Downe Bank

Downe Bank

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Flowers in Orchis Bank
Area of Search	Greater London
Grid reference	TQ438609
Interest	Biological
Area	17.7 hectares
Notification	1981
Location map	Magic Map

Downe Bank is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust in the North Downs, close to Downe in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) together with the neighbouring High Elms Country Park. Located close to Charles Darwin's home, Down House, it was one of his favourite places and helped to inspire his work.

The Kent Wildlife Trust reserve occupies 5 hectares at grid reference TQ438609, but the SSSI covers a wider area of 17.7 hectares. There is an area of ancient woodland called Hangrove Wood, and chalk downland called 'Rough Pell' on a tythe map of 1840, but known to Darwin as Orchis Bank, because many wild orchids grew there. It has a good diversity of chalk grassland species, including toothwort, addder's tongue and false oxlip. Up to 31 species of birds have been recorded, together with dormice and invertebrates. It is one of the few sites in the area to have remained almost unaltered since Darwin's day, due to the efforts of local naturalists.

Access is by a footpath, which goes through the reserve, between Christmas Tree Farm on Cudham Road in Downe and Overshaws on Cudham Lane near Cudham. The footpath is part of the Cudham Circular Short Walk (not the full Walk). The entrance, which has no car parking, is on Hangrove Hill. The southern part is open to the public, and access to the more important northern part is by prior arrangement with the Trust.

Darwin's observations of orchids and their insect pollinators at Orchis Bank provided the evidence for his important book, Fertilisation of Orchids, published in 1862, and experts agree that it inspired his famous conclusion to On the Origin of Species:

According to his son, Francis:

Darwin's daughter, Henrietta Lichfield, wrote: