In 2014 a geophysical survey was carried out on land adjacent to Rook Farm , Bobbing in advance of a proposed solar farm. Anomalies were found running north-south in the western part of the site that were interpreted as being derived from First World War trenches, possibly part of the stop line between Detling and Sheppey. Other features included possible field boundaries.

From the survey report:

"It is known that a WW1 stop line crossed the site and that archaeological features associated with this defensive feature are likely to survive on site. These are likely to comprise trenches (which were backfilled at the end of the war), and the possible remains of barbed wire entanglements, machine gun emplacements and a communication system.

A section of WW1 trench has been detected as a linear positive magnetic anomaly in Area 1, which corresponds with the approximate location of the trench as identified on air photographs of the site. Detection of this trench was intermittent, and dependent on the fill being magnetically enhanced compared to the surrounding material. This trench appears to be magnetically enhanced at the northern extent of the detected feature, which may indicate the presence of ferrous material (e.g. corrugated iron sheeting or wire). Elsewhere the trench was not detected at all, suggesting it was backfilled with similar material to the surrounding ploughsoil.

It is possible that further possible WW1 features were detected by the geophysical survey (e.g. cabling, buried barbed wire fences, or the bases of telegraph posts), which would explain some of the strong discrete dipolar anomalies detected at the site. This is uncertain, however, and it is also possible that these anomalies relate to the use of the site as an orchard (e.g. former post & wire fences).

Several very strong bipolar magnetic anomalies have been detected, which are typical of modern service pipes. However, it is conceivable that these may also relate to the WW1 defensive system.

A number of possible soil-filled features, interpreted as former field boundaries of likely post-medieval date, have also been detected by the survey in Area 1."

<1> Wardell Armstrong Archaeology, 2014, Bobbing solar farm, Sittingbourne, Kent: Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SKE29408.