Spong Wood

A hidden piece of ancient woodland filled with wildlife.

Location

mile (0.8 km) northeast of Elmstead Village

Elmstead

Kent

TN25 5JT

OS Map Reference

TR 122 455

Know before you go

Size

18 hectares

Parking information

Limited car parking is available outside the village church. No parking prior to Sunday services please. Car park on the grass. 800m road before 300m rough track. Long walk from parking area to reserve.

Bicycle parking

No - bikes are not allowed in the reserve

Walking trails

Waymarked paths provide an ideal route around the reserve.

Access

Not Wheelchair accessible. The surface leading from car park slopes, and the access is via rough track. Muddy when wet.

Dogs

Dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times. Volunteer work parties take place at Spong Wood 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 July, September to November

About the reserve

This piece of ancient woodland is tucked away within the typical farmland landscape, only accessible by foot. This creates a fantastic peaceful walk in the woodland, often without seeing a soul on site. Come spring, the woodland transforms into the much-loved British woodland scene, covered in bluebells accompanied with the sounds of greater-spotted woodpeckers drumming on the trees and the haunting cries of a buzzard circling overhead. If you go at the crack of dawn, you may even catch glimpses of roe deer wondering through the trees.