“The one who plants trees, knowing that he may never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Many of us feel that desire to plant trees. To create something, from nothing, and watch the landscape transform and leave a legacy for future generations. There is something calming and deeply satisfying knowing that your hard work and investment now will reap rewards for many years to come. It could be to plant a new family woodland, or undertake a carbon offsetting project or a rewilding venture where nature alone takes the wheel.

Whichever it may be, there won’t be many better spots to do it than Ivy Meadow, tucked away in a quiet and peaceful corner in the heart of Kent’s High Weald, just outside the village of Benenden. Whilst the majority of this wedge-shaped parcel is open land, it also includes a belt of woodland along the northern edge and a substantial pond in the middle. This variance is of great value in terms of conservation and biodiversity.

The woodland shaw will soon naturally colonise the open land, given half the chance. This is the process of natural regeneration, where the wind, birds & animals disperse the seeds of the trees, allowing young saplings to germinate and take root on land once farmed year in year out. Although the land has been used agriculturally for the past 40 years or so, prior to that it was an extensive apple orchard. A new steward could return the land to this wooded state, which thousands of years ago would have been the natural order of things – for miles in all directions.

The land is accessed via a stoned track from the B2086 (Mounts Hill), ensuring year round vehicular access. The expanse of open land stretches out ahead of you from the entrance towards the east, with a line of stakes demarcating the southern boundary. About half way across the meadow lies the pond, banked on all sides by a belt of deciduous trees, namely Alder and Willow. The pond, as well as being an attractive feature, provides a vital habitat for a plethora of wildlife including insects, aquatic plants, amphibians, birds and other pondlife. At the top of the parcel, at the northern boundary, lies the woodland shaw which shields the meadow. A place to find shade, gather brush and listen to the birds call. The elder sibling of the new woodland to be.

Ivy Meadow would appeal to those with environmental and conservation interests who are looking to own a private parcel of land awash with potential for woodland creation. The existing woodland and large pond round of this special parcel of land.

In their eagerness to preserve this meadow, and as recognition of its value, the local council have given it an extra level of protection by including it within an Article 4 area, which means that it is protected from unsympathetic development. You can read more about that here.