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Oldbury Hill and Styants Wood
On the summit of Oldbury Hill, commanding a powerfully defensive position, is one of the finest Iron Age hill-forts in the Medway, with substantial earth ramparts two miles in length. Ancient woodland, scrub and relic heathland disguise its complete outline.
The woodlands support oak, birch and Scots pine with a variety of fungi and plants from the former heathland, including heather and bilberry. Areas of oak coppice are being re-coppiced, making this one of the few Kentish woods where this traditional Wealden management is being practised.
The hills and woods are a Greensand Ridge Special Landscape Area and part of the Metropolitan Green Belt, managed by the Kent County Council. The small caves and shallow rock shelters in the sandstone ridge were probably used by paleolithic man.
Facilities
- Picnic area
- Parking
- Information panel and map
One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill is held principally for landscape reasons, but it is also owned and managed for its wildlife and recreation value. The woodland paths at One Tree Hill are highly valued by walkers and horse-riders.
Major changes in the character of One Tree Hill have taken place since its acquisition in 1911. At this time, the area would have been much more open, with large areas of land worked as arable and pasture, with some tree cover. By 1987 it had become largely wooded, with some glades remaining. The storm of October 1987 blew down most of the trees, which have recovered very well, either from the stump or through natural regeneration.
One Tree Hill is thought to be the site of a Roman cemetery. However, no evidence has been found to support this theory.
Dr and Mrs Jamieson Hurry purchased One Tree Hill in 1911, in order to protect the area under the 1907 National Trust Act. It was purchased in memory of Mrs Jamieson Hurry's father Arthur Hill, half brother of Octavia Hill.
Rising to 679ft (207m) above sea level this 35-acre (14ha) property, on the Greensand Ridge, south east of Sevenoaks in Kent, lies between two major National Trust properties - Ightham Mote to the east and Knole to the west. Most of the property is included within the One Tree Hill and Bitchet Common SSSI which is an extensive area of semi-natural woodland lying on the scarp and plateau above.
One Tree Hill, enjoyed mostly by local people and dog walkers, is a tranquil site with a network of paths, including the Greensand Way, a long distance footpath between Reigate in Surrey and Maidstone in Kent. At the highest point of the hill is an open area with a good view to the south over the Weald of Kent. There is car parking for up to 20 cars on the western boundary of the property.
Among the plants and animals supported by the diverse habitats at One Tree Hill are several unusual molluscs, including Rolfs door snail, a point snail (Acicula fusca), and a large slug (Tandonia rustica) for which this was the first recorded locality in Britain.
Facilities
- Fine views and picnic area
- Large car park on western boundary
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