KNG

21/06/2026

My son Jacob is taking on the Race for Life challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK , helping to fund life-saving cancer research. Race for Life has raised hundreds of millions of pounds for cancer research over the years and continues to make a real difference to people and families affected by cancer.

Jacob has just finished his A Levels, recently passed his driving test, and has an exciting future ahead of him in graphic design and art. I'm incredibly proud of the young man he has become.

Many of you will already know Jacob through his work with Kettering Nature Group. He designed our new logo, has contributed to our website and social media assets, and is always willing to lend a hand when something needs doing. More importantly, he is simply the sort of person who gives his time and energy to help others whenever he can.

It would be fantastic to see him absolutely smash his fundraising target. If you're able to spare a few pounds, every donation will help support Cancer Research UK's work and would mean a great deal to Jacob.

You can support him here:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/jacobs-race-for-life-3274687656?fbclid=IwY2xjawSk-X1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR6M-30KnzcVR3eWNkU8yqd4xLVH4L1gLzw5nlEVEIBBU-YVr9FC7paEB5ooug_aem_3nMMZ40oq5sQL_r5L7xQBg

Thank you.

Jacob Riley

Cancer is happening right now, which is why I'm taking part in a Race for Life Pretty Muddy to raise money and save lives. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, so please sponsor ...

20/06/2026

Did you know that KNG is a Community Interest Company (CIC)?

We are often asked what that means, how we are funded, and whether people can still volunteer.

A Community Interest Company is a business that exists to benefit the community. Unlike a traditional company, profits cannot simply be distributed to shareholders. Instead, they must be reinvested into the organisation's objectives and activities.

For KNG, those objectives are centred around nature recovery, environmental education, community participation and the creation of healthier, more resilient places for both people and wildlife.

So how does KNG make money?

While grants and sponsorship remain important, our long-term focus is on delivering professional environmental services and commissioned projects.

We are actively pursuing larger commissions from developers, local authorities, parish and town councils, academy trusts, schools, NHS trusts, housing providers and other organisations seeking to improve biodiversity, strengthen community engagement and deliver meaningful environmental outcomes.

A key part of this work is KNG's Civic Ecological Infrastructure Programme (CEIP).

The Civic Ecological Infrastructure Programme is built on a simple principle: nature recovery is not just about habitats. It is about creating the infrastructure that allows communities and wildlife to thrive together.

Just as towns invest in roads, schools, utilities and public spaces, they should also invest in ecological infrastructure. This includes habitats, species recovery projects, environmental education, citizen science, community stewardship, green corridors, monitoring programmes and long-term management.

Through CEIP, KNG helps organisations identify opportunities, design projects, engage communities and deliver practical environmental improvements that generate measurable ecological, educational and social benefits.

Alongside our consultancy and project delivery work, we also develop practical conservation infrastructure and engagement packages that communities can purchase and deliver themselves.

One example is our Swift Streets kits.

Each Basic Swift Streets Kit includes: (we also have kits for other species, and communities)

• 12 self-assembly swift nest boxes
• Swift attraction callers
• Installation guidance
• Surveying and monitoring protocols
• Recording templates
• Community engagement materials
• Educational resources
• Volunteer recruitment materials
• Project planning tools
• Monitoring and reporting frameworks

A range of optional bolt-on services is also available, including:

• Additional swift boxes and callers
• KNG-led walks and guided events
• Talks and presentations
• School engagement sessions
• Volunteer training workshops
• Survey support and monitoring advice
• Full KNG installation services
• Ongoing project mentoring and technical support

Using our kits, communities are able to engage far more people in conservation and species recovery projects than would be possible through the installation of nest boxes alone.

Creating new nesting opportunities is important, but lasting conservation success depends on people understanding, valuing and actively supporting wildlife. Our programmes are designed to encourage participation, build local ownership and create long-term stewardship of nature.

