Hothfield Heath

It was our first visit to this nature reserve near Ashford, which is run by the Kent Wildlife Trust. It's a mixture of open heathland, dotted with mature trees and bright gorse already in bloom, and carpeted with heather, dry and brown now but which by late summer will be gloriously coloured and alive with bees; deciduous woodland; and some lower lying areas of bog, some of which we were able to see from a short boardwalk. It was a glorious day and I enjoyed seeing a different landscape; however, the wheelchair access was quite difficult - they advertised that the kissing gates are big enough for a wheelchair, but once through them we were on fairly uneven rough grass or paths with areas too deep in mud for me to be comfortable about pushing through them, narrow spaces which forced us to turn back, and it's hilly: even with two of us pushing, it was hard going. It would be easier after a period of dry, summer weather, but even then the terrain is probably too uneven for J to find it comfortable. I enjoyed seeing a landscape which is different from our usual Downs or coastal views, and would like to go back when the heather is flowering, but we probably can't expect to be able to walk very far; J and I could enjoy some photography, sketching and perhaps a picnic while P did a longer walk, though no seats were provided, a further disincentive for anyone with more limited mobility. Despite its limitations though, the open spaces, blue sky and brilliantly yellow gorse lifted my spirits.