Folkestone Downs consist of Castle Hill, Round Hill, Hoywell, Sugarloaf Hill and Cheriton Hill.
The ancient chalk grassland is rich in wild flowers and insects such as butterflies. It has been designated as a site of European importance for wildlife, especially for its orchid interest. You can easily see orchids such as early purple orchid, common spotted orchid and fragrant orchid, but the site is well known as one of the few sites in Britain for the late spider orchid. This is one of Britain's rarest orchids and is specially protected. The WCCP has a strict policy of not revealing the location of the plants to prevent theft (it is a criminal offence to pick the late spider orchid).
The number of late spider orchids on Folkestone Downs has increased from 6 in 1990, when grazing was re-introduced, to 220 plants recorded in 2010.
There are many other beautiful wild flowers of ancient chalk grassland that can be seen on Folkestone Downs, such as cowslips, thyme, salad burnet, marjoram.
It is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as a Special Area for Conservation (SAC) and forms a part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). As such please stick to paths :)