West Blean and Thornden Woods

West Blean and Thornden Woods stretch five kilometres north of Canterbury. Ancient semi-natural woodland covers nearly 490 hectares, part of the larger Blean complex that may run to thousands of hectares. The Kent Wildlife Trust manages the reserve, which links Blean Woods National Nature Reserve to the west with East Blean Woods to the east. Nightjars and nightingales nest here, while common cow-wheat feeds heath fritillary caterpillars. Forty per cent of the site is conifer plantation, forty per cent sweet chestnut coppice, and twenty per cent mixed native deciduous woodland. The trust plans to remove conifers and restore the ancient habitat, benefiting rare butterflies such as the heath fritillary and white admiral. Paths wind through the woods, and car parks lie within the reserve. Bluebells and wood anemones carpet the ground, while long-eared owls, yellow-necked wood mice and dormice live among the trees. Coppice management will introduce hazel, hornbeam and oak to diversify the sweet chestnut stands.