The first time I ever walked in Blean Woods, it was snowing. As we entered one of the silent clearings in this vast woodland (one is filled with heather; another ringed by towering Douglas firs) it seemed a place imbued with magic. Perhaps, like Alain-Fournier's Lost Domain, a traveller trying to return would never be able find it again. I have been back many times since and although it is always there, it is never the same on any two visits. One day rare Slipper Orchids will be flowering in the verges. Next time, they will have vanished without a trace. Sometimes you might meet a farmer at the edge of the wood, taking his cows to pasture with the aid of his bright little border collies. You could stumble upon the living remains of a layered hedge that is hundreds of years old. A living monument to centuries of farming history, its ancient stems are as thick and gnarled as a baobab and its young tips wave among the treetops. You might even meet a pair of pigs in their pen, who will eye you laconically before returning to their breakfast. Dogs find them hugely exciting but the feeling is clearly not mutual. Always there are dogs of all varieties enthusiastically making new friends and picking fights. "That's a lovely dog you've got there," their owners say. "You too," comes the reply. "Belgian shepherd, is it?" And so it goes on. Whether you are exercising the dog, exploring on foot, cycling or horse-riding, there is never a shortage of new paths to take and fascinating flora and fauna to spot. The site is an RSPB nature reserve with the land managed by the Woodland Trust. It covers 11 square miles, making it the largest in Kent. About half of the area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, while the rest is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. It forms part of a corridor of woodland sites (including West and East Blean, Thorden and Clowes woods) that together comprise the most extensive area of broadleaf woodland in Britain. The RSPB's own website beautifully sums up Blean Woods' great charm: "This is a wonderful place for quiet walks in beautiful ancient woodland. There are five trails of up to eight miles long that meander through the woods. In summer, look out for damselflies, dragonflies and butterflies, including the rare heath fritillary butterfly. As dusk falls, you may see nightjars gliding on silent wings, and hear their churring call." Links Blean Woods site - The Blean: www.theblean.co.uk Woodland Trust: www.wt-woods.org.uk/BleanWood RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bleanwoods/index.asp |
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