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kentdownsnl

@kentdownsnl

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🌿 Protecting and restoring our designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for everyone to enjoy.
🌍 Aspiring Cross Channel UNESCO Global Geopark

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450,000 years ago Dover to Calais were connected by a chalk ridge and today the Chalk and the Channel still connect us and our similar landscapes.

✨To celebrate this we are absolutely delighted to be working in hand in hand with our French neighbours in the Parc naturel régional des Caps et Marais d'Opale @parc_opale to secure UNESCO Global Geopark status!

🌍UNESCO status would bring international recognition of our incredible geological heritage and the beauty of our landscapes. It would provide new opportunities for sustainable tourism and collaboration with our French neighbours to support sustainable development in our landscapes.

There will be lots of ways for everyone to join in and enjoy our quest for UNESCO status; to discover the stunning and globally important natural & cultural heritage on our doorstep and to help shape our application to UNESCO including:

🎊Festival - A festival of the landscape in September. Collaborating with @fstonefringe and @creativefstone working across the Kent Downs we will celebrate all things 'geo' with guided walks, community meals, foraging, performance, sculpture, gardening, swimming, photography, film, poetry, and more.

🌱Schools and Community Events - Kent's children and their families will have the chance to learn about the geology beneath their feet, get their hands dirty doing soil sampling and geological explorations, and learn how the famous chalk of the Kent Downs was formed millions of years ago.

🤝Support for Kent's Sustainable Tourism Professionals - there will be networking and development opportunities for professionals who share sustainable tourism values.

More info coming soon and we hope you'll get involved!

#unesco #globalgeopark #geopark #crosschannelgeopark #geoparktransmanche #geology #kent #dover #festival #collaboration #channel by @kentdownsnl

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4 years ago

🎉 We’re thrilled to share some BIG news! The North Kent Woods and Downs is now an official National Nature Reserve, part of the prestigious King’s Series of NNRs.⠀
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Located just minutes from Gravesend and Medway, this incredible place is home to ancient woodlands, rare species, chalk grasslands, and a rich history that’s waiting to be explored. It’s a living, breathing landscape that’s as much about nature as it is about YOU. 🦋⠀
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From May 24–31, we’ll be celebrating with a week full of events, including walks, talks, and trails designed to help you discover the beauty of the reserve right on your doorstep.⠀
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Come and see what makes this place so unique and find your wild side! 💚⠀
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Explore the NKWD celebration events (Link in bio)!⠀
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The new NNR has been made possible with support from @NationalHways⠀
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#NorthKentNNR #KingsNNRs #NatureNearYou #KentDowns #NationalNatureReserve @BirlingEstate @ForestryEngland @graveshambc @kcc_kent @NaturalEngland @nationaltrust @MedwayCouncilUpdates @plantlife.loveplants @woodlandtrust @silverhandestate @shornewoodscountrypark @trosleycountrypark @ccwp_wkdct by @kentdownsnl

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a year ago

Calling farmers, landowners and land managers across the Kent Downs 🚜

There’s £221,000 available through the Wildlife Rich Habitats Fund to create and restore wildlife-rich habitats across the Kent Downs.

Funding could support work on species-rich grassland, woodland and scrub, wetlands and heathland, as well as projects that help connect habitats and strengthen nature recovery.

It’s about giving wildlife more space and improving the habitats we already have.

Got an idea for your land? Start with an Expression of Interest. You don’t need to know which funding opportunity is right for you before getting in touch. We can help you work through it.

Find out more about the Wildlife Rich Habitats Fund: https://kentdowns.org.uk/wrhf/ by @kentdownsnl

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3 days ago

Asian Hornets are a growing threat to our countryside, particularly to our native pollinators and to our food security.

Here in the Kent Downs, Farming in Protected Landscapes funding has enabled free selective Asian Hornet Alert monitoring traps to be available to farmers, landowners and smallholders.

