Here is an alternative version of our K&ESR Newsletter - if you've already read the email, then no need to read any further! Otherwise, here's a summary of news from around our railway...
Nomination: Best Family Experience in Kent!
You may already have seen that for a second year, we have reached the finals of the Muddy Stilettos Award for the Best Family Experience in Kent.
What is the 'Muddy Stilettos' Award?
Muddy Stilettos is an online lifestyle magazine. It was launched in 2013 to share tips on food, walks, day trips, hotels, shops, and events in local areas. It has grown into a leading luxury lifestyle website with an estimated monthly reach of 4.4 million women across the UK, offering recommendations and reviews for fun-loving families.
Voting is now closed but we’ll keep you up to date with news!
Caroline Warne, Sales & Marketing Manager
K&ESR AGM
Thank you to all those who were able to join our AGM on Saturday 9th May. We estimate around 80 Members were in the room, and those unable to attend in person had the option to view the proceedings live, online. The Annual Accounts were approved, as was the re-election of Ian Legg (Executive Director, Finance), Robin Moira-White and Simon Marsh.
Dave Raimbach, Assistant Company Secretary
Introducing Matt Green
Although well-known to many of us, there are doubtless some who are wondering just who is this mysterious Matt Green who has become omnipresent across the railway in recent weeks?
In fact, Matt has been a volunteer with us for more than 25 years, and previously at the Lavender Line and Bluebell Railway. Additionally, he was on the paid staff as Assistant Operating Manager from 2006 to 2014 when he left to join the Swanage Railway, becoming General Manager until 2018.
Today, he still lives in Dorset with his wife, two dogs and numerous chickens! He works for Victa Railfreight with half his time spent helping heritage railways including the Bluebell, West Somerset, Bodmin and Strathspey railways. With experience in making changes in organisations, he is now under secondment to the K&ESR for six months after an opportunity was seen to inject new momentum while avoiding the pitfalls experienced by, for example, the Swanage Railway in over-extending.
Matt reports directly to the railway’s Chairman, helping the Executive Strategy Group by making suggestions and proposals across the organisation. With Pete Salmon’s retirement as Operating Manager, succession planning and interim management has joined the mix. ‘As a constant for 25 years, Pete’s are big boots to fill’, said Matt.
Another major topic is the organisation and management of the locomotive department, a priority since Liam Head stood down. An audit of the locomotive and carriage and wagon departments has been undertaken which, while not glamorous, ensures they comply with legal requirements.
Safety management systems are another important area of attention and how to ensure they meet the requirements of an extended railway in 2028 when Robertsbridge opens. ‘I am passionate that our duties in law do not overshadow our enjoyment of our hobby while remaining compliant’, said Matt. ‘We have some excellent systems introduced over the years by George Wright, Pete Wensley and Simon Long which have stood the test of time. It is imperative that we work to see the railway survive and prosper, that it is financially stable and compliant within the law’.
Chairman, Derrick Bilsby, said ‘We are fortunate to have someone of Matt’s calibre and passion, and his Interim Report will be submitted to the Board over the course of the next six months...I am sure it will make interesting and challenging reading.’
Matt Green & Derrick Bilsby
Tenterden’s Wilder Kent Award
We at the K&ESR can be proud of the contribution we made in helping Tenterden Town in achieving a second much-coveted Kentish Wildlife Trust’s GOLD AWARD in the Towns and Villages category. Together with Tenterden Wildlife, we submitted a wealth of evidence proving how much of a difference we are making to supporting nature in Tenterden.
Especially powerful were the two films submitted, providing ample visual evidence of what has been achieved. The K&ESR YouTube film Environment and Conservation explains much of the bio-diversity achievements of the last two years and includes an interview with Siggi Nepp, Chair of Tenterden Wildlife, talking about collaboration with the Railway. Tenterden Wildlife's film, A Wilder Tenterden, showcases work in the High Street, at the Golf Club, in local schools and on the railway itself, as well as the work of local farmers and landowners. It opens with an interview with our bird surveyor in front of the DMMU at Tenterden Station. Both films show how we are working together for the benefit of the town.
