A Site of Special Scientific Interest, Preston Hill has great views across the countryside over the Darenth Valley to Lullingstone Country Park to the west.
The area, set on top of a steep hill, is half grassland and half woodland and in the summer months is covered with wildflowers. A variety of butterflies including chalkhill blues and dark green fritillaries can also be seen on the chalk grassland.
As the site is relatively rarely visited, it is something of a haven for adders and grass snakes.
The grassland is managed at certain times of the year by grazing the park’s own herd of feral goats, which came from the Great Orme, near Colwyn Bay in North Wales. To further encourage the growth of wildflowers coppicing and the management of the ride edges have also been carried out.
Part of the site was previously used as a Ministry of Defence firing range, the remnants of which can still be seen.
There are paths through the woodland at the top of the hill although they are steep in places and some have become overgrown, meaning the site is more suited to hardy walkers.
Easy access information
This park and open space contains uneven trails, un-surfaced or narrow pathways. Also, there are width restricting features, such as stiles and narrow gaps making it difficult for visitors with pushchairs and/or wheelchairs to access some parts of the site.
