Kent countryside loved by famous author turned into nature reserve

England's newest national nature reserve will include 800 acres of ancient woodlands and meadows in Kent.

The North Kent Woods and Downs - near the town of Gravesend - influenced some of the writings of Charles Dickens, one of Britain's most famous authors.

Dickens, who lived in parts of the county during his life in the 19th Century, drew inspiration from the landscape, which is full of ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and chalk grasslands.

The reserve is the eighth in the King's Series – a programme to establish 25 large-scale national nature reserves across England in celebration of King Charles' coronation.

What has been announced?

The announcement of the creation of the North Kent Woods and Downs national nature reserve was made by Natural England, which advises the government on the environment.

There are lots of important plants and animals in area including Man and Lady orchids, the Maidstone mining bee, Hazel dormouse and skylarks and around 1,700 ancient and veteran trees.

The ancient woodlands have been there for hundreds of years, since the Tudor era, when Henry VIII nicknamed Kent the "Garden of England".

The nature reserve aims to boost the local economy, tourism and access to nature for people who live locally.

Tony Juniper from Natural England, said: "Creating bigger, better and more joined-up natural areas is one of the most vital and fundamental steps we must take in meeting our national targets for Nature's recovery.

"This new reserve, with its hundreds of ancient trees set amid extensive chalk grasslands, lays the foundations for multiple partners to work together to improve Nature across a significant area of countryside," he added.

Who was Charles Dickens?

Charles Dickens was was born in 1812, in Portsmouth on England's south coast, and was one of eight children.

His family moved around though, and he grew up in London and Kent.

Dickens wrote 15 novels, five novellas and hundreds of short stories.

His writing includes books such as Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol - books that are still very widely read today.

He wrote about things that many people before him had avoided writing about.

This included topics such as people who lived in poverty, who were ill, or who had to fight for their place in society - a lot like he had to do as child.

Many of his characters were based on real people and their lives. That made people understand his stories more, and reflect on what Britain was like at that time.