41-638: The East Kent Mercury and Dover Mercury are weekly newspapers serving the district of Dover in Kent . The Dover Mercury covers the town of Dover , and the East Kent Mercury the towns of Deal and Sandwich . They are owned by the KM Group and are published on Thursdays. The East Kent Mercury was founded in 1865. The KM Group bought the Mercury in 1980 from Kent County Newspapers. The East Kent Mercury
82-544: A circuitous route. It is here, on the sand-dunes, that the Royal St George's Golf Club , founded in 1887, and of international repute, is situated. In the district are industrial remains of the erstwhile Kent coalfield , situated around Tilmanstone and Betteshanger . Half of the underwater section of the Channel Tunnel is under British Sovereignty and thus part of the district. There are 35 civil parishes covering
123-520: A more sedentary and communal lifestyle that relied upon the keeping of livestock and the growing of crops. There is substantial evidence of Neolithic activity within the North Downs, notably the long barrows concentrated in the Medway and Stour valleys. The Medway long barrows , which include Kit's Coty House and Coldrum Stones , are constructed of sarsen stone , locally found on Blue Bell Hill and in
164-642: A murder trial at the last moment following a court order. The KM Group was successful in overturning the court order and the story was allowed to be published on the Mercury website. Both versions of the Mercury are based at the KM Group's Deal office. Previously the Dover Mercury was based at the Dover office before this was closed by the Group. The combined circulation of the Mercury series ( East Kent and Dover ) as of
205-406: A number of different ways. It is porous, absorbing up to 20% of its dry weight in water, and is therefore highly susceptible to weathering by freeze-thaw action , which may occur over repeated annual or diurnal cycles. This frost weathering produces a mix of rubble and viscous mud, which may be washed downhill, further eroding the landscape (a process known as solifluction ). Since chalk contains
246-598: A very high percentage of calcium carbonate , it can be dissolved by both groundwater and rainwater. Across much of the North Downs, the chalk dips below the London Clay at a relatively shallow angle (c. 18° near Dorking), however at the far west of the range, local faulting has produced a much steeper angle (up to 55°), resulting in the distinctive Hog's Back between Farnham and Guildford. The North Downs support several important habitats including chalk grassland , scrub , woodland and chalk heath . Chalk grassland
287-490: Is close to the surface. These conditions are most often found on the escarpment of the North Downs and on valley slopes, but may also occur on the plateau of the dip slope . Calcareous woodland is typically dominated by beech , hornbeam , yew and ash . Box Hill has one of the largest areas of native box woodland in England. One notable species characteristic of calcareous woodland is the nationally scarce lady orchid , which
328-597: Is found in more than 100 sites on the Kent stretch of the North Downs, but is confined to just two sites elsewhere in the UK. Although its spread is often considered undesirable, scrub provides valuable habitat for a range of invertebrates, including the Roman snail , rufous grasshopper and the dark green fritillary . In Surrey, superficial deposits from the Quaternary are found overlying
369-472: Is found on the steep south-facing scarp slopes and the more gently graded north-facing dip slopes, where woodland is absent. The alkaline soils are thin and nutrient poor, which prevents deeper-rooted lush grasses (with a high water demand) from dominating. Each square metre of chalk downland may support up to 40 different species. This semi-natural habitat is maintained through sheep, cattle and rabbit grazing which prevents scrub encroachment. Chalk grassland to
410-507: Is from Old English dun , meaning, amongst other things, "hill". The word acquired the sense of "elevated rolling grassland" around the 14th century. The name contains "North" to distinguish them from a similar range of hills – the South Downs – which runs roughly parallel to them but some 50 km (31 mi) to the south. The narrow spine of the Hog's Back between Farnham and Guildford forms
451-526: Is less apparent but occurs where the chalk submerges below the more recent Paleocene deposits. The Downs are highest near the Kent–Surrey border, often reaching heights in excess of 200 m (660 ft) above sea level at the crest of the escarpment. The highest point is Botley Hill in Surrey at 269 m (883 ft). The County top of Kent at Betsom's Hill , with a height of 251 m (823 ft),
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#1732854779488492-519: Is limited within the British Isles to chalk grassland between Folkestone and Wye . One of the two native British sites for the nationally rare monkey orchid is on the North Downs. The nationally scarce man orchid is not uncommon on chalk grassland on the Downs in Surrey and Kent. Other scarce plant species such as early gentian , dwarf milkwort and bedstraw broomrape also occur on chalk grassland in
533-615: Is nearby, and the highest point in Greater London , Westerham Heights , at 245 m (804 ft), is on the northern side of the same hill. East of the Medway Valley the Downs become broader and flatter, extending as far as the Isle of Thanet . The ridge of the North Downs is intersected by the valleys of a series of rivers: the Wey , Mole , Darent , Medway and Stour . These drain much of
