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The "Nearby"
Woods...
Whitstable is not over-blessed with trees.... which probably
explains why the few tree-lined roads tend to attract high property
values! However, there is a thin scattering of copses on the
immediate outskirts.... including Willow, Benacre, Convicts and
Longtye Woods......
Above: The
"Nearby" Woods - Map By Brian Smith
Despite the small acreage involved,
their proximity to local housing meant that they became popular playgrounds for
children.
These local "woods" are discussed below....
Willow Wood
This is located on the brow of Clapham Hill where a
smattering of houses form a small and rather self-contained
settlement amidst the trees.
For me, one aspect of this wood makes it somewhat unique in Whitstable
of 2006..... It has retained a significant number of
Bluebells!
Benacre Wood
Benacre Wood straddles the Old Thanet Way a few hundred yards
east of the Long Reach roundabout. Most of it is located on the
northern side where a narrow strip of trees hugs the hillside as
it heads toward Grimshill. It lies alongside the popular open
space of Duncan Downs and provides excellent views across the
town to the Thames Estuary.
Benacre
Wood pictured from Duncan Downs
Convicts Wood & Longtye
Woods
These are best considered together as they form a thin
stretch of trees at the base of the valley that channels
Swalecliffe Brook through Chestfield to the sea....
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The
narrow strip of trees bordering Swalecliffe Brook give
rise to Convicts Wood and Longtye Wood |
By car,
the closest view can be obtained at the bridge that carries
South Street over the stream.....
South
Street - Looking North
- with the wood and bridge at the base of the dip
(Note: Just to confuse, trees in the locality of the bridge are sometimes
known to locals as Red Bridge Wood!)
Convicts Wood is generally accepted as the portion to the
west of the bridge and its full extent can be seen from the
cycle path that leads from Brooklands Farm (South Street) to
Canterbury.
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Convicts
Wood pictured from the New Thanet Way - narrow band of
woodland that escorts the Swalecliffe Brook to
Chestfield village. |
East of the South Street bridge, the ribbon of trees
eventually widens to form Longtye Wood on the edge of Chestfield
village.
Longtye
Wood pictured from Rayham Road
In relatively recent times, the name has been adopted by a local road
- Longtye
Drive.
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