Dryhill Nature Reserve

Dryhill

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location	Kent
Grid reference	TQ 500 552 [1]
Interest	Geological
Area	11.7 hectares (29 acres) [1]
Notification	1996 [1]
Location map	Magic Map

Dryhill is an 11.7-hectare (29-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the western outskirts of Sevenoaks in Kent. ^{[1] [2]} It is a Geological Conservation Review site, ^[3] and an area of 9.5 hectares (23 acres) is a Local Nature Reserve ^{[4] [5]}

This former quarry exposes rocks dating to the Aptian stage in the early Cretaceous, around 120 million years ago. It is famous for its rich and diverse brachiopod and bivalve fossils, which are important for palaeoecological research. ^[6]

There is access from Dryhill Lane.

Land ownership

All land within Dryhill Site of Special Scientific Interest is owned by the local authority. ^[7]

References

1. "Designated Sites View: Dryhill". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
2. "Map of Dryhill". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
3. "Dryhill (Aptian-Albian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
4. "Dryhill". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
5. "Map of Dryhill". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
6. "Dryhillcitation". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
7. "Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament". questions-statements.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-30.

51°16′34″N0°08′56″E / 51.276°N 0.149°E / 51.276; 0.149