Bowl WoodBNG offset site
Local Planning Authority: Ashford; Swale
National Character Area: North Downs
National Landscape: Kent Downs
Biodiversity Opportunity Area: Mid Kent Downs Wood & Scarp
OS grid ref: TQ 95420 51481
Postcode: TN27 0HG
What3words: ///remaking.date.moment
Habitat units available - Surveyed in 2024
A total of 28.366 habitat units and 1.849 hedgerow units are available from the following habitat types:
Grassland
Other neutral grassland (Medium distinctiveness) - 12.314 units
Heathland and Shrub
Mixed scrub (Medium distinctiveness) - 14.311 units
Woodland
Lowland mixed deciduous woodland (High distinctiveness) - 1.741 units
Hedgerow
Line of trees - 0.419 units
Species rich native hedgerow - 0.617 units
Species rich native hedgerow with trees - 0.814 units
Site description
Bowl Wood is a Kent Wildlife Trust reserve located approximately 1.5 km north of Charing, midway between Ashford and Sittingbourne. It is nestled within a patchwork of farmland and woodlands that make up the landscape within this rural part of Kent.
The northern part of Bowl Wood comprises ancient broadleaved woodland which falls within Spuckles Wood, Stalisfield Green Local Wildlife Site. The LWS is a network of ancient broadleaved woodlands and chalk downland that spans 2.5 km and includes two other Kent Wildlife Trust reserves: Spuckles Wood (which also has BNG units for sale) and Kennelling Wood. It is known to contain the red-listed hazel dormouse as well as a rich community of ancient woodland plant indicator species.
The rest of Bowl Wood is not a wood at all but is a neutral grassland pasture surrounded by hedgerows with trees, and featuring a large patch of gorse scrub, whose yellow flowers smell of coconut on sunny summer days. Some parts of the grassland support over 15 plant species per square metre.
The current habitats on site include other neutral grassland, gorse scrub and lowland mixed deciduous woodland
The existing grassland and woodland will be enhanced to good condition, while allowing the area of dense scrub to expand to cover a larger area and turn to mixed scrub. This scrub will provide fantastic habitat for a wide range of breeding birds. Over time, this scrub may regenerate into woodland.
The existing linear features on site will also be enhanced to good condition.
Bowl Wood is a public access Kent Wildlife Trust reserve, meaning the results of this project can be experienced and enjoyed by many.
Fill out a form at the bottom of this page or email your development's BNG metric to bngenquiries@adonisblue.org.uk for a free BNG consultation.
These units are valid for a maximum of two years, provided site conditions do not significantly change. If more than two years have lapsed between the site survey and habitat works being undertaken, an updated survey will be necessary to ensure recommendations remain valid.
Habitat Transitions
Site Photos
