Nature Reserves

Dunkirk Parish Council has no responsibility for Nature Reserves in the Parish we are lucky enough to have the Blean Woods Nature Reserve on our doorstep.

Habitat
RSPB Blean Woods is a designated National Nature Reserve and covers 509 hectares (1,257 acres) of woods and heath. As you explore the numerous paths and trails you will see a mosaic of landscapes including traditional coppice woodland, high forest, glades and heath. This creates a great mixture of habitats for a whole array of wildlife including woodpeckers, nightingale, dormice and butterflies, including the extremely rare heath fritillary.

Conservation
Some areas of the woods are managed by the traditional cycle of cutting and rejuvenation of trees known as coppicing. This creates the dense thickets preferred by many nesting birds, especially nightingale whilst the warmth of the newly cut areas attract our fantastic array of butterflies.

The large oaks and beech trees which dominate some areas of woodland are perfect for both the great spotted woodpecker and the much rarer lesser spotted woodpecker. We leave these unmanaged to allow standing trees to rot and decay, creating shelter and feeding grounds for birds, bats and invertebrates.

Along some of the paths in August you will notice the bright purple of the heather and coconut scented gorse. These heath areas were once non-native conifer plantations but are now the breeding and feeding grounds for nightjars hunting moths at dusk. Blean Woods is ideal for a family walk in all seasons, with different length trails to suit all ages and abilities. Look out for the sign-posted trails from the car park.

Lying on a low ridge between Canterbury and the sea, East Blean Wood is one of the richest of all Kent's woodland habitats. A short walk from the car park and you will discover open, sunny glades and wide rides abundant with wildflowers including cowwheat, the food plant for the rare heath fritillary butterfly.

In spring there are carpets of bluebell under coppice trees of sweet chestnut and wood anemone under a canopy of oaks and hornbeam. It is easy to lose your sense of direction as you follow the trail further along oak trees with nesting holes for greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers. The bushy re-growth of coppice trees provide perfect nesting habitat for many species of bird including the nightingale and blackcap which feed on the rich insect life.

During autumn, the fruits of the trees provide food for the dormouse and look out for fungi growing on the dead and decaying wood of fallen trees.

The reserve car park is situated on the north side of Hicks Forstal Road, which runs from the A291 near Wildwood towards the village of hoath. Please do not park on the verges.