Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden

The Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden ward encompasses a primarily rural area in the southeast of the Tunbridge Wells borough. It contains several distinct villages set within the High Weald landscape of rolling fields, woods, and scattered farmsteads. The settlement pattern is dispersed, with a focus on agriculture and local community life. The area is characterised by quiet lanes, historic buildings, and a strong sense of local identity tied to its individual parishes.

The ward includes the village of Hawkhurst, historically known for its association with the 18th-century smuggling gang, the Hawkhurst Gang. Benenden is notable as the location of the independent Benenden School. The landscape features numerous small woodlands and the headwaters of several streams that feed into the River Rother. This is a working environment where forestry and land management are visible parts of the local economy.