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Location: Near Chatham, KentOS: TQ 830 630
Habitat: Woodland, Meadow
The name says a lot about this North Downs reserve. It was once owned by Queen Eleanor of Provence (1223-1291), wife of King Henry III of England, and in medieval times it was a rabbit farm before the animals escaped and went wild. In 1536, the land was leased to a local family, who bought the freehold in 1876; 700 years of history only add to this site’s importance.
Now Queendown Warren is one of several remnant areas of plant-rich chalk grassland in Kent. This habitat forms on thin soils overlying chalk or limestone and is restricted in Kent to the steeper slopes of the North Downs, which are difficult to cultivate.
The downland turf has a mixture of plants, which are adapted to the dry, nutrient-poor conditions and frequent grazing by rabbits, sheep, and cattle. Since the last war as much as 80% of this habitat has been lost, mainly to agricultural “improvement”.
Queendown Warren is renowned throughout Kent for its orchids. Ten species are regularly recorded, including the Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera, Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and the Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora, which is a rare species found in the south east of the UK, mainly in the North Downs of Kent. The star of the orchid show however, is the Early Spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes, which is a very local, short-lived plant, it is declining, legally-protected and found only in species-rich chalk grassland in southern England.
Other special chalk down species include Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa, Chalk Milkwort Polygala calcarea and Squinancywort Asperula cynanchica – a bedstraw named after its former use as a remedy for quinsy or squinancy.
More typical downland species include Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia, Cowslip Primula Veris, Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus and Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium.
Potters Wood has a mixture of tree and shrub species – Oak, Ash, Wild Cherry, Hornbeam, Beech and Sweet Chestnut. Bluebells and Wood Anemones are often abundant in spring.
The insect and animal life is also rich, with characteristic species including the Adonis blue butterfly and Rufous grasshopper. The caterpillar of the chalkhill blue butterfly feeds on Horseshoe Vetch and the common blue caterpillar feeds on other members of the pea family. Brown argus caterpillars eat the Rock-rose, and the marbled white feeds on various grasses. Among the many birds, the green woodpecker can be found in the big trees and in the open areas feeding on ants and other invertebrates.
From Junction 4 of the M2 take the A278 towards Gillingham. Turn right at the first roundabout towards Wigmore. Follow the road back towards the M2 and turn right to Bredhurst. The road passes under a bridge, then over the M2. Take the next left and follow this road for approximately 1 1/4 miles. Turn right towards Hartlip and travel for approximately one mile. The small parking area is indicated at the first junction.
The nearest train station is Rainham, which is three miles from the reserve.
Cattle, provided by a local farmer, graze the three grassland areas during the autumn and early winter, and also in spring and early summer every third year. Grazing and occasional cutting of encroaching scrub keep the Warren open and prevent coarse grasses becoming dominant.
Potters Wood is regularly coppiced for fencing materials and wood pulp. Increased light prompts a flush of woodland flowers and insects, until the new shoots from the stumps grow tall again.
Queendown Warren is managed on our behald by the Kent Wildlife Trust. Swale Borough Council looks after the adjacent Potters Wood and has helped with the maintenance of the reserve. The purchase of this nature reserve was made possible by Timotei and supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Memorial Fund.
A butterfly at Queendown Warren
Some of the famous orchids at Queendown Warren Nature Reserve
24 Plantlife
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