Guided Walk: Forager's Food & Pharmacy Walk

Event Date: 06/08/2023 14:00 - 16:30

Join a walk in the biodiverse chalk grassland of Western Heights and hear about the uses and medicinal qualities of the plants that you see.

Join a slow paced walk to see and hear about how the geology influences the many plants living in the biodiverse chalk grasslands. Hear about the chalk landscape, geology and history of the White Cliffs area as well as the uses and medicinal qualities of the plants that you see. You will have the opportunity to collect some of the more abundant leaves and try a wild herbal tea at the end of the walk. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring a drink (and bag if you wish to collect leaves). Please note there are steep slopes and steep steps on the route.

Distance: 2.5 miles.

Meeting point: St. Martin’s Battery car park, South Military Road, Western Heights, off A20 Western Heights roundabout, Dover. 

Parking: St Martin's Battery car park is free of charge. If the car park is full on street parking is available nearby.

Leader: Mel - 07880 706990

Event Location - Western Heights

Western Heights Local Nature Reserve is a large area of cattle grazed chalk grassland, which provides a sanctuary for wildlife. The reserve is also of historic interest owing to two large Napoleonic fortresses: The Citadel and Drop Redoubt, which the reserve surrounds and parts of which are sunken into the hilltops of the Western Heights.

The reserve stretches over a ridge from the eastern end of Aycliffe to the western end of Dover town centre and is split into several fields: Maxton Field and Clarendon Field to the north; St David’s Field, St George’s Field and Ropewalk Field to the south; and Drop Redoubt Field and St Martin’s Battery Field to the east.

The North Downs Way, Saxon Shore Way and England Coast Path pass through the reserve and the site is easily accessible on foot from Dover town centre. Drop Redoubt Field is only a five-minute walk from Dover Priory train station. St Martin’s Battery Field provides stunning views of Dover Castle, the White Cliffs of Dover and the French coast. We manage the reserve on behalf of Dover District Council.