Kent Downs National Landscape

Home
United Kingdom
Ashford
Kent Downs National Landscape

Call Directions Website

It is one of the most enchanting parts of southern England to explore and enjoy. miles).

The Kent Downs National Landscape is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) stretching across Kent from the London/Surrey border to the White Cliffs of Dover. The Kent Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is one of the most enchanting parts of southern England for visitors to explore and enjoy. It boasts dramatic cliffs, ancient woodlands, meandering rivers, chalk downland, traditional orchards, tranquillity and remoteness with pockets of postcard-picture villages dotted throughout. Designated in July 1968, the Kent Downs AONB is one of 46 AONBs in England and Wales and covers 23% of Kent (878sq.km / 326 sq. The Kent Downs are the eastern half of the North Downs ridge of chalk stretching from Farnham in Surrey to the English Channel. The western half of the chalk ridge lies within the Surrey Hills AONB, which adjoins the Kent Downs. The same ridge of chalk reappears on the French side of the Channel, where it is designated le Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et Marais d’Opale. In Kent, the North Downs, along with part of the Greensand Ridge and Romney Marsh, form the Kent Downs AONB. Kent’s stunning landscapes and natural beauty are easily accessible by train and with a Public Rights of Way network four times the national average, visitors can explore Kent’s countryside with ease. Kent’s Country Parks and nature reserves can offer the perfect introduction for those less familiar with exploring the countryside, by offering outdoor discovery in a more contained setting. In addition, there are numerous self-guided circular walks, community trails and walks from and between neighbouring train stations by which to discover Kent’s distinctive character and wildlife. It is the eighth largest AONB and administratively one of the most complex falling within 12 Local Authorities and lying partly or wholly within 137 parish council boundaries.

02/11/2026

💡 Did you know people in Britain were mining chalk for their fields nearly 2,000 years ago?

Around 70 AD, the Roman writer Pliny the Elder described how ancient Britons dug chalk to improve their farmland. The practice continued for centuries, with old Norman land agreements often requiring farmers to spread chalk on their fields. In 1225, a law under Henry III also gave people the right to dig pits on their own land to extract it.

In parts of Kent, people went deep underground to reach the chalk, creating mines with narrow shafts and hidden chambers known as deneholes!

Today, old chalk pits and quarries shape the Kent Downs landscape. Their exposed chalk and sunny slopes provide habitats for wildlife, including chalkhill blue and Adonis blue butterflies. Early spider orchids also grow in parts of the area.

Through Hidden Hollows, we’re uncovering the stories behind these places and recording their geology, heritage and wildlife to better understand their value and how we can protect them for the future.

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

31/10/2026

You don’t have to travel far for a good countryside walk. 🚆🍂

Catch a train to Shoreham and give the Ridges and Valleys trail a go. It’s a 5-mile circular walk through woodland and quiet valleys, with lovely views across the Downs. Along the way, you’ll pass an old golf course being reclaimed by nature and the monument to Percy Pilcher, an aviation pioneer.

It’s a lovely walk to try on a crisp autumn day, so pack a warm drink, pop on your walking shoes and enjoy a few hours out in the countryside.

There are 17 Darent Valley Rail Trails to choose from, with routes between 2.5 and 9 miles. You can start your walk at a train station and finish back where you started, without needing to drive.

🚆 See all 17 Darent Valley Rail Trails: https://kentdowns.org.uk/dvlps/darent-valley-rail-trails

30/10/2026

There’s funding available to help bring nature projects to life across the Kent Downs. 🌱

Protected Landscapes Capital funding could support work such as creating ponds, planting woodlands, restoring species-rich grassland or putting conservation infrastructure in place to help wildlife thrive.

If you’re a landowner, land manager or part of an organisation with a project in mind, we’d like to hear from you. You don’t need to have everything planned out before getting in touch. We can talk through your ideas and help you explore the funding available.

Find out more: https://kentdowns.org.uk/funding-and-grants/capital-and-access/

Projects must be within the Kent Downs National Landscape boundary. Check the map here: https://kentdowns.org.uk/boundary-map/

27/10/2026

Autumn is a crucial time for Asian Hornet monitoring. 🍂

As the weather cools, newly mated Asian Hornet queens leave their nests to find somewhere to hibernate over winter. They can go on to establish new colonies in spring, which is why finding and reporting nests now is so important.

If you're out walking in the Kent Downs, remember to look up! 👀 Secondary nests can be high in tree canopies, often growing to the size of a large backpack. Your observations can help specialist teams locate and destroy nests before new queens disperse.

