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Down Wood

Wood, Forest in Kent Canterbury

England

Down Wood

Westbere Marshes Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is a dead-end path to the east of the lake. Westbere Marshes are to the right and the River Great Stour is out of sight to the left beyond dense riverside vegetation.
Westbere Marshes Credit: Marathon

Down Wood is a picturesque forest located in the county of Kent, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 hectares, it is nestled on the outskirts of the charming village of Down, near the town of Sevenoaks. The wood is part of the wider Blean Woods complex and is managed by the Forestry Commission.

The woodland is predominantly composed of oak and beech trees, which create a dense and lush canopy, providing a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna. Bluebells, wood anemones, and primroses carpet the forest floor in spring, while in summer, the canopy offers a cool shade for visitors to enjoy a peaceful walk in nature.

The wood is crisscrossed by a network of well-maintained footpaths and trails, making it a popular destination for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and families. The trails vary in length and difficulty, catering to different levels of fitness and interests. Along the way, visitors can spot various bird species, such as woodpeckers, owls, and warblers, as well as small mammals like deer, foxes, and squirrels.

Down Wood offers visitors a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, providing an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Its idyllic setting and rich biodiversity make it an important site for conservation and a valuable resource for scientific research. Whether one is looking for a leisurely stroll, a spot for wildlife observation, or simply a place to unwind, Down Wood is a haven of natural beauty and serenity.

