Ringshill FarmBNG offset site

Site description

Ringshill Farm extends to some 153.1 ha and lies around 3 miles southwest of Rochester. It consists of two sites which straddle the village of Wouldham. This area a real wildlife oasis nestled between the urban areas of Chatham to the east and Snodland to the west, with the two sites connected by a network of several KWT reserves, Local Wildlife Sites, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. As a result, Ringshill is perfectly situated to support the development of bigger, better, more joined up wildlife spaces that can be appreciated by local communities via its public access footpath.

The northern site, on Wouldham Road, is the larger of the two and is directly adjacent to Kent Wildlife Trust reserve Nashenden Down, making it well positioned to extend and enhance this wildflower-rich chalk grassland habitat which was itself converted from arable farmland in 2009. The majority of the site is cereal crops with one field of temporary grass and clover leys. There are some field margins of modified grassland (good and moderate condition), with a small area of broadleaved woodland (moderate condition)  to the west of the site. Artificial unvegetated unseal surface is located to the north of the site with native hedgerows (good and moderate condition) scattered throughout.  

Native broadleaved trees will be planted to create new woodand habitat on the part of the site adjacent to the woodland of Wouldham to Detling Escarpment SSSI, helping to buffer and extend this habitat and create opportunities for natural colonisation by its rich assemblage of plants and animals. For example, the SSSI is one of few places in the southeast which contains the rare Box tree, as well as species such as lady orchid and sweet briar rose.

The woodland will blend through a scrubby margin into a large chalk grassland habitat, which which much like its neighbour Nashenden Down, will become home to a wide range of flowering plants, butterflies, and bees.

The southern site, on Old Church Road, is directly adjacent to floodplain grazing marsh priority habitat which forms a network of wetland habitats along the banks of the Medway. The majority of the site is modified grassland (poor and moderate condition)  with a few develop land (urban structures) and native hedgerows (good and moderate condition)  located along two lines of the northern field.  

Its grassland will be enhanced to encourage more diversity while supporting the floodplain habitats, helping to reduce flood risk and improve water quality.

New hedgerows and lines of trees will be established throughout to provide habitat for wildlife and improve landscape connectivity.

Habitat Transitions