Denge Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denge Wood |
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Chalk grassland and shrubland at Bonsai Bank in Denge Wood
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| Map | |
 Location in Kent
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| Geography | |
| Location | Kent, England |
| OS grid | TR102514 |
| Coordinates | 51°13′25″N 1°00′35″E / 51.2235°N 1.0098°E |
Denge Wood is a beautiful forest located about 8 miles southwest of Canterbury in Kent, England. It's a special place because parts of it are considered ancient woodland. This means the forest has been around for a very long time, possibly since before the year 1600! The wood is looked after by the Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust, though some parts are also privately owned.
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Where is Denge Wood?
Denge Wood sits on the side of the North Downs, a range of hills in southeast England. It is also part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This means the area is protected for its natural beauty. The wood is built on clay and flint soils, over chalk rock. The highest point in the wood is about 140 metres (460 feet) above sea level.
Amazing Nature in Denge Wood
Denge Wood is home to many different plants and animals. It's a great place to explore nature!
Plants and Trees
The wood has many different types of trees. You'll find lots of chestnut trees that are cut back regularly to help them grow new shoots (this is called coppiceing). There are also areas with beech, hazel, ash, and oak trees.
In some open areas, called clearings, you can see a mix of scrubland (bushes and shrubs) and chalk grassland. A famous spot is Bonsai Bank, where you can find these plants.
When you visit, look for colourful flowers like bluebells and wood anemones in spring. On the chalky, lime-rich soils, you might spot unique plants such as dog's mercury, herb paris, and columbine.
Denge Wood is especially famous for its many types of orchids. These beautiful flowers grow in different parts of the wood:
- In the open scrubland and chalk grassland, you might see twayblade, common spotted orchid, pyramidal orchid, greater butterfly orchid, man orchid, and fragrant orchid.
- In the shadier woodland areas, look for the early purple orchid, fly orchid, lesser butterfly orchid, and bird's nest orchid.
- The wood is also home to a large number of the rare lady orchid.
Animals and Wildlife
Denge Wood is a busy place for animals too! It's an important home for many birds, including those that nest there and those that stop during their long journeys. You might hear the beautiful song of a nightingale, or spot a chiffchaff or a spotted flycatcher.
If you love butterflies, you're in luck! Over 27 different kinds of butterflies have been seen here. Keep an eye out for the bright green hairstreak, the speedy grizzled skipper, and the less common Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
Mammals also live in the wood. You might be lucky enough to spot a tiny dormouse or even a fallow deer or roe deer. Reptiles like the common lizard and the adder (a type of snake) also call Denge Wood home.
Visiting Denge Wood
Denge Wood is a popular place for people to enjoy the outdoors. Many visitors come here for walking and horse-riding. It's a great spot to enjoy nature's beauty and see all the amazing plants and animals.
The parts of the wood owned by the Woodland Trust and Forestry Commission are open to everyone. There are many paths and trails that cross through the wood, making it easy to explore. Some areas of Denge Wood are also used for forestry, which means trees are grown and harvested for wood.