There’s also been a focus on sharing knowledge beyond Kent on this invasive non-native insect. September’s online webinar, presented by Michelle Elliott from Asian Hornet Alert, brought together 26 conservation colleagues across the UK from National Landscapes, National Parks and Natural England.

It was very positive to see people joining from the Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire, Dorset, Wiltshire, New Forest, High Weald and Wye Valley.

Asian Hornets are not just a south-east issue. Sightings have already been recorded this year in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Manchester, making it increasingly important for people across the country to know what to look for, how to report sightings and how they can start monitoring in their own area.

A big thank you to Michelle for sharing such useful, practical advice, and to all of you for continuing to report any sightings. 🐝

#KentDowns #AsianHornet #AsianHornetAlert #FiPL by @kentdownsnl

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5 days ago

What a fantastic day celebrating two years of Putting Down Routes!

We brought together our incredible volunteers, community groups, partners, North Downs Way and Cross-Channel Geopark Ambassadors at Lenham Tithe Barn to reflect on everything we've achieved together.

The celebration was filled with inspiring stories, shared experiences, new connections and exciting conversations about the future, including the 50th anniversaries of the Kent Downs National Landscape and North Downs Way in 2028.

Putting Down Routes has shown the incredible impact of bringing together local knowledge, creativity and lived experience to make the Kent Downs more welcoming and accessible for everyone.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing more of the results and learning from the project. A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. We can't wait to see what we'll achieve together next.

Read the full blog about the celebration event ➡️

www.kentdowns.org.uk/blog/2026/10/putting-down-routes-end-of-project-celebration/ 🔗in bio

#PuttingDownRoutes #NorthDownsWay #KentDowns #LandscapesForAll by @kentdownsnl

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5 days ago

If you’re walking in the North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve (NNR) this autumn, take a look at what’s around you. 🌿

The North Kent Woods and Downs is part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, and its woods, grasslands and hedgerows provide a home for a huge variety of wildlife.

The old trees at Shorne and Ashenbank Woods provide food and shelter for fungi, insects and woodland birds. Cracks and holes in older trees can also provide shelter for bats and other wildlife.

At Ranscombe Farm, the chalk grassland supports a rich mix of wildflowers and insects, while the open grassland around Cuxton is shaped by the thin, chalky soils of the North Downs.

These habitats are also home to species such as dormice, bats, woodpeckers and butterflies, alongside countless smaller creatures that are easy to miss.

So next time you’re out walking, take a closer look at the trees, grassland and hedgerows around you. The landscape you’re enjoying is also home to an incredible variety of wildlife. 🍂

Find a walk: �https://kentdowns.org.uk/activities/?record_type=things&location_latlon=&activity_type%5B%5D=45&view=list

#KentDowns #NorthKentNNR #ExploreKent #WorldHabitatDay by @kentdownsnl

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7 days ago

The White Cliffs are one of Kent's most recognisable landmarks, but they're just one part of a much bigger story. That's the story @kentdownsnl and partners are helping to tell through an aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark bid. 🏞️

Stretching beneath the Channel and connecting Kent with northern France, this unique landscape has been shaped over millions of years and influences everything from our wildlife and natural habitats to our heritage, tourism and communities.

In this first video, Jamie Henderson and Greg Taylor introduce the aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark bid and explain why it matters 🎥

From ancient tropical seas and megafloods to castles, wildlife and the Channel Tunnel, over the next few weeks we'll be sharing a series of short videos exploring the stories that have shaped Kent and its landscape, and why this area is seeking UNESCO Global Geopark status.

Want to find out more? Read the full story behind the bid on kent.gov.uk/news

Watch this space 👀 taken in Kent Downs National Landscape by @kentdownsnl

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7 days ago

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you... ✨

The Kent Downs looks pretty different after dark. Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust and you’ll start noticing things you might miss in town, like bright planets, familiar constellations and, if you’re lucky, a shooting star.

There are lots of places where you can give it a go, including Toys Hill, Kingsdown Beach, Perry Wood and Farthing Common.

