Burham Down

Map reference: O.S. Map 188 TQ 735624

LocationWest of the A229 (Maidstone to Chatham Road) adjoining the KCC picnic site on Common Road, Bluebell Hill. Bus 101 Maidstone and Chatham/Gillingham stops in Blue Bell Hill village (1/4 mile).

StatusPart of the much larger Wouldham to Detling SSSI, Kent Downs AONB.

AccessThe reserve is accessible via a network of public footpaths with parking at two main areas - the KCC Bluebell Hill Picnic Site and roadside parking near the Windmill Pub in Burham (see map). For safety reasons, entry to the two chalk pits within the reserve is by permit only, available from Kent Wildlife Trust.

Being on a hillside, some paths are steep and uneven and there are some stiles.

Points of interestThe reserve is in two parts totalling 104 hectares. The south-eastern section (excluding the chalk pits) is dominated by woodland and scrub, with two areas totalling approximately 5 hectares, which are managed by grazing using the Trust's own herd of Exmoor ponies.

The northern section, which includes Wouldham Common, is also predominantly woodland with some recently cleared areas, now under grazing management. Access to this section is by arrangement only.

Woodland and scrub areas have a wide variety of tree and shrub species typical of the chalk soil. This provides an important habitat for dormice and breeding birds including nightingale and hobby. Woodland glades and edges have important populations of lady and fly orchid.

Open grassland areas are important for their chalk grassland flora including man and pyramidal orchid, dropwort and thyme. Butterflies include chalkhill blue, brown argus and silver-spotted skipper; the latter was re-introduced to the site in 1998.

The down provides wonderful views over the Weald of Kent.