Ashford - Watchlist site 5

Under Ministerial Direction from the previous government’s Secretary of State, the Environment Agency has cleared approximately 39,500 tonnes of illegally tipped waste from ancient Kent woodland. 

The site, Hoad’s Wood near Ashford in Kent is a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) known for its rare plants and diverse wildlife. 

Criminal gangs illegally dumped household and construction waste in an area measuring around 1.5 acres, piling up over 13 feet deep in some places across the protected site. 

Widespread impacts on people and the landscape included foul odours, dust, vermin detected, noise and traffic concerns, along with fire risk, concerns over potential water pollution and the overwhelming degradation of the area’s previous scenic beauty. 

Designated as watchlist 5 as part of the Environment Agency’s nationwide investigation into waste crime, enforcement officers from our Kent, South London and East Sussex area team

expect the massive clean-up operation to be completed by the end of 2026. The affected area of Hoad’s Wood will then be returned to its landowners and managed overall by Natural England.

We will continue to carry out environmental monitoring during this removal period, including checks on local watercourses. We will also progress several live investigations into those linked with the illegal waste activity. 

This high-profile case sparked widespread concern from the local community, together with media interest and government involvement. It has taken a multi-agency approach to assess and address the problem. Working with the local authority, the emergency services and other regulators, we have continued to engage regularly with the community through email updates, along with routine briefings to the Secretary of State throughout this period.