Downe Bank
OS Map 177 TQ 438609 : Nr Bromley
Post code: BR6 7LG
'Darwin's Landscape Laboratory' is the UK government's 2009 World Heritage Site Nomination to UNESCO. The Trust is playing a key role as owners of Downe Bank, Darwin's "Orchis Bank." Experts agree that Downe Bank was also the "entangled bank" which inspired Darwin's poetic last paragraph of the Origin of Species, which summarised his theory of evolution by natural selection. www.darwinatdowne.co.uk
Location and Access
The reserve occupies about 16 hectares of dry valley between Downe and Cudham; it is ½ mile from Downe. There is no visitor parking. Only the southern half is open to the public. It is crossed by a steep footpath on the Cudham Circular Trail linking Downe and Cudham. The northern half can be visited by prior arrangement.
Downe Bank and Darwin www.darwinatdowne.co.uk
On January 30th 20009 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport put forward Darwin's Landscape Laboratory to UNESCO as the UK's 2009 World Heritage Site Nomination. Kent Wildlife Trust is a key player in the 12 strong partnership responsible for the bid, which is led by the London Borough of Bromley. The bid is currently being evaluated and a decision will be taken by the World Heritage Site Committee in 2010.
Experts agree that Downe Bank inspired Darwin's poetic description of an 'entangled bank' in the last paragraph of the Origin of Species, which summarised his theory of evolution by natural selection. Downe Bank's special importance also lies in its role as Darwin's 'Orchis Bank.'
Orchid's provided Darwin with evidence of co-evolution with their insect pollinators. Orchid pollination was the subject of the first book Darwin published after the Origin. He went on to publish 5 more books on plants and one on worms. Primroses and cowslips provided subjects for studying heterostyly. He developed his understanding of the role of sexual selection studying the different forms of spindle and wood sorrel flowers in Hangrove Wood (noted for its bluebells). When studying the power of movement in plants he described how wood sorrel leaves fold up at night. Darwin also studied grasses here with his children.
Other wildlife interest
The reserve has a good diversity of chalk grassland species. Some notable plants on Downe Bank include toothwort, adder's tongue and false oxlip. A mixture of wooded areas adds to the diversity of the chalk grassland element, including hazel coppice and mature beech with an understorey of yew, holly and woodland hawthorn. Up to 31 species of birds have been recorded, also dormice. Invertebrates, include the clouded magpie moth, white-letter hairstreak butterfly, digger wasp, glow worms and slow worms.