Swift Street Kits are just one of many kits we are able to supply to communities to allow them to have all the information, guidance and proven methodologies needed for a successful project.

Can people still volunteer?

Absolutely.

Volunteers remain an important part of many KNG projects and there will always be opportunities for people to get involved. Becoming a CIC has not changed that. What it has done is provide a professional structure that allows us to develop larger projects, secure commissions and build a sustainable organisation capable of delivering environmental improvements at scale.

Does KNG employ anyone?

Not currently.

However, one of our long-term ambitions is to create skilled local employment within the environmental sector. By securing larger commissions and developing sustainable income streams, we hope to create future opportunities that allow talented people to work professionally in nature recovery, environmental education and community engagement.

KNG exists because we believe nature recovery should not be something that happens to communities. It should be something communities help to create.

For information about our Civic Ecological Infrastructure Programme, Swift Streets packages or partnership opportunities, please contact [email protected].

20/06/2026

Yesterday afternoon I drove over to Northampton General Hospital to visit our Forrest Courtyard project. It's looking good, despite the hot weather. I gave it a good long soak while I was there and measured up for the next phase - a staff and community planting day towards the end of summer.
Then, I drove over to the Leisure Village to do a spot of community clean up - initial clearing of the overgrown alleyway at Abbotts Close. I was joined by Lee Watkiss and I think we made an improvement. The plan is to head back in a few weeks to trim back again and begin the process of digging up these stubborn brambles - some of which have 2" thick stems!
Then we'll rotavate the site and begin working with the commumity to transform it into a space for wildlife and people - one of many planned community nature spaces being led by KNG over the next year.

KNG
Kettering Town Council
Love Kettering
Nene Rivers Trust
New Gap Charitable Trust
Lee Watkiss

14/06/2026

Phase 1 of the Forrest Courtyard project at Northampton General Hospital is now complete.

Massive shout out to todays volunteer, John for a mammoth shift!

Over the past few days, a previously neglected courtyard has been transformed into a vibrant, nature-filled space designed for both people and wildlife. New trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering perennials have been planted throughout the site, creating the framework for a garden that will continue to grow, mature and develop over the coming years. I have to say, the plants from Ise Garden Centre were amazing quality as always, and the folks at the Garden Centre were very helpful in selecting them (and loading them - thanks Callum!)

This project is one of Kettering Nature Group's Community Nature Spaces, delivered through our Civic Ecological Infrastructure Partnership model.

The idea is simple. Just as communities invest in roads, buildings and utilities, we also need to invest in ecological infrastructure. The habitats, green spaces and nature-rich environments that support biodiversity, improve wellbeing and make places more resilient. Through partnership working, organisations can help create lasting environmental assets that benefit both people and wildlife.

Forrest Courtyard is one such asset. Located within Northampton General Hospital, it has been designed as a biophilic space, bringing nature into the heart of a healthcare setting through colour, scent, seasonal interest and opportunities for wildlife.
The planting has been carefully designed to provide interest throughout the seasons whilst supporting a wide range of wildlife. Lavender, thyme, salvias, foxgloves, verbena, campanula, achillea, ox-eye daisies and other nectar-rich flowers will provide valuable resources for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Grasses introduce movement and structure, whilst shrubs and the flowering cherry tree create a sense of enclosure, seasonal change and visual interest.

Alongside the perennial planting, a colourful annual display has been created outside the Breast Screening Unit entrance. Whilst annuals offer less long-term ecological value than the surrounding perennial scheme, they provide immediate colour and visual interest, helping to create a brighter and more welcoming environment for patients attending appointments whilst the wider courtyard planting establishes.

Importantly, this is not the end of the project.
Later this year we will return for Phase 2, working alongside hospital staff to install raised planters and additional plug plants. While the physical transformation of the courtyard is now largely complete, Phase 2 is about something equally important: ownership.

