Darenth Country Park

Darenth Park is located on the edge of the North Downs above the Darent Valley, and it is home to the Arrow Riding Centre for the disabled. The site resembles a river valley with the main Chestnut Driveway marking the bottom. The chalk grassland are used as grazing for farm animals, but some were left to naturalise into wildflower meadows after the park was formed, these grasslands were cleared of scrub to allow the rare chalk land plants and animals to re-establish including the Musk Orchid, and Chalkhill Blue butterfly. This is one of the only three sites within Kent, that Watling Street Thistle, Eryngium campestre can be found. The park also has 'traditional' orchards planted in 1995. Chapel Orchard has over 150 varieties of apple, pear, plum, cherry and cob nut tree. The park also includes a scheduled ancient monument. Although little remains today, this was once the site of ancient Saxon burials. Over the years a total of 12 graves have been discovered complete with Saxon objects including a spearhead, brooches and a completely intact glass bowl dating back to AD450. Darenth Park is located on the edge of the North Downs above the Darent Valley, and it is home to the Arrow Riding Centre for the disabled. The site resembles a river valley with the main Chestnut Driveway marking the bottom. The chalk grassland are used as grazing for farm animals, but some were left to naturalise into wildflower meadows after the park was formed, these grasslands were cleared of scrub to allow the rare chalk land plants and animals to re-establish including the Musk Orchid, and Chalkhill Blue butterfly. This is one of the only three sites within Kent, that Watling Street Thistle, Eryngium campestre can be found. The park also has 'traditional' orchards planted in 1995. Chapel Orchard has over 150 varieties of apple, pear, plum, cherry and cob nut tree. The park also includes a scheduled ancient monument. Although little remains today, this was once the site of ancient Saxon burials. Over the years a total of 12 graves have been discovered complete with Saxon objects including a spearhead, brooches and a completely intact glass bowl dating back to AD450.