Power lines have been removed from a nature reserve famed for its wild flowers.

Almost a mile of electricity lines have been diverted underground at Ranscombe Farm, near Cuxton, which has been recognised as an important botanical site for hundreds of years.

UK Power Networks has spent £162,840 from a special fund to enable power lines to be moved underground in nationally important landscapes.

The Kent Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) unit nominated the scheme and the power company carried out the work at the site, which covers 620 acres on the slopes of the North Downs.

Shaun Barrell, from UK Power Networks, said: “Our power lines ran down the side of a valley and near the North Downs Way trail crossing the site, so the electrical equipment was visible from surrounding footpaths.

“We were delighted to carry out a project that will enhance one of our nation’s treasured green spaces for future generations.”

The reserve is known to be one of the country’s best sites for plants on arable land.

It has fields of wild flowers that include blue pimpernel, night-flowering catchfly, narrow-
fruited cornsalad and dense-
flowered fumitory.

Removing the poles and power lines has further improved the setting.

Tim Owen, from Kent Downs AONB, said: “The reserve has a network of paths popular with walkers looking for peaceful countryside and fascinating flora.

“These paths used to pass close to the power lines or underneath them, so undergrounding this equipment has had an instant impact on the views. We all need electricity, but it is great to continue our valued partnership work with UK Power Networks to remove power lines in special landscapes like this.”

Ben Sweeney, a warden at the site, added: “The work undertaken by UK Power Networks to underground the power lines at Ranscombe has greatly enhanced the appearance of an already very attractive part of our reserve, and no longer needing to negotiate them will no doubt make our day-to-day management activities a lot easier.”

UK Power Networks has carried out similar projects at Cobham Park and other sites across Kent.