Further evidence from the Railway included liaison with Kent County Council's Plan Tree strategy to add a further 15 to the 10 elms planted at Rolvenden in 2024. Another major partnership with a nature-based body was with Kentish-Stour Partnership who oversaw and paid for the creation of a pond at Rolvenden where previously there had been a mere ‘scrape’ which had silted over. More on this later in the newsletter.
Progress is plain to see in the High Street where wild flowers have been planted. Other examples include the Golf Club, Memorial Garden and local schools. Together we have been enhancing the natural life of Tenterden and making it a positive and attractive place to live in and visit.
Keith Barron
Chair of Sustainability Group & Kent Wildlife Trustee
Chirpy Coverage!
Sticking with a nature theme, our Bird Song Trains have received some great coverage on the BBC - on TV, radio, social media and the BBC News website. BBC in Kent roving reporter Phil Harrison joined passengers to chase the dawn chorus on Wednesday 6th May and interviewed ornithologist guide David Campbell from Wildstarts, K&ESR volunteer Andy Papworth and passengers who reported hearing and seeing the ‘golden three’ special birds – cuckoos, a turtle dove and a nightingale.
These are rarely found outside protected nature reserves, further evidence of how important our railway is for protecting biodiversity. His report was broadcast on the BBC South East News at 6.30pm the same day and audio versions were broadcast on BBC Radio Kent the next morning during the Breakfast Show and on two morning news bulletins.
Alison Miles, K&ESR Press Officer
We’ve Been Out and About!
From Robertsbridge to Baie de Somme
Robertsbridge Station – a Unique Celebration
Over the weekend of 17–18 April, the Rother Valley Railway reached two major milestones — achievements made possible only through the generosity, belief and long‑term commitment of our supporters. On the Friday, we were honoured to welcome former MP and local resident Huw Merriman, Cllr Andrew Mier, Chairman of Rother District Council, and many distinguished guests to Robertsbridge for the formal opening of our new Station Building. This building, which will form the heart of our future passenger experience, stands as a testament to the success of the earlier phase of our fundraising and the dedication of everyone who has supported the project so far.
After the ceremony and some refreshments, guests gathered for a second significant moment: the formal reopening of the newly extended Network Rail headshunt — a vital stretch of track on the mainline network adjacent to the RVR infrastructure. This connection will, in time, allow locomotives and rolling stock to visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway, via the mainline. The headshunt was officially reopened by the iconic Hastings Diesel, following speeches by Huw Merriman, Lord Peter Hendy and RVR Director Mike Hart.
We were delighted to be joined by representatives from across the rail industry on this special day, including John Smith of GB Railfreight, John Atkinson and John White of St Leonards Engineering, and senior colleagues from Network Rail and South Eastern Railway. What was very tangible on the day, was the clear sense of partnership between the many organisations that were present and involved in the organisation of the event.
We extend our sincere thanks all those who made the event such a success!
The celebrations continued on Saturday with a hugely successful Community Open Day. More than 1,500 visitors joined us — many arriving via the mainline station and walking straight into the RVR site, a powerful reminder of what reconnection will make possible. Families, local residents, enthusiasts and supporters enjoyed rides on the Hastings Diesel between Robertsbridge Junction and Northbridge Street, with much nostalgia for these historic units - celebrating 40 years of preservation themselves in 2026! Our project team were on site throughout, and the excellent drone footage of the route from Robertsbridge to Bodiam prompted thoughtful questions and lively discussions about the next stages of the project.
Thanks to the efforts of our media team, the weekend received coverage from ITV Meridian and BBC South East, helping us share the story with a much wider audience. We were especially pleased to welcome so many K&ESR members and volunteers to the celebrations. Your presence — and the dedication of both RVR and K&ESR volunteers behind the scenes to co-ordinate and deliver the event — helped make the weekend truly celebratory and reinforced the message that we are already "one railway".
Helen Douglas, Appeals Director, RVR
Our Partners Across the Channel
On 25–26 April, the K&ESR and RVR jointly represented the combined railway by having a presentation stand at the at the CFBS Fête de la Vapeur steam gala in France. We were there to celebrate 30 years of K&ESR/CFBS twinning and to promote awareness of the Robertsbridge extension. The gala was the culmination of years of planning by CFBS volunteers and staff, with over 150 volunteers contributing across the weekend itself.
