Woodland is an important habitat in the Darent Valley and dominates much of the chalk slope tops in the Darent Valley. The woodlands are a mix of ages and can look quite different from one another but are a notable feature of the Darent Valley landscape.
At Lullingstone Park, many trees are more than 400 years old, whilst other woodlands such as Nine Hole Wood near Eynsford and Oxenhill Shaw between Kemsing and Otford, have been planted more recently. Sweet chestnut coppice woodlands with their distinctive multiple shoots from a single stump, can be seen in the Valley.
The various woodlands provide a home for many species of flora and fauna including important species such as wild service tree and butcher’s broom. Designations such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Wildlife Sites recognise their importance and provide them with further protection.
Many woodlands such as Shoreham Woods and Farningham Woods have lots of footpaths to enable residents and visitors to enjoy and explore the woodlands on foot.
DVLPS is working with various landowners to ensure woodlands are being managed proactively and that people can access and enjoy recreational activities, such as walking, in more woodlands.
