Landscape that inspired Dickens made nature reserve

A Kent landscape of ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and chalk grasslands that inspired novelist Charles Dickens has been made a national nature reserve.

Natural England, which advises the government on the environment, has announced the creation of the North Kent Woods and Downs national nature reserve.

As a result, the 800-acre site near Snodland has been marked out as an area of focus for conservation and nature restoration efforts.

The reserve is the eighth in the King's Series – a programme to establish 25 large-scale national nature reserves across England by 2027 in celebration of King Charles' coronation.

The North Kent Woods and Downs is home to species including Man and Lady orchids, the Maidstone mining bee, Hazel dormouse and skylarks, about 1,700 ancient and veteran trees, and the Silverhand Estate – one of the UK's largest organic vineyards.

Dickens, who lived in different areas of north Kent during his life in the 19th Century, drew inspiration from the landscape in his writings.

Natural England's partners, which include the National Trust, Woodland Trust and Kent County Council, will be working to support conservation efforts beyond the boundary of the reserve, to create a joined-up approach to nature recovery for a further 1,100 hectares in the surrounding area.

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."

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