Release date: 28 June 2003

The sun was shining as The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Nick Eden-Green unveiled a new interpretative panel at the launch of the Jumping Downs Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 28^th June.

Members of the local community were invited to celebrate their new Local Nature Reserve and a fun day was had by all. Children enjoyed treasure hunts and puzzles, there was a prize draw for bird boxes and guide books, and everyone had refreshments.

Jumping Downs is 14 acres of chalk grassland, which is particularly special because this habitat is internationally rare. During the summer months you can see an array of wildflowers such as common rockrose, horseshoe vetch, bee orchids and pyramidal orchids. There are clouds of butterflies on the wing, and a monitoring programme will be set up this summer to find out what species are there.

This area is also a haven for reptiles, like lizards and adders, and an investigation into these creatures is being carried out, with the help of Dr Lee Brady of the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group.

The site was used as a motorbike scrambling track between the 1920s and the year 2000 when a group of proactive locals bought the land and formed the Jumping Downs Trust. It was closed to the bikers and the landscape has since been restored to its previous beauty. It is hoped that in time the wildflowers will spread to the areas where the tracks were once visible.

Tony Seymour of the Jumping Downs Trust is managing the site with assistance from the Kentish Stour Countryside Project, using money from The New Opportunities Fund through English Nature's Wildspace! grant. Canterbury City Council has designated this site as a local nature reserve in recognition of its wildlife value and to encourage access to the countryside.

Mary Lovick, Canterbury Greenspace Officer with the Kentish Stour Countryside Project has been helping the Trust with this venture, and is available to help other community groups develop community wildlife areas. To celebrate the designation she has produced an exciting activity pack for use by schools and other youth groups. The pack has been given to 3 local primary schools, but it is available for any groups who wish to use Jumping Downs Local Nature Reserve.