Save Oaken Wood: Say No To The Kent Quarry Expansion

Imagine standing at the edge of a wood that has stood for hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years. Now imagine bulldozers tearing through it. That’s the horrifying future facing Oaken Wood if Kent County Council approves the proposed expansion of Hermitage Quarry.

This is no minor development. This is one of the most alarming threats to British nature in the 21st century.

In 2013, 32 hectares of ancient woodland were already lost to quarrying. Now, plans are back on the table—and this time the potential damage is even greater: over 50 hectares, equivalent to 70 football pitches of ancient woodland, could vanish forever.

An Irreplaceable Habitat on the Brink

Oaken Wood is more than a pretty landscape. It’s a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). This designation marks it as an ancient ecosystem, rich with centuries of biodiversity and soil history, even if parts have been replanted.

It’s home to protected species like dormice, bats, and reptiles, all of which rely on this shrinking sanctuary for survival. Destroying these woodlands isn’t just about cutting down trees—it’s about pushing endangered wildlife out of the only homes they’ve ever known.

This isn’t a small-scale felling. This is environmental devastation that may even surpass woodland losses from the controversial HS2 and Lower Thames Crossing combined.

No Real Justification

Proponents of the expansion argue it’s essential for sourcing Kentish ragstone to restore historic buildings. But what’s the point of restoring heritage if it comes at the cost of natural heritage that can never be replaced?

And attempts to “translocate” ancient woodland soil to another location simply don’t work. You can’t dig up an ecosystem that took hundreds of years to evolve and expect it to survive elsewhere.

This is not a fair trade. It’s a sacrifice that benefits few and harms many.

We Spoke. Over 25,000 of Us.

Thanks to pressure from local people, campaigners, and environmental groups, over 25,000 objections were submitted to the consultation that closed in July 2023. This overwhelming response shows how deeply the public cares about Oaken Wood—and why this expansion must be stopped.

Yet the fight isn’t over. Kent County Council is still considering the application, with a decision not expected until late 2025. Another consultation is likely in summer 2025, and we need to be louder than ever.

Our Leaders Must Choose: Quarry Profits or Our Planet?

The Kent Green Party stands firmly against the quarry expansion. Councillors like Mark Hood, Paul Stepto, and Bethan Parry have consistently fought for local wildlife, sustainable land use, and stronger environmental protections. They—and the public—deserve answers.

Nature isn’t a luxury. It’s our ally in the climate crisis. Ancient woodlands are carbon stores, biodiversity hotspots, and spaces of peace for people and animals alike.

To destroy them now, in the face of everything we know about climate breakdown and species extinction, would be a disgrace.

What You Can Do Next

Share this article with your friends and neighbours.
Follow Tonbridge & Malling Green Party for updates.
Speak up again during the next consultation in 2025.

Let’s keep standing up for Oaken Wood. For nature. For Kent. For the future.

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