Hothfield Common facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Kent |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 56.5 hectares (140 acres) |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Hothfield Common is a really special natural area in Kent, England. It covers about 56.5-hectare (140-acre), which is like 140 football fields! This place is so important for nature that it's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its rare plants and animals.
It's also a Local Nature Reserve, which means it's a great spot for people to enjoy nature. Hothfield Common is part of a bigger area called Hothfield Heathlands. This larger reserve is owned by Ashford Borough Council and looked after by the Kent Wildlife Trust.
Contents
What Makes Hothfield Common Special?
Hothfield Common is home to different types of natural areas. You can find open heathland here, which is a type of land with low-growing shrubs like heather. There are also lowland valley bogs, which are wet, spongy areas of land. Around the edges, you'll see secondary woodland, which means trees have grown back after the original forest was cleared.
This common has Kent's last four valley bogs. It also has one of the few remaining pieces of open heathland. You can even find patches of acid grassland here, which is a type of grass that grows well in acidic soil.
Protecting the Habitats
For a long time, up until the early 1900s, animals like cows and sheep grazed on Hothfield Common. This grazing helped keep the heathland open and clear. When the grazing stopped, plants like bracken (a type of fern) and birch trees started to grow everywhere.
This caused the heathland and bog habitats to shrink. Many rare and special plants and animals began to disappear.
Restoring Nature's Balance
Now, the Kent Wildlife Trust is working hard to restore and protect these important habitats. They get help from Ashford Borough Council, Hothfield Parish Council, and Natural England. They cut back the plants that were taking over, like the scrub.
A key part of keeping the habitat healthy is bringing back livestock grazing. Animals help maintain the open spaces. Because of this, you might see grazing animals at any time of year. If you visit with a dog, please keep it on a lead and under control.
Thriving Plants and Animals
Thanks to this habitat restoration work, many plants are now doing well. You can see beautiful heather, cross-leaved heath, and different types of gorse. Rare flowers like the heath spotted-orchid and bog asphodel are also thriving. Look closely, and you might even spot the unique round-leaved sundew, which is a carnivorous plant!
It's not just plants that are benefiting. Dragonflies like the keeled skimmer are returning. You might also hear the song of the tree pipit, a special bird that loves these open habitats.
Visiting Hothfield Common
Hothfield Common is open to everyone all the time. It's a wonderful place to explore and enjoy nature. Remember to stick to the paths and respect the wildlife.
