National Trust Dover Cliffs

Fields at the top of the White Cliffs of Dover are buzzing with life, writes Steven Morris in the Guardian.

The fields were acquired by the National Trust two and a half years ago after an appeal championed by Dame Vera Lynn. The Trust put a stop to intensive farming, and barley was sown to remove some to remove some of the nutrients in the soil.

The nutrients were present due to agricultural fertiliser, but chalk grassland species prefer low-nutrient soil. Now there are poppies, ox-eye daisies and buttercups.

The flowers attract butterflies including marbled whites and red admirals. Among the birds present are skylarks, corn buntings, meadow pipits and wild pigeons.

Peregrine falcons prey on the pigeons.

The National Trust’s White Cliffs of Dover reserve is open to visitors.