Bigbury Camp and the Kent Wildlife Trust
For the last eight years Walk Awhile has been taking walkers to Bigbury iron-age camp on the last day of a four day walk from Rochester to Canterbury following the route of the Pilgrims Way / North Downs Way National Trail. Over that period hundreds of walkers have enjoyed exploring the ancient site but we have always been surprised that this historic Belgae camp - thought by many to be the site of the battle between Julius Caesar's Seventh Legion and the British tribes and documented in the Gallic Wars Book Five - has suffererd somewhat from neglect despite three archeological investigations being made in the last century. One of these digs found a slave gang chain measuring 18 feet in length. Many people enjoying the final stretch of the North Downs Way National Trail will actually walk through the earthworks surrounding the camp's cattle annex without being aware of the significance of the site.
Fortunately Kent Wildlife Trust have purchased the South Blean woodland in which the fort is situated. Kathryn Barton of the Kent Wildlife Trust informs me that plans are in hand to preserve the site as part of its Conservation Management Plan. The plan includes better access and interpretation boards. This is very welcome news and I for one look forward to this important site enjoying the recognition and protection it deserves. Walk Awhile's brief regarding Bigbury Camp in pdf format can be found on the resources section at the Walk Awhile walking holidays web site at http://www.walkawhile.co.uk
