The area immediately south of Walmer Castle was purchased from the Leith Estate in 1999 to ensure that it was maintained as an open space for the benefit of people and wildlife. The land is managed by a working group comprised of Councillors and local residents with advice from environmental specialists when required.

This area of chalk grassland is of national importance for wildlife, particularly wild flowers and butterflies. The last sixty years has seen the loss of around 80% of the chalk grassland in Britain and although Hawkshill is a relatively small site it represents 0.2% of this remaining type of vegetation in Kent.

The land is registered as common land and has had an interesting and varied history. You can find out more about the site from the interpretation boards, which have been erected on the site.

LATEST NEWS

It's lovely to see the year's first flowers appearing at Hawkshill.  Primroses and Sweet Violets are blooming on the chalk bank, while Spurge Laurel can be found along the path by Walmer Castle grounds.

The first hedgerow flowers - Cherry Plum - are along the sea-side boundary, where volunteers have been preparing the ground for more hedging and trees which will be planted in the next few weeks.

Locals may have seen that one of the large Sycamore trees has fallen by the car park, and this has now been removed.