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Langton Wood
 | Langton Wood was planted in 2003 on a field adjacent to the main school grounds that had previously been leased to a local farmer.
Development of the site would not have been possible without the support of The Kent Men of the Trees. They were instrumental in planning the layout of the site and provided trees, rabbit guards and stakes free of charge.
The site was divided into three zones. The first zone contains mixed deciduous trees planted at 4m spacing. The second contains mixed deciduous trees planted at 3m spacing. The final zone contains Sweet Chestnut, which will eventually be coppiced.
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Whilst the trees will need to be thinned out in the future, planting at two densities will allow us to study the effect of density on tree growth, undergrowth and fauna. Paths divide the zones, meeting at clearing which contains seating for a class of students.
The trees were planted over two weekends with the help of students, parents, staff and governors. Over the following weeks each tree was numbered, allowing the growth of each tree to monitored. Members of the environmental club are responsible for groups of twenty five trees each. They are responsible for monitoring growth of their trees and managing the area around them.
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 | The paths through the wood are wide enough for vehicle access. Whilst this not important at the moment, it will become so in the future when the trees need to thinned out. The paths are mowed several times during the growing season.
In the summer of 2004 contractors had to be brought in to cut the grass throughout the woodland, as there was a risk of it shading some of the trees. Hopefully this won’t be required again. To ensure that none of the trees were damaged the contractors left a 1m zone around each tree. Students are responsible for keeping the grass immediately around their trees under control.
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Inevitably some trees have not survived. The first summer in particular took its casualties, as it was a dry season and we had no way of watering the trees. Dead trees are systematically being replaced by donations from a range of sources.
| Awards: | British Naturalists Association Blake Shield 2004
Learning Through Landscapes Award 2004
Volvo Eco Adventure 2004-2005 | | Funding: | The Kent Men of the Trees
School Funds |
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