Voters will get the chance to grill their general election candidates on their environmental policies at a special climate hustings chaired by a BBC wildlife filmmaker.

All the Sevenoaks candidates have been invited.

Organised jointly by the Sevenoaks Climate Action Network (SCAN) and the Kent Wildlife Trust, the event will be chaired BBC wildlife filmmaker Richard Taylor Jones, from Countryfile and The One Show.

The organisers say the climate emergency and restoring nature should be at the forefront of voters’ minds when they enter polling booths next month.

Laura Clout, spokesperson for SCAN, said: “This is residents’ chance to find out what their MP and would-be representatives plan to do to solve the climate emergency.

“We expect questions about reaching net zero, reducing our nation’s dependence on oil and gas, and mitigating the ecological disaster which is ravaging much of our natural habitats.

“As much as we all want to preserve the natural world, it is important to remember that climate change affects the poorest in our society the most.”

She said: “As food becomes more difficult to grow because of unpredictable weather, the cost of living increases.

“Immigration is also key to environmental debate, as Britain offers refuge to people fleeing conflict zones and economies worsened by climate change.”

All the published candidates standing in the Sevenoaks constituency on July 4 have been invited to attend.

Laura Trott, the sitting Conservative MP has declined the invitation.

Her Labour rival Denise Scott-McDonald, Lib Dem Richard Streatfeild, Green candidate Laura Manston have accepted, and it is expected they will be joined by James Milmine from Reform UK and SDP candidate Adam Hibbert.

We are disappointed that Laura Trott has declined

Attendees have been invited to submit questions for the panel in advance and there will be a live Question Time style discussion and Q&A with the panel afterwards.

Ms Clout added: “We are disappointed that Ms Trott has so far declined our invitation and the opportunity to publicly discuss her voting record on environmental issues and Conservative policy.

“We have no doubt that the debate will still be vigorous in her absence.”

Sally Smith, advocacy officer for Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "We are delighted to partner with SCAN to offer residents the opportunity to ask candidates important questions about declines in wildlife and the climate crisis. We have recently launched our Vote WILD campaign with helpful information and downloads to give people the confidence to make informed decisions come election day."

The climate and nature hustings will take place on Thursday, June 20, from 7pm until 9.30pm at The Drive Methodist Church in Sevenoaks.

Click here to register for the event on Eventbrite.

A limited number of tickets will be available on the door.