Go to map Back to search

North Downs - The Larches

Nearest town: Maidstone

Site type: woodland

Access: Public

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Kent

Country: England

Grid ref: TQ79255889

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 22-Jan-11

Recorded by: Cliff Hansford/Michael Pound

Protection & responsibility: No data

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 4m-5m

Notes: The Larches is part of the Wouldham to Detling Escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) located within the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its SAC designation is largely due to the presence of internationally important beech-yew woodland communities (which exists within an intricate mixed habitat of scrub and chalk grassland). The site is currently maintained and managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT). Sharing a position among many other trees (a number of which are smaller yews) it occupies a site some 167 metres above sea level, secure in some eighteen inches of top soil, on the slopes of a steep chalk embankment.