Nashenden Down
OS Map 177 TQ 730657 : Nr Strood, Rochester
Postcode: ME1 3TQ
Location: South of Borstal. Adjacent to the high-speed rail link and visible from the M2 between Junctions 2 and 3.
Status: None
Access: Bus 151 stops at Nashenden Farm Lane. Parking is on the roadside before the hamlet. Cross the CTRL Bridge onto the reserve. Marked paths lead from the North Downs Way onto the circular route. Please be aware there are no shortcuts – the whole circuit is approximately 3.5km and takes about an hour to walk. The permissive bridle route entrance is approximately 500m further south than the pedestrian entrance. Paths are uneven, steep and muddy in places.
Best visited: May to September
For: Birds and chalk flowers in spring and summer, arable flowers in late summer and farmland bird species in winter.
Points of interest: These 130 acres of ex-arable field are being converted into predominantly chalk grassland, with a low intensity barley crop and woodland re-creation.
One small corner escaped the plough and retains its ancient characteristics including species such as man orchid and an excellent assemblage of scrub associated bird life. This area will act as a seed bank to re-colonise the 90 acres of new grassland that is being created by a mixture of seed spreading and natural regeneration.
Nashenden Down is strategically placed to link up sites that push into the heart of Medway with those that divide Medway from Maidstone (The Medway Living Landscape). Creating chalk grassland here increases the potential for movement and viability of rare species such as Adonis blue and small blue butterflies that are found on more established sites.
Birds and wild flowers that have evolved over hundreds of years to take advantage of our cereal crop habitats have been unable to keep pace with the speed of change since the 50’s and have effectively been pushed out by the more streamlined and efficient practices of modern farming. Lower crop densities, winter stubbles and a marked reduction in herbicides and pesticides create an environment where species such as skylark and corn cockle can thrive.
The woodlands that surround the site contain broad-leaved helleborine, early purple orchid, bluebells and a good mix of native tree and shrub species. We will be re-creating three acres of woodland, one kilometre of new hedge, gapping up the old hedges and allowing the woodland edges to soften in places. All of these features will benefit a whole host of wildlife interests such as small mammals, reptiles and birds
