Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 34 min4:42 am – 9:16 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 54 min7:58 am – 3:52 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,719 residentsin the Hawkhurst, Benenden & Sandhurst census areaMedian age 47.23,493 households69% of homes owner-occupied40% owned outright15% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.7% unemployment rate57% of adults are economically active, 3,827 in work, 27% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 13%, education 13%, construction 12%Getting to work: 39% work from home, 51% go by car, 3% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle41% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages36% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 5% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 13°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C786 mm of rain a year, 24 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October45 days of air frost, 15 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksPlumtree Dinglevalley · under a mileBeacon Hillhill · 1.3 miLake Chadlake · 3.3 miHemsted Forestforest · 2.8 miReed Woodwoodland · under a milePlumtree Woodwoodland · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesThe Greenpark · under a mileThe Harold Vyvyan Harmsworth Recreation Fieldplaying field · under a mileLower Greenpark · 2.1 miThoburn Allotmentsallotments · 1.1 miTown Meadowpark · 2.9 miHole Parksports ground · 1.9 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes18 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19706 of magnitude 3+, 2 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 22 May 201541 mi away, Ramsgate, KentMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Jan 202438 mi away, English ChannelSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 5.2 · PM2.5 6.3 · PM10 9.8 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband74% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband91% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)1.0% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)3,805 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation87 m285 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 28 to 104 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalBenenden Hospital2.8 miGP surgeryWeald View Medical Practice - Hawkhurst2.7 miPharmacyHawkhurst Pharmacy2.7 miDentistStonerock Dental Care2.8 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi3 schools1 primary, 2 independentPrimaryBenenden Church of England Primary Schoolages 5-11, 213 pupilsunder a mileIndependentBenenden Schoolages 10-19, 480 pupils1.3 miSecondaryCranbrook Schoolages 11-18, 958 pupils3.1 miCollegeBexhill College14.8 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Gatwick Airport LGW34 miRailway stationEtchingham6.5 miLight railRolvenden Rail Station (KESR)3.9 miBus stationBus ParkBattle10 miFerryFolkestone Eurotunnel Terminal24 miBus stops10 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the TN17 postcode district.
