Some places in England are considered so important to the nation's natural heritage that they are notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest because of their flora, fauna, geological or geographical features.

We are lucky to have a number of these in our borough, showing off the beauty and diversity of the High Weald and Kentish Downs in its most natural state, and include some of our most spectacular and beautiful habitats - ancient woodlands, winding chalk rivers, marshlands teeming with wildlife, flower-rich meadows, and remote moor land and peat bogs.

Alex Farm Pastures

This site consists of two adjoining pastures separated by a small pond and shallow stream. The pastures represent one of the best surviving examples in Kent of unimproved neutral grassland, a nationally rare habitat. The grassland sward contains a range of plant species characteristic of slightly acidic Wealden clay, and supports several scarce butterflies.  Due to the unimproved nature of the site it is not particularly accessible to visitors. 

Charing Beech Hangers

Find out more information about Charing Beech Hangers on our Woodlands webpage.

Down Bank

The site, on the outskirts of Orlestone forest, lies on a steep slope and includes both unimproved and semi-improved chalk grassland with some areas of scrub and the edge of an ancient broadleaved woodland. These habitats support a diverse assemblage of plants including two nationally scarce species, a nationally scarce butterfly and a nationally endangered moth. 

Ham Street Woods

Find out more information about Ham Street Woods on our Woodlands webpage.

Hart Hill

Recognised for its display of quite unique pillars of mineral deposits in pipes up to six metres deep.  These deposits are placed in the Pilocene age and are examples from a period otherwise poorly represented in Britain.

Hatch Park

Hatch Park is the remnants of a former deer park and is of special interest because of its unimproved acidic grassland and ancient pollard woodlands that support the richest epiphytic lichen community in the county.  The are also several artificial ponds supporting wildlife and surrounding marshland, and amongst other birds three individual species of woodpecker.
Access: Located five miles from Ashford, near to Mersham and Brabourne.  See a Natural England map.

Hoads Wood

Designated a SSSI for its outstanding assemblage of insects, moths and butterflies are particularly well represented here.  The wood also supports a diverse breeding bird community. 

Hothfield Common

Find out more information on our Hothfield Common webpage.

Orlestone Forest

Find out more information about Orlestone Forest on our Woodlands webpage. 

Park Wood, Chilham

Park Wood forms the northern part of the once extensive Challock Forest, and is a fine example of Kent's ancient woodland over chalk soils.  Popular with rare insects and breeding woodland birds, the site is also host to an extensive range of flora and fauna, including columbine and the poisonous deadly nightshade.  The site is maintained by the Woodland Trust and there is more information on their Park Wood website.

River Beult

The River Beult is influenced by the Wealden clay it flows over for most of its length, and is one of the few clay rivers in England that has retained the characteristic flora and fauna this river displays. You may even spot one of the kingfishers known to nest along the river.

Access: Smarden is perhaps the best point of access for viewing the beauty of the River Beult with some good paths along the waterway. See a google map.

Walland Marsh

The Walland Marsh, formerly known as the Romney Marsh is most notable for its attractiveness to a wide number of birds that choose to breed and roost in the area. The fields attract several species of wildfowl and waders including widgeon, teal, lapwing, golden plover and snipe, and also herds of mute and Bewick’s swans. Hen harriers can also be seen during the winter and regularly roost in one of the larger reed beds.

The damp pastures of the grazing marsh make an excellent breeding habitat for several species of birds including redshank, lapwing, yellow wagtail and meadow pipit. Various wildfowl and other water birds breed on the site, such as water rail and tufted duck, and the reed beds contain reed and sedge warblers and occasionally bearded tits.

Walland Marsh has very much been colonised by the grazing stocks that make use of the land, and is a great opportunity to see the plants and fauna that go towards making Romney marsh lamb taste so good.

Access: Exploring off track can often lead to wet feet on the marshland, so start on a designated walk such as the Appledore Walk for the best views of the Walland Marsh.   

Wye and Crundale Downs

Home of the Devil’s Kneading Trough, one of the most important areas of geological interest in the county due to its rich fossils and erosional history, this stretch of chalk down land and woodland is located on the North Downs near the village of Wye. There is said to be over 21 species of orchids recorded at the reserve including some of the UK's rarest species. The area is also a National Nature Reserve.

Access: The best access to the Wye and Crundale Downs is by following one of the paths on the National Trail website from the Devil's Kneading Trough carpark near Hastingleigh.  See a google map.

You can also use our GIS nature conservation map to find Listed Buildings, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), Conservation Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).