Lydden Temple Ewell (James Teacher) Reserve
O.S Map 179 TR 277453: Nr Dover
Post code Temple Ewell: CT15 5AB
Lydden (top): CT15 5BF
Over 80 hectares of chalk downland, mainly species-diverse, ancient seminatural grassland with marginal woodland, scattered scrub and hedgerow.
A number of the more recently acquired compartments of the reserve had been agriculturally improved with subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy, resulting in the destruction of the ancient grassland and the loss of much rare wildlife.
The reserve lies on a south-facing slope and has an immensely rich diversity of chalk flowers and insects.
Please ensure dogs kept on lead at all times as livestock frequently in residence. (Including Highland Cattle)
Directions
By Road:
Adjacent to the A2, midway between the villages of Lydden
and Temple Ewell, near Dover. The reserve is a short, waymarked walk from the car park situated at the rear
of the ‘George & Dragon Centre’ in Temple Ewell village.
Public Transport:
Bus from Dover or Canterbury to Temple Ewell village
(⅛ mi/0.2 km).
Train to Kearsney (½ mi/0.8 km)
Download Reserve Map (PDF)
Key site for
- Chalk Flowers: notably orchids such as burnt-tip, early spider,
twayblade, fragrant, pyramidal, bee and autumn lady’s-tresses. There are also
other chalk plants like chalk milkwort, dyer’s greenweed, cowslip, dropwort,
yellow-wort, carline thistle and autumn gentian. - Insects: primarily a good site for butterflies such as common, Adonis and chalkhill blues, silver-spotted skipper and marbled white, and a number of grasshoppers
and bush-crickets including the largest British species, the great green bush-cricket. The wart-biter bush-cricket was re-introduced to the site in 1993 and there is now a small but well established colony. - Ground dwelling species including skylark, and some birds of prey.
Wildlife update
- The network of Roadside Nature Reserves (RNRs) associated with the National Nature Reserve (NNR) continues to flourish as the benefits of scrub coppicing and clearance along with livestock grazing take effect. During spring, lizard orchid and common broomrape were recorded for the first time - welcome additions to the network, which supports a huge diversity of chalk flowers and insects.
- New information boards will be erected on the nearby Lydden RNR sites over winter.
