T R A N Q U I L T R E K S I I

i n M e d w a y

Price: £1 where sold

2

� Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs.

� Leave gates and property as you find them.

� Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home.

� Keep dogs under close control.

� Consider other people.

The Countryside Code

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

2

3

4

Grain Foreshore

Great Chattenden Wood

Watts Meadow

Kent Downs

Halling Marshes

Bridgewood

Dargets Wood

East Hoath Wood

Meresborough

Motney Hill

Medway Boundary

Motorway

Railway

Urban Area

Scale0 1 2 3km

WA L K I N G is one of the easiest and mostaccessible forms of activity and simplywalking for 30 minutes at least five timesa week can:� Improve your mood� Reduce stress� Strengthen your bones� Reduce your blood pressure� Improve heart and lung efficiency� Strengthen and tone leg muscles� Assist with weight loss

3

Foreword

It’s now been two years since the publication of the

enormously popular original Tranquil Treks booklet.

We were therefore delighted to be asked to introduce

this second volume of walks through the hidden

areas of Medway.

As before, its intention is to raise the public’s

awareness of those rich and diverse spaces that still

exist, providing both a haven for wildlife and for

those seeking to escape from our increasingly hectic

surrounding world.

All the writers are Council Officers, keen to share

their knowledge and enthusiasm for these places in

the hope that you will be inspired to follow in their

footsteps, certainly something that we intend to do.

Councillor Phil FilmerPortfolio Holder, Frontline TaskforceCouncillor Howard DoePortfolio Holder Community Services

4

1GrainForeshoreby RichardThompson

The walk is accessed from the car park situated at theend of the High St, just past St James Church, wherethe path leads down to the sea wall.

Grain Village was mainly built up in the1950’s and 70’s as a result of the since demolished BPOil Refinery (employing some 6000 staff at its peak),together with the North Sea Gas Storage Installation andthe Grain Power Station which still dominate the immediatearea. In fact the top of the Power Station’s chimney canbe seen from virtually anywhere along this walk.

A few of its earlier buildings do still exist, including

the church, with its mysterious stone figure just insidethe porch, Coastguard Cottages and The Hogarth Inn.

Standing on the sea wall looking out to sea,you are immediately aware of the large open expansepresented at this confluence of the two major riverestuaries, with the Thames to the left or north and theMedway to the south. The Peninsula also bears muchevidence of the damaging effect of the tidal waters andprevious beach groynes are still visible further out onthe mudflats at low tide.

To the north you can see Southend on Sea, whosepier is the longest in the country. Along the coast to yourright is Shoeburyness, where the unmistakeable soundsfrom its Military practice ranges can sometimes be heard.

Heading southwards you can see the abundantbird life attracted to the mudflats, includingOystercatchers, Redshank and Grey Plovers. The richcoastal grassland adjacent also has numerous wildflowersincluding the nationally scarce Sea Clover. It is notsurprising therefore that the area is protected as a Siteof Special Scientific Interest.

The path then turns the corner, bringing intoview the mouth of the Medway and the Isle of Sheppey.To the left of Sheerness docks at the river’s mouth isGarrison Point. Its name provides evidence of the area’sstrategic position and its role in the protection of bothChatham and Sheerness Dockyards from invasion.

Grain’s fortifications were twofold; the Fort builtin the 1860’s and demolished some time ago, leavingonly its defensive ditch and the Battery Tower.Constructed in 1855 and used up until 1946, which canstill be seen standing guard in the estuary.

6

My walk through Chattenden Woods started from HiltonRoad, where I parked my car and enjoyed the viewacross North Kent into central London. From hereCanary wharf and the famous ‘gherkin’ buildingdesigned by Sir Norman Foster, could clearly be seen.From this height and distance, the shortening effect onthe foreground compressed the industrial riversidelandscape into the quintessential 21st century

Dickensian scene, possibly a cliché but true.When entering the woods via the bridleway

between houses, it’s not really possible to realise thewood’s true size and nature. This is a wood where it ispossible to experience tranquillity, rural views, not seeany houses and to immerse one’s self in the countryside.Mature oaks, heavy in dark late summer leaf, shadedthe immature ash and Norway Maple. The tannin in theoak leaves giving an almost heavy feeling to theatmosphere rather like being underwater in a deepgreen sea. Using the main bridleway as an easy way toexplore the wood, I was joined by Gatekeeper butterfliesand Meadow Browns and Speckle Woods. Thesebutterflies were making the most of the last of the day’ssunshine and were enjoying the warm air and nectarrich flowers. The woodland itself seemed very dry andits clay floor was heavily cracked and dusty. Even theplants seemed brittle and likely to snap when touched.However, the clay surface holds the rain in winter, whichcauses ponding. As a result I could see marshlandplants, such as the pendulous sedge, along with softrushes mapping the wet areas. Above a lone dragonflyflew past, as if searching out the ponds as suitableplaces for laying eggs.

