Enjoy a summer walk/talk through the Kent Downs National Landscape and learn how this reserve has created cultivated margins and plots to enhance its floristic diversity. Managing margins and/or plots through annual cultivation provides disturbed bare ground for annual plants to germinate and prevents more competitive grasses from dominating. Without this management, many arable plants can find it difficult to survive in the modern landscape.

These areas are often cultivated annually or bi-annually to create a suitable seedbed, with the aim of conserving rare plants and encouraging iconic farmland wildlife such as turtle doves and other seed-eating birds.

Conservation advice will be available through different advisors on the day including how to access government grants relating to this conservation measure.

A packed lunch will be provided at the end of the session.

Hot and cold drinks will also be served.

Your hosts

Ben Sweeney - Plantlife

Andrew Lingham - Court Farm

Nicole Khan - Turtle Dove Conservation Advisor for Kent

Shivani Thevar - Turtle Dove Conservation Advisor for West Kent, Sussex & Hampshire

Stuart Harris - Sustainable Farming Officer, Nature Friendly Farming Network