Our experience has shown that people are far more likely to care for, value and champion a space when they have helped to create it. By involving staff in the final stage of the project, we hope to strengthen the connection between people and place, ensuring that the courtyard becomes not simply a garden within the hospital grounds, but a shared space that staff feel proud to have helped shape.
We are incredibly grateful to Northampton General Hospital for comissioning it, and to Ise Garden Centre for supplying an excellent selection of plants.
We look forward to seeing how the courtyard develops and the gaps fill in over the months and years ahead.


Kettering Town Council
Love Kettering
North Northamptonshire Council
BBC Northamptonshire
Northants Telegraph
Clare Topping

13/06/2026

I think the time has come for KNG to begin seriously seriously considering purchasing a van!

This evening my car is carrying what appears to be a small garden centre.

Every seat is covered in plants. There are shrubs where passengers ought to be. Bamboo canes are threaded through the cabin. Boxes of perennials are stacked from floor to roof. And this is only about half of the plants for the Forrest Courtyard project at Northampton General Hospital.

Earlier today I was at the courtyard carrying out the final preparations ready for planting. The beds are now cleared, the site is ready, and tomorrow the first plants will start arriving.

This afternoon's visit to Ise Garden Centre added lavender, foxgloves, campanulas, echinacea, grasses, shrubs and a host of other species that will soon be finding their new home in the courtyard.

The Forrest Courtyard project has been months in the planning. Over the coming days, this space at Northampton General Hospital will begin its transformation into a rich, nature-filled courtyard designed for both people and wildlife. Through planting, colour, scent and seasonal interest, the project aims to create a biophilic space where patients, visitors and staff can experience the benefits of being surrounded by nature.

Projects like this are never really about the plants themselves. They are about creating places. Places that feel calmer. Places that feel more welcoming. Places where a patient can sit for a few minutes, a member of staff can take a break, or a visitor can find a moment of respite amongst flowers, birds and pollinating insects.

For now, though, I'm mostly admiring the fact that a Vauxhall Insignia can apparently hold far more plants than any reasonable person would expect. (Almost 100 in this load!)

Tomorrow morning, the first load heads to site.

08/06/2026

A forgotten alleyway. An unused corner. A neglected patch of land.

What if these spaces could become something beautiful?

KNG has recently been asked to develop plans to tramsform a neglected alleyway, creating a wildlife-rich community space that demonstrates how even the smallest urban areas can play a role in nature recovery.

The project is being explored as part of the Community Nature Spaces Programme, a vision to identify and transform overlooked spaces across the town into places where both wildlife and people can thrive.

We're now looking for other potential locations.

Do you know of an alleyway, small green space, unused verge, forgotten corner or neglected pocket of land that could be brought to life for nature and the community?

Some of the most exciting opportunities are often the places nobody notices anymore.

If you know of a space with potential, we'd love to hear from you. Post a photo in the comments, send us a message, or email [email protected] with the location and a brief description.

Together, we can create a network of community nature spaces across Kettering, one small space at a time.



KNG
Kettering Town Council
Love Kettering

08/06/2026

Volunteer Survey Leads Wanted

Do you love wildlife? Would you like to play a leading role in helping us better understand and protect nature across Kettering and the surrounding area?

Kettering Nature Group (KNG) CIC is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to lead a number of exciting wildlife survey programmes.

We're currently looking for people interested in leading:

Bat Surveys
Amphibian Surveys
Harvest Mouse Surveys
Bird Surveys

As a Survey Lead, you'll help coordinate and grow your chosen survey programme. This could involve identifying and securing new survey sites, recruiting and supporting volunteers, organising survey sessions, collecting records and helping ensure valuable wildlife data is submitted to the appropriate recording schemes.

Many of our survey sites already have permissions in place, giving you the opportunity to focus on building a strong volunteer team and making a real contribution to local conservation.

This is a fantastic opportunity to:

Develop your wildlife surveying skills
Gain experience leading conservation projects
Meet like-minded people
Help build our understanding of local wildlife
Make a genuine difference for nature in our area

Whether you're already experienced or looking to take the next step in your wildlife journey, we'd love to hear from you.

