Attractions

Pepenbury is set in 100 acres of grounds in a beautiful rural setting just outside Tunbridge Wells in the unspoilt countryside of the High Weald.

The whole site is a haven for wildlife with 26 acres of ancient woodland, hay meadows, several wildlife ponds and a small orchard of fruit trees.

There is a small farm where residents are able to care for animals including donkeys, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. We would love families to visit our small animals.  We also sell plants to the public from the farm shop through out the year.

Pepenbury has a coffee shop which is open to the public serving hot and cold food and drinks, freshly made cakes and sandwiches and also sells a range of locally produced preserves.

For people interested in bird life we can boast about the best variety around. All three sorts of woodpecker can be found and a recent regular visitor was been the beautiful goldcrest, Britain’s smallest bird.

WHY NOT VISIT PEPENBURY FOR A BLUEBELL WALK

What could be more delightful than taking a walk through a bluebell woods in the spring? Pepenbury, the charity for people with learning disabilities, is opening its ancient woodland this spring so people can enjoy the spectacular display of Bluebells. The woods at Pepenbury are set in some of the prettiest, most un-spoilt countryside in the High Weald Area of Natural Beauty. The whole site is a haven for wildlife and as well as native woodland flowers. The woods are buzzing with insects and resonate with the sound of birdsong.

There is a map of the guided walk which is available from the coffee shop at Pepenbury. The walk is suitable for all ages as it is approximately a mile and a half long over relatively flat ground. Pepenbury do not charge people to walk in their woods, however, as a charity they rely on donations and a donation to Pepenbury would be appreciated.

The woodlands are a mixture of mature oak, ash, and cherry with chestnut and hazel coppice. The woods have a number of wide woodland rides running through offering the perfect habitat for birds and butterflies. The woods are managed in the traditional way, using coppicing and traditional woodcrafts to produce traditional chestnut fence posts, which are used on site, and traditional hazel products like bean poles and pea sticks, which are available to buy. The woods are also used as training and leisure facilities for people with learning disabilities, offering them useful and fulfilling activities such as training and physical exercise.

The hazel and chestnut coppice is cut on a 7-15 year rotation, offering a perfect under-canopy which allows dappled shade for the carpets of beautiful bluebells, primroses and violets to thrive. The woods also boast all three species of native woodpecker and the beautiful goldcrest, Britain’s smallest bird, a herd of wild deer and several wildlife ponds which are teeming with tadpoles.

After a walk around the bluebell woods, what could be more enjoyable than relaxing with a cup of tea/coffee and a delicious piece of cake at Pepenbury coffee shop? The shop will also be selling spring bedding and vegetable plants. Bean poles and pea sticks cut from the hazel woods will also be available for sale.

For further details of the bluebell walks and for more information about Pepenbury charity please contact Nigel Hill on 01892 822168 or e-mail nigelhill@pepenbury.info