- Around 400,000 people live within five miles of the new Reserve and will have new opportunities to connect with the natural world.
- First National Nature Reserve to include an organic and carbon-negative vineyard, bringing a boost for both nature recovery and the local economy.
- The North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve is home to around 1,700 ancient and veteran trees, as well as a mosaic of natural habitats including wildflower meadows, rare arable plants and chalk grasslands.
- Declared as one of the King’s Series of NNRs is recognition the area is nationally important and will be managed in perpetuity as one of the best places for nature to thrive.
Natural England has announced the opening of the North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve, offering access to a mosaic of ancient woodlands, vineyards, and chalk grasslands in one of England’s most significant conservation areas.
More than 400,000 people live within five miles of the Reserve and eight million people live just an hour’s drive away, making this opening an exciting opportunity for millions of people to connect with internationally important nature.
The new National Nature Reserve covers almost 1900 in all, 800 at its core it is the first of its kind to be launched with additional ‘affiliated land’ which will support conservation efforts beyond the boundary of the reserve, extending over a further 1,100 hectares – around 2,800 football pitches.
Throughout the reserve there are more than 1,700 ancient and veteran trees, many of which are centuries old. These wooded areas are surrounded by wildflower meadows and chalk grasslands providing homes for flagship species including, orchids, the Maidstone mining bee, Hazel dormouse and skylarks
Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England said:
“Creating bigger, better and more joined up natural areas is one of the most vital and fundamental steps we must take in meeting our national targets for Nature’s recovery. This new reserve, with its hundreds of ancient trees set amid extensive chalk grasslands, lays the foundations for multiple partners to work together to improve Nature across a significant area of countryside.
“This reserve presents one further excellent example of the progress that can be made when people decide to work together across landscapes.
“Millions of people visit our National Nature Reserves and having a new one accessible to so many people and with such fantastic Nature is truly a cause for celebration.”
Nick Johanssen, Kent Downs National Landscape said:
“The North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve is especially exciting because of its sheer scale, nearly 20 square kilometres of land managed for nature, people, its beauty and history and for scientific research…and so close to the urban centres of Gravesend and the Medway towns. Many partners from the public, private, community and charity sectors are working together here, on some of the very best sites for wildlife in England. Together we have committed to work for nature recovery and connect our land to become a new National Nature Reserve. Our partnership has worked together for over two years to develop a shared vision for the NNR and carry out detailed research and development. This crucial stage has been supported by the National Highways Designated Funds. Our friends in Natural England guided the proposal through the legal processes and we’ve done it! A fantastic new National Nature Reserve in the Kent Downs National Landscape.
“Throughout the development stage we carried out practical wildlife and landscape projects on the ground but now the NNR is declared our intention is to significantly grow our ambition to deliver more and larger, more collaborative projects on the ground, we will work in areas such as grazing projects, expanding wild flower management, engaging people and promoting access along with a joint approach on caring for the extraordinary ancient trees and planning the next generation of veteran trees.
“We’re so proud this reserve has been given national status and chosen as part of the very special King’s Series of NNRs. This special honour is well deserved; the Kent Woods and Downs encompasses nationally and internationally important habitats. These include up to over 1,700 ancient and veteran trees, some older than 500 years, which are internationally significant. The woodlands are home to a mosaic of habitats from rare beetles and bats to delicate lichens and fungi and the more familiar spring woodland flowers including our much-loved bluebells. These wooded areas are surrounded by wildflower meadows and chalk grasslands providing homes for flagship species including, orchids, the Maidstone mining bee, Hazel dormouse and skylarks.”
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:
“This new National Nature Reserve will put the magical landscapes that Kent has to offer in the public eye, giving people the opportunity to explore the wonderful natural heritage of Kent from wildflower meadows to ancient woodlands.
“Reserves like this one, and others in the King’s Series, will help us to deliver on our promise to improve access to nature and protect nature-rich habitats, as well as boosting the local economy in line with our Plan for Change.”
Alongside long-term management for the precious habitats found at the site, the declaration of the newest National Nature Reserve in the King’s Series also offers the prime example of how conservation and economic growth can go hand in hand.
The site is home to the Silverhand Estate, the largest single organic and carbon-negative vineyard in the UK. For organisations like Silverhand, healthy nature is essential to business, which serves as a reminder that nature underpins all parts of our economy.
This new National Nature Reserve directly supports the government’s commitment to restore and protect our natural world by expanding nature-rich habitats where people can explore and wildlife can thrive.
This is the 8th reserve to be launched as part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, which will leave a lasting public legacy for people and nature by creating or extending 25 National Nature Reserves by 2027.
With support from Natural England and Kent Downs National Landscape, the Reserve will be managed by several partners including the National Trust, Woodland Trust, Kent County Council, Plantlife, Silverhand Estate (Vineyard Farms Ltd), and the West Kent Downs Countryside Trust. Affiliated partners include Gravesham Borough Council, Birling Estate, Shorne Parish Council, Tarmac and Forestry England.
For further information, including guided tours and community engagement opportunities, visit North Kent Woods and Downs NNR.