Yockletts Bank
OS Map 179T 125477 Nr Ashford
Post code: CT4 5PZ
Please keep to the paths shown on the map to avoid disturbance to sensitive areas. Cars may be parked on the side of the road at the bottom of the hill, near Yockletts Farm, but please do not obstruct the road which is used frequently by farm vehicles.
The car park on the reserve is normally open only at weekends during the main orchid-flowering period, or for parties booked in advance.
A kissing gate marks the entrance to the reserve.
23 hectares of SSSI ancient woodland on a chalk escarpment with clay cap. The slope of the valley supports mixed woodland of ash, hornbeam and beech with a hazel understorey. Regular coppicing maintains the biodiversity of woodland plants and animals, and several small areas of chalk grassland are kept open by mowing annually to further enhance the variety of wildlife. This is probably one of the best sites for lady orchid and there are excellent colonies of twayblade, common spotted, early-purple, fly and other orchids. Spring flowers are also prolific, with violets, primrose, wood spurge and, on thin clay cap, bluebells.
The reserve is also very diverse in birds such as nightingales, warblers and great spotted, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers, as well as reptiles such as adder, grass snake and slow-worm.
Directions
By road
One mile (1.6km) west of Canterbury-Hythe Road (B2068) and 2 miles (3.2km) south of Petham. Follow B2068 from Canterbury and take right turn to Waltham and keep left until you reach woodland with small car park on left.
Public transport
Bus 558 Canterbury and Hythe (infrequent) stops at Stelling Minnis (1 ¼ mile/2km).
