Thanks to your incredible support of our Uncovering Coombe Down appeal, a late surge of donations saw us fly past the £69,800 target. We are now putting our plans into action to restore this high value piece of chalk grassland.
Staff, contractors and volunteers are on site completing various essential works to restore this neglected site to its former glory. Initial works included removing dense areas of scrub to allow chalk grassland species, such as the Adonis blue and Chalkhill blue butterflies, to recover. Further work will consist of further scrub clearance, as well as fencing the boundary and water trough installation to prepare for the introduction of conservation grazers.
We will be introducing Highland cattle and Konik ponies to Coombe Down as crucial conservation grazers. These animals will play an important role in restoring the chalk downland habitat: by grazing these tough areas, wildflowers will be able to grow and recolonize the site, and grazing the scrubland will keep the grassland areas open.
Restoring chalk grassland is crucial in our vision to create a wilder Kent. Chalk grassland is Europe’s version of the rainforest; up to 40 species of flowering plants can be found in just one square metre of this rich habitat. Incredibly, 2.5% of the UK’s chalk grassland is found around Dover, so it is crucial that we protect our existing reserves and bring back other chalk grassland sites that have been neglected.
Overlooking the English channel, the Capel-le-Fern reserve has great views of the chalk cliffs that gives the White Cliffs of Dover its name.
Purchased in 2023, this ancient woodland site sits on top of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With beautiful grassland valleys on one side, and the Forestry England woodland on the other Covert wood is part of wonderful wider landscape.
Quilters Wood Reserve is an area of ancient semi natural woodland and chalk grassland situated near Bridge, Canterbury.
The reserve runs along the scarp slope and consists of a mosaic of habitats from chalk grassland through scrub to woodland. Please note this reserve is not open to the public.
Located next to an industrial estate on the outskirts of Dover, it is hard to believe a nature reserve is there when driving through the estate.
The Culand Pits are a dramatic reminder of the role the cement industry played in shaping the landscape in the Medway Valley. The site is owned by Trenport Investments Ltd who fund the management.
