Kent Downs National Landscape

Kent Downs National Landscape 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, tradit

ional 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.

The Kent Downs is shaped by centuries of history. 🏰Ancient woodlands, historic farmsteads, traditional orchards, chalk g...
16/06/2026

The Kent Downs is shaped by centuries of history. 🏰

Ancient woodlands, historic farmsteads, traditional orchards, chalk grasslands, archaeological sites, and the stories of the people who have lived and worked here all contribute to the character of this special landscape.

As part of the Kent Downs Management Plan Review, we're consulting on the draft plan that will help guide how we can protect and celebrate this rich heritage over the coming years.

Take a look at the draft documents and share your views through our public consultation.

📅 Consultation closes Sunday 19 July 2026.

🔗 https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/kent-downs

Kent County Council Folkestone & Hythe District Council Sevenoaks District Council Official Dover District Council Explore Kent Visit Kent Gravesham Borough Council Medway Council Natural England National Trust Active Kent & Medway North Downs Way National Trail

Looking for a gentle way to enjoy the outdoors this summer? Join this Accessible Roll & Stroll at Sevenoaks Wildlife Res...
16/06/2026

Looking for a gentle way to enjoy the outdoors this summer? Join this Accessible Roll & Stroll at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, led by North Downs Way Ambassadors and the team from wild_with_wheels .

📅 Wednesday 15 July | 11:00am
📍 Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Kent

This inclusive, guided walk follows a gentle circular route around the beautiful lakes, with stops at fully accessible bird hides - perfect for spotting wildfowl, dragonflies, and more.

The reserve itself is a stunning 73-hectare wildlife haven with over 2,000 recorded species, with accessibility recently improved to help more people experience nature.

What to expect:
* A friendly, welcoming group atmosphere
* Accessible paths suitable for wheels and walking aids
* Opportunities to connect with nature at your own pace
* Optional time to relax at the visitor centre after the walk

Whether you’re a regular explorer or new to the outdoors, this is a great opportunity to enjoy nature in an inclusive and supportive setting 💚

Book your free place now at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sevenoaks-wildlife-reserve-accessible-roll-and-stroll-with-wild-with-wheels-tickets-1991446294475

Did you know two of the species on the Bank of England shortlist for new banknotes are found here in the Kent Downs? 🦉🐇T...
13/06/2026

Did you know two of the species on the Bank of England shortlist for new banknotes are found here in the Kent Downs? 🦉🐇

The Barn Owl and Brown Hare are both iconic species of our farmland and countryside.

Barn Owls rely on rough grassland, field margins and hedgerows where they hunt small mammals. Brown Hares thrive in open, mixed farmland landscapes with space to feed and breed. Both species are important indicators of healthy, nature-rich farmland.

The Bank of England is asking the public to vote on which species should feature on the next series of banknotes.

You can find out more and cast your vote before 3 July: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/help-us-design-our-next-series-of-banknotes

Let’s celebrate the wildlife that makes the Kent Downs special 💚

National Landscapes Association

We asked for your views in 2025, and you told us what matters to you most in the Kent Downs 🌿You highlighted better acce...
11/06/2026

We asked for your views in 2025, and you told us what matters to you most in the Kent Downs 🌿

You highlighted better access, stronger nature recovery, climate action, wellbeing, education, and protecting tranquillity. Your feedback has helped shape the draft Kent Downs Management Plan 2027 to 2031

Now we are inviting you to take part in the public consultation and share your views on the draft plan and supporting documents

📅 Consultation open until 19 July 2026
📖 Read the draft plan and have your say (Link in bio)!

Your feedback will help refine the final Management Plan for the Kent Downs National Landscape 💚

Last week, the Kent Downs team came together at Castle Farm for a day focused on sharing updates, planning ahead, and sp...
10/06/2026

Last week, the Kent Downs team came together at Castle Farm for a day focused on sharing updates, planning ahead, and spending time together in the landscape we work across.

We started the morning with coffee and catch-ups before moving into a conversation about the Management Plan and Landscape-Led Design Guide, currently being consulted on. The discussion explored what has evolved, how different areas of work connect, and how the team can continue shaping this work together.

We then shared a series of short updates from across the programme, including the North Downs Way National Trail, Putting Down Routes, FiPL projects, the Asian hornet project, heritage ponds, and wider landscape planning work. It gave a clear snapshot of activity happening across the Kent Downs at the moment.

Before lunch, the team paused for a short introduction to Eid and a simple henna activity, adding a shared cultural moment to the day.

In the afternoon, we headed out on site, visiting two Geosites of the Cross-Channel Geopark.

