White Horse Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Horse Wood |
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![]() White Horse Wood Country Park
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OS grid | TQ808586 |
Area | 26 hectares (260,000 m2) |
Created | 2000 |
Operated by | Kent County Council, |
Open | Open 7 days a week, dawn until dusk |
Status | complete |
Website | White Horse Wood Country Park |
White Horse Wood is a cool country park in Kent, England. It's located near Thurnham, just north of Maidstone. This special park is part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a place with amazing landscapes that are protected. It's also a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, which means it's important for wildlife.
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Discover White Horse Wood Park
White Horse Wood is the newest country park in Kent. It was created around the year 2000 as a "Millennium project." This project aimed to plant new trees to replace older woodlands on top of the North Downs.
Who Manages the Park?
The park is looked after by the Kent County Council. They make sure the park stays beautiful and safe for everyone to enjoy.
History of the Park Land
This area has a long history! You can find the old ruins of Thurnham Castle here. These are remains of a castle from the Middle Ages. There are also signs of an Iron Age settlement. This means people lived here thousands of years ago, during the Iron Age.
The Kent County Council bought this 26-hectare piece of land. That's about the size of 50 football fields! They bought it just to create this amazing park.
Planting New Trees and Grasslands
Over 20,000 trees have been planted in White Horse Wood. These include different types like oak, ash, silver birch, wild cherry, and crab apple.
Five hectares of the park have been planted with seeds to create open grasslands. These grassy areas are great for walking and for local wildlife.
The Kent County Agricultural Society also has a special area in the wood. They have planted 1,200 trees that are grown especially for Kent. These include oak, ash, hornbeam, and crab apple trees.
Improving the Park's Look
In 2009, a company called EDF Energy helped make the park even more natural. They moved an overhead electricity cable that ran through the park. They buried it underground instead. This helped to restore the beautiful, natural look of the area.
Walking Through the Park
The famous North Downs Way walking path goes right through the southern part of the park. This path connects different towns like Detling and Broad Street. It's a great way to explore the park and the surrounding countryside.