These woodlands have been well managed, forboth timber and wildlife. Large areas of woodlandunder storey have been coppiced, leaving maturing oaksto grow on to full size. A visit in the spring would seethese worked areas alive with birds, butterflies andflowers. I followed, as best I could, my tracks back tothe car and once again paused for a moment to enjoythe long distance glimpse into Central London, thoughof course glad to be here in Cliffe Woods.

2GreatChattendenWoodby Martin Hall

8

Watts Meadow Nature Reserve is a beautiful littlehaven in the heart of Rochester, between EthelbertRoad and Priestfields with pleasant walks and hidey-holes for children to play in and totally cut off fromeveryday traffic noise, a real bonus!

This piece of land has had a varied history overthe last 70 years. There was a farm on the landbetween the two world wars with cattle being grazedthere. The land was then transferred to the local council,to ensure that it remained as an open space for thepeople of Rochester.

During the Second World War there was a “dig forvictory” drive and some of the land was allocated for

allotments and these continued to be used right up tothe late 1970s when they gradually became less popular.After the allotments fell into disuse it gradually wentback to couch grass, which during the summer was veryattractive as it looked like silk blowing in the wind.

The land returned to a more natural state with avariety of trees such as hawthorn, elderberry, alder andsycamore becoming established. About this time, theresidents raised concerns regarding the protection ofthe area and a collective tree preservation order wasput on much of the woodland, which has allowed thetrees to mature, turning it into beautiful natural areawith pleasant walks throughout.

During the 1970s when my children were growingup, cows were still grazing on the Foord Almshouses landadjacent to Watts Meadow, but these disappeared aboutthe time that Abbots Close was built. Also about this time,Rochester Council took over part of the land off Priestfieldsfor a Nursery to grow shrubs and flowers for the Councilgarden displays and once a year they were open so thatmembers of the public were able to buy them.

Now that the area is fully wooded, it supports avariety of wildlife such as foxes, squirrels, green wood-peckers and kestrels with smaller mammals like voles,shrews and lizards, it’s also a marvellous source forblackberries in the summer!

There is also the Rochester City Lawn Tennis Clubin the middle of the area which supplies a little“Wimbledon” in the summer months.

Watts Meadow is a valuable, even necessary sourceof leisure in a very urbanised area and it has theadvantage of being easily accessible by foot for a largenumber of residents.

3WattsMeadowby Vivienne Kent

10

We took this four mile walk on a beautiful day in June.From the A228 we took the trackway to St. Michael’sChurch. Into the churchyard and passing through asmall gate, a short distance brought us to a metal five-bar gate. Going straight up Church Hill (watching outfor the cow pats!), we entered the wood and continuedalong a tranquil woodland path, flanked alternatively bycoppiced and mature trees, passing a parish boundarystone on the left.

When the path dipped slightly, we turned right,joining the North Downs Way, down some steps anddescended back on ourselves for a few yards, beforeleaving the wood and entering Dean Valley. There we

saw the scar of a quarry, which had been abandonedafter the local geology proved unsuitable.

We climbed over a stile and crossed the valley,which in June, was waist high in barley and oats, stillgreen, and enchantingly decorated with poppies, cowparsley and common mallow.

Into North Woods, with its richer variety of trees,and out again. We paused to admire the great expanseof varied countryside and could make out the chimneytops of Upper Bush Farm and the brick railway bridge ofthe London line. The footpath then led us toward UpperBush and was well worth a small detour by beingrewarded with a stroll around the tiny and delightfullypretty hamlet. It was hard to imagine that in the nine-teenth century this was once a thriving hamlet, withover twenty houses.

Returning, we turned left and climbed the slighthill, with young woodland on our left, planted some35 – 40 years ago to shield the quarry passed earlier.A short dip and a further rise took us back into maturewoodland and to a crossroads. Turning left, we retracedour steps to the top of Church Hill, pausing to admirethe magnificent views across the river, taking inNashenden Valley, Wouldham, Burham and beyond. Forus, the most rewarding part of a local walk, especiallyone taken for the first time, is in gaining high groundand having a bird’s eye view of a familiar landscapefrom a completely new aspect.