The event brought together steam railways from across Europe, with participants from France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. Nearly 6,000 passengers travelled on trains during the weekend, while totals attending free events over there 4 main stations exceeded 30,000. Each town hosted themed activities, and at Cayeux‑sur‑Mer a temporary First World War “trench railway” was installed through the town centre.
Formal celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the K&ESR/CFBS twinning will take place on 19–20 September 2026 during French National Heritage Days. Further details will be announced in due course.
Kevin Bulled, K&ESR Volunteer
Have you seen our latest YouTube videos?
In our efforts to improve communication, we’ve recently started a new series on our K&ESR YouTube channel – The Chairman’s Monthly Update.
John Bolton, our volunteer videographer, says: 'I’m watching what other heritage railways are doing, and how they tell stories about the wonderful people who volunteer on their railways. There are so many stories to tell from the behind the scenes. Having that rolled up into a single piece of ‘news’ is important for all sorts of reasons – for our members and volunteers, for our visitors, and for other railways who are watching with interest how we adapt to change.
It’s a testament to Derrick that his Chairman's Update videos receive the most attention from our YouTube audience, closely followed by our ‘Day in the Life‘ stories. For me, these videos are a personal challenge as we’re recording in a single take – then I dash to my editing suite to do minimal editing and publish the same day! Thanks to Derrick for taking to the teleprompter like a duck to water, he is a master of the single take.
Of course, there would be no story to tell if it wasn’t for all the amazing people who do all this work, often unnoticed, behind the scenes. Don't forget, if you have an idea that could make an excellent story then contact me by email at jb.johnbolton@gmail.com
I really enjoy producing these videos and it's great to see them doing well, but you can really help if you like and subscribe. There's no cost, you just get a notification when we publish a new video.
Thank you to everyone who's put up with me asking them talk to camera and my vain attempts at making them laugh, most recently Ben and Bryan in the crazy Carriage Cleaning video – look out for this after 1940s weekend.
Watch out there is lots more to come!'
Have You Seen?
Chairman’s Update May – so far 2,500 views
Chairman’s Update April – 6,000 views
NEW! How Much Fun Can You Have Cleaning Carriages?
John Bolton, K&ESR Volunteer
Join the 'Clean as a Whistle' Discussion
The presentation of our stations and our trains is a critical part of our visitors’ experience. We can plan the most elaborate timetable and the best event, but if visitors find a littered train, can’t see out of dirty windows, or our stations aren't clean, this can be a disappointment.
Our current solution – a combination of paid weekday resources and volunteers at weekends, and the Thursday gang of volunteers who work to keep the outside and windows of our carriages clean – is working on the whole. We would like to suggest a small group be formed – representing the current team and each of our stations – to discuss and make recommendations on whether there are any gaps or opportunities for improvement.
• Do we need to roster cleaners between trains?
• Do we need more volunteer or paid resources?
• Does this need to be its own formalised Department?
No assumptions or conclusions have been made – we believe we need to start with an open and honest discussion about what’s working and what’s not, and how we can move forward within our limited resources and budget.
To join the debate, please email Julie at jwilkinson@kesr.org.uk. We’ll try to making meeting as flexible as possible – face-to-face or online – please give an idea of your typical availability.
Julie Wilkinson, K&ESR Volunteer
Review of How We Organise Information on HOPS
We recently called for views on the way in which our information is organised and ordered on HOPS, and the consultation process has now concluded. We had lots of great feedback and are now looking to incorporate those ideas where we can.
We will now take this forward to the implementation stage as soon as time allows. We'll keep you posted!
Matt Green
Biodiversity & Habitat Development at Rolvenden
Our commitment to protecting and enhancing Biodiversity along our Green Corridor was first reported in Watch On The Weald No 175. In the last six months there have been further major developments at the 2-acre field which is just south of Rolvenden Station. Work with the Kentish Stour Partnership came to fruition in November 2025 when a new 400sq m pond was created on the site of a much smaller scrape which had silted over, filled with reeds and become clogged with goat willow.
