Bull Heath, a site owned and managed by the Heaths Countryside Corridor (HCC) is a disused sand quarry. The remnant quarry has left a bowl in the landscape that has flourished as a sanctuary for wildlife.  The HCC proudly maintains the site and its rich diversity including lichen, pyramidal orchid and a wealth of specialist acid loving plants.

Sandmartins, the smallest member of the Hirundinidae family (swallows and martins) have been seen living in the sheer sand cliffs on the site. This summer migrant burrows into fresh cliff faces to lay their eggs. In conjunction with a clear cliff face, this species needs to eat a large number of insects to survive. The presence of a pond at Bull Heath increases the number and range of insects available to the birds and enables the species to breed successfully.

A natural process called succession takes place in the quarry. Succession is the gradual formation of a climax community of plants. In this instance, woodland including alder and silver birch are establishing across the site. This process is impeding on the sites true value as an open lichen heath with low ground cover and open cliff faces for the sandmartin, solitary bees and other reptiles. Volunteers from the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership (KSCP) have been working with the HCC to remove areas of woody growth in an effort to maintin the high biodiversity value of the site.

KSCP volunteers cleared the pond area of all alder and silver birch growth, creating a vast open space for sandmartins to hunt for insects on the wing.

Other work included scrub clearance and management of an open glade behind the pond. Removing the vigorous growth of trees and scrub encourages an attractive array of flowers including white campion, vipers bugloss and common stork’s-bill to establish.

Managing the site in this way, with conservation volunteers, mirrors the effect that browsing animals such as goats would have on the site. Maintaining low vegetation and thus increasing floral diversity creates a honey-pot of pollen and nectar sources for butterflies, moths and insects.

Bull Heath is an idyllic spot and well worth a visit. If you would like more information on the HCC sites and where to find them click here.

If you are interested in conservation and would like to accompany the KSCP on some conservation tasks in the Ashford are please contact the KSCP on 01233 813307 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it