Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs

Lydden and Temple Ewell Downs are a stretch of chalk downland near Dover in East Kent. The site is a national nature reserve, owned and managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust and is also listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. There are plans to extend the site.EcologyThe main chalk grassland communities are CG4 Brachypodium pinnatum and CG5 Bromus erectus - Brachypodium pinnatum. The reserve supports a rich flora and is notable for its orchids which include the nationally scarce Burnt Orchid (Neotinea ustulata) and Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes). The chalk grassland is an important site for insects. It is the only site in Kent for the Wart-biter (Decticus verrucivorus) and also supports the Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma), Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) and Chalkhill Blue (Polyommatus coridon).