Poulton Wood

South of England Rare Breeds Centre

Poulton Wood
 
Poulton Wood is 28 acres of ancient bluebell woodland situated on the old Saxon shoreline and once part of the great forests that ran from Hythe to below Hamstreet.

For hundreds of years it was harvested by a process known as coppicing for the value of its wood for coppice crafts, charcoal and firewood, falling into neglect during the last war. Poulton Wood came into the hands of the Canterbury Oast Trust in the early eighties as part of the purchase of Homelands, a residential house on the periphery of the wood.

In the early nineties it came to the attention of Pete Lambert, a visionary care worker within the trust who believed that it could be restored to a managed coppice woodland and provide work experience and education for adults with learning disabilities. The Poulton Wood Ranger Service was established and Poulton Wood became 'Poulton Wood Works'.
 
On 7 March 2001 Poulton Wood was declared a local nature reserve, rich in its diversity of plants and wildlife and open to the public with improved access. It's free to visit, so why not pop in, enjoy a woodland walk and meet 'The Rangers'.

Poulton Wood is but a small part of a national movement to promote Countryside Access for All. The project is operated and supported by Canterbury Oast Trust and sustained by small woodland management grants, sponsorship and donations.