I began this walk from the B2097, Maidstone Road, Rochester & crossed the M2 motorway & HS1 railway via bridges on Stoney Lane to descend into the Nashenden Valley. It was not difficult to imagine what a beautiful idyllic place this must have been before it became the major transport artery that it is today. Both the M2 motorway & HS1 railway run alongside each other through the valley.
A Eurostar train en route for Europe about to enter the 2mile long Boxley tunnel beneath the North Downs.
The path through Bridge Wood emerged onto the North Downs Way by the Robin Hood public house. I turned right here & followed the NDW past Wouldam Common where there are panoramic views over the Medway valley towards the North Downs, the Greensand Ridge, and the Weald.
From Wouldham Common the North Downs Way continues north past the Kent Wildlife Trust Nashenden Down nature reserve. This was established in 2009 & covers 55 hectares. It was previously arable farmland & the Wildlife Trust is managing it to promote diversity by planting hedgerows, creating ponds & using sheep for conservation grazing to encourage the growth of beneficial native wild flowers such as cowslip, wild marjoram & oxeye daisy. These in turn should attract butterflies & other beneficial insects.
Shoulder of Mutton Wood is owned by the Woodland Trust & forms part of the Nashenden Down nature reserve. It covers 2.2 hectares & has been here since at least AD1600. The predominant species is beech.
A Bronze Age burial mound dating from between 1500 & 1100 BC is located in Shoulder of Mutton Wood.
Good views of the viaducts carrying the M2 motorway & HS1 railway over the R.Medway near Rochester.
Notice near Nashenden Farm.
Just after Nashenden Farm I left the North Downs Way & took this bridleway back to Stoney Lane.
Wild clematis & wild privet growing alongside the bridleway.
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