Cart Wood is a small woodland near Pembury owned and managed by Tonbridge District Scouts. It's a lovely site but not easy to find and, with single-track access, not suited to large numbers of visitors: If you are coming, please try to lift share!
Travelling from Pembury North East on the A228 towards Paddock Wood, look out for the sign for Hawkwell Business Centre & Barn on the right.
As the road bends to the left you will see drives to the left and right: The one to the right has a "Woodland for Sale" sign: This is the entrance to Cart Wood.
Turn down this track: A Scout Leader will be there managing the traffic flow.
If the entrance to the track is full of cars, please do not start queueing on the A228 since this will cause a hazard to other traffic: please drive past, turn around and come back. We will try to clear the queue as quickly as possible.
Travelling from Paddock Wood South West on the A228 towards Pembury, go through Colts Hill then pass a bungalow called "Bracken Dale" enclosed in a brick wall on your left, then move from the 40mph to a 50mph zone.
After a second, smaller 50mph sign on the left, start indicating left. As the road bends to the right you will see drives to the left and right: The one to the left is the entrance to Cart Wood.
Turn down this track: A Scout Leader will be there managing the traffic flow.
If the entrance to the track is full of cars, please do not start queueing on the A228 since this will cause a hazard to other traffic: please drive past, turn around and come back. We will try to clear the queue as quickly as possible.
Click here for a map.
Leptospirosis and Weil's disease: What you need to know
How the infection is spread
Leptospirosis and Weil's disease are spread by animals. Bacteria that cause infection can survive for days or even weeks in freshwater streams and rivers. The bacteria can enter the body through broken skin or via the eyes, nose or mouth.
Methods of prevention
- Avoid swimming where water is polluted, particularly from farmland with livestock.
- Cover any broken skin with waterproof plasters.
- Use appropriate footwear to avoid cuts to the feet.
- Shower as soon as you can after water activities.
Symptoms
The incubation period is 2-12 days. Symptoms are usually flu-like (fever, headache and back pain) and subside in two to three weeks. It's important to consult your doctor as, in some cases, leptospirosis can develop into Weil’s disease, which is a more serious illness and must be treated swiftly.
If you think you may have the infection, visit your doctor and inform them that you have participated in water sports.
Find out more about leptospirosis from the NHS website.
