Blackbush & Twenty Acre Shaw Woods

These two magnificent adjacent woods lie in the Downe Valley near the village of Cudham, in the London Borough of Bromley. The area is famous as the home of the naturalist Charles Darwin, who lived at nearby Downe House and is of such significance it is a proposed World Heritage Site. Situated in an attractive wooded rural valley, the woods, parts of which are ancient, display lovely autumn colours and are carpeted in bluebells in spring. Blackbush Shaw has a mixture of ancient woodland, old coppiced trees, younger trees and grassland while Twenty Acre Shaw is mainly ancient woodland with notable old pollarded trees on the boundary. Many of the plant species found in the woods were studied by Darwin, of these Gentiana amarelle (autumn gentian) is rare in these parts. The woods and surrounding area have much to offer the visitor and are well served by paths. The two woods form part of a wildlife corridor linking woodland and grassland habitats from London to the Kent Downs AONB. The chalk grassland in Blackbush Shaw is an important habitat and the Woodland Trust is managing and extending it, to encourage greater diversity of species. There are three entrances to each wood. Both woods have a public footpath running through them and a network of informal paths, some of which are steep and all unsurfaced. The recreation ground at Cudham offers local parking and the nearest bus stop is also in the village. • Beautiful ancient bluebell woods • Close to Charles Darwin's home • Rich and varied flora