WOODLANDS

Bigbury Wood

Adjoins Chartham Hatch on the Harbledown Boundary. Just over this border is Bigbury Camp, an Iron Age Fort where it is believed Caesar fought the Ancient Britons in 54 BC. The North Downs Way passes through the wood.

Denge Forest

Lies to the south of the Parish, adjoining the Parishes of Chilham and Petham. There are many Public Rights of Way through the woods, as well as Forestry Commission Tracks. The Woodland Trust manages a portion of the woods.

Denstead Wood

This is to the North West of Chartham Hatch. Through the wood there is one Public Footpath which crosses the Parish Boundary with Dunkirk. Near this boundary the River Cranburne rises and flows through the wood and Denstead Farm, finally joining the River Stour near White Hall Farm on the outskirts of Canterbury.

Hunstead Wood (Including Nickle & Fright Woods, Chartham Hatch)

These are ancient woods with an old sunken road through to Lower Ensden. There are no Public Rights of Way. Kent Wildlife Trust has recently acquired part of this woodland.

Larkey Valley Wood

This was formerly in the Parish of Thanington Without. The Parish Boundaries were changed in 1987, resulting in a portion of the wood falling within the Parish of Chartham. In December 1988 a beech tree was planted and a hornbeam pollarded to mark this new boundary. This ancient woodland was given to Canterbury City Council in 1932 by the Mayor, Alderman Frank Hooker, in order that “it should be reserved to the public for ever”. Management is controlled by Canterbury City Council. There are several Public Rights of Way, tracks, and marked trails through the wood. Bakers Wood Is situated between Rentain Road and Woodside Avenue in Bakers Lane. It was leased by the Parish Council from Canterbury City Council in 1995 on a 99 year lease as a Centenary Community Woodland Project to celebrate 100 years of Parish Councils. Management is co-ordinated by the Kentish Stour Countryside Project in partnership with the Parish Council. The aim of the Council is to restore a neglected piece of woodland to a pleasant amenity for the village. With community help they have cleared paths, improved access and kept the wood free of rubbish.

Bakers Wood

Is situated between Rentain Road and Woodside Avenue in Bakers Lane. It was leased by the Parish Council from Canterbury City Council in 1995 on a 99 year lease as a Centenary Community Woodland Project to celebrate 100 years of Parish Councils.

Management is co-ordinated by the Kentish Stour Countryside Project in partnership with the Parish Council.

The aim of the Council is to restore a neglected piece of woodland to a pleasant amenity for the village. With community help they have cleared paths, improved access and kept the wood free of rubbish.