Lead organisation
Project details
The Woodland Ride Scallops project is a bold, hands-on initiative that will revive and transform the forest school area at Admiral Woods, Bicknor. By carving flowing ride scallops through the woodland, we are creating a mosaic of habitats where wildlife can flourish and people can connect with nature.
Through strategic clearing, shaping woodland edges, and establishing sunlit glades alongside sheltered pockets, the project will enhance structural diversity, boost biodiversity, and reconnect fragmented habitats. Each intervention is designed to provide vital food, shelter, and breeding grounds for pollinating insects, ground-nesting birds, and foraging mammals—building long-term ecological resilience across the chalk landscape.
This project also integrates immersive education: the adjacent Forest School will use the restored area as a living classroom, giving children and families hands-on experience of habitats, wildlife, and conservation practice. By combining habitat creation with education, the project delivers a lasting legacy for both nature and the local community.
Work begins in December 2025 and continues through March 2026, with ongoing maintenance anchored through Forest School income, ensuring the restored woodland thrives for years to come.
Project location
Located within the Kent Downs National Landscape, the Woodland Ride Scallops project contributes to long-term chalk grassland restoration and enhances the ecological network of the surrounding woodland.
Contribution to Big Chalk
This project embodies the Big Chalk vision: uniting people and nature to create thriving landscapes, resilient ecosystems, and enduring community stewardship.
- Nature recovery: Creating diverse woodland microhabitats that support insects, birds, and mammals while weaving together fragmented habitats.
- Public engagement and education: Hands-on Forest School learning empowers young people and families, fostering curiosity, connection, and stewardship.
- Collaboration and community: By linking practical conservation with education, the project builds skills, inspires action, and establishes a long-term legacy for the local area.
Through purposeful habitat design, practical restoration, and meaningful engagement, Woodland Ride Scallops strengthens biodiversity, enhances chalkland connectivity, and nurtures the next generation of nature champions.
Wider social and environmental considerations
of all ages direct access to conservation learning. This interaction fosters curiosity, pride, and stewardship in the local landscape, while the sculpted scallops boost ecosystem resilience and deliver a rich, interconnected network of habitats.
The project leaves a dual legacy: healthier, more connected chalkland ecosystems and a community empowered to care for, champion, and sustain the natural world for generations to come.
The Big Chalk programme and Nature Recovery Fund is funded through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, supported by Defra.
Woodland scallops created around the forest
Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?
The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.
If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.
Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.