We’re proud to share that the North Kent Woods and Downs (NKWD) has been officially declared a National Nature Reserve (NNR) by Natural England – part of the King’s Series of NNRs. TEP, working with CFP Landscape and Heritage, assisted Kent Downs National Landscape in preparing a comprehensive visitor access and community engagement strategy to support the designation process. Proposals address audiences, community engagement, public transport, active travel, visitor gateways and community access, primary walking trails, cycle and horse trails and inclusive access.
The designated NNR area covers 800 ha of the northernmost area of the Kent Downs National Landscape, between Gravesend and the Medway Valley. A further 1,100 hectares of contiguous land is managed by landowners affiliated with the reserve. Affiliate status recognises that in extensive partnership reserves, such as NKWD, there are often linked areas that are not eligible for declaration, but that would make a significant contribution to the NNR’s functions.
The NNR will be a partnership reserve – with 9 core sites and a further 6 affiliated areas – and will drive landscape-scale nature recovery in Kent, inspire people and promote learning. 1,000ha across the partner and affiliate sites is designated SSSI and priority habitats include ancient woodland, wood pasture, internationally important arable habitats and chalk grassland. There are significant urban populations close to the NNR – Gravesend, Rochester and Strood and south-east London is c. 20km away – providing an incredible opportunity to engage the local population in landscape and nature conservation.
To support development of the strategy, TEP undertook partner and stakeholder engagement, desk studies and survey work to audit existing infrastructure and map sensitivities. GIS mapping tools were used to support site analysis and proposal identification.
The vision for visitor access and community engagement focusses on providing communities with opportunities to enjoy nature and engage with environmental issues, and for the reserve to provide a gateway to the wider landscape of Kent and East Sussex. To deliver the vision, five key themes for action were developed which are:
🌿 Increase awareness, remove barriers and broaden audiences;
🌿 Expand engagement activities and capacity;
🌿 Increase opportunities to access the NNR;
🌿 Ensure access is sensitive to its context; and
🌿 Improve accessibility and connectivity between partner sites.
We also outlined how strategic engagement can deepen connections with the landscape and foster long-term stewardship. Set alongside complementary strategies addressing landscape character, heritage, grazing, deer management, and veteran trees, our work ensures access proposals co-ordinate with efforts to conserve nature and heritage. Key considerations included protecting sensitive habitats, supporting rare species, and helping to unlock the educational and cultural potential of the site.
The North Kent Woods and Downs NNR will be a flagship for collaborative conservation. TEP is delighted to have played a role in the creation of this new reserve that will inspire, educate, and protect for generations to come.
The strategy and implementation plan can be found on the NNR website here.
Featured image at top of news article: Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve, photo credit: Plantlife
