Treemendous Walk on the Folkestone Downs

Event Date: 22/06/2024 10:30 - 12:00

Join Ranger Brad on a Treemendous family walk on the Folkestone Downs. We will make our own tree books to take home, collecting bark and leaf rubbings as we explore the wonderful chalk downland habitat.

Leader Ranger Brad Foster 07562901147

Meet at the west end of Holywell Avenue Folkestone

Thanks to National Heritage Lottery fund, this event is supported by the Kent Downs National Landscape as part of the Cross Channel Geopark's GeoDiversity project.

For full listings of the GeoAdventures programme visit kentdowns.org.uk/geoadventures

Please wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather. All the materials will be provided by the ranger.

Children must be accompanied at all times. Due to limited spaces we appreciate only one adult accompanying each child during the event. Please note each ticket booked is for one child plus one accompanying adult.

Event Location - Folkestone Downs

Folkestone Downs are a prominent ridge of chalk hills to the north of Folkestone and form part of the North Downs escarpment that runs through Kent and Surrey. White Cliffs Countryside Partnership manage 72 hectares of the Downs on behalf of Eurotunnel including Castle Hill, Sugarloaf Hill, Round Hill and Cheriton Hill.

The chalk grassland on the steep south-facing slopes of the Downs is some of the richest for wildlife in the UK and the whole site is accordingly designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The chalk grassland is at its best in spring and summer when you may see dozens of wildflower and butterfly species during an afternoon’s walk.

Folkestone Downs also supports areas of wildflower-rich grassland that have been restored from arable farmland, as well as patches of secondary woodland that became established on the Downs during the second half of the 20^th century. At Holywell Coombe, freshwater springs emerge and feed a small area of calcareous fen that provides another important habitat for wildlife.

The Downs have a long history of human occupation and land use that stretches back more than 4,000 years. Archaeological excavations in the 1980s uncovered evidence of a Bronze Age settlement at the foot of Sugarloaf Hill, and the impressive earthworks of a Norman motte-and-bailey fort can be seen on the summit of Castle Hill. At Cherry Garden Hill a large Bronze Age round barrow is rather unusually crowned by a WWII pillbox.

The North Downs Way passes along the crest of Folkestone Downs and links with Folkestone Warren to the east. There are also many other established paths to help you explore.