Echoes of the Past - Preserving Heritage at Risk in the Kent Downs 

Kit's Coty Megalithic Burial Chamber

The Kent Downs National Landscape team need your input to help develop a project plan to protect, conserve, and celebrate some of its nationally significant ancient monuments and listed buildings, so they can continue to inspire and enrich future generations.

If our funding bid is successful, we will be working with partners such as Historic England and the Kent Archaeological Society to raise awareness of these sites through outreach work, maintenance programmes and essential stabilisation and conservation works.

A varied programme of activities would drive this work forward, including guided walks, 3D modelling, community archaeology, vulnerability assessments, volunteer training and an Adopt a Monument scheme. Condition surveys, conservation management plans and targeted repairs would help address immediate risks, while ecological enhancements would improve biodiversity around heritage sites.

The project would also explore ways to mitigate climate-related threats and improve long-term management of these heritage sites. Building on the momentum of a dedicated volunteer network, it would continue to develop skills that support monitoring, conservation and community archaeology.

The urgency is clear: with almost 20 of the Kent Down’s 102 scheduled monuments already at risk and others showing early signs of deterioration. Many sites have high visitor numbers due to their proximity to popular walking routes, others are neglected and isolated, increasing the urgency of intervention. This project is being developed to respond to these challenges through a coordinated approach.

If you would like to find out more about the project, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

How you can get involved

To make sure this project reflects the voices, experiences and ideas of those who live, work and spend time in the Kent Downs, we would be grateful if you could complete our survey.

Complete the survey

If you are unable to complete the survey online, please complete the Word version available on this webpage and return by email or post.

The survey closes at midnight on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

If you need any help taking part in this survey or have any questions, you can contact us via the contact details in the 'Who's listening' section.

The Kent Downs National Landscape team need your input to help develop a project plan to protect, conserve, and celebrate some of its nationally significant ancient monuments and listed buildings, so they can continue to inspire and enrich future generations.

If our funding bid is successful, we will be working with partners such as Historic England and the Kent Archaeological Society to raise awareness of these sites through outreach work, maintenance programmes and essential stabilisation and conservation works.

A varied programme of activities would drive this work forward, including guided walks, 3D modelling, community archaeology, vulnerability assessments, volunteer training and an Adopt a Monument scheme. Condition surveys, conservation management plans and targeted repairs would help address immediate risks, while ecological enhancements would improve biodiversity around heritage sites.

The project would also explore ways to mitigate climate-related threats and improve long-term management of these heritage sites. Building on the momentum of a dedicated volunteer network, it would continue to develop skills that support monitoring, conservation and community archaeology.

The urgency is clear: with almost 20 of the Kent Down’s 102 scheduled monuments already at risk and others showing early signs of deterioration. Many sites have high visitor numbers due to their proximity to popular walking routes, others are neglected and isolated, increasing the urgency of intervention. This project is being developed to respond to these challenges through a coordinated approach.

If you would like to find out more about the project, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

How you can get involved

To make sure this project reflects the voices, experiences and ideas of those who live, work and spend time in the Kent Downs, we would be grateful if you could complete our survey.

Complete the survey

If you are unable to complete the survey online, please complete the Word version available on this webpage and return by email or post.

The survey closes at midnight on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

If you need any help taking part in this survey or have any questions, you can contact us via the contact details in the 'Who's listening' section.

  • Have your say!

    The survey is split into six short sections:

    • Section 1: About you
    • Section 2: What activities and events bring heritage to life?
    • Section 3: What makes heritage spaces welcoming, safe and inclusive?
    • Section 4: How can we stay connected to people and build long-term involvement?
    • Section 5: Anything else you would like to tell us?
    • Section 6: Equality monitoring


    You can answer all or as many of the sections or questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a section or question, just move on to the next one. Please remember to click through to the end of the survey and submit your response.   

    Please do not include any personal information that could identify you or anyone else in any of your answers.

    You do not have to register with this website before completing this survey. However, if you do, you will receive an email with your answers once you have submitted them. If you are already registered with Let's Talk Kent we encourage you to sign in before completing the survey.

    Privacy: Kent County Council (KCC) is hosting this survey on behalf of the Kent Downs National Landscape Team. KCC is the employing authority for the Team. When we refer to KCC in this Policy it includes the Kent Downs National Landscape Team. KCC collects and processes personal information in order to provide a range of public services. KCC respects the privacy of individuals and endeavours to ensure personal information is collected fairly, lawfully, and in compliance with the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.  Read the full Privacy Policy.


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