Background
Kent County Council (KCC) is progressing with their draft Kent Mineral Sites Plan following the ‘call for sites’ consultation and technical assessment work which took place in 2023-25. The updated Kent Mineral Sites Plan continues to allocate Oaken Wood, near Maidstone, for the extraction of hard rock. If quarried, the proposal would result in the direct loss of at least 41 hectares of Ancient Woodland.
- This loss of Ancient Woodland would be greater than the losses from HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing combined.
- Previous consent for quarrying to the north and east of Oaken Wood has already resulted in the loss of approximately 31 hectares of Ancient Woodland.
- The allocation of Oaken Wood for quarrying would also lead to the degradation of the nearby Oaken Wood Local Wildlife Site, impacting important habitats that support a wide range of rare and declining species.
Why is Oaken Wood important?
Oaken Wood is a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). Oaken Wood is classed as a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS): areas continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. Despite historic planting, these sites remain ecologically invaluable retaining veteran trees, bluebells and other indicator wildflowers, and supporting rare and declining wildlife in the wider Oaken Wood Local Wildlife Site.
The soils of these Ancient Woodlands are among their most important features with a rich mycorrhizal network and a seed bank that acts as a natural store of dormant wildflower, tree and plant seeds. The woodland soils have absorbed significant amounts of carbon over centuries. These complex ecological systems underpin the woodland’s biodiversity and resilience and cannot be recreated or replaced once destroyed.
Ancient Woodlands now make up just 2.5% of the UK’s total land area. With a changing climate and a significant decline in species in the UK we cannot afford to lose anymore.
Next steps and how you can help
KCC is expected to launch a public consultation on the Kent Mineral Sites Plan which will run from the end of July to September. Members of the public and organisations will have the opportunity to comment on whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound, including whether it has been positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national planning policy.
Kent Wildlife Trust encourages everyone who cares about protecting Oaken Wood to take part in the consultation. Information on how to take part will be shared here once released by KCC.
Sign up to Speak Up for Nature
Be the first to hear about updates to this campaign and actions you can take for nature in Kent by signing up to our advocacy mailing list, Speak Up for Nature.