The visit was the latest step in the bid to secure UNESCO Global Geopark status for the aspiring Cross-Channel Geopark: a unique international landscape stretching across the Kent Downs National Landscape, the Channel itself and the Parc naturel régional des Caps et Marais d'Opale in France. If successful, it would become one of the world's most distinctive geoparks, united not by a land border but by a shared geological story.
But to understand why UNESCO representatives have been exploring our coastlines, landscapes and communities, we need to go back to the very beginning.
A story millions of years in the making
The iconic White Cliffs of Dover may be Kent's most recognisable natural landmark, but they are just one chapter in a much bigger story.
The chalk beneath Kent stretches under the English Channel and continues into northern France, creating a geological connection that has shaped landscapes, wildlife, water resources and human history on both sides of the Channel.
Around 450,000 years ago, a dramatic ‘megaflood’ is believed to have broken through a chalk ridge linking Britain and mainland Europe. This extraordinary event helped carve the English Channel and reshape the landscape of what is now Kent and northern France.
Britain was reconnected to mainland Europe several times as sea levels rose and fell during subsequent ice ages. The final separation, which left Britain permanently as an island, occurred around 8,000 years ago. The geological evidence of these events can still be seen in the spectacular cliffs, valleys and seascapes that define the region today.
It is this extraordinary story, written in the rocks beneath our feet, that forms the foundation of the Cross-Channel Geopark bid.
The story of the megaflood is displayed at Samphire Hoe Country Park.
Why UNESCO?
UNESCO Global Geoparks are internationally recognised areas where sites of geological significance are protected, celebrated and used to support education, conservation and sustainable economic development. They are not awarded simply because a landscape is beautiful; they recognise places where people are actively connecting communities, culture, nature and tourism with their geological heritage.
UNESCO status would shine an international spotlight on Kent's unique natural heritage, helping more people discover the extraordinary geological story that has shaped our landscapes, wildlife and communities.
More than a bid
While UNESCO status is the goal, one of the lasting achievements of the project has been the community that has grown around it.
Across Kent, a network of Geopark Ambassadors has been helping people discover the stories hidden within the county's landscapes, from the White Cliffs and chalk grasslands to the geological forces that shaped Britain as an island. Schools, community groups, businesses and volunteers have all played their part in bringing these stories to life.
That community spirit was on display during the recent UNESCO visit. Assessors were able to see not just an internationally important landscape, but a shared commitment to protecting it, celebrating it and helping future generations understand why it matters.
Looking to the future
While the UNESCO decision is still to come, the bid has already helped foster greater understanding of the region's unique heritage. A decision on the aspiring Cross-Channel Geopark's UNESCO Global Geopark application is expected in 2027.
The project is encouraging people to look differently at the landscape around them. Schoolchildren are learning about the megaflood that shaped Britain's history, communities are celebrating their local heritage, and businesses are exploring new opportunities linked to sustainable tourism. Together, they are helping to reveal the extraordinary story written into Kent's landscape.
“The aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark showcases some of the most remarkable natural heritage found anywhere in Europe.”
Jamie Henderson, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health, said: “The aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark showcases some of the most remarkable natural heritage found anywhere in Europe. From the White Cliffs of Dover to the chalk landscapes that connect us with our French neighbours, this is a story that belongs not just to Kent, but to the world.
"We are proud to support the Kent Downs National Landscape and our partners in this ambition. Achieving UNESCO status would not only recognise the international significance of our landscape, but also create opportunities for education, conservation and sustainable tourism that will benefit local communities for generations to come."
Nick Johannsen FLI, Director at Kent Downs National Landscape and aspiring UNESCO Cross-Channel Global Geopark, said: “The ambition to secure UNESCO Global Geopark status has been long standing and strongly supported by Kent County Council and many other partners in Kent and in France. Just the idea of securing the Geopark was critical in getting the Lonely Planet accolade of the Kent Heritage Coasts (the White Cliffs from Folkestone to Kingsdown) being recognised among the 10 best regions in the world to visit.
‘While the journey has been long, it's been exciting and has already created significant investment in Kent, and important new partnerships ranging from Eurotunnel, our founding commercial partner, to The Port of Dover, to many and varied businesses and organisations across Kent and many, many individuals who have volunteered their time to support this ambitious programme.
‘We look forward to what we hope will be a positive announcement and many more years of positive work and positive partnerships.”
As the aspiring Cross-Channel Geopark moves another step closer to UNESCO recognition, the message is clear: this is far more than a designation. It is an opportunity to tell Kent's story on a global stage, celebrating the landscapes, people and geological history that make this corner of the world truly unique.
To find out more about the aspiring Cross-Channel Geopark visit: Aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark - Kent Downs
