Yockletts Bank

Overview

23 hectares of ancient woodland on a chalk escarpment with clay cap.

The slope of the valley supports mixed woodland of ash, hornbeam and beech with a hazel understorey.

Regular coppicing maintains the diversity of woodland plants and animals, and several small areas of chalk grassland are kept open by moving annually to further enhance the variety of wildlife. The is probably one of the best sites in Kent for the lady orchid and there are excellent colonies of twayblade, common spotted early-purple, fly and other orchids. Spring flowers are also prolific with violets, primrose, wood spurge and. on the clay cap, bluebells.

The reserve is also very diverse in birds such as nightingale, warblers, and great spotted, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers as well as reptiles such as adder, grass snake and slow-worm.

Directions

1.6km (1 mile) west of the Canterbury-Hythe Road (B2068) and 3.2km (2 miles) south of Petham. Follow B2068 from Canterbury and take right turn to Waltham and keep left until you reach woodland with a small car park on left. Bus 558 Canterbury and Hythe (infrequent) stops at Stelling Minnis 2km (1.25 mile).

Walking information - Please keep to the paths shown on the map to avoid disturbance to sensitive areas. Please note a kissing gate marks the entrance to the reserve.

Parking - Cars may be parked by the side of the road at the bottom of the hill, near Yockletts Farm, but please do not obstruct the road, which is frequently used by farm vehicles. The car park on the reserve is normally open only at weekends during the main orchid-flowering period of for group visits booked in advance.

Canterbury District
updated 07/2014 by Canterbury District