Many things brought me to the well-preserved and protected ancient woodland the Blean that is located near Canterbury by way of a trail through Kent University's campus It is about a twenty to thirty minute cycling trip from the center of Canterbury to the Blean, and the scenery on the way there can provide a nice break from the busy city center of Canterbury.
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Amanita muscaria,
one of four most prevalent fungi species of The Blean |
I went in my free time to cycle the 120-mile trail system. Some of the trails are easy to ride and some are rocky, muddy, and really rough to cycle on. I really like that because it's a fun challenge. Luckily, my bike tires were well suited to that type of trail. I locked my bike up to walk smaller trails as well. On these walks, I was able to see many species of plants and insects I had never seen before. The Blean's rich habitats allow for the survival of species such as the Nightingale and the Heath Fritillary butterfily. The woodland is surprisingly easy to learn about as the area has been well-documented and actively managed for nearly 800 years.
I also went many times for my
Biogeography and Landscape Ecology class. We took one class trip with the two professors to learn about how the
woodland has been maintained throughout its long history. I later met my group there for our class project to assess a small
plot of land. Assessing this small plot of land taught me about the particular effects of management techniques such coppicing. This was an extremely demanding project, but it was one the most rewarding, and I really enjoyed writing the final paper.
The Blean is an excellent place to visit in Canterbury, especially for those interested in wildlife.
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