Wildlife reserves · London
Downe Bank
Downe Bank is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Chelsfield · 4.2 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
Downe Bank is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. Heritage designation: Site of Special Scientific Interest. Coordinates: 51.3310°, 0.0640°.
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Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Downe Bank and High Elms SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Downe Bank is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust in the North Downs, close to Downe in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) together with the neighbouring High Elms Country Park. Located close to Charles Darwin's home, Down House, it was one of his favourite places and helped to inspire his work.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Description
The Kent Wildlife Trust reserve occupies 5 hectares at grid reference TQ438609, but the SSSI covers a wider area of 17.7 hectares. There is an area of ancient woodland called Hangrove Wood, and chalk downland called 'Rough Pell' on a tythe map of 1840, but known to Darwin as Orchis Bank, because many wild orchids grew there. It has a good diversity of chalk grassland species, including toothwort, adder's tongue and false oxlip. Up to 31 species of birds have been recorded, together with dormice and invertebrates. Access is by a footpath, which goes through the reserve, between Christmas Tree Farm on Cudham Road in Downe and Overshaws on Cudham Lane near Cudham. The footpath is part of the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.3310, 0.0640
- District
- Bromley
- Parish
- Bromley, unparished area
- Postcode
- BR6 7LE
- Parliamentary constituency
- Orpington
- Nearest railway station
- Chelsfield — 4.2 km
Sources
- wikidata: Q5303084 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Downe Bank (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Downe Bank.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
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Nearby
Campsites · London
Cudham Shaws Outdoor Centre
Cudham Shaws Outdoor Centre — a campsite in england london.
📷 5Farms (open to visitors) · London
Christmas Tree Farm
Christmas Tree Farm — a other in england-london, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic houses · London
Down House
Down House — a other in england-london, United Kingdom.
📷 5Archaeological sites · London
The Wormstone
The Wormstone — a archaeological in england-london, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic churches · London
St Mary's Church, Downe
St Mary's Church, Downe — church in Downe, London (historically Kent).
📷 5Towns & cities · London
Downe
Downe — village in the London Borough of Bromley, England, UK.
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Bedfords Park
Bedfords Park — Havering London Borough green landscape, also an Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
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Biggin Wood
Biggin Wood — preserved ancient woodland.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Downe Bank?
- Downe Bank is in London, United Kingdom (postcode BR6 7LE), in the parish of Bromley, unparished area.
- Is Downe Bank a listed building?
- Downe Bank is officially recognised as Site of Special Scientific Interest listed.
- Is Downe Bank a protected site?
- Yes — Downe Bank is part of the Downe Bank and High Elms SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Downe Bank free to visit?
- Yes, Downe Bank is free to enter.
- How do I get to Downe Bank?
- The nearest railway station is Chelsfield, about 4.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BR6 7LE.
- Are dogs allowed at Downe Bank?
- Most wildlife reserves allow dogs on lead only, with restrictions during ground-nesting bird season (March-July). Check signage at the reserve.