Dryhill Nature Reserve

{{Short description|Nature reserve}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Ragstone outcrop, Dryhill Nature Reserve, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 168246.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Dryhill

|aos= Kent

|interest=Geological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TQ 500 552}}

|area= {{convert|11.7|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1996

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%272000064%27 Magic Map]

}}

Dryhill is an {{convert| 11.7 |ha|acre|abbr=off |adj=on }} geological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the western outskirts of Sevenoaks in Kent.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S2000064&SiteName=dryhill&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Dryhill | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 2 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%272000064%27 |title=Map of Dryhill|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date=2 February 2018}} It is a Geological Conservation Review site,{{cite web|url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=942|title= Dryhill (Aptian-Albian) |series=Geological Conservation Review |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|access-date= 11 January 2018}} and an area of {{convert| 9.5 |ha|acre|abbr=off}} is a Local Nature Reserve{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1123105&SiteName=&countyCode=24&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=|title= Dryhill|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 12 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=Ref_CODE%3D%271123105%27 |title=Map of Dryhill|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| access-date= 2 February 2018}}

This former quarry exposes rocks dating to the Aptian stage in the early Cretaceous, around 120 million years ago. It is famous for its rich and diverse brachiopod and bivalve fossils, which are important for palaeoecological research.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1123105&SiteName=&countyCode=24&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Dryhillcitation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 2 February 2018}}

There is access from Dryhill Lane.