Horsted Valley open space is a mosaic of natural habitats ranging from rare chalk grasslands to ancient semi-natural woodland. Along with important landscape and ecological features, it has facilities including:
- football pitches
- play areas
- walking routes and interpretation panels, so visitors can learn while exercising or enjoying the site.
Photograph of an interpretation panel at Horsted Valley.
Project progress
Work completed so far includes:
- a number of events with local residents, businesses, Kent Wildlife Trust, the Friends of Horsted Valley, councillors and others. At these events, people shared ideas for potential enhancements to the valley in terms of management, access, walking and cycling, wildlife and interpretation
- successfully-led bids to create a new pocket park within the Luton Millennium Green. Over £40,000 has been invested in creating an area of natural play, raised flower and vegetable beds, the planting of 30 orchard trees alongside new paths, fences and increased maintenance. Local volunteers have played an important role in maintaining the site for everyone’s enjoyment
- updates and improvements to Vale Drive and Barnfield play areas
- a new crushed stone footpath from Concorde Avenue entrance meeting the existing path to the Walderslade Road entrance (completed in August 2020)
- approved Village Green Status to include Daisy and Coney Banks, as well as Barnfield
- new motorbike restrictions and fencing installed to stop unauthorised motorbike access at the main entrance points
- 4 new welcome signs and 7 interpretation boards (installed in August 2021)
- new restriction signs around the greenspace to enforce no littering, no unauthorised vehicles and no dog fouling
- new promotional signage at Snodhurst Bottom Pitch and Putt.
The newly formed Friends of Upper Horsted Valley are also supporting us to uncover war stones and create an interpretation panel with a map and information on the stones.
Further work and next steps
We are:
- currently applying for Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status
- exploring options to get cattle grazing on the grasslands
- using the remainder of the money for pitch or pavilion improvements at Barnfield.
Walking leaflet
Our Public Rights of Way Team have produced a walking route map which is useful for exploring the valley.
Illegal vehicles
Please report any sightings of illegal vehicles in Horsted Valley to the police non-emergency number, 101, or on the Kent Police website.
More information
For more information about Horsted Valley open space please contact yournew@medway.gov.uk.
Photograph showing fields at Horsted Valley.