East Cliff and Warren Country Park
East Cliff and Warren Country Park | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 51°06′01″N 1°13′10″E / 51.1002°N 1.2194°E |
Area | 299 acres (121 ha) |
Created | 1924 |
Operated by | Folkestone Town Council, |
Status | Open 7 days a week, dawn until dusk |
Website | East Cliff and Warren County Park |
East Cliff and Warren Country Park is in Folkestone, in Kent, England. This country park is formed of the East Cliffs of Folkestone, the sandy beaches of East Wear Bay and the land-slipped nature reserve land between the cliffs and the sea.
History
On the east cliffs, are three
In 1884, the
, through the Warren. Folkestone Warren Halt railway station was opened in 1886, and a bridge was built over the Main Line leading to a gate on to The Warren from which the public could picnic and enjoy the dramatic scenery in the area. Also a zig-zag path led down the East Cliff to the station.In December 1915, a large
The Warren was still a popular picnic spot in
In 1924, the land was given to the council of Folkestone for perpetual recreational use by the
It has various paths leading through it towards the coastline and beach,[8] or up to the cliffs towards Old Dover Road.
Part of it is Folkestone Warren Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated for both its biology and geology.[9][10]
The site is well known for the amount of fossils being found in the park,
After the Country Park was set up, grazing animals were banned, this has allowed shrubs and trees to seed naturally across the site. Patches of wildflower meadow still exist and these are the favoured habitats of various rare insects. Including a
The Warren is an important habitat for many insects. Over 330 species of moth have been recorded visiting the site, including the continental migrant sub-angled wave moth (Scopula nigropunctata). The fiery clearwing moth (Pyropteron chrysidiforme) is only found here,[13] as well as many butterflies. The grayling butterfly has a small colony in the site, the only one in Kent.[14]
The White Cliffs Countryside Project (WCCP), who are assisting by local volunteers to maintain the remaining areas of chalk grassland and meadow. They have created open grassy corridor habitats along the footpaths so that the wild flowers and insects can survive and access other parts of the important nature reserve. [15]
The Saxon Shore Way and North Downs Way, (long distance trails lead through the park between Folkestone and Dover, via Capel-le-Ferne. [16]
Beside Wear Bay Road, on the northern fringes of the park, is Little Switzerland Camping Site; it is so named because of the mountainous-looking white cliffs nearby. [17] The forementioned Tea Chalet is within the camp site.
Location
From Wear Bay Road in Folkestone, access to the Warren is from the Martello Towers on East Cliff, from a small car park past Little Switzerland Camp site, or via a cliffside path from New Dover Road, near Capel-le-Ferne.
In popular culture
Author Russell Hoban repurposes the Warren as the "Warnings" in his 1980, post apocalyptic novel Riddley Walker.[18]
References
- ^ "Tower 3". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "E&A Details". Discover Folkestone. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Warren Inn, Folkestone". Kenthistoryforum.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Landslides at Folkestone Warren | Kent | British Geological Survey". BGS. 22 February 1955. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ GeologyShop, "Folkestone & Hythe Landslips; the Warren, Copt Point, Castle Hill and the relict seacliffs between Hythe and Lympne".
- ^ Jill Batchelor, "A buddleia waiting to start into growth again", 23 January 2005.
- ^ "Folkestone Town Council minutes". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-276-42020-7.
- ^ "Designated Sites View: Folkestone Warren". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ISBN 0-00-219630-1.
- ^ "East_Wear_Bay_Folkestone". Gaultammonite.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Section 4 - part II - Chapter 6" (PDF). Retrieved 8 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Wildlife sites on the trail - North Downs Way - National Trails". Nationaltrail.co.uk. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Kingsdowner: Warren". Kingsdownkent.blogspot.com. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to the White Cliffs Countryside Project Page - EAST CLIFF & WARREN COUNTRY PARK". Whitecliffscountryside.org.uk. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ISBN 0-9509984-1-9.
- ^ "Little Switzerland Caravan and Camping Site". Caravancampingsites.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Places - Riddley Walker Annotations". Errorbar. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.