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Directions
The park is located one mile south of the A2 on the B255
(Southfleet Road), close to Bean village, between Dartford and
Gravesend.
Sharks' teeth, gunpowder, fossils and bluebells: Beacon Wood
Country Park has a varied and interesting history.
A Site of Nature Conservation Interest, the park is home to a
number of locally rare plants and animals.
Native trees - such as oak, ask and sweet chestnut - cover the
outer parts of the park. And bluebells, dog's mercury, wood anemone
and stinking iris grow beneath the trees.
Silver birch and aspen trees now dominate the areas where clay has
been extracted.
A number of seasonal ponds can be found in the lower part of the
old pit, creating excellent breeding grounds for colourful
dragonflies and amphibians, such as newts and frogs.
Depending on the season; green woodpecker; sparrow hawk; fox; grey
squirrel; common blue and small heath butterflies; and fly agaric
fungi can be seen.
Several relics of the site's industrial past can still be seen,
including the foundation blocks of gunpowder buildings; gravel
heaps from clay washing; and the routes of the railway lines used
to transport clay.
The majority of the clay was extracted, leaving beds of sandstone,
sandy clays and fossils. The Woolwich beds contain areas of rock
made up almost entirely of marine animal shells, and sharks' teeth
are often found along the cliffs, in the centre of the pit.
- Paths are largely suitable for electric scooters
- The nearest train station is Greenhithe (2 miles)
The park offers
easy access walks. |