Dramatic views and landform
The way the landscape of the Kent Downs looks and the habitats and wildlife it supports are based on the rocks that lie underneath the ground; its geology. A large proportion of the Kent Downs is based on chalk which leads to vibrant and colourful chalk grassland where orchids and other chalk-loving plants thrive.
South-facing steep slopes (scarps) of chalk and greensand, hidden dry valleys, broad and steep-sided river valleys and of course the iconic white cliffs around the Dover coast are some of the dramatic landforms to be seen within the Kent Downs. Breathtaking, long-distance panoramas are offered across the Kent Downs. Man-made features such as quarries from the former cement making industry around the River Medway create distinctiveness at a local level.