Ileden and Oxenden Woods
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationKent
Grid referenceTR 218 524[1]
InterestBiological
Area86.4 hectares (213 acres)[1]
Notification1986[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Ileden and Oxenden Woods is an 86.4-hectare (213-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) south-east of Canterbury in Kent.[1][2] It is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty[3] and is located in Adisham parish.[4]

The SSSI incorporates six named woods. From north to south, these are Oxenden Wood, Pitt Wood, Woodlands Wood, Boughtonland Wood, Well Wood and Ileden Wood.[2]

These woods have a variety of soil types and diverse habitats. There is a rich bird community and ground flora, including two nationally rare orchids, narrow-lipped helleborine and lady orchid.[3]

Public footpaths go through the woods.

Controversy

Ileden and Oxenden Woods has been the subject of significant local dispute in recent years over public access, ownership and management.

In 2010, Adisham residents protested when local landowner and former banker to the Queen, Timothy Steel, attempted to prevent walkers from accessing paths in the woods.[5][6][7][8] After Kent County Council's order to maintain public access was appealed by Mr. Steel, a public enquiry followed, which ruled in the villagers’ favour and confirmed the status of the paths as public rights of way.[9]

In 2019, concerns were raised by local residents regarding the ownership and management of the woodland, after Woodlands.co.uk acquired land in Pitt and Oxenden Woods.[10][11] A public meeting was held in September 2019,[12] where the possible impact of Woodlands.co.uk's practices of woodland lotting – the selling of woodland in small chunks – was discussed, and a recommendation was made to retain management of the woodland as a whole.[11] The company had also submitted plans to widen and resurface the woodland paths with aggregate, however these plans were later abandoned.[13]

In 2021, Oxenden and Pitt Wood were sold without being subdivided. A local group of volunteers, Watch Over Adisham's Woods, has since been working with the new owners of all woods in the Ileden and Oxenden SSSI, discussing management plans, sharing information about flora and fauna and collectively resolving issues that arise.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Ileden and Oxenden Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Map of Ileden and Oxenden Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Ileden and Oxenden Woods citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Administrative Boundaries Information". Canterbury City Council.
  5. ↑ "Inquiry into Adisham woodland right to roam row". BBC News. 3 August 2010.
  6. ↑ "Get off my land, banker tells ramblers". Evening Standard. 3 August 2010.
  7. ↑ Judd, Terri (4 August 2010). "Villagers battle landowner over pilgrim paths". Independent.
  8. ↑ Gammell, Caroline (3 August 2010). "Former Cazenove banker tackles villagers over 'Canterbury Tales' path". The Telegraph.
  9. ↑ "Rights of Way – Access to Ancient Woodlands Maintained". Clinical: The Kent Law Clinic Blog. 20 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Minutes for June 2019". Adisham Parish Council.
  11. 1 2 "September 2019 Minutes". Adisham Parish Council.
  12. ↑ "Woodlands Meeting". Adisham Parish Council. 2 September 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Who We Are". Watch Over Adisham's Woods.
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