Wildlife reserves · London
Downe Bank
In or near Downe.
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
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Downe Bank, the nearest railway station is Chelsfield, located 4.2 km away. Entry to the wildlife reserve is free, and it is accessible via the postcode BR6 7LE.
About
Downe Bank is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. Heritage designation: Site of Special Scientific Interest. Coordinates: 51.3310°, 0.0640°.
Photo gallery
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
Cudham Shaws Outdoor Centre
Campsites · 0.5 km
Christmas Tree Farm
Farms (open to visitors) · 0.7 km
Down House
Historic houses · 0.7 km
The Wormstone
Archaeological sites · 0.8 km
St Mary's Church, Downe
Historic churches · 0.9 km
Downe
Towns & cities · 0.9 km
West Kent Golf Course nature reserve
Wildlife reserves · 1.1 km
Cudham
Towns & cities · 1.4 km
Downe Activity Centre
Campsites · 1.4 km
Downe Activity Center
Campsites · 1.5 km
Harry Relph
Memorials & monuments · 1.5 km
Campfire Circle
Theatres · 1.5 km
Nearby
📷 5Campsites · 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.
Where to eat & stay near Downe Bank
Places to stay
📷 5Campsites · London
Cudham Shaws Outdoor Centre
Cudham Shaws Outdoor Centre — a campsite in england london.
📷 5📷 5
📷 5
📷 5Campsites · London
Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre
Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre — a campsite in england london.
📷 5Campsites · London
Bears Wood Scout Campsite
Bears Wood Scout Campsite — a campsite in england london.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5Historic pubs · London
The Old Jail Public House
The Old Jail Public House in England London, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · London
The Rock And Fountain Public House
The Rock And Fountain Public House in England London, United Kingdom.
📷 7
📷 7Historic pubs · South East England
The Olde House At Home Public House
The Olde House At Home Public House in England South East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · South East England
The Wolfe Public House
The Wolfe Public House in England South East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · London
The Blue Anchor Public House
The Blue Anchor Public House in England London, United Kingdom.
More places in this region
Flagship📷 10Wildlife reserves · London
Bedfords Park
Bedfords Park — Havering London Borough green landscape, also an Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
Flagship📷 10
Flagship📷 10Wildlife reserves · London
Bramley Bank
Bramley Bank — Nature reserve in Upper Shirley.
Flagship📷 10Wildlife reserves · London
Chafford Gorges Nature Park
Chafford Gorges Nature Park — Essex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Downe Bank?
- Downe Bank is in London, United Kingdom (postcode BR6 7LE), in the parish of Bromley, unparished area.
- What is Downe Bank?
- Downe Bank is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Downe Bank?
- The nearest railway station is Chelsfield, about 4.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode BR6 7LE.
- 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.