Hothfield Common
Hothfield Common extends
over fifty-eight hectares and contains Kent's last four valley bogs
and one of its few remaining fragments of open heath with patches
of acid grassland. Until the early 20th century, livestock grazing
maintained the open character of Hothfield Common. Once this
ceased, bracken and birch began to overrun the reserve, leading to
the loss of the heath land and bog habitat, and resulting in the
loss of many rare and highly specialised plants and animals.
To reverse this loss habitat management work initiated by
Kent Wildlife Trust with
the support of Ashford Borough Council, Hothfield Parish Council
and
English Nature is now
helping to restore and maintain a mosaic of open heath, grassland
and bog. Once the initial invading scrub has been cut back, grazing
with livestock is th
e key to
maintaining suitable habitat.
Many plants such as heather, cross-leaved heath, dwarf and common
gorse, heath spotted-orchid, bog asphodel, and round-leaved sundew
are now thriving, along with keeled skimmer dragonfly and tree
pipit as a result of heath and bog habitat restoration.
Access: From Ashford follow the A20 towards
Maidstone for 3 miles. Turn left towards Hothfield village, take
first right and the reserve is on the left. The car park is on the
right. Bus 10 Maidstone and Ashford goes along A20 (¼ mile).
Useful Websites
This webpage was updated on 9/15/2008