Sevenoaks Gravel Pits

Also within

Kent County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

Description

Area, 71.0 ha. 175.3 ac. Description The interest of this group of lakes, formed by the flooding of the former gravel workings and fed by the River Darenth, centres on its breeding bird populations. Extensive landscaping to create shallows, spits and islands and the planting of trees and aquatic plants have provided conditions suitable for both breeding and wintering birds. The most numerous breeding species are Canada and greylag goose, mallard and tufted duck. Many other water birds breed including great crested grebe, kingfisher, moorhen and coot. Wintering and passage wildfowl include pochard, shelduck, teal and shoveler and passage waders are also attracted including greenshank and green sandpiper. The uncommon little ringed plover is a regular breeding species here. The woodland and reed beds support a typical range of song birds including whitethroat, reed warbler and sedge warbler. There is also a large rookery and a sand martin colony in a sand face in the south of the site. sand martin have undergone a major fluctuation in population levels in recent years and this face supports one of the few significant colonies in West Kent. The botanical and entomological interest of the site is also known to be developing. Thirteen species of Odonata dragonflies are present including the locally distributed downy emerald dragonfly Cordulia aenea. Plants of note include small cud weed Logfia minima, dwarf elder Sambucus ebulus and slender bird's foot trefoil Lotus angustissimus.

Species mentioned

Plant communities