Woodsell is a 180-acre wilding project situated in the stunning landscape of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was acquired in 2020 and the farmland is now under the ownership of the John Foran Foundation. The charity is dedicated to transforming the farm into a nature reserve, serving as a hub for research, training and education with a focus on biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, arts and crafts, nature-based therapy and holistic wellness. It will also provide a peaceful rural retreat where small groups of disadvantaged people can connect with nature and experience dark skies.
It is situated near the village of Stalisfield between the Kent Wildlife Trust’s Spuckles Wood and Holbeam, helping to establish their Wildlife Corridor. It is also part of the new Chalk to Coast Project. At Woodsell we plan to enable nature to flourish and increase biodiversity, with the long-term aim of habitat restoration for this traditional downland land holding. The project includes baseline surveys and assessment to maximise the ecological richness of the landholding and contribute to the wider landscape and biodiversity objectives within the Kent Downs.
Several projects are taking place to support the regeneration of flora and fauna including the maintenance and enhancement of the existing woodland, introduction of natural wilding areas, preservation of wildflower and grass meadows, inclusion of regenerative farming/agroforestry, maintaining and replanting of hedgerows, planting of new woodland, production of wildflower seed and the restoration of the dilapidated farm buildings. There is a Nature Trail around to farm for visitors including our popular bird watching hide on stilts. We are also part of RSPB’s Operation Turtle Dove.
Our four newly renovated nature retreats are situated in the heart of Woodsell and have stunning views across the Downs. They have been recently converted from the flint stable block and are located near to the Grade II Listed Farmhouse and other outbuildings. They make a fantastic base to explore Woodsell and the surrounding area, so that you can enjoy the quiet enjoyment of the rural environment and the clear skies at night. We are a dark farm and there is an option to view wildlife webcams and the night sky from our telescope from the comfort of your sofa. They also have access to a heated swimming pool in the summer months and are just a short walk from the Plough pub.
We have recently put together a Whole Farm Ecological and Biodiversity Assessment Report and a Woodland Management Plan for the Farm. We have also started to involve experts from various wildlife groups to produce a comprehensive record of flora and fauna present on the farm and woodlands and monitor changes in the future.
A third of the reserve consists of Great and Little Spelty Woods. This is divided into an area of ancient woodland and an area that was previously coppiced. Not only is it ancient woodland, so important in its own right, but it is part of a local suite of dip-slope woodlands including Spuckles Wood, Hazel Wood and others, on chalk and clay soils. These often support a wide variety of plants and fungal communities.
Natural Wildflower Meadows, conversion of arable to wildflower meadows and grazing
In other parts of the reserve, we are preserving a well-established wildflower meadow (Orchid Bank) with annual cutting and rerolling or green hay in other parts of the farm in order to establish native wildflowers. Two of the larger lower fields have now been planted with a pollen and nectar flower mix and flower rich grass under the Sustainable Farming Incentive. We are also grazing around 50 sheep in rotation.
With the aim to diversify the landscape and increase biodiversity we have added six wildlife ponds to the farm. It has been amazing to see how quickly these have become established with a wide variety of different species and provide an important water source for mammals and birds.
Our Centuary Field is currently just being left to naturally rewild. We have added a bird watching treehouse to observe this peaceful corner of the farm from above. The webcam viewing the pond has picked up a wide variety of animals/birds, including badgers, hares, deer, foxes and buzzards.
We are also working with Kent Wildflower Seeds on a commercial wildflower project by planting 5 Ha of 15 different species. Two years into the project we reaped a good harvest of Oxeye Daisies, Red Sorrell and Wild Carrot seeds and we hope our harvest will increase in future years. Kent Wildflower Seeds have recently won a Gold Medal for their ‘Wildflowers Without Borders’ exhibit in the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
In terms of self-sufficiency, a large proportion of the electricity is provided by a 20 kW ground mounted solar array with battery storage system. The accommodation is heated using air source heat pumps and there are charging points for electric vehicles. We have installed a borehole to provide the farm’s water needs.
Visiting the Reserve is by appointment only or by booking the accommodation. Contact us for more information - Woodsell
Where to find us?
Just an hour’s drive from London and less than half an hour from Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury, it is an easy journey to visit us. The farm will offer a quiet space to relax and enjoy the countryside. The site offers dark skies and little noise pollution and gives visitors a chance to relax and become immersed in nature.
