Image credit: Ian Rickards
Precious Peatlands at Hothfield Heathlands
We will be carrying out conservation management and access improvement works across Hothfield Heathlands. The main aim of the ‘Precious Peatlands’ project will be the restoration of peat bog, which acts as a carbon store and provides essential habitat for a wide range of wildlife species that depend upon it.
The Precious Peatlands project has been generously funded by an anonymous donor, with additional support from Ashford Borough Council and the Rural Payments Agency.
Over the next two years, we intend to carry out work that will:
Improve access on key paths and routes throughout the reserve
We will be improving the condition of key paths around Hothfield Heathlands. This includes raising heights of paths, especially those prone to water logging and erosion.
In addition to the ‘Precious Peatlands’ project, we are delivering access works paid for by Ashford Borough Council. This work will be completed by October 2022 and involves the creation of an all-weather accessible path through The Triangle and further improvement to pedestrian routes within the main reserve.
Image credit: Ian Rickards
Restore and improve areas of nationally important peat bog and heathland
The nationally scarce bog and heathland habitats at Hothfield are constantly threatened by vigorous scrub growth. This scrub shades out species like heath-spotted orchids, sundew and bog asphodel and removes thousands of gallons of water, drying up the bogs.
We will be removing scrub, mostly with our fantastic volunteer team but also with support from larger machinery to help us with the tougher areas.
We will also install water control features, such as bunds and dams, to prevent bog habitat from drying out.
Realign fencing across the site
In line with our vision for a Wilder Kent we will be moving towards a Wilding approach at Hothfield Heathlands. Our cattle and ponies are a familiar feature of the reserve, and our intention is to reposition the fencing to allow them more freedom to behave naturally. By removing fencing, the livestock can choose where and when they graze, wallowing in mud when hot and eating the juiciest leaves. There are many benefits to Wildling, another being the ability of cattle to transport seeds across the site, encouraging the spread of nationally rare plants. We will also be installing new fencing, creating areas where wildlife can exist free from human disturbance.
The renewal and repositioning of 2km of fencing will support this, improving the efficiency of our conservation grazing at the reserve.
Wider Landscape and Connectivity
Image credit: Ian Rickards
In enhancing the wetland and bog habitat at Hothfield, the project will boost biodiversity and support the myriad of wildlife species, from insects to breeding birds, that can be found across Hothfield’s 86 hectares. Kent Wildlife Trust also manage Ashford Warren and Heath Countryside Corridor sites (within two and five miles, respectively of Hothfield Heathlands), which also feature acid grassland, helping to maintain these fragmented sites as havens for wildlife in the busy southeast.
Image credit: Ian Rickards
Image credit: Ian Rickards
Image credit: Ian Rickards
Image credit: Anne Rowe
Image credit: Val Butcher
How can you help?
Peat bogs are declining across the globe. Large amounts are dug up and sold in garden centres for compost. Ensure you only buy peat free compost.
Let us know what you think
We are still developing our plans and would appreciate your input.
Get involved
We need your help to deliver this work. We have lots of opportunities for volunteers to get involved.
