About the reserve
Designated as Nature Reserve in December 2025, Kent Wildlife Trust began management of the site on behalf of Medway Council from July 2026. Funded by Medway Council, we will open up paths, create viewpoints, replace some of the thorny scrub areas with chalk downland, coppice and bring cattle onto the site to increase wildflowers and reduce the grass fire risk. Following the successful model at Darland banks on the other side of the valley, we will be installing paddock fencing, avoiding the popular footpaths.
We will be connecting a new water supply for drinking troughs and bringing the much loved Darland team of Old English Longhorn cattle onto site during the autumn/winter months to help create just the right kind of habitats for more flowers, butterflies and bees to thrive.
We are hoping to work with plant and animal specialists to create a wildlife list for the site and a monitoring program so we can see how these changes support wildlife. We are also looking to work with local historians as we uncover parts of the site lost since the World War 2.