Bluebell Hill RNR
These RNRs are good examples of chalk grassland habitat maintained by annual full width cuts carried out by Highways and The RNR volunteer scrub clearance team. All the cuttings are raked off and removed to habitat piles or used for composting.
Approx. OS map ref TQ 746610 - 752593Location Along Blue Bell Hill, A229
Status SNCI, RNR
Site Ref No: TM01A, TM01B, TM01C, TM01D, TM01E, TM01F, TM02 and TM03
Access: Parking in layby close to the Lower Bell Pub
Points of interest
This complex of verges supports no less than eight different species of orchid! Pyramidal, bee and common spotted-orchid can be seen on the open chalk grassland. Whilst in the woodland and scrub edges man orchid (nationally scarce) and broad-leaved helleborine, white helleborine (BAP species), fly orchid and common twayblade can be found. Chalk grassland flowers such as wild marjoram, fairy flax, horseshoe and kidney vetch can be found, which attract a variety of insects. For the first time in 2007, Adonis blue was recorded on one of the sites. Other butterflies such as chalkhill blue, skippers and brown argus can also be seen.
Some of the verges support a good reptile population such as adder, common lizard and slow worm. Management of these sites has been tailored to ensure that the area remains favourable for reptiles.
Project funders
In recent years, extensive scrub clearance on five of the Bluebell Hill verges was made possible by grant aid from Medway Valley Countryside Partnership and Rail Link Countryside Initiative. This has removed most of the invasive scrub, and will allow the chalk grassland to be maintained by regular autumn mowing, which will be undertaken by Kent Highways, assisted by the Road Verge Officer and Road Verge Volunteers.
