KentI have lived in Kent all my life and am lucky to live in an area with such a diverse range of wildlife habitats, including both ancient and managed woodland, open downland, salt and grazing marshes, beautiful river valleys and extensive reed beds. With this diversity of habitat comes a wealth of wildlife, including nationally rare orchids and butterflies, and a wide variety of birds.
Because of the wide variety of wildlife habitat, and perhaps because of development pressures in such a highly populated corner of the country, there are about 50 nature reserves in Kent. I love taking my camera to these and other locations in the county to try and capture the beauty of nature.
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 One of my favourite woods to visit is East Blean Wood. I discovered this place a few years ago now and I have regularly walked there throughout the year ever since. It’s a large area of approximately 122 hectares (300 acres) of semi-ancient managed woodland, looked after by the Kent Wildlife Trust. |
 Park Gate Down nature reserve is approximately eight hectares of chalk grassland and scrub looked after by the Kent Wildlife Trust. It is a very special place to visit especially during the months of May and June when many orchids can be seen. Due to its position on a steep slope it is quite likely the area has never been ploughed and the thin, nutrient-poor soil of the chalk downland makes it the kind of place where many varieties of orchid like to grow. |
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