{"id":"69393a617202e9abd62bd045","title":"Cudham And Christmas Tree Farm","path":"walks/routes/recommended/cudham-and-christmas-tree-farm","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers: Walk 10\n## Cudham And Christmas Tree Farm\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_001.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Downe Bank Nature Reserve\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P001a.gif)\n\nHome to nine species of wild orchid, this spot was \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcalled Orchis Bank by Charles Darwin who wrote a major \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbook on the astonishing variety of ways in which\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdifferent orchids exploit insects to ensure \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tpollination. \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Bank may also be the inspiration for the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\treference in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOrigin of Species to 'an entangled bank, clothed \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twith plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbushes, with various insects flitting about and with \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tworms crawling''.\n\n### Down House\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P001a.jpg)\n\nHome of Charles Darwin from \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1842 to his death in 1882. He wrote On the Origin of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecies here. The house is run by English Heritage and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tis well worth a visit, despite the cost of '14.50 per \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadult (booked in advance). The audio tour is \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tparticularly interesting.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNormally open from Wednesday \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tto Sunday, from 10am until 3pm; weekends only in winter. \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThere is a tea-room. Check latest visitor information at\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twww.englishheritage.org.uk.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_001.htm on 2025-12-11 10:54","contentHtml":"<h1>Kent Ramblers: Walk 10</h1>\n<h2>Cudham And Christmas Tree Farm</h2>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_001.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<h2>Points of Interest</h2>\n<h3>Downe Bank Nature Reserve</h3>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P001a.gif\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>Home to nine species of wild orchid, this spot was \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcalled Orchis Bank by Charles Darwin who wrote a major \n\t\t\t\t\t\tbook on the astonishing variety of ways in which\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdifferent orchids exploit insects to ensure \n\t\t\t\t\t\tpollination. \n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Bank may also be the inspiration for the \n\t\t\t\t\t\treference in \n\t\t\t\t\t\tOrigin of Species to &#39;an entangled bank, clothed \n\t\t\t\t\t\twith plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tbushes, with various insects flitting about and with \n\t\t\t\t\t\tworms crawling&#39;&#39;.</p>\n<h3>Down House</h3>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P001a.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>Home of Charles Darwin from \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1842 to his death in 1882. He wrote On the Origin of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecies here. The house is run by English Heritage and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tis well worth a visit, despite the cost of &#39;14.50 per \n\t\t\t\t\t\tadult (booked in advance). The audio tour is \n\t\t\t\t\t\tparticularly interesting.\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNormally open from Wednesday \n\t\t\t\t\t\tto Sunday, from 10am until 3pm; weekends only in winter. \n\t\t\t\t\t\tThere is a tea-room. Check latest visitor information at\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http://www.englishheritage.org.uk\">www.englishheritage.org.uk</a>.</p>\n<p>Automatically migrated from <a href=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_001.htm\">https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_001.htm</a> on 2025-12-11 10:54</p>\n"}