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The
Kent Downs AONB is a special place whose character has evolved from
centuries of human activity working within the natural and physical
characteristics of the land. Its essence is a tapestry of many different
land uses and natural processes that continue to work on the scale
of human, historical and geological time. Although there is great
local diversity across the Kent Downs, the following features are
those that unify the whole AONB and provide it with its own 'sense
of place' More details of the special characteristics of the Kent
Downs can be found in the Management Plan
- Dramatic landform and views: The Kent Downs’
dramatic and diverse topography is based on well-defined and contrasting
geological features. These features comprise: impressive south-facing
scarps of chalk and greensand; scalloped and hidden dry valleys;
expansive open plateaux; broad, steep-sided river valleys, and
dramatic white cliffs and foreshore. Breathtaking, long-distance
panoramas are offered across open countryside, estuaries, towns
and the sea from the scarp, cliffs and plateaux; the dip slope
dry valleys and river valleys provide more intimate and enclosed
vistas. Overlying this landform are diverse natural and man-made
features creating distinctiveness at a local level. Key landscape
features in some areas have been lost or eroded through lack of
support mechanisms, through intensive land management, development
or neglect. Illegal or antisocial activities, such as fly tipping,
have led to further erosion of landscape beauty in key places.
- Biodiversity-rich habitats: Rich mosaics of
habitats, plant and animal communities of national and local importance
are supported, although many are isolated or fragmented in a modern
agricultural landscape. These include: semi-natural chalk grassland
and chalk scrub; ancient semi-natural woodland; chalk cliffs,
foreshore and sea platform; chalk rivers and wet pasture; ponds
and spring lines; heath and acid grassland; woodland pasture and
ancient trees; and networks of linear features of species-rich
hedgerows, flower-rich field margins and road verges. Sensitive
management and conservation of all these features is essential
to the survival of the AONB’s important biodiversity heritage
and landscape quality.
- Mixed farmland: A long-established tradition
of mixed farming (of arable, livestock and horticulture) covers
over 74% of the AONB. Expansive arable fields are generally on
the lower slopes, valley bottoms and plateaux top. Disconnected
‘ribbons’ of permanent grassland (shaves) are along
the steep scarp, valley sides, and on less productive land, grazed
by sheep, cattle and increasingly by horses. Locally concentrated
areas are also present of orchards, cobnut platts (coppiced nut
orchards), hop gardens and other horticulture production, whose
regular striate form enhances the rise and fall of the land. At
a national level, uncertainty hangs over the future policy and
funding regimes for agricultural production, agri-environment
schemes, and the decisions of farmers generally. At a local level,
more farms are coming out of agricultural production, and farm
owners with non-agricultural incomes are becoming more common.
Provision for leisure including equine activities and shooting,
are replacing traditional farming practices.
- Ancient woodland: Broadleaf and mixed woodland,
covering over 20% of the Kent Downs frame the upper slopes and
plateaux tops. A number of large woodland blocks are present,
but the majority of woodlands are small, fragmented and in disparate
land ownership and management. Over half of the woodland sites
are ancient (continuously wooded for at least 400 years old),
supporting nationally important woodland plant and animal species.
Large areas of sweet chestnut coppice are present throughout,
although active coppicing has declined considerably, and timber
production is very localised. Markets for local woodland products
are currently at a low ebb.
- A rich legacy of historic and built heritage:
Millennia of human activity have created an outstanding cultural
inheritance. There are the remains of Neolithic megalithic monuments,
Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age hill-forts, Roman villas and towns,
medieval villages focused on their churches; post-medieval stately
homes with their parks and gardens and historic defence structures
from Norman times to the twentieth century. Fields of varying
shapes and sizes and ancient wood-banks and hedges, set within
networks of droveways and sunken lanes have produced a rich historic
mosaic, which is the rural landscape of today. Architectural distinctiveness
is ever present in the scattered farmsteads and oasthouses, barns
and other agricultural buildings, churches and country houses.
The diverse range of local materials used, which includes flint,
chalk ragstone, timber and tile, contributes to the character
and texture of the countryside.
The biggest threats to the AONB’s historic and cultural
heritage are from a general lack of awareness and understanding
of the importance of these many sites and features. Other issues
include the lack of sensitive management, and loss or erosion
of features, character and settings through development
- Tranquillity and remoteness: The imposing landform
of the Kent Downs has confined the main transport links to its
edges and the river valleys throughout history. This has largely
remained true through to modern days, and much of the AONB provides
surprisingly tranquil and remote countryside – offering
dark night skies and peace away from road traffic. These perceptual
qualities are particularly vulnerable to the further spread of
inappropriate development, and continual pressure on the AONB’s
transport
networks.
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