The estate at Ightham Mote

Scathes Wood in Spring Paul Simons — Scathes Wood in Spring | © Paul Simons

Discover the estate at Ightham Mote, lying within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The estate is an ancient landscape, with the farmland carved from the wood that once covered much of the Kentish Weald. Surrounding the house and garden, farmland occupies over two-thirds of the estate, with woodland making up around a third.

Summer on the Estate at Ightham Mote

The summer brings plenty of opportunity to get close to the mammal and bird life on the estate including red kites, which are something of a rarity in these parts. Pause on one of the waymarked walks to enjoy magnificent views over the sprawling Kent countryside, or stop and enjoy the shade of the mature oak trees whilst watching colourful summer butterflies.

Birds

The Ightham Mote estate is a paradise for birds in the summer months, with winter and spring feathered visitors joined by the green woodpecker, turtle doves, sparrowhawk and swift. Fledglings are ready to leave their nests, adding to the morning birdsong that greets early morning estate walkers. Be prepared to be startled by large numbers of overly familiar pheasants that roam into National Trust land from the adjacent Fairlawn Estate.

Wildlife

A variety of British butterflies continue to bring colour to the estate, with dragonflies, damselflies, frogs and water boatmen also found by the streams, lakes and ponds. Voles, and harvest mice add to the wildlife count during summer, and bats put in extra air miles whilst feasting on thousands of airborne midges and mosquitos. Early morning or evening walks may prove fruitful with sightings of wild fallow deer herds and lone foxes, whilst the odd sighting of foraging badgers is not uncommon.

Trees, plants and flowers

A glorious show of foxgloves, red campion, herb Robert (wild geranium), cow parsley, bramble flowers, common spotted orchid and speedwell give a spectrum of colour and variety to any of the estate walks. The trees are now in full leaf offering welcome shade for birds, wildlife and visitors.

Ranger activity

Rangers and volunteers continue with their early summer projects, undertaking installation of estate infrastructure such as benches, waymarkers and fences. As trackside vegetation starts to dominate we look to maintain vegetation along the tracks and bridleways to keep access routes open and accessible.

Seasoned timber that was felled in the woodland last winter is also being transported around the estate for future firewood supplies.

Footpath on the Green Walk Ightham Mote with lush woodland foliage — Lush woodland foliage on the Green Walk. | © National Trust Images

Walking routes

Whether you want to stroll around the estate on one of the waymarked routes, or you fancy a more substantial trek, there are some lovely walks that explore the surrounding Kent countryside.

A two-hour walk to Wilmot Hill takes in the periphery of a large part of the 580-acre estate. The walk incorporates Scathes Wood, the Greensand Way and Broadhoath Wood. Longer walks take you out to Knole, Old Soar Manor or Oldbury Hill on a three- to four-hour round trip.

The walk up to Wilmot Hill on the National Trust Ightham Mote estate in Kent — The walk up to Wilmot Hill on the Ightham Mote estate | © Roy Garratt

The woodland

The woodland is a very important part of the landscape here and is crucial to a diverse range of wildlife. There's always something to see in the woods, from wild flowers such as bluebells, campion and rosebay willowherb, to a variety of butterflies and birds. Spot trees like oak, sweet chestnut and beech, and keep an eye open for animals such as weasels, badgers and sika deer.

Wildlife at Ightham Mote

The estate is packed with wildlife of all shapes and sizes, from the tiny elusive dormouse to the majestic sika deer. Hedges have been planted to act as wildlife corridors, linking different areas of woodland to allow plants and animals to spread throughout the countryside.

Fallen trees are left to provide food and homes to insects, birds, mammals and fungi. See if you can spot footprints and droppings of badgers and deer, as well as the feeding signs of mice and voles.

Mote Farm

The farm is a mix of arable fields, pastures, woodland and hedgerows. We’re working alongside a tenant farmer to ensure the farm remains a viable producer of food, while enhancing standards of conservation. Some field boundaries that were lost during the war are being reinstated to provide benefits to wildlife and increase the biodiversity on the site.