Funded under Natural England’s scheme called District Level Licencing to create or improve pond habitats for great-crested newts, it will be maintained by them for 25 years. Its proximity to trees, hedgerows and scrub make it ideal for attracting amphibians, especially as four ponds have been identified lying within 1,000m of the site. At present, it looks like the Somme, but Emily Davies of Kentish Stour (who oversaw the project), assures us it will, in due course, ‘colonise naturally’.
‘The bare substrates that dominate restored ponds act as a very special wildlife habitat and may be the only time that very rare stoneworts are able to thrive. Freshwater animals and plants will find their own way’. Early in January 2026, K&ESR supporter and member of Tenterden Wildlife, John Sinclair, whose article about bat-sighting at K&ESR stations appeared in edition 176, spotted over 30 goldfinches drinking at the pond. In time, it will be a mecca for invertebrates and a source of food for bats and birds. Watch this space!
The Railway was approached with a request to plant more elms as part of the Elm Heritage Kent project as well as varied species of over 1,000 whips. Katherine Meade, KCC Plan Tree Strategy Officer, said she was ‘delighted to continue working with K&ESR and support their commitment to Biodiversity and to expanding canopy cover’. Once agreed in principle and once suitable sites had been found, Kent Plan Tree applied to the Tree Council for an Outside Woodland Grant funded by Defra. The bulk of the whips, consisting of field maple, oak, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, dog rose and dogwood, are to be planted trackside west of the Cranbrook Road level-crossing to form a hedge which will not only be visible from the train but from the road crossing.
The elms have been planted on part of the land cleared when the pond was created, formerly dominated by a monoculture of nettles. The planting is not impinging on the northern half of the field which is rich in over 25 species of wildflowers. The elms are a mix of four additional species: ademuz, lutece, accolade and vada. ‘This should further enhance landscape resilience and create greater opportunities for elm-dependent species such as the white-letter hairstreak to establish and thrive’.
The Railway’s Forestry & Conservation team planted the 2024 elms under atrociously wet weather conditions and similarly heroic efforts have been undertaken this time too. This dedicated team of volunteers typifies the commitment of the hundreds of volunteers who keep this heritage railway working. They bring skill, hard work and arboricultural expertise to maintaining and enhancing the Railway’s habitats.
For more information and understanding of the Railway’s dedication to its natural environment, a short film entitled Environment and Conservation may be found on K&ESR's Youtube channel. Part of it was filmed against the background of the wildflower field at Rolvenden.
Keith Barron
Kent & East Sussex Railway
Wanted: Food Expert!
We are forming a new group to help us review what catering we offer at the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Visits to the railway that include food – the Wealden Pullman, Fish & Chip Trains, Murder Mystery and Cream Teas – all seem to be booking well, and accounted for around 40% of our website visitors* last month!
As well as reviewing what we do today, the Catering Review Group will help us shape what we offer when we reconnect to Robertsbridge.
To supplement the expertise and experience we already have in our Catering Team, we've found two volunteers to work with us on this project: one with a career’s experience in the food supply chain and the other with hospitality and local authority knowledge.
We’re looking for a third volunteer who can bring current or recent Catering experience to the group – perhaps someone who owned or ran a local café or pub – or still does. We’re looking for a commitment of around an hour a month for about 6 months – do you know someone who might fit the bill? If so, please email Julie at jwilkinson@kesr.org.uk
Julie Wilkinson, K&ESR Volunteer
*Product-specific K&ESR web pages
Your Newsletter Needs You!
Thank you to Mark Toynbee who contributed greatly as our Roving Reporter, gathering news from across our railway. Mark has decided to step down. We thank you for all you’ve done, Mark. Could you step into these shoes?
Would you be prepared to spend a bit of time in each of our departments regularly – ideally monthly in rotation – so that all our hidden stories get a chance to be aired? Could you interview people to get those news stories, and write them up for submission?
Or if you have digital publishing experience, would you like to take on the role of building the Newsletter as an email and/or web page (in WordPress)? Full training will be given if this is something you’re keen to explore!
As always, we need help in everything we do! Any offer of support would be received most welcomely…please email newsletter@kesr.org.uk
Julie Wilkinson, K&ESR Volunteer