The clearance was led by the EA and carried out by Acumen Waste Services, with more than 50 workers involved in removing the waste from the site.
The illegal dump had blighted the woodland, with waste piled up to 15 feet high in places, before officers shut down the operation.
Hoad’s Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognised for its wildlife and rare plants. Access to the site will now be restricted to allow the land and its natural environment time to recover.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle commented: “This government is taking action on the illegal waste sites that have blighted communities.
“Handing this ancient woodland back to local people, alongside our nationwide clean-up of waste sites, shows just how serious we are about restoring the places people love.”
The EA is continuing its investigation into those responsible for the dumping, working with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) and Kent Police.
Matthew Higginson, EA Area Environmental Manager, added: “It’s fantastic to see this important site cleared and set on the path to recovery.
“We are working hard to prevent this sort of dumping from happening in the first place, removing the criminals and corruption from the waste system and improving the exchange of intelligence between agencies.”
Higginson added that three arrests had been made as part of the Hoad’s Wood investigation.
Hoad’s Wood
The fly-tipping at Hoad’s Wood began in 2020 and escalated in July 2023, with around 35,000 tonnes of waste initially reported across an area measuring approximately 100 metres by 60 metres.
In May 2024, the then environment secretary Steve Barclay issued a ministerial direction requiring the EA to fund and carry out the clean-up. Acumen Waste Services was subsequently appointed to undertake the work, which began in June 2025.
The operation involved carefully removing and transporting the waste to approved disposal facilities. The EA also worked with Natural England, the Forestry Commission and Ashford Borough Council on the environmental aspects of the clearance.
The completed clean-up marks the end of the waste removal phase, although the site will remain restricted while the woodland recovers and the criminal investigation continues.
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