Hothfield Common
O.S Map 189 TQ 972458: Nr Ashford
Fifty-eight hectares of heathland and lowland valley bogs with secondary woodland around the perimeter.
Hothfield 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 heathland and bog habitat, and resulting in the loss of many rare and highly specialised plants and animals. This site is compartmentalised to make grazing more effective. Grazing may occur at any time of the year and dogs should be kept under close control at all times.
Directions
By Road:
From Ashford follow the A20 for 3 miles (4.8 km). Turn left towards Hothfield village, take first right and the reserve is on the left. The car park is on the right.
Public Transport:
Bus 510 Maidstone and Ashford goes along A20
Download Reserve Map (PDF)
Key site for
- Observation of one of the last ancient heathlands in England.
- Plant life: heather, cross-leaved heath, dwarf and common gorse,
heath spotted-orchid, bog asphodel, and round-leaved sundew are now thriving. - Notable also dragonflies such as the keeled skimmer
- Also home to a range of heathland bird life including tree pipits.
Wildlife update
Heritage Lottery Funded heath and bog habitat restoration works started last year and continued through 2007 withe the removal of trees from New Fen and the removal of non-native shrubs to re-create some 26 acres of wooded area on Cade Road. A herd of Highland cattle were introduced in spring to help encourage heath bog species to re-colonise.
‘The Triangle’ will be annually grazed to promote wooded heath and New Fen to restore and maintain fenland habitat. New signage and information boards will be commissioned in the spring encompassing the various reserve extensions, restoration works and access improvements.