At Dryhill, we were joined by GeoAmbassador Simon Drake, exploring the quarry as a Local Nature Reserve known for its nationally significant geology. The visit focused on the landscape itself and how geomapping is helping build a clearer understanding of the site, its features and its story. The discussion also looked at how this geological understanding can support future access, learning, and interpretation, helping more people connect with the landscape in a meaningful way.

At Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, the focus was on access improvements already in place and how people move through and experience the reserve. We saw several improvements funded through the Kent Downs, including new viewpoints and enhanced visitor infrastructure, and discussed how this work is helping improve access, wayfinding, and engagement with the site's wetland and chalk habitat landscape.

The day ended with time together in the landscape, stepping back from the detail to see how everything connects.

North Downs Way National Trail Cross-Channel Geopark Transmanche Kent Wildlife Trust Kent County Council

🌿 Big Chalk Conversations – Sevenoaks workshop 🌿Across southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, so much great ...
08/06/2026

🌿 Big Chalk Conversations – Sevenoaks workshop 🌿

Across southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, so much great work is already happening – habitats being restored, rivers improved, grasslands reconnected, and communities finding new ways to connect with nature.

The next step is how we build on that collective effort and strengthen delivery at the scale the landscape needs.

That’s where Big Chalk Conversations comes in – a series of practical, facilitated workshops led by Big Chalk, bringing partners together to explore how we can better collaborate on nature's recovery across 20% of England.

As a proud Big Chalk partner, the Kent Downs National Landscape is co-hosting this workshop alongside Surrey Hills National Landscape, and we’d really encourage partners to join us at the upcoming Sevenoaks workshop on Monday 29 June.

Each session will explore shared themes, including:
🌿 What’s already working – and where there’s potential to go further
🤝 How we better connect projects, places and people
🧭 What’s enabling or getting in the way of delivery at scale
💬 How strategy, funding and action can align more effectively

These are open, practical conversations, and a chance to help shape what comes next together.

👉 Book your place (Sevenoaks, 29 June) or explore other sessions here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/big-chalk-conversations-june-2026-4840876

We’d really encourage partners working across the Kent Downs and beyond to join us.

Image: © Simon Smith

Get ready for an adventure your kids won’t forget 🌲🪓The Family Mini Survival Adventure in the Kent Downs is a 3-hour out...
07/06/2026

Get ready for an adventure your kids won’t forget 🌲🪓

The Family Mini Survival Adventure in the Kent Downs is a 3-hour outdoor experience packed with bushcraft, shelter building, and hands-on nature fun.

Watch your little explorers gain confidence, make memories, and get muddy in the best way possible. Perfect for families looking for an active, exciting spring day out.

Book your family adventure now: https://kentdowns.org.uk/experiences/family-mini-survival-adventure/

Natural Pathways Bushcraft Courses & Forest School

This World Environment Day, we’re highlighting climate action in the Kent Downs through the Vineyard Health Project, sup...
05/06/2026

This World Environment Day, we’re highlighting climate action in the Kent Downs through the Vineyard Health Project, supported by the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme.

Farmers and land managers are already taking practical steps to respond to climate change while continuing to produce food and support rural businesses.

The project is exploring how regenerative vineyard management can improve soil health, increase biodiversity and help store more carbon in the ground.

It focuses on practical changes such as cover crops between vines, wildflower strips and other nature-friendly farming practices. These approaches can reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, support native pollinators and beneficial insects, improve water retention and build resilience in a changing climate.

Bringing vineyards, farmers, researchers and conservation partners together, the project is helping test and share approaches supporting both nature and sustainable food production.

See more of what’s happening: https://kentdowns.org.uk/our-projects/farming-in-protected-landscapes/

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) National Landscapes Association

This Volunteers’ Week, we want to say a huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who give their time, energy, and pas...
04/06/2026

This Volunteers’ Week, we want to say a huge thank you to the incredible volunteers who give their time, energy, and passion to support the Kent Downs National Landscape.

If you’ve ever joined a guided walk, discovered a new trail, learned something surprising about the landscape around you, or felt more confident exploring the countryside, there’s a good chance a volunteer helped make that experience possible.

Our North Downs Way Ambassadors share their knowledge, stories, and enthusiasm to bring the landscape to life. They welcome newcomers, encourage exploration, and help create memorable experiences along the trail.

Our GeoAmbassadors play a vital role in bringing the Cross-Channel Geopark to life. Through guided activities, local knowledge and a passion for the landscape, they reveal the fascinating geological, cultural and historical connections between Kent and Northern France. Thanks to their dedication, the story beneath our feet becomes something everyone can discover and enjoy.

Every volunteer contributes something unique. Together, they bring the Kent Downs to life through its stories, history and landscapes.

To every Kent Downs National Landscape volunteer, past and present, thank you. Your commitment helps protect and celebrate this extraordinary landscape and ensures more people can connect with it in meaningful and lasting ways.

None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers ❤️

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