Blean Wood Trail

Well it's Friday, right before a bank holiday weekend. Work was busy but otherwise pretty civilised, and in the middle of the day took me out to Blean, a small village on the outskirts of Canterbury. On the way back I had some time to visit Blean Woods to find a blip.

Blean Wood is an ancient woodland located near Canterbury, Kent. It forms part of the Blean Woods National Nature Reserve, which is the largest area of ancient broadleaved woodland in southern Britain. It covers about 11 square miles and includes several interconnected woodlands such as Thornden Wood, East and West Blean Woods, and Clowes Wood.  These woodlands are a haven for diverse flora and fauna, including rare species like the Heath Fritillary butterfly and the Hazel Dormouse. 

The woodlands are characterised by a mix of habitats – traditional coppice woodland, high forest, glades, and heathland – and supports a rich array of wildlife, such as woodpeckers, nightingales, and butterflies. The RSPB manages parts of the Blean Woods, undertaking coppicing to create dense thickets for nesting birds and open areas for species like the Woodcock. 

The Blean Woods hold significant archaeological importance, with numerous features dating back to the Bronze Age, including barrows and the remains of tile kilns.  The woodlands also contain medieval woodbanks that marked the boundaries of the several woods belonging to different religious houses in Canterbury.  These historical features are carefully managed and conserved alongside the natural habitats. There is a network of waymarked trails for visitors to explore, including the 25-mile Big Blean Walk that passes through all the interconnected woodlands.