Going downhill, towards Cuxton, we finished ourenjoyable walk by visiting St. Michael’s church, anextremely fine example, which occupies an ancient siteand is unusually aligned on a South West axis, ratherthan the usual East West.

4KentDownsArea ofOutstandingNaturalBeautyby SueWaldegrave

12

A visit to the Halling marshes offers the walkerpanoramic views of the North Downs and in contrast,the buildings and chalk quarries of both the past andpresent cement industry.

Follow the footpath along Marsh Road towardsthe river. The path soon opens up to reveal the wide,open landscape of Halling common and the salt marsh.From here the river is not visible and it almost seems asif you can walk to the village of Wouldham over on itseastern bank.

The remains of the earliest known inhabitant ofHalling (‘Halling Man’) from about 2000 BC were found

close to this spot behind the railway station in 1912.During the building of the electricity pylons on themarshes, a dug out canoe was also found by workmen.There is a theory that this canoe belonged to theHalling Man who had been drowned in an accident, thecanoe was then washed down river and buried in thesilting up of the marshes.

Beyond the gate follow Marsh Road down to theriver. The view back towards Halling is one of contrasts.With cattle grazing the common in the foreground andthe towering chimney of the cement factory at NewTown in the distance, it is difficult to imagine a timewhen this rural setting was not dominated and indeedkept alive by the cement industry.

In the summer months look out for the pale pinkflowers of Marsh Mallow, abundant on the surroundingSalt marsh and valued for its healing properties. Take amoment also to sit on the river’s edge, one of the manypeaceful spots in the Medway Valley where the busy M2bridge and the Medway towns are still close by, butremain hidden from view due to either convenienttopography or a bend in the river.

Turning right at the river will take you to HallingCommon with its views across to Wouldham marshes.I continued on this path to the Church of St. John theBaptist and the remains of the Bishop’s Palace. All thatis remains of the Palace, built in 1077 by BishopGundulph, is an impressive stone wall. I was intriguedby the historical importance of a building, which hasstood here for nearly a 1000 years and now lies hiddenfrom the road by grand Elm trees and is I suspect,largely unknown by residents outside of Halling.

5HallingMarshesby Andy Piper

14

For a person that does not always take advantage ofthe small treasures in Medway (though strictly speakingsome of the walk lies outside of our boundary), I wasreally quite surprised by this green oasis. The directionsto the walk were relatively easy for a person thatsometimes has no sense of direction.

I took the walk early one summer evening, which Ithought was a good time, free from the heat of the day.

Though for anyone wishing to do the same, it should benoted that the path has very little lighting and beingfearless is not everyone’s cup of tea.

The walk was reminiscent in many ways of thewalks I used to take as a kid. As you enter onto thepath you came to an open area surrounded by smalltrees and shrubs, with a steep bank on the far right sidewhere kids were playing with their bikes. Walking alongfurther, I noticed a pine tree amongst all the area’sother more common trees such as Beech and Sycamore,strange but a nice change.

Another clearing, then further on into denserwood, I liked this part a lot as it reminded me just howamazing nature can be. On the left hand side I couldsee Ivy adorning the trees, which seemed to belongmore to the walls of a haunted house or some creakyold stately home than a piece of urban woodland.

The surprising thing to me about the walk is thatthe path runs between housing on either side. Someresidents had their back fence gates opening out to thewood, obviously I thought making use of the wood anattractive extension to their gardens.

The area also seemed to be very popular with dogwalkers, offering a good excuse to take advantage ofcool evening air.

If you want to unwind after a day at work, this isa very pleasant way to while away an hour or so walkingat a leisurely pace, or perhaps even as an after dinnerwalk, something not too taxing, but just enough tosatisfy. It would also be a good place for those peoplethat are not great walkers to get some gentle exercise.

Anyway would I do it again? Definitely, but maybenext time I should volunteer to walk a friends dog.

6Bridgewoodby Marsha Gayle

16

I’ve been using Dargets Wood as my route to and fromWalderslade Village for about the last 25 years andhave seen many changes. It has to be said that thenoise of the traffic in the valley below has certainlyincreased and may lead some to question its inclusionin this book. Its exclusion would be a shame though,as this type of landscape is fast disappearing and stilloffers walkers the opportunity to experience somethingof what it must have been like, before the large housingestates that now dominate the area.