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Down Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.285194/1.1446726 or Grid Reference TR1958. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Westbere Marshes Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is a dead-end path to the east of the lake. Westbere Marshes are to the right and the River Great Stour is out of sight to the left beyond dense riverside vegetation.
Westbere Marshes
Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is a dead-end path to the east of the lake. Westbere Marshes are to the right and the River Great Stour is out of sight to the left beyond dense riverside vegetation.
Path on Westbere Marshes Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is a dead-end path to the east of the lake. Westbere Marshes are to the right and the River Great Stour is out of sight to the left beyond dense riverside vegetation.
Path on Westbere Marshes
Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is a dead-end path to the east of the lake. Westbere Marshes are to the right and the River Great Stour is out of sight to the left beyond dense riverside vegetation.
Looking across the River Great Stour Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is looking from a dead-end path to the east of the lake across the River Great Stour. The river is almost out of sight because of the dense riverside vegetation. Stodmarsh Court Wood is on the horizon across the valley.
Looking across the River Great Stour
Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is looking from a dead-end path to the east of the lake across the River Great Stour. The river is almost out of sight because of the dense riverside vegetation. Stodmarsh Court Wood is on the horizon across the valley.
Stained glass window, St. Vincent's Church, Littlebourne At the east end of the south aisle. The church of St Vincent of Saragossa dates from the 13th century and is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. It is a Grade I listed building.
Stained glass window, St. Vincent's Church, Littlebourne
At the east end of the south aisle. The church of St Vincent of Saragossa dates from the 13th century and is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. It is a Grade I listed building.
War memorial, St. Vincent's Church, Littlebourne The church of St Vincent of Saragossa dates from the 13th century and is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. It is a Grade I listed building.
War memorial, St. Vincent's Church, Littlebourne
The church of St Vincent of Saragossa dates from the 13th century and is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. It is a Grade I listed building.
Elbridge Farmhouse, Court Hill, Littlebourne A C15 timber-framed and close-studded hall-house, Grade II* listed.
Elbridge Farmhouse, Court Hill, Littlebourne
A C15 timber-framed and close-studded hall-house, Grade II* listed.
Elbridge House, Littlebourne Situated on Court Hill, built about 1803 by the Denne family. A Grade II listed building.
Elbridge House, Littlebourne
Situated on Court Hill, built about 1803 by the Denne family. A Grade II listed building.
Heifers by Stodmarsh Road, near Littlebourne Looking towards Westbere and Hersden.
Heifers by Stodmarsh Road, near Littlebourne
Looking towards Westbere and Hersden.
Heifers by Stodmarsh Road, near Littlebourne Looking towards Westbere.
Heifers by Stodmarsh Road, near Littlebourne
Looking towards Westbere.
Sculling at Westbere On the western tip of Westbere Marshes. The site is an extensive 95-acre wetland reserve consisting primarily of expanses of reedbed interspersed by ditches, ponds and stands of mature willow. It was a site of gravel extraction until the 1970s.
Sculling at Westbere
On the western tip of Westbere Marshes. The site is an extensive 95-acre wetland reserve consisting primarily of expanses of reedbed interspersed by ditches, ponds and stands of mature willow. It was a site of gravel extraction until the 1970s.
Westbere Marshes, near Fordwich The western tip of Westbere Marshes. The site is an extensive 95-acre wetland reserve consisting primarily of expanses of reedbed interspersed by ditches, ponds and stands of mature willow. It was a site of gravel extraction until the 1970s.
Westbere Marshes, near Fordwich
The western tip of Westbere Marshes. The site is an extensive 95-acre wetland reserve consisting primarily of expanses of reedbed interspersed by ditches, ponds and stands of mature willow. It was a site of gravel extraction until the 1970s.
King's School Canterbury Boat Club, Sturry A rowing club based at Brett Sturry Quarry, Westbere Lakes.
King's School Canterbury Boat Club, Sturry
A rowing club based at Brett Sturry Quarry, Westbere Lakes.
Field near Elbridge Farm Field used for grazing.
Field near Elbridge Farm
Field used for grazing.
Ordnance Survey Flush Bracket S6455 This can be found on the wall of a house - private dwelling - in School Path, Littlebourne. For more detail see : <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm19622" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm19622">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Ordnance Survey Flush Bracket S6455
This can be found on the wall of a house - private dwelling - in School Path, Littlebourne. For more detail see : LinkExternal link
High Street (A257) in Littlebourne Looking south-eastward.
High Street (A257) in Littlebourne
Looking south-eastward.
Westbere Lake Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is near the Causeway which links Westbere village with the River Great Stour.
Westbere Lake
Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is near the Causeway which links Westbere village with the River Great Stour.
Westbere Lake Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is near the Causeway which links Westbere village with the River Great Stour.
Westbere Lake
Shortly before the Second World War, a seam of gravel was discovered in the area now occupied by Westbere Lake. More than six and a half million tons of aggregate were excavated here over the next 40 years. In 1971, after gravel extraction became uneconomic, a full-scale restoration programme was begun which in time led to the current lake and surrounding landscape. The whole area is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a Ramsar designation. This is near the Causeway which links Westbere village with the River Great Stour.
Looking across the River Great Stour Westbere Lake is behind where I am standing. Higham Farm is on the hilltop at the centre of the picture. The Stour Valley Walk passes through the wood on the other side of the valley and behind Higham Farm - see <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stour_Valley_Walk" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stour_Valley_Walk">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Looking across the River Great Stour
Westbere Lake is behind where I am standing. Higham Farm is on the hilltop at the centre of the picture. The Stour Valley Walk passes through the wood on the other side of the valley and behind Higham Farm - see LinkExternal link
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Down Wood is located at Grid Ref: TR1958 (Lat: 51.285194, Lng: 1.1446726)

Administrative County: Kent

District: Canterbury

Police Authority: Kent

What 3 Words

///diggers.sings.simmer. Near Littlebourne, Kent

Nearby Locations

Down Wood Littlebourne East Wood

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.285194,1.1446726
Crossing: informal
Lat/Long: 51.2852014/1.1479912
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Barrier: motorcycle_barrier
Bicycle: yes
Colour: silver
Foot: yes
Horse: no
Material: metal
Lat/Long: 51.2851544/1.1481506
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Barrier: stile
Bicycle: no
Foot: yes
Material: wood
Source: survey
Stile: stepover
Lat/Long: 51.2852106/1.1479562
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Barrier: swing_gate
Colour: silver
Material: metal
Lat/Long: 51.285115/1.1480607
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Cringleford Wood Norfolk
Clangate Wood Kent

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