Kent residents face loss of ancient Oaken Wood to quarry expansion

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-06 09:29 2 min read

A narrow dirt path winds through a dense forest with lush green leafy trees.

A significant portion of Oaken Wood in Kent is under threat of destruction following a decision by Kent County Council to support a quarry expansion. The proposal, which would see 100 acres of ancient woodland cleared for mineral extraction, has been labelled the largest loss of such habitat in England this century by the Woodland Trust.

The environmental impact on Oaken Wood

Oaken Wood, also known as Barming Wood, is a sweet chestnut plantation on ancient woodland. Despite its classification as a plantation, it is protected under the same national planning frameworks as other ancient sites. The Woodland Trust asserts that the area supports complex ecosystems, including dormice and owl populations, while acting as a natural carbon sink that helps regulate local temperatures and mitigate flood risks.

Conservationists argue that the destruction of this site is unnecessary, as the land has been allocated as a hard rock site in the Kent Mineral Sites Plan. The Woodland Trust maintains that the council has failed to demonstrate the ‘wholly exceptional’ circumstances required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to justify the removal of irreplaceable habitat. Under the NPPF, development resulting in the loss of such habitats should be refused unless there are exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy, neither of which the Trust believes has been met.

The essentials: Consultation and planning procedures

Kent County Council’s decision has sparked significant local opposition, with more than 26,000 people formally objecting to the plans. The site’s status as a protected area is supported by the council’s own internal documents, including the Kent Tree Plan and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Detail	Information
Proposed loss	100 acres (40 hectares)
Consultation deadline	10 September
Primary objection	Lack of ‘wholly exceptional’ justification
Key stakeholders	Woodland Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, Friends of Oaken Wood

Members of the public who wish to voice their opinions on the proposal have until 10 September to submit responses. The Woodland Trust advises that submissions should focus on the legal compliance and soundness of the plan, specifically addressing whether the proposal is justified, effective, and consistent with national planning policies regarding the protection of ancient and veteran trees.

Campaigners, including the Kent Wildlife Trust and Friends of Oaken Wood, are coordinating efforts to assist residents in navigating the consultation process. The Woodland Trust continues to urge the government to identify alternative sites for mineral extraction that do not require the permanent loss of centuries-old natural heritage, emphasizing that once ancient woodland is destroyed, it cannot be replaced or moved.

Source: Woodland Trust Press Releases

Context & actions About this article

Source check Fact-checked against Woodland Trust statement

This report is based on the official objection issued by the Woodland Trust regarding the Kent Mineral Sites Plan.

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