Much of the surrounding landscape remainedessentially rural right up until the early twentieth century,

though people have been living in the area for thousandsof years. Evidence of these early citizens of Medwayappears every now and then and finds have includedflint axes and several early Bronze Age bracelets, nowkept in the British Museum. The name itself is of AngloSaxon origin and means ‘Wood by the deer gate’unfortunately the deer have long gone. The grasslandjust outside of the woods as you climb away from thevillage, offers superb views of the surrounding landscape.Boxley Road can be seen snaking its way along thevalley floor towards Princes Avenue, where ‘TheHomestead’ Walderslade’s oldest house still stands.Once part of Walderslade Manor, it was also used as a‘safe house’ for monks during the reign of Henry VIII,following his dissolution of the monastries.

In amongst the different grasses, can be foundmeadow flowers such as Field Scabious, Harebell andKnapweed and around the edge, shrubs like GuelderRose, Wayfaring Tree and Blackthorn. This thorny bushprovides excellent bird cover and produces wonderfulberries in the autumn known as ‘Sloes’ which are usedto make Sloe Gin.

The wood itself is a mixture of deciduous treessuch as Sycamore and Silver Birch with majestic Beechtrees towering above. A common sight on Britain’s chalkdownlands, these wonderful trees are now in danger ofdisappearing as a result of Global Warming. Inamongst the trees you can often stumble upon a smallcamp, a sign that children still enjoy playing heredespite the sometimes-negative media images associatedwith such activities. In fact increasing medical researchhas shown that we can all benefit, both mentally andphysically from spending time in woodlands.

7Dargets Woodby Mark Loos

18

East Hoath Wood is a remnant of the ancient woodlandthat once stretched across the whole of Medway. Likemuch woodland in Kent, it suffered significant damagein the great storm of 1987. Today, it is the perfectlocation for exploring with children or walking the dog,though of course neither are essential.

There were various attempts throughout the1980’s to develop the wood, but a planning enquiryruled that they should be preserved. The wood has beendesignated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI)by the Kent Wildlife Trust and is protected by TreePreservation Orders (TPOs).

Situated off Hoath Way, where there are 2 accesspoints into the wood, with another situated in DurhamRoad, where it meets with Springvale. The accesspoints are wide enough to get a buggy through as wellas a bicycle making it the ideal location for a tranquilfamily walk or a scenic cycle ride. It is also very suitablefor the less mobile, as there are no deep variances inthe various paths levels.

As you enter the woods from any of the accesspoints, the circular route around the woods is apparent,with stony paths leading the way. The woods are full ofsweet chestnut and oak coppice providing plenty ofshade on a hot summer’s afternoon. As you make yourway further into the woods you will eventually comeacross a large clearing situated in the centre wheresome coppicing work has recently been undertaken. Thisis an ancient practice where trees and shrubs are cutdown to ground level to provide wood whilst allowingessential regrowth. This also benefits woodland plantsas it allows light through to the ground. It is also ofcourse, the perfect spot to sit down, rest and take in thenatural scenery. Thrushes, Finches and Woodpeckers arejust some of the birds that frequent these woods andhave done so for many years. Squirrels dash from onetree to the next, often pausing nearby enabling youthe opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat.Throughout Springtime, the wood is filled with anabundance of beautiful Blubells and Wood Anenomeswhich seem to carpet the ground. I would suggesttherefore, that this is also the perfect location if you area keen landscape artist or photographer, as it offers awonderful array of colours, animal and plant life tosurvey and inspire.

8East HoathWoodby Karen Tamsett

20

The start of this walk is at a hidden section of theoriginal Mierscourt Road, now bypassed to form a smallcul de sac. In front of us stand two cottages with prettycolourful gardens, which are a cheery welcome. Theleafy track beside them leads to a gate, around whichthe walker is invited to continue into a field thatstretches out into the distance.

The path skirts the edge of the crop, a barrier ofPoplars and Leylandii forming a windbreak between theold Orchards that could be seen through the gaps andthe arable field that the path crosses. Here and there inthe hedgerow can be seen abandoned fruit crates, withOld Mans Beard weaving its way through them,

gradually reclaiming them back into the earth.At the field’s end, we follow a narrow lane for a

short way down hill into the hamlet of Meresborough, avery quiet, peaceful collection of houses, with a schooltucked into the junction at the end of the lane.Crossing the road, the footpath continues throughanother gate, with a sheep filled orchard one side andarea of garden on the other side. We continue downthrough overgrown plum and cherry orchards, whereclouds of Meadow Brown butterflies surround thewalker, and Finches flit amongst the trees.

