Horticultural contractors erect land-management fencing to permit cattle to graze areas adjacent to the UK Eurotunnel Terminal.
Eurotunnel began active management of its land (approx 48 hectares) on the Folkestone Escarpment near the UK Terminal in 1988. The principal aim was to improve the wildlife value and public enjoyment of the site. The Escarpment is one of the largest remaining areas of ancient chalk grassland in Kent and forms part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is also designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and includes many rare species of flora and fauna, among them national rarities such as the late spider orchid, woolly thistle and the bedstraw broomrape. When Eurotunnel acquired the land it had not been under active management for approximately 30 years. Areas were becoming invaded by scrub, and coarse tor grass (Brachypodium Pinnatum) was rampant, choking out the more delicate species of flora. Fencing had become dilapidated and fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles were becoming commonplace. There were a number of public footpaths that had become overgrown or unusable. Eurotunnel’s primary objective in managing the land was to restore and improve the chalk downland habitat, and to maximise the diversity of habitats within the site without diminishing unique components. This was achieved mainly by the introduction of grazing cattle that control the coarse grasses, allowing the more delicate chalk grassland species to thrive. This in turn led to an increase in the number of invertebrate species including the rare Adonis Blue butterfly which had been on the edge of extinction in this area. Ongoing ecological monitoring confirms a constantly improving trend in the species diversity of the flora and fauna At the same time, care has been taken to preserve and improve use with a number of new footpaths being established to create circular walks. Throughout all the improvements, care has been taken to provide information through the publication of free bilingual leaflets and site interpretation panels.
Size: 3312px × 3312px
Location: Eurotunnel Terminal, Folkestone, UK
Photo credit: © qaphotos.com / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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