All survey programmes operate under the KNG banner, with Survey Leads reporting directly to the Director and playing an important role in shaping KNG's growing conservation work.

If you'd like to get involved, please send us a message or email us at [email protected]

Together, we can build a stronger picture of wildlife across Kettering and the surrounding area and create a wilder future for our communities and local green spaces.

KNG
Kettering Town Council
Nene Rivers Trust
New Gap Charitable Trust
North Northamptonshire Council
Northants Telegraph
BBC Northamptonshire
Love Kettering

03/06/2026

🦡 Introducing: SETT GUARDIANS 🦡

As part of Volunteers’ Week, Northamptonshire Badger Group is launching a brand new volunteer initiative called Sett Guardians.

We are looking for volunteers across Northamptonshire to help us monitor badger setts in their local area.

The role is simple but incredibly important:
✔ Visit allocated setts around 2-4 times a year (this can be in an area you already visit or live)
✔ Record signs of activity & take photos
✔ Report any concerns or disturbance
✔ Help update & build long-term knowledge of badgers across the county

You do not need previous experience, just enthusiasm, reliability and an interest in helping badgers. Guidance and support will be provided.

By becoming a Sett Guardian, you could play a direct role in helping protect badgers and their homes.

Interested?
Email [email protected] to find out more.

31/05/2026

A huge thank you to Jacob Riley for creating our new KNG logo.

Our previous logo has served us incredibly well over the last four years. It perfectly reflected who we were as an organisation and has been with us through countless conservation projects, community events, wildlife surveys, educational activities, campaigns and volunteer hours.

We will always be proud of what that logo represented. Our heartfelt thanks to Cassandra for that logo and the other lovely art she kindly made for us through the years.

But Kettering Nature Group is evolving.

Over the last four years, we have proven that we can deliver projects at scale that connect people, place and nature. We have shown that conservation works best when it is rooted within communities and when people are given meaningful opportunities to take action.

As we look to the future, we are developing a Civic Ecological Infrastructure Partnership Programme, to allow us to become less reliant on grant funding.

KNG will facilitate civic ecological infrastructure, creating the spaces, habitats and opportunities that enable communities to take action for nature.

Working with local authorities, school trusts, NHS organisations, businesses, and more we will deliver practical projects that create lasting benefits for both wildlife and people. This could include community nest box initiatives, swift recovery projects, wildlife gardens, pollinator habitats, hides, specialist nesting features, biophilic, sensory and accessible green spaces, and many other forms of ecological infrastructure.

The principle is simple. If we want people to engage with nature, we need to create the infrastructure that makes that possible. If we want wildlife to recover, we need to create the spaces where it can thrive.

Our role is to bring those two things together.

By helping organisations invest in ecological infrastructure, we can create lasting assets that support biodiversity, improve access to nature, strengthen communities and leave a positive legacy for future generations.

Just as importantly, this work will help us do more for the community. By delivering commissioned projects for organisations, we can generate income that is reinvested directly into KNG's work, allowing us to deliver more, better free sessions, events and activities for local people while creating even greater benefits for wildlife.

You may also notice a change in how we present ourselves.

While our legal name remains Kettering Nature Group, we will increasingly be using KNG as our public-facing identity.

As our work has grown, the name Kettering Nature Group has increasingly understated both the scale and geographic reach of what we do. KNG gives us an identity that can travel, allowing us to work with partners wherever there is an opportunity to create positive outcomes for wildlife and communities.

The challenges facing nature do not stop at town boundaries, and neither should the solutions.

This new logo represents that next chapter. It reflects an organisation that remains committed to its founding mission while expanding its ability to deliver ambitious projects that create meaningful change for nature and communities alike.

Thank you, Jacob, for helping us tell that story. We absolutely love the result and look forward to seeing it represent KNG for many years to come.