Kent plans quarry on 426-year-old Oaken Wood for historic building stone
Kent County Council has proposed expanding a stone quarry into 41 hectares of ancient woodland, sparking opposition from environmental groups. While the council argues the stone is needed for historic building repairs, critics emphasize the irreversible loss of biodiversity.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between preserving cultural heritage through infrastructure maintenance and protecting irreplaceable natural ecosystems.
In 1600, Oaken Wood near Maidstone was already an established English woodland; in 2026, Kent County Council proposed turning 41 hectares of it into a stone quarry, reports the Guardian.The Reform-led council voted this month to include the ancient woodland site in its updated Kent Mineral Sites Plan. The vote formally marks the hard rock under the forest floor as an essential supply of Kentish ragstone, opening the door for the nearby Hermitage Quarry to expand.Local campaign groups, wildlife charities, and councillors from Maidstone Borough Council are fighting the proposal.
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