On a mission to inspire a love of the woods.
Whilst walking amongst the bluebells with our boys and dogs in 2012, we decided to open up our private and beautiful ancient woodland so that you could come and enjoy it too. We worked closely with Kent Wildlife Trust to find a way to allow people into this wonderful place whilst also enhancing the biodiversity at the same time.
As an environmental engineer, a farmer and a father, I could see it was increasingly important that all our children are engaged with nature and all that it has to offer. Battling the iPad with the den and the campfire.
We recognise the benefits that time spent immersed in and connecting to nature can bring to mental and physical health; as well as the need to inspire a love of nature as we try to fight both global biodiversity loss and the climate emergency.
We’ve created an experience that is as close to wild camping as possible, with fires and plenty of space in the woods, but with lovely hot showers and composting loos for a few creature comforts.
I really hope you will enjoy it and create some amazing memories here.
Come and light a fire with us!
Guy Nevill, Spring 2022
READ OUR WOODLAND CAMPING MANIFESTO
Birling Estate.
Badgells Wood is part of Birling Estate, set in the North Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nestled along the south-facing slopes of the Downs, Birling Estate is a beautiful family owned estate with an enviable natural heritage.
Originally created as a deer park in the time of William the Conqueror when he gave the land to his brother Odo, and owned since 1435 by the Nevill family. The 1800 acres of arable, pasture and woodland are now part of a modern diversified rural business, but one that has conservation and regeneration at its core.
There are many footpaths crossing the Estate for you to enjoy, including the Pilgrim’s Way, North Downs Way and the Weald Way.
Our team.
Badgells Wood is run by Karina and our amazing team (you can spot them by their staff t-shirts). You’ll get a warm welcome on arrival and some pointers if you need them. Please let them know if you require any help (such as lighting fires in the rain) or have any questions about the site or the surrounding area, and they will do their best to help out.
Robin leads our in-house bushcraft team, and we are also working in partnership with with (to name just a few!):
Helen, for uplifting weekly outdoor yoga sessions
Martin, who provides incredibly immersive mideful walking sessions
Tom, for hands-on spoon-carving sessions
WildFoodUK, for foraging the best of what’s available in our woods
Pat, for the ancient craft of basket weaving
We are also working on further sessions to provide wild/wood-fire cooking and feasts; look out for these!
History.
Badgells Wood was once part of a World War II Pre-Officer Training Camp and 80,000 officers in the British Army passed through here as part of their training. The remains of concrete tracks and hut bases can be glimpsed between the trees, giving a taste of what was here before. There is a file at reception that covers the WWII history in more detail if you are interested.
There is also 1km of trench which was a WWI training trench and stop-line in case of invasion. Its great fun for the kids to explore!
There have been a number of airplanes downed in the woods over the years. In 1940 Flight Lieutenant Bills Rolls claimed his first victory over a German Me110 which crash landed in the woods here, one crew member was killed and the other taken prisoner. Unfortunately there was also a Spitfire down, and the cross of remembrance for Squadron Leader Tommy Pinkham remains quietly amongst the poppies at the base of the chalk grassland.
Recent surveys have also picked up much earlier evidence of archaeology including earth banks and other woodland features that stretch back to pre-medieval times , you can also spot the boundary to the Tudor Deer Park.
