Viviparous Lizards at Polhill Bank, photo by Gareth Christian
Location
Otford,
OS Map Reference
TQ508604What3Words:
(car parking) - precautions.loyal.spot
(site access) - sudden.struck.sides
(footpath access 1) - choice.page.flame
(footpath access 2) - evenly.goods.trout
Know before you go
Entry fee
NoneParking information
Limited parking in the lay-by on the A224.Bicycle parking
NoneGrazing animals
Sheep and cowsWalking trails
From the lay-by the reserve can be reached by walking over the footbridge and following the footpath to the right. As the reserve is on a hillside, some paths are steep and uneven in places. There are kissing gates at the entrances.
Access
As the reserve is on a hillside, some paths are steep and uneven in places. There are kissing gates and stiles at the entrances.
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
April to August: Bluebells and spring flowers, reptiles, and butterfliesAbout the reserve
The 'Bank' is almost four hectares of chalk grassland on a southeast-facing hillside with commanding views of the Darenth Valley. Many common chalk grassland flowers can be found on this reserve. It is a good place to see a wide variety of insects, including many species of butterfly. The rufous grasshopper is also found here. The scrub provides a valuable habitat for many birds, including blackcap and willow warbler. One of the more unusual plants here is common dodder, which can be found in great abundance in some years growing as a parasite on rock-rose.