The Nature Reserves and Woodlands that surround Royal Tunbridge Wells are home to and protect a range of wildlife and landscapes.

The High Weald, the area of land between the North and South Downs, was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1983 due to the exceptional qualities of the landscape which it was agreed should be preserved for future generations.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) usually cover a smaller area than a National Park and the terrain is generally more gentle than dramatic but no less appealing.

Over 69% of the Tunbridge Wells region is in an AONB and designated as a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation

The evolution of the landscape of the High Weald is due to the ancient agricultural and farming practices of the 14th century. Every autumn the farmers’ would move their pigs, sheep and other animals from the Downs, to the Forest of the Weald to enable them to feed on acorns.

This annual movement of animals created the fundamental character of the Weald with its narrow, sunken lanes, open heaths and the patchwork of small fields. The Weald “is considered to be one of the best examples of a medieval landscape in existence in Northern Europe.”

External Links

Barnetts Wood (Kent High Weald Partnership)

Highlights