£15m clean-up of illegally dumped waste at Kent woodland completed

A £15m taxpayer-funded clean-up of illegally dumped waste at Hoads Wood, near Ashford in Kent, has been completed after 15 months, the BBC reports. The ancient woodland is on a Site of Special Scientific Interest known for rare plants and wildlife. [1]

According to the BBC, nearly 40,000 tonnes of waste were dumped there over six months in 2023. An Environment Agency-led operation began in June 2025, with specialist contractors taking 2,500 lorry loads from the woods to a landfill site in Essex.

Campaigners have criticised the authorities for not acting quickly enough when the dumping was first reported. Environment Agency manager Matthew Higginson disputes that account, saying the agency responded quickly but needed time to investigate and secure a court order restricting access. The agency says it is extending the restriction order and has dug ditches to obstruct waste trucks.

A Rescue Hoads Wood organiser fears dumping could resume if people can get onto the cleared site. Kent Wildlife Trust area manager Ian Rickards says ancient woodland species will take decades to return and that the site will not recover exactly as it was, although he expects its new open and wet areas to attract wildlife.

The BBC says the investigation into who was behind the dumping remains open. It reports that three arrests were made in February 2025; no responsibility for the dumping has been established in its report.