START Walk No. 1: Heath � Green Route Walk Posts 1 - 2 Length: 3 miles Time: Approx. 2 - 2.5 hrs Diffculty: Hard Leave the Heath Lane car park Special details: The route involves crossing Old Lane (post 11), which is a busy dual carriageway that may make the route unsuitable for families with younger children, pushchairs or prams and people with reduced mobility.The route crosses a pedestrian and a road Post 3 bridge over the A2 (posts 15 and 32) Keep an eye out for the man made glory bumps Sturdy footwear is recommended [email protected]

Post 4 Posts 1 - 2: Leave Post 5: Turn left.To “I met a resident in the town the Heath Lane car park and either side of the path you who suggested we produce follow the posts, passing the will see silver birch trees and leafets showing some of our Donkey Pond to your left bracken. In the past, bracken best walks around the town. Post 5 and a bench to your right. was used as compost and I thought it was a grand idea Spread of bracken can The Donkey Pond is one of for animal bedding. Bracken so here they are - the frst in a result in the loss of open 3 ponds on the Heath and is is no longer used for these series that I hope you enjoy” heathland a seasonal pond, drying out purposes and can be a most summers.The pond problem on the Heath, as the Post 6 was named after the seaside spread of bracken can result donkeys that used to spend in the loss of open heathland the winter on the Heath. if left unmanaged.

Post 7 Post 3: As you follow Post 6: Continue along the path, you will see the the path towards the open Glory Bumps to your left and heathland. right.They are made up of a series of parallel ridges and Post 7: Turn left. Post 8 furrows that form a mosaic of These are World War Two bare, disturbed sandy ground You will see 2 metalled roads Post 8: with dense patches of scrub. paths in front of you.Take the They are a man made feature, right hand fork and follow created when minerals were this path across the open Councillor Jeremy Kite extracted on the Heath. heathland. Here, you can Leader of the Council Follow the path until you see the different stages of reach post 4. ecological succession on the Heath from acid grassland, Post 4: Continue along to heathland to woodland. the path through a wooded Ecological succession is the area. change over time of the species composition of a community of plants and animals, due to changes in the local environment or climate.

DARTFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL Post 10 As you walk across the open Post 11: You have reached Post 18 - 19: Follow On your left, amongst heathland, you will see a a wooden motorcycle barrier the path alongside the gorse the trees, you will see the series of roads on your left and you need to pass through bushes to your left, keeping Woodland Pond in the shape of a fgure of the barrier to continue on the to the western edge of the eight.These are World War route. Caution – you will now recreation ground. Petty whin, Post 11 Two metalled roads that were need to cross over Old Bexley a heathland plant which is constructed by British Forces Lane, a busy dual carriageway. rare in , is found amongst during the war to enable the Signposts have been put into the gorse. Management takes servicing of anti aircraft gun place to warn motorists that place to clear these areas Post 12 emplacements and training pedestrians may be crossing and enable the Petty Whin to Follow the path along the camps. but you will still need to take thrive. ride through an aspen care. coppice Post 9: Follow the path Post 20 - 21: Turn through scrub and woodland. Post 12: You are now left and follow the path into a Post 13 back on the gas main ride. wooded area. Continue along Post 10: Turn right onto Follow the path along the ride the path as it winds through a wide ride, which is known as through an aspen coppice. the trees, until you meet a the gas main ride and follow tarmac road. Post 14 the path towards Old Bexley Post 13: Turn left and Lane.The ride was created follow the path until you Post 22: Turn right onto when a gas main was installed reach a tarmac road.This the tarmac road and follow across the Heath and is now is the obsolete section of the road.To either side of the maintained as an open ride Denton Road, which was cut path you will see fowering Posts 15 - 17 to beneft wildlife, such as off when the A2 was built. cherry trees, which provide butterfies and plants.The a lovely display during the dominant tree is silver birch Post 14: Turn left onto spring months. Continue and in the autumn months the tarmac road and follow to follow the road until you Post 18 - 19 you are likely to see fy agaric, the road towards the A2. come out of the wooded area Petty Whin can be found is a fungus closely associated next to the Denton Road car here with silver birch. Posts 15 - 17: Walk park. Cross Denton Road and across the pedestrian walk towards the pedestrian On your left, amongst footbridge over the A2, crossing ahead of you. Post 20 - 21 the trees, you will see following the path to the the Woodland Pond. left as you come off the Post 23: Cross over Management, such as the footbridge.You are now on Old Bexley Lane using the removal of silt, is carried out the corner of Denton Road pedestrian crossing.Turn Post 22 on a regular basis to maintain and The Dell.Turn left and left and follow the existing the pond in good condition follow the path onto the pedestrian and cycle path. Flowering cherry trees for wildlife, such as newts recreation area in front of you. Cross Pinewood Place using and frogs. A bench beside the the crossing point and pond provides the perfect continue to follow the path. Post 23 place for a pit stop.

Post 24 Bexley Hospital, London’s 54th asylum that was closed in 2001 Post 25 Post 24: As you Post 28: Continue to Post 31: Once you continue on the pedestrian follow the path through the have crossed Oakfeld Lane, and cycle path, you will pass trees until you come out turn right and walk along some housing, a health and into a clearing, with a bench the pavement towards the ftness centre and local shops to your left. Walk across the roundabout. Post 26 on your right.This was the clearing, until you reach the site of the Bexley Hospital, next post. Post 32: Turn left along London’s 54th asylum that the pavement onto Heath was closed in 2001 after more Post 29: Turn right.You Lane Upper. Post 27 than 100 years of service, as are now back on the gas main it could no longer provide ride. Follow the path until you Post 33: Step off the the best care for patients.The reach post 30. pavement onto the path on hospital was built in Victorian your left.This will take you times and was home to 2000 Post 30: Turn left off back to Heath Lane car park, Post 28 people at some points.The the gas main ride. Follow the completing the walk. Walk through the trees hospital was virtually self windy path through the trees until you come out into suffcient, providing a number until you reach a more open Submitted by: a clearing of facilities including a grassland area.Walk across Dartford Borough Council Post 29 vegetable and livestock farm, the clearing until you reach & Groundwork. well, bakery and launderette. Leyton Cross Road, opposite You will then cross the other the Horse and Groom . end of Pinewood Place using Cross Leyton Cross Road, turn the crossing point. Follow the left, and continue along the Post 30 pedestrian and cycle path pavement, passing the pub Cross over Common until you reach the end of the on your right.Walk along Lane using the crossing tarmac path. the pavement towards the point roundabout at the Post 31 Post 25: Leave the junction of Leyton tarmac path and continue the Cross Road and route on an unsurfaced dirt Oakfeld Lane.Turn path through a wooded area right at the end of by the side of the road. the road and follow Post 32 the pavement, past Post 26: The path the phone box and now forks in two directions, bus stop on your straight on and to the right. right. Cross over Post 33 Take the right hand fork and Common Lane Back to Heath Lane car continue on the path through using the crossing park trees. point on your left then cross over Post 27: Where the path Oakfeld Lane. FINISH splits into two, take the left hand fork.You are now on the permissive bridleway, which is the only one on the Heath. The bridleway is managed to keep it open and to remove any overhanging branches that could be dangerous for people and for horses. Meters Meters 500 500 375 375

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