🐝 Think you've spotted an Asian Hornet or an active nest?
📸 Take a photo from a safe distance, if you can do so safely.
📍 Note the location, ideally with a grid reference or What3Words address.
📱 Report your sighting through the free Asian Hornet Watch app.

So far this year, the UK has recorded 226 credible Asian Hornet sightings and 85 nests destroyed. Specialist teams continue to monitor reports across Kent, Surrey, London, Essex, East Sussex, Somerset, Dorset, Manchester and Lincolnshire.

You can also help with monitoring. If you're a landowner, farmer, smallholder or part of a community group, you can apply for free traps and bait through our Making Trapping Happen project.

Find out more and apply here ➡️ https://kentdowns.org.uk/making-trapping-happen/

Every report helps build a clearer picture of Asian Hornet activity and supports efforts to protect our pollinators. 🌿

25/10/2026

There's plenty to discover in the Darent Valley this autumn! 🍂 Follow the river, enjoy a walk across the Downs or spend some time wandering through one of the valley's picturesque villages.

If you're planning a day out, here are four spots to add to your list:

🌿 Fackenden Down – Enjoy the open views across the Darent Valley and take in the rolling chalk hills as the landscape takes on its autumn colours.

🦆 Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve – Follow the paths around the lakes and see how many different birds you can spot.

🎨 Shoreham – Have a wander through the village and discover the landscapes that inspired artist Samuel Palmer.

🏰 Eynsford – Stop by the castle ruins, then enjoy a walk alongside the River Darent.

You can visit many of these places on foot, and some are easy to reach by train, too.

Which one would you like to visit first?

Plan your visit: https://kentdowns.org.uk/dvlps/visit/

23/10/2026

Farmers and land managers across the Kent Downs can get support to turn their project ideas into action. 🌱

The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme has been extended for a further three years, and we’re welcoming enquiries from those interested in applying.

Funding can support projects that help wildlife thrive, improve access to the countryside, protect historic features and make farm businesses more sustainable. This could include restoring ponds, reconnecting habitats, creating farm walks or helping land better withstand flooding and climate change.

You don’t need to have a complete plan before getting in touch. Our team can talk through your ideas, explain the funding criteria and help you work out the next steps.

📩 Email [email protected] to discuss your project.

Find out more about Farming in Protected Landscapes: https://kentdowns.org.uk/our-projects/farming-in-protected-landscapes/

Projects and works must be within the Kent Downs National Landscape boundary. Not sure if your land or project is within the designated area? Check the boundary map before exploring the funding opportunities: https://kentdowns.org.uk/boundary-map/

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is funded by DEFRA.

21/10/2026

Looking for something a little different to do this autumn? 🍂

Spend a day at Kent Cookery School in Mersham, where you can get stuck into cooking with ingredients from Kent suppliers and farms. There are courses for all abilities, so you can come along, learn something new and enjoy a proper day in the kitchen.

And yes, you get to eat what you make at the end. 😋

Find out more and book your place: https://kentdowns.org.uk/experiences/kent-cookery-school/

Kent Cookery School

19/10/2026

How often do you really stop and notice what’s around you? 🌿

Mindfulness in Nature Day at Goodnestone Park Gardens is a chance to spend time outdoors and reconnect with the natural world through your senses. You’ll explore the gardens, take part in gentle awareness exercises and discover simple ways to pay closer attention to the sights, sounds and details you might normally walk past.

It’s about experiencing nature a little differently, and finding ways to carry that connection with you into everyday life.

The next session is on 14 November.

Find out more and book: https://kentdowns.org.uk/experiences/mindfulness-in-nature-day/

16/10/2026

Good ideas need the right investment behind them. 🌾

There’s £372,500 available through Protected Landscapes Capital funding for projects across the Kent Downs.

Funding could help restore a wetland, woodland or species-rich grassland, improve conservation infrastructure, make a path or route easier to use, or add accessible gates, seating and visitor facilities. It can also support improvements to existing assets, making them more sustainable and helping reduce carbon emissions.

These practical improvements can help care for the Kent Downs and make it a place more people can enjoy.

You don’t need to have everything worked out before you get in touch. If you have a project in mind, talk to us, and we can help you work through what funding could support.

Find out more: https://kentdowns.org.uk/funding-and-grants/capital-and-access

Projects and works must be within the Kent Downs National Landscape boundary. Not sure if your land or project is within the designated area? Check the Kent Downs boundary map before exploring the funding opportunities: https://kentdowns.org.uk/boundary-map/

Address

Ashford

Telephone

+441303815170

Website

https://linktr.ee/KentDownsNL

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kent Downs National Landscape posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.