Folkestone Downs
Encyclopedia
The Folkestone Downs are an area of chalk downland above Folkestone
, where the eastern end of the North Downs
escarpment meets the English Channel
. The Downs are protected within the Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment SSSI due to their geological and biological interest.
in the east to Peene Quarry in the west. The downs rise steeply above the town of Folkestone to heights in excess of 150 metres. The highest point is Dover Hill at 170 metres. The Channel Tunnel Terminal
lies at the foot of the downs and the British portal is directly below the slopes of Castle Hill. The downland is classified as CG4 Brachypodium pinnatum
and CG5 Bromus erectus - Brachypodium pinnatum
calcareous grassland with smaller areas of CG2 Festuca ovina - Avenula pratensis
grassland. There are also areas of scrubland and woodland.
(Hippocrepis comosa), Squinancywort (Asperula cynanchica) and Small Scabious
as well as scarce species such as Bedstraw Broomrape
(Orobanche caryophyllacea). Many species of orchid occur on the downs notably the nationally rare Late Spider Orchid
(Ophrys fuciflora) as well as the nationally scarce Early Spider Orchid
(Ophrys sphegodes) and Man Orchid
(Aceras anthropophora). The nationally scarce Burnt Orchid
(Neotinea ustulata) has also been recorded in the past. Folkestone Downs are also notable for its extensive lichen flora.
(Lysandra bellargus), Chalkhill Blue
(Polyommatus coridon) and Small Blue
(Cupido minimus). Several rare species of moth have been recorded including the Straw Belle
(Aspitates gilvaria) and the Annulet Moth
(Charissa obscurata
).
and is managed in by the White Cliffs Countryside Project. Grazing was abandoned after the Second World War resulting in an invasion of coarse grasses and scrub. This resulted in a reduction of the grassland flora, particularly after the rabbit population was reduced by myxamatosis in the 1950s. Cattle grazing was restored in 1990. Much of the downland is designated as open access land following the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
.
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
, where the eastern end of the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
escarpment meets the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. The Downs are protected within the Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment SSSI due to their geological and biological interest.
Topography
Folkestone Downs stretch for 5 kilometres from East Cliff and Warren Country ParkEast Cliff and Warren Country Park
East Cliff and Warren Country Park is in Folkestone, in Kent, England.This country park is formed of the East Cliffs of Folkestone, the sandy beaches of East Wear Bay and the land slipped nature reserve land between the cliffs and the sea.-History:...
in the east to Peene Quarry in the west. The downs rise steeply above the town of Folkestone to heights in excess of 150 metres. The highest point is Dover Hill at 170 metres. The Channel Tunnel Terminal
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
lies at the foot of the downs and the British portal is directly below the slopes of Castle Hill. The downland is classified as CG4 Brachypodium pinnatum
Calcicolous grasslands in the British National Vegetation Classification system
This article gives an overview of the calcicolous grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.-Introduction:The calcicolous grassland communities of the NVC were described in Volume 3 of British Plant Communities, first published in 1992, along with the...
and CG5 Bromus erectus - Brachypodium pinnatum
Calcicolous grasslands in the British National Vegetation Classification system
This article gives an overview of the calcicolous grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.-Introduction:The calcicolous grassland communities of the NVC were described in Volume 3 of British Plant Communities, first published in 1992, along with the...
calcareous grassland with smaller areas of CG2 Festuca ovina - Avenula pratensis
British NVC community CG2
NVC community CG2 is one of the calcicolous grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
grassland. There are also areas of scrubland and woodland.
Flora
Folkestone Downs are one of the largest areas of unimproved chalk downland in Kent. The extensive flora includes many typical species of chalk grassland including Horseshoe VetchHorseshoe Vetch
Hippocrepis comosa, known as Horseshoe Vetch, is a flowering plant. It is the sole food of the butterfly species Polyommatus coridon, or the Chalkhill Blue....
(Hippocrepis comosa), Squinancywort (Asperula cynanchica) and Small Scabious
Scabiosa
Scabiosa is a genus in the teasel Family Dipsacaceae of flowering plants. Many of the species in this genus have common names that include the word scabious; however some plants commonly known as scabious are currently classified in related genera such as Knautia and Succisa; at least some of...
as well as scarce species such as Bedstraw Broomrape
Broomrape
Broomrape or Broom-rape is a genus of over 200 species of parasitic herbaceous plants in the family Orobanchaceae, mostly native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Some species formerly included in this genus are now referred to the genus Conopholis.The broomrape plant is small, from...
(Orobanche caryophyllacea). Many species of orchid occur on the downs notably the nationally rare Late Spider Orchid
Ophrys
The genus Ophrys is a large group of orchids from the alliance Orchis in the subtribe Orchidinae. There are many natural hybrids. The type species is Ophrys insectifera L.1753...
(Ophrys fuciflora) as well as the nationally scarce Early Spider Orchid
Ophrys
The genus Ophrys is a large group of orchids from the alliance Orchis in the subtribe Orchidinae. There are many natural hybrids. The type species is Ophrys insectifera L.1753...
(Ophrys sphegodes) and Man Orchid
Man orchid
Orchis anthropophora, the Man Orchid , is a European species of orchid whose flowers resemble a human figure. The head is formed by the petals and sepals, and the suspended torso and limbs by the lobes of the labellum...
(Aceras anthropophora). The nationally scarce Burnt Orchid
Burnt orchid
The Burnt Orchid is a European terrestrial orchid, most common in the mountains. It flowers between April and August depending on the altitude....
(Neotinea ustulata) has also been recorded in the past. Folkestone Downs are also notable for its extensive lichen flora.
Fauna
The scrub and woodland provides breeding habitat for many species of bird. Folkestone Downs is particularly notable for its insect fauna. Up to 32 species of butterfly have been redorded on the downs including the Adonis BlueAdonis Blue
The Adonis Blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.-Habitat:The preferred habitat of the adonis blue is calcareous grasslands with hot and dry conditions.-Species decline:...
(Lysandra bellargus), Chalkhill Blue
Chalkhill Blue
The Chalkhill Blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.Males have pale silvery-blue wings with black and white border . Females are dark brown, also with the black and white borders...
(Polyommatus coridon) and Small Blue
Small Blue
The Small Blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.It is found in Europe, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Tian-Shan, West Siberia, Central Siberia, South Siberia, Russian Far East, Amur, Mongolia, Magadan and Kamchatka....
(Cupido minimus). Several rare species of moth have been recorded including the Straw Belle
Geometer moth
The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera...
(Aspitates gilvaria) and the Annulet Moth
Geometer moth
The geometer moths or Geometridae are a family of the order Lepidoptera...
(Charissa obscurata
Charissa obscurata
The Annulet or Scotch Annulet is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in most of Europe.It is a variable species, whose ground colour generally reflects the area it inhabits. It is whitish or pale grey in limestone and chalky districts. Darker forms are found in areas with peaty soils.The...
).
Ownership, management and access
Much of Folkestone Downs is owned by EurotunnelEurotunnel
Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. manages and operates the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France. The Company operates the car shuttle services and earns revenue on other trains passing through the tunnel...
and is managed in by the White Cliffs Countryside Project. Grazing was abandoned after the Second World War resulting in an invasion of coarse grasses and scrub. This resulted in a reduction of the grassland flora, particularly after the rabbit population was reduced by myxamatosis in the 1950s. Cattle grazing was restored in 1990. Much of the downland is designated as open access land following the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a UK Act of Parliament which came into force on 30 November 2000.As of September 2007, not all sections of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act have yet come into force...
.