Local Nature Reserves

Foxes Cross Bottom
off Foxes Cross Road, 2 km south west of Whitstable
Declared as a Local Nature Reserve in 1993, this reserve is an area of grassland and scrub which has never been ploughed or sprayed and consequently, has scarce wildflowers such as pepper saxifrage and spiny restharrow as well as Nightingales.

No Mans Orchard
Chartham Hatch Grid Reference: TR 108 572
4.1 hectares, declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2002.

Curtis Wood
Located to the west of Herne village
This 10 hectare woodland has spectacular displays of early purple and butterfly orchids.

Tyler Hill Meadow
Tyler Hill Grid Reference: TR137610
0.8 hectares, declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2002 .

Wraik Hill
Located 3 km to the south west of the Thanet way, near Whitstable. Turn off at Long Reach roundabout
Wraik Hill Country Park is an area of small fields and woods. There are excellent views over Seasalter levels towards the Isle of Sheppey. There is a car park and a series of way marked walks. Car park has been closed to prevent fly tipping.

National Nature Reserves

Blean Woods Nature Reserve and Church Wood
Rough Common, Canterbury 
90 acres of ancient woodland with noted invertebrate, particularly the heath fritillary butterfly that can be seen flying in June and July.  Nightingales can be heard in the summer singing in the coppiced areas. The reserve is part of an extensive block of woodland, including reserves owned by the RSPB and the Woodland Trust.

For further details on Blean Woods or Church Wood contact:
RSPB/NNR
Tel: 01227 455972
www.rspb.org.uk

East Blean National Nature Reserve  
Hicks Forstall Road between the parishes of Sturry, Hoath and Herne
Tel: 07808 568821
In 1987 The Kent Trust brought this wood to conserve the colony of rare heath fritillary butterflies was facing extinction.

Market towns

Just to the west of The Blean is the old Roman market town of Faversham, one of the most charming and historic small towns in southern England. For full details and visitor information visit www.faversham.org.

Children’s activities

Druidstone Wildlife & Art Park
Enchanted woodland, sculpture park, wildlife park, three adventure playgrounds, labrinth, small farmyard with chickens, llarma, sheep and goats. Open Easter – end of October.

Honey Hill
Blean
CT2 9JP
Tel: 01227 765168
www.druidstone.net

Farming World
A day out for all the family. ‘Have a go’ sessions; Birds of Prey; indoor soft play area; Wild n’ Wacky workshops; secret Garden; lots of activities for disabled visitors: wheelchair swing, playzone and trailer rides designed for wheelchair access. Largest lawn mower collection in SE England; rural museum.

Nash Court
Boughton
Faversham
Tel: 01227 751144

The Wildwood Discovery Park
Wildlife park with woodland animals

Wealden Forest Park
Herne Common
Herne Bay
Tel: 01227 713881 or 712111
http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/

Events

For information on local events visit www.theblean.co.uk which will give you links to sites with detailed information.