574-615: The English Channel to the Artois region of northern France. Initially an island, this dome-like structure was drained by the ancestors of the rivers which today cut through the North and South Downs. The dome was eroded away over the course of the Cenozoic , exposing the strata beneath and resulting in the escarpments of the Downs. Chalk is a relatively soft rock that may be eroded or weathered in
615-557: The Lower Paleolithic , about 400,000 years ago, were discovered at Barnfield Pit near Swanscombe ; this provides the earliest evidence of human occupation in the North Downs. It is suggested that human activity at that time coincided with intermittent warm phases during the last glacial period and that continuous occupation of the Downs did not occur until warming after the glaciation. Flint axes have also been found on river terraces at Farnham, on Walton and Banstead Heaths and on
656-647: The Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs . The North Downs Way National Trail runs along the North Downs from Farnham to Dover . The highest point in the North Downs is Botley Hill , Surrey (270 m (890 ft) above sea level). The County Top of Kent is Betsom's Hill (251 m (823 ft) above sea level), which is less than 1 km from Westerham Heights , Bromley , the highest point in Greater London at an elevation of 245 m (804 ft). 'Downs'
697-524: The Weald to the south. The western rivers are tributaries of the Thames ; they have carved steep valleys through the chalk and provide natural corridor routes. In addition to existing rivers, the Downs are crossed by a number of wind gaps – prehistoric river valleys no longer occupied by rivers – including those at Farnham , Betchworth , Caterham , Lyminge and Hawkinge . Except for the river valleys and wind gaps,
738-634: The straw belle moth . On the summit of the cliffs between Deal and Folkestone the early spider orchid occurs in large numbers, as well as the rare oxtongue broomrape . Naturally exposed chalk is rare inland with the exception of the river cliffs formed by the River Mole on the west face of Box Hill and at Ham Bank in Norbury Park . However, quarry lakes within chalk pits provide habitats for great crested newt . The scarce musk orchid has colonised disused chalk pits near Hollingbourne in Kent. Woodland
779-455: The Downs has provided a natural transport route for centuries. Much of the historic Pilgrims' Way still survives at the foot of the scarp slope, and this has been joined much more recently by the M20 motorway . The scarp slope has also been used for fortification; many examples of this still exist, such as Thurnham Castle and on Castle Hill, Folkestone Castle Hill near Folkestone. Many beauty spots on
820-456: The Downs, a network of narrow lanes and minor roads has developed. This has resulted in a landscape similar to that found in Normandy known as bocage . The predominant type of farming on the Downs is arable farming; this increased greatly during the 20th century. Pastoral farming also occurs but to a lesser extent. Human settlements within the Downs have generally formed in sheltered valleys and at
861-428: The Downs, particularly along the scarp slope. Oil has been drilled at the foot of the Downs in several locations in Surrey. The Kent Coalfield was established in the late 19th century after coal was found in 1890. Four successful collieries continued to be worked through much of the 20th century: Betteshanger , Snowdown , Tilmanstone and Chislet ; Bettershanger was the last to close in 1989. The east to west ridge of
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#1732854779488902-520: The North Downs are owned by the National Trust , for instance Box Hill and Langdon Cliffs . Other areas of interest are Newland's Corner , Wye Downs and the Hog's Back . Much chalk grassland and ancient woodland on the Downs is open-access, and there are also many historic sites such as Kit's Coty House (near Maidstone) and Dover Castle . The topography of the North Downs means there are relatively few summits with topographic prominence . Below
943-547: The North Downs consists of distinct lithostratigraphic units (the types of strata, the names of which are always capitalised): Following the Cretaceous, the sea covering the south of England began to retreat and the land was pushed higher. The Weald (the area covering modern day south Surrey, south Kent and north Sussex) was lifted by the same geological processes that created the Alps , resulting in an anticline which stretched across
984-469: The North Downs. Chalk grassland also supports a rich fauna, particularly insects. Notable butterfly species include Adonis blue and silver-spotted skipper , which may be found on warm, sheltered, south-facing slopes. The chalk downland above the Stour Valley is the only British site for the black-veined moth . Other notable moth species that occur on the North Downs include the fiery clearwing moth and
1025-426: The chalk. These sands and gravels indicate the position of a former sea shore. Where these deposits occur, they are thin and the chalk also comes to the surface in the same areas (e.g. Headley Heath on the north east side of Box Hill), allowing acid-loving plants to thrive alongside those that prefer alkaline conditions , producing the rare chalk heath habitat. Worked flints and human and animal remains dating from
1066-403: The council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: The leaders of the council (formally the chair of the policy and resources committee prior to 2001) have been: Following the 2023 election , the composition of
1107-487: The council was: The next election is due in 2027. The council's main offices are at the White Cliffs Business park in the parish of Whitfield , to the north of the town of Dover itself. Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 32 councillors representing 17 wards , with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. The northern boundary of