The next section of walk is through open country,though one is made to feel slightly corralled by thepaddock fencing that closely edges the track. Field Faresenjoy the open ground, and woodpeckers swoopbetween the isolated areas of wood. All around usstands Ragwort, with its yellow daisy like flowerssmothered in black and orange Cinnabar Moth caterpillars.Unfortunately it is also a highly toxic plant if eaten andthe managers of the land were in evidence clearing itfrom the surrounding paddocks.

Beyond the paddocks, the walk again returns toforgotten orchards before the sight of huge fruit treesthat where once common throughout Kent. On thisoccasion they’re heavily laden with amazing deep redcherries. The abundance of ladders, movement inamongst the dense trees, wood smoke and theintermittent popping of bird scarers are a clearindication that harvesting is in progress.

From here, you can either continue down to MoorStreet and return using Mierscourt Road or simply usethe route already taken. Happy with our surroundings,we decided to return back the way we came.

9Meresboroughby Sarah Davis

22

This area can be breathtaking, quite literally, given itsproximity to the sewerage works and especially whenthere is a north easterly wind blowing hard into yourface. Though to avoid the area as a result, would be tomiss out on a stunning and interesting part of Medwaywhere binoculars are not just useful but essential.

This is truly an area of big skies, as the extensiveview stretches far across the water to the low lands ofthe Hoo peninsular and beyond. At this point of thetidal estuary they are broken only by the Power Stationswhose industrial shapes, looking rather like giant

building blocks left abandoned on the landscape, arecuriously not out of place. Two 19th century low lyingcircular forts, built with the intention of protectingChatham Dockyard from invasion, stand peacefully onthe shores of islands in the middle of the estuary.

There is always activity on the river, Yachts anddinghies from the local sailing clubs tack and jibearound the islands, while huge heavily laden containerships move up river to the docks. Look out also for theTerracotta sailed barges that were once the mainstay offreight traffic on the river and still race once a year.Occasionally the blast of a chime whistle heralds thepassing of the Kingswear Castle Paddle Steamer, itspassengers viewing the estuary from a different angle.

The arable fields that once reached right down tothe shoreline have been left to rest, creating a naturalhabitat for many wild creatures. The ‘beach’ mostlyconsists of flint and chalk, where the eagle eyed can pickup the remains of tools left by Neolithic man, remnantsof the area’s ancient and extensive industrial past.

Low tide reveals shallow islands rising out ofthe mud of the river bed, where Oyster Catchers nestin amongst the low weeds, their high pitched callsconstantly in the background, even as night falls.Shell Ducks, Redshanks, Pintails and Lapwings are alsofrequent visitors in the area, particularly feeding closeto shore as the tide goes out. Spring always brings awealth of bird life to the area, as travellers migratingfrom north and south pass through, possibly stoppingto snack mid journey in these rich feeding grounds. Thedisintegrating hulk that remains in the inlet provides anunusual habitat for sub marine life, and a usefulvantage point for gulls.

10Motney Hillby Jo Davis

Further informationIf after reading this booklet you would like more information about Medway’s greenand open spaces then please contact Greenspace Services/Frontline Taskforce on(01634) 333333, Minicom (01634) 333111 or email: greenspaces@medway.gov.uk.

USEFUL NUMBERSKent Wildlife Trust 01622 662012Kent Downs AONB 01622 221522Public Rights of Way Officer 01634 333333Cycling/Walking Officer 01634 333333English Nature 01233 812525Traveline 08706 082608

All maps in this publication are reproduced/ based upon the Ordnance Surveymapping with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright.Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecutionor civil proceedings. Medway Council 2003

Photography: Mark Loos, except page 4, Richard ThompsonFront and Back Cover Illustration: Clifford Harper, Agraphia.uk.comMap Illustrations: Sue Meheux

DisclaimerWhilst every care is taken in compiling this publication, neither Medway Council nor its servants or agents can accept anyliability whatsoever for any incorrect statement contained herein, nor any omissiion.G418 Designed by Medway Council Communications Team www.medway.gov.uk/communications