And you really don’t need much. A clear night, something warm to wear, and somewhere with a good view of the sky is a good start. 🌙

We’ve put together a guide with some places to try, what you might see, and a few tips for heading out after dark.

See what you can spot: https://kentdowns.org.uk/blog/2026/09/night-sky/

#Stargazing #meteorshower by @kentdownsnl

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8 days ago

We all have places we remember.

Maybe it’s a lane you walked down as a child, a view you’ve seen countless times, an old building you passed every day, or a favourite spot in the woods.

But places change. Buildings disappear, fields are reshaped, and old quarries become hidden beneath trees and vegetation. Sometimes, the stories behind them disappear too.

That’s what we’re hoping to uncover through Hidden Hollows.

There are around 1,500 historic pits and quarries across the Kent Downs. Some are easy to spot, while others have almost disappeared from view. Each one tells us something about the landscape, the people who lived here and the materials that shaped our communities.

Over the next three years, we’ll be bringing together historic maps, geological research and local knowledge to find these places, learn their stories and help make sure they aren’t forgotten.

And you might know one of them already. 👀

Find out more about Hidden Hollows: https://kentdowns.org.uk/our-projects/hidden-hollows-project/

© British Geological Survey
#HiddenHollows #KentDowns by @kentdownsnl

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9 days ago

What would you do if you had the funding to make your idea for the Kent Downs happen? 🌱

Perhaps you want to bring a meadow back to life, restore a wetland, create better habitat for wildlife, or make a piece of land more sustainable.

There’s currently more than £590,000 available through two Kent Downs funding opportunities:

🌿 Wildlife Rich Habitats Fund
For creating and restoring wildlife-rich habitats across the Kent Downs.

🛠️ Capital Funding
For habitat creation and restoration, nature recovery, conservation infrastructure and improvements that support sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.

You might already have a project planned, or just the beginnings of an idea.

Start by telling us what you’d like to do. You don’t need to decide which fund to apply for. An Expression of Interest is a chance to talk through your idea and see what could be possible.

We’ll be sharing more about the funding, the projects it could support, and how to get started over the coming weeks.

Find out more: https://kentdowns.org.uk/funding-and-grants/ by @kentdownsnl

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10 days ago

Can you still see Asian hornets in October? 🐝

Yes! Even as the weather starts to cool, Asian hornets can still be active and may be seen looking for food.

You might spot them feeding on flowering ivy, fallen fruit, or near beehives, where they prey on honeybees and other insects.

Early destruction of confirmed Asian hornet nests by trained teams is one of the most important ways to slow their spread. Removing nests before autumn helps reduce the number of new queens that could go on to start colonies the following year.

Think you’ve spotted an Asian hornet?
📸 Take a photo from a safe distance
📍 Make a note of where you saw it
📱 Report it through the free Asian Hornet Watch app

Please don’t approach or disturb a nest.

#KentDowns #AsianHornet #AsianHornetAlert #ProtectOurPollinators by @kentdownsnl

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11 days ago

Looking for a reason to get out and explore East Kent this October? 🥾

The White Cliffs Walking Festival is back, with a week of guided walks taking you through some of the coast and countryside around the Kent Downs.

You can discover the cliffs and valleys around Dover, explore Folkestone Warren, enjoy the views at Samphire Hoe, wander through the Elham Valley or see the Western Heights from a different perspective.

There are also walks along the King Charles III England Coast Path and the new Royal Kentish Camino, as well as walks on the North Downs Way led by North Downs Way and Cross-Channel Geopark Ambassadors. It’s a great chance to explore some of the routes and places you might not have visited before.

Some walks are easy-going, while others are more challenging, with hills and steeper sections. A few even include stops for coffee, lunch or ice cream along the way. 🍦

Most walks are free, but some need to be booked in advance!

📅 3–10 October 2026
📍 East Kent

Take a look at the programme and see where the week could take you: https://kentdowns.org.uk/events/white-cliffs-walking-festival-2026/ (Link in bio)! by @kentdownsnl

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14 days ago