation.

Direct peers

• Kent Countryside Partnerships: The network of which KHWP is itself a member, comprising similar countryside partnerships across Kent. Operates the joint Natural England District Level Licensing pond scheme (>300 ponds) and shares the same operational model of council-funded greenspace management, education and wellbeing.
• High Weald AONB Partnership: Statutory body managing the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — the landscape in which KHWP operates. Highly comparable as a small partnership delivering conservation, education and community engagement on a defined geographic footprint.
• Kent Wildlife Trust: The county-wide wildlife trust covering Kent, also delivering habitat management, education and community conservation. Comparable as a Kent-based conservation charity operating nature reserves, volunteer programmes and education services, although at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Sussex Wildlife Trust: Sussex-based wildlife trust running nature reserves, education and volunteer programmes. Directly comparable service mix and operating model to KHWP, but serving the adjacent county rather than overlapping geographically.
• Cumbria Wildlife Trust: County wildlife trust running nature reserves, education and volunteer-led conservation. Closely comparable operating model and service mix to KHWP, but serving Cumbria in the north-west rather than Kent.
• Chilterns Conservation Board: Statutory conservation board for the Chilterns AONB delivering conservation, education and community programmes on a defined geographic footprint. Comparable partnership model and service mix to KHWP, though in a different region.
• Surrey Hills Society: Small charity working in the Surrey Hills AONB on landscape conservation, education and community engagement. Comparable scope and operational model to KHWP but anchored in a different county in the south-east.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KentHighWealdCountrysidePartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kent-high-weald-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/_khwp_

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kent High Weald Partnership