1148-544: The crest of the escarpment is almost continuous along its length. The dip slope is dissected by many small dry valleys , and in the broad eastern part in Kent, by further river valleys such as that of the Little Stour . Leith Hill (the highest point in Surrey) is sometimes incorrectly referred to as part of the North Downs, but it is located on the parallel Greensand Ridge and does not consist of chalk. The Downland of
1189-508: The crest of the escarpment above Folkestone. There is considerable evidence of Mesolithic activity in the Surrey Downs through the discovery of pit-dwellings at Weston Woods near Albury and the quantity of discarded tools, microliths and other implements discovered. In about 3000 BC the emergence of Neolithic culture saw the lifestyle of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers shift to
1230-613: The district is the River Stour ; on its western side is the district of Canterbury; to the south the parish of Capel-le-Ferne; and to the east the Straits of Dover . The southern part of the latter is the point where the North Downs meets the sea, at the White Cliffs of Dover . Further north along the coast, from Deal onwards, the land is at sea level, where the River Stour enters the sea by
1271-453: The first half of 2009 is 11,900. This represented a drop of 9.8% against the same time the previous year. Dover (district) Dover is a local government district in Kent , England. It is named after its largest town, the port town of Dover . The council is based in Whitfield on the outskirts of Dover. The district also covers the towns of Deal , Sandwich and Walmer as well as
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1312-518: The foot of the scarp slope (known as spring line settlements). In recent years vineyards have been planted along the southern slopes of the Downs, in particular the Denbies Wine Estate , Dorking , which is the largest vineyard in the country, accounting for 10% of the country's vines. The chalky soils are similar to those of the Champagne region. There is plenty of evidence of chalk extraction on
1353-521: The main road, the A2 , closely follows Watling Street to Dover. 51°07′48″N 1°18′40″E / 51.130°N 1.311°E / 51.130; 1.311 North Downs The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent . Much of the North Downs comprises two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs):
1394-432: The same time: The new district was named Dover after its largest town. Other parties (15) Dover District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Kent County Council . The whole district is also covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government. Since the 2023 election the council has been under Labour majority control. The first election to
1435-622: The surrounding rural areas. The district borders Thanet District to the north, the City of Canterbury to the west, and Folkestone and Hythe District to the south-west. To the south and east, it faces the Strait of Dover . The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . It covered the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, all of which were abolished at
1476-440: The valleys of the dip slope, whilst the Stour Valley long barrows are constructed of earth. The landscape of the Downs has been greatly shaped by man. There has been deforestation of the Downs for centuries. The woodland that remains today is largely located where deforestation has been inhibited by steep slopes or by the layer of clay with flints, which is difficult to plough. Because of the many small farms that have survived on
1517-469: The west of the Medway Valley is dominated by upright brome and fescue , whilst grassland to the east is dominated by tor-grass . Owing to the close proximity of the North Downs to the European continent, the warm climate and the south-facing escarpment, several plant species survive on the chalk grassland which are scarce or not found elsewhere in the British Isles. The nationally rare late spider orchid
1558-415: The western extremity of the North Downs, whilst the cliffs between Folkestone and Deal terminate the ridge in the east. The North Downs cuesta has a steep south-facing scarp slope and a more gentle north-facing dip slope . Its southern boundary is defined by the low-lying Vale of Holmesdale at the foot of the escarpment, in which the underlying stratum is primarily gault clay . The northern boundary
1599-531: The whole district. The parish councils of Deal, Dover, Sandwich and Walmer take the style "town council". Deal Timeball is a Victorian maritime Greenwich Mean Time signal located on the roof of a waterfront four-storey tower. It was established in 1855 by the Astronomer Royal George Biddell Airy in collaboration with Charles V. Walker. Crossing Dover district are the Roman roads of Watling Street and that leading from Richborough . Today
1640-416: Was far more extensive on the North Downs prior to human clearance 5000 to 4000 years ago. Fragments still remain particularly where the layer of clay-with-flints overlying the chalk has inhibited clearance. Where this is the case species such as pedunculate oak predominate, although much woodland has been replanted with conifer and sweet chestnut . Calcareous woodland occurs on thin soils where chalk
1681-524: Was originally designed to serve the entire district of Dover, however in 1998 the Dover Mercury broke away from the East Kent Mercury as a paper in its own right. Both papers still feature the same editor, reporters and some of the same articles. Along with the rest of the KM-owned papers, the Mercury series was given a design overhaul in May 2005. In February 2009 the Mercury had to change its front page about