Broadham Down

A tucked away area of downland forming a haven for wildlife

Location

One mile (1.6 km) southeast of Chilham
Chilham
Kent
CT4 7DE

OS Map Reference

TR 084 529
A static map of Broadham Down

Know before you go

Size
16 hectares
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Entry fee

None
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Parking information

There is parking in a layby on Mystole Lane. Follow the Pilgrims Cycle Trail for 1km to the site

Grazing animals

Cattle, sheep and feral goats are on site most of the year.

Walking trails

From the car park it is a rugged walk along a rough track. The reserve is rugged rolling terrain.

Access

Not Wheelchair accessible Off road parking, with 1 km compacted gravel track to reserve. Entry onto reserve require stepping through narrow gap. Steep slopes and unsurfaced paths.

Dogs

Dogs permitted

Dogs are allowed on leads

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times. Volunteer work parties take place at Broadham Down on Fridays undertaking habitat management. Be aware that essential management can sometimes be noisy and if you are concerned it may disturb your visit consider visiting on a different day. If you would like to get involved, please visit our volunteering page.

Best time to visit

April to August

About the reserve

This reserve contains hidden clues of its past with man. On the north end of the site, the Pilgrims Cycle trail that runs from Rochester to Canterbury borders the site. You can imagine the many pilgrims walking along this trail for hundreds of years on their quest to reach Canterbury Cathedral. Broadham used to be the site of a downland farm up until before the Second World War. If you have a hunt, you will stumble across an old well which was the farm’s only source of water. Sadly when the farm was abandoned, the grassland became overgrown with scrub and woodland. Along with the immense support from volunteers, Kent Wildlife Trust has worked hard to remove the invasive areas of scrub and woodland and with great success, has restored the grassland back to the reserve. The chalk grassland is now thriving with wildflowers and orchids. Adders and Grass snakes can even be found basking in the sun. The breath-taking views across the Stour valley on the north end and towards Ashford on the south end also are a sight to behold. The reserve has another man-made secret with its dene holes on the southern part. The dene holes have formed from an old mine that runs underneath part of the reserve. The mine is now a safe haven for a small number of bats.

Walking time from Chilham station: 35 minutes

Contact us

Mark Tuson
Contact number: 07500 057920

Environmental designation

Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB)
Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)