Lowland calcareous grassland

Typical of softly rolling pastoral landscapes, the short, aromatic turf of lowland calcareous grassland is flower-rich and humming with insects in the summer. Its long use by humans lends it an ancient feel and it is often seen amongst prehistoric burial mounds, hill forts and old trackways.

Species in Lowland Chalk Grassland

Adonis blue

The rare Adonis blue can be spotted on sunny chalk grasslands throughout summer. Males are a dazzling sky-blue in colour, while females are duller brown.

Wild marjoram

Wild marjoram is actually the same aromatic herb as oregano which is used in Mediterranean cooking. Its small, pink flower clusters can be seen on chalk and limestone grasslands in summer.

Bee orchid

The bee orchid is a sneaky mimic - the flower’s velvety lip looks like a female bee. Males fly in to try to mate with it and end up pollinating the flower. Sadly, the right bee species doesn’t live here, so this orchid is self-pollinated in the UK.

Pyramidal orchid

The Pyramidal orchid lives up to its name - look for a bright pinky-purple, densely packed pyramid of flowers atop a green stem. It likes chalk grassland, sand dunes, roadside verges and quarries.

Adam Cormack

Wasp spider

The wasp spider is a great mimic - looking just like a common wasp keeps it safe from predators, even though it is not dangerous itself. It can be found in southern England, but is spreading north.

©Mark Hamblin

Oxeye daisy

Often growing in swathes along a roadside or field margin, the oxeye daisy is just as at home in traditional hay meadows. The large, white, daisy-like flowers are easy to identify.

Rabbit

Who doesn’t love spotting rabbits hopping through long grass during a walk in the countryside? They are a common sight but it is always a treat to see their curious faces popping up, ears stood tall on the look out for predators.

Jon Hawkins

Adder

Our only venomous snake, the shy adder can be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands.

Steve Waterhouse

Kestrel

The kestrel is a familiar sight hovering over the side of the road, looking out for its favourite food: small mammals like field voles. It prefers open habitats like grassland, farmland and heathland, but can be seen in towns and villages.

Andy Morffew

Hobby

Look out for the swift-like shape of the hobby as it darts over heathlands and wetlands in summer. They are keen hunters, chasing and catching fast-flying dragonflies and small birds on the wing.

Slow worm

Despite appearances, the slow worm is actually a legless lizard, not a worm or a snake! Look out for it basking in the sun on heathlands and grasslands, or even in the garden, where it favours compost heaps.

Reserves with Lowland Chalk Grassland

Ian Rickards

Old Park Hill

Old Park Hill has a range of habitats but needs to be managed and restored to return it to its early 20th century character, when most of the site would have been open chalk land.

Nashenden Down

Created from an enormous arable field in 2009, this nature reserve is building an impressive species list as it matures into a vital part of the Medway smile living landscape.

The Larches

This is a site with something to see in all seasons with a fantastic display of fungi and leaf colour in the autumn, jewel bright wildflowers in the spring and summer and silhouettes of birds of prey gliding across the winter sky.

Darin Smith

Hewitt's Chalk Bank

A chalk downland site with a good plant community.

Fackenden Down

A west and south-west facing slope of the North Downs on the eastern side of the Darent Valley.

Downe Bank

Downe Bank is a uniquely special nature reserve, due to fundamental scientific studies carried out here by Charles Darwin.

Broadham Down

A tucked away area of downland forming a haven for wildlife. The breath-taking views across the Stour valley on the north end and towards Ashford on the south end also are a sight to behold.

Polhill Bank

The 'Bank' is almost four hectares of chalk grassland on a southeast-facing hillside with commanding views of the Darent Valley.

Park Gate Down - The Hector Wilks Reserve

Ancient chalk grassland with a very rich flora.

Lydden Temple Ewell - The James Teacher Reserve

Sweeping downland slopes packed with wildlife on the outskirts of Dover.

Kemsing Down

An ancient woodland with some areas of grassland with interesting associated flora.

Darland Banks

Sweeping panoramic views are not what you expect to find in the heart of the Medway towns but this site has long defied convention. This is our most diverse reserve which is home to the largest population of Man orchids in the country.

Burham Down

With sublime views over the Weald of Kent, this reserve consists of an area of chalk grassland and a large area of woodland. Some species of orchid can be seen in the woodland and kestrels breed in the chalk cliffs. Various different insects can be observed here.

Selwyn Dennis