Name: Big Chalk
Price range: $

Lead organisation

Birling Estate

Partner organisations

Project description

From the North Kent Downs to the Medway Estuary, a bold new vision for nature recovery is taking root. Chalk to Coast is a landscape-scale, farmer- and landholder-led initiative creating Kent’s first dedicated nature recovery corridor.

Spanning over 400 square miles, this ambitious project aims to reconnect fragmented habitats, reverse biodiversity loss, and build climate resilience—linking chalk grasslands, chalk streams, and coastal marshes into a continuous living landscape.

By applying the Lawton principles of “bigger, better, more joined up,” Chalk to Coast is restoring and enhancing habitats, creating mosaic landscapes, and enabling wildlife to move freely across the countryside. From wetland restoration to soil health improvements and carbon sequestration, the project combines practical conservation with nature-based solutions to tackle the climate crisis while supporting regenerative farming practices.

At its heart, Chalk to Coast is about people as much as nature. Communities are invited to engage through green space access, education, volunteering, citizen science, and local enterprise initiatives. The project also seeks to foster wellbeing, strengthen local food networks, and inspire investment in nature-led opportunities.

Project location

Phase 1: north Kent corridor

The first phase focuses on North Kent, spanning from the North Kent Downs toward the Medway Gap and coastal zones, including the Medway Estuary. Around 75% of this corridor sits within the Big Chalk programme area and contains high-value calcareous habitats, including chalk grassland and chalk streams. Ecological mapping, natural capital assessment, and engagement with farmers and landholders are underway to co-design restoration projects and build a ten-year delivery strategy.

Explore the interactive map of the Chalk to Coast corridor.

Contribution to Big Chalk

Chalk to Coast perfectly complements the Big Chalk programme. It restores chalk and calcareous habitats at landscape scale, creates mosaic habitats linking grasslands, arable land, and woodland edges, and applies regenerative and collaborative land management.

Nature-based solutions address climate change, carbon storage, flood mitigation, water quality, and soil health, while farmers, landholders, and communities are empowered to engage, learn, and benefit from the corridor.

By tracking progress through natural capital assessment, Chalk to Coast ensures measurable impact, demonstrating how ambitious, joined-up nature recovery can transform a landscape for people and wildlife alike.

A lush green forest with tall, moss-covered trees and a dense floor of ferns and rocks. A narrow dirt path winds through the trees, while sunlight filters through the leafy canopy, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

A flock of sheep stands on a grassy patch beside a body of water in an open field. The water reflects the sheep and surrounding landscape. In the background, a flat expanse with patches of grass and water stretches to the horizon beneath a cloudy sky.

A small, furry brown rodent (Water Vole) sits on green aquatic plants in a shallow body of clear water, appearing to eat some of the vegetation. The background features more green leaves and lush surroundings reflected in the water.

A sunny day in a park where people are enjoying various activities. In the foreground, two adults and a child sit on a blanket on the grass. Nearby, others walk along a paved path or ride bicycles. Large trees provide shade in the background, with more people relaxing on the grass under a clear, cloudless sky.

Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?

The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.

If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.

Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.