Nemo-Down-konik-ponies-grazing-with-magpie-on-back
Barry Cook

Nemo Down

Located next to an industrial estate on the outskirts of Dover, it is hard to believe a nature reserve is there when driving through the estate.

Opening times: open at all times.
Best time to visit: May to June.

  • Dog walking

  • No facilities

Size: 40 hectares

Grazing animals: Konik horses and longhorn cattle

Dogs: On a lead. Livestock may be present on site.

Unsurfaced permissive paths and public footpath with kissing gates. Paths are narrow, steep and uneven.

About the reserve

Over the latter end of the 20th century, Nemo was neglected, with scrub taking over the huge areas of grassland. Kent Wildlife Trust bought the reserve in 2014 and has been managing the site since, restoring chalk downland across the slopes. Konik ponies and Longhorn cattle play an important role in grazing the grass and keeping the scrub in check. You will see them grazing Nemo from the summer through to winter. In the summer, wildflowers are now starting to spread in the grassland, with plants such as common-spotted and pyramidal orchids and birds-foot trefoil flourishing. Keep an ear out for the calls of yellowhammers and lesser whitethroats within the scrub and if you are lucky, you may even see an adder basking around the scrub edge.

Located on a steep hill, the climb to the top is worth it with fantastic views towards Dover. For a change of scenery, enter the woodlands, known as Long Wood and Square Wood, and enjoy the peace and quiet amongst oak, wild cherry and other deciduous trees.

Contact us

Karen Weeks
Contact number: 01622 662012
Contact email: karen.weeks@kentwildlife.org.uk