Orlestone Forest

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Church Lane - geograph.org.uk - 1559869.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Orlestone Forest

|aos= Kent

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TQ 983 350}}

|area= {{convert|347.6|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1989

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271003149%27 Magic Map]

}}

Orlestone Forest is a {{convert|347.6 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Ashford in Kent.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1003149&SiteName=orles&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Orlestone Forest | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 21 February 2018}}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271003149%27|title=Map of Orlestone Forest|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 21 February 2018}} It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I.{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |pages=45–46 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521-21403-3 }}

This site is described by Natural England as "an important invertebrate locality of national significance". Hundreds of invertebrate species have been recorded, including 39 which are nationally rare and 134 which are nationally scarce. Several are only known in Britain on this site.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1003149.pdf |title=Orlestone Forest citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 21 February 2018}}

A road and footpath go through the site.