Hothfield Heathlands is rich in flora and fauna that transforms the landscape of this important reserve over the autumn. Explore Kent's last four valley bogs and one of its few remaining fragments of open heath.
There are lots of works planned across the reserve over the next few months. Keep reading below to find out what works will be happening and how to continue enjoying the site safely.
With our Precious Peatlands project, we will be carrying out lots of scrub removal from across the reserve. The most vigorous scrub species are birch and alder, adapted to grow very quickly from seed. These are the pioneer species that would pave the way for the site becoming a woodland.
Woodland is a very important habitat, and Kent Wildlife Trust manages thousands of acres of woodland across Kent. However, the quality of heathland and bog, the main habitats at Hothfield, are not found anywhere else in Kent. Losing this area to woodland would wipe out hundreds of species that would not survive under a canopy of trees.
The trees also have a further detrimental effect on the bogs, sucking up thousands of gallons of water, drying out the peatland. Once the bogs lose their moisture, the peat dries up and the carbon stored for hundreds of years gets released back into the atmosphere.
If you have any questions about this work, please contact the Area Manager on ian.rickards@kentwildlife.org.uk
There will be large excavators carrying out this work, so please keep a safe distance and follow the instructions on any signage.
Hopefully some of you are already enjoying our new Triangle Trail.
We will also be carrying out path improvements on the rest of the reserve, using sand to raise some of the muddier paths and making them easier to navigate over the winter. We will also be having a new boardwalk installed, but depending on ground conditions, that may wait until next year – watch this space.
We will be replacing some of the more dilapidated fences, making sure our cattle, ponies and sheep are safe and secure.
At the same time, our wonderful volunteers will be carrying on with the winter work across the reserve. Tree popping birch from the heathland, repairing fences, building dead hedges, fixing paths, looking after the livestock and all the other work that this tireless gang carry out. We always welcome new volunteers - you can find out more here.
The volunteers are out every Tuesday and Thursday and also the first Sunday of every month. The next Sunday session will be the 9th October, if you would like to get involved please register through our website.
