Farningham Wood

Also within

Kent County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Paleogene · Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Area, 72.8 ha. 179.8 ac. Description This site is representative of woodland in Kent on Eocene deposits overlying Chalk. The ground flora is particularly rich and there is also a varied invertebrate fauna. A series of ponds in the centre of the wood supports several species of amphibian. Thanet sands and Woolwich and Blackheath Beds cap the Chalk giving rise to a range of soil conditions which, combined with the continuity of woodland cover, has resulted in the presence of a rich ground flora. Bramble Rubus fruticosus and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta are generally dominant, but a number of species uncommon in Kent occur including lily of the valley Convallaria majalis, Solomon's seal Polygonatum multiflorum and bird's nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis. There is also a colony of the nationally scarce Deptford pink Dianthus armeria. The canopy and shrub layers are similarly varied. Trees present include pedunculate and sessile oak Quercus robur and Q. petraea, hornbeam Carpinus betulus and ash Fraxinus excelsior, although some areas consist almost entirely of planted sweet chestnut Castanea sativa coppice, especially on the more acidic soils. Shrubs are best represented on the more chalky soils and include spindle Euonymus europaeus, wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana and guelder rose Viburnum opulus. Amongst the invertebrates, a number of species indicative of ancient woodland occur including certain beetles and the hoverfly Brachypalpoides lenta. The nationally rare fly Volucella inanis has been recorded recently. Additional habitat variety is provided by the ponds in the centre of the wood. Although there is little aquatic vegetation, the ponds support 3 species of newt including the uncommon great crested newt Triturus cristatus.

Species mentioned

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.