West Blean and Thorndon Woods with sun shining through the trees
Tim Horton

West Blean and Thornden Woods

This large ancient woodland is ever-changing and has an ancient droveway through it that is almost a thousand years old. During that time, there have been many changes and this continues today. Before Kent Wildlife Trust bought the wood, it was managed commercially for timber production, which is why almost half of the wood is covered in plantations of non-native conifer trees. Over the coming years, we aim to breathe life back into the woods in a variety of ways. The ever-changing wood, home to the Wilder Blean project where we have introduced European bison.

Price: Charged Parking – Weekdays: £2.00 Weekends: £2.50. To access the Wilder Blean project, use West Blean and Thornden Woods car park.

Opening times: all year round
Best time to visit: all year round
RingGo: 32512 | Phone: 02030 460010

  • Accessible trails

  • Disabled parking

  • Dog walking

  • Education centre

  • Parking

Size: 490 hectares.

Grazing animals: A herd of cows, 3 pigs, 6 ponies and our bison all graze here.

Bicycle parking: None

Walking trails: Level paths lead from the car park, including a 3km (2 mile) hard track that runs the length of the reserve from west to east. 5 Variable-length, way-marked trails.

Dogs: On a lead. Dog waste bins available. Livestock are present on site.

Circular all-weather walk (1 mile). Information boards accessible to wheelchair users.

About the reserve

Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust have welcomed European Bison to Blean Woods. These powerful ecosystem engineers will help restore an abundance of wildlife to this area. Find out more on our project page or check out the FAQs by clicking the button below.

Wilder Blean FAQs

For up-to-date information about access and visiting the reserve, click below. 

Visitor information

For example, coppicing is good for wildlife as it creates sunny glades perfect for sun-loving plants and animals. As the trees regenerate, they form a thicket which is perfect cover for a variety of small mammals such as dormice and birds like Nightingales. In time, the woodland naturally changes as the Oak trees mature – and these are perfect for hundreds of insect species as well as woodland birds and bats. The pine plantations will eventually be removed and a greater diversity of wildlife habitats will develop. Look out for the Konik Ponies, a rare breed of pony that is helping to restore the woodland.

There are several way-marked, variable-length walks to follow. A short one-mile surfaced route will take you about 30 minutes to complete – or longer if you spend some time looking out for some of the interesting features on the way around.

Contact Us

If you need to get in touch regarding West Blean and Thornden Woods, for any reason, please contact:

Cristina Juan
Contact number: 01622 662012
Contact email: [email protected]

Environmental designation

  • Ancient Woodland 
  • Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Wilder Blean

Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust have launched a flagship wilding project, ‘Wilder Blean’, funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

The project will promote stronger habitats by restoring natural processes that are able to withstand the current environmental crisis and species decline, and in the long run, reverse it.

European bison are being used in this project because they are ecosystem engineers, meaning that they are able to change their environment through their natural behaviours.

Bison can change woodlands in a way that no other animal can. They eat bark and create dust baths which each have benefits for many plants and animals. These are functions that have been missing from our UK woodlands for thousands of years and bringing them back can help restore an abundance of wildlife.

Find out more about the Wilder Blean project here!