Tankerton Slopes is a biological

Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...

in Whitstable in Kent. It is part of the

Tankerton Tankerton (formerly Tankerton-on-Sea) is a suburb of Whitstable in Kent in south-east England. It was designed in the late 19th century as the train network brought holidaymakers to the sea. It gives its name to a ward of Canterbury City Counci ...

Slopes and Swalecliffe Special Area of Conservation This north facing slope has a population of tall herbs, including the largest population in Britain of hog’s fennel, a nationally rare umbellifer. Fauna include ''

agonopterix putridella ''Agonopterix putridella'' is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is found in Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and Russia. The wingspan is 15–18 mm. Adults are on wi ...

'', a nationally rare moth whose larvae feed exclusively on hog's fennel. There is access to the site from Tankerton Beach. The height of Tankerton slopes vary across the site, but are approximately 50 feet (15 metres) high when measured from the promenade or 66 feet (20 metres) in elevation from sea level. The bottom of the slope is fronted by Beach huts, and has a promenade that runs from Whitstable to Swalecliffe that is popular with dog walkers and cyclists. At the top of the slope to the West is a beacon that works by having a wood-based fire in a basket that is on top of a long wooden post. The site also offers a view in the distance of the "red sands"

Maunsell Forts The Maunsell Forts are armed towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom. They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. The forts w ...

of the Thames Estuary, the forty five wind turbines of Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm, the Isle of Sheppey and at the West-end "The Street" a " Spit of land" that appears at low-tide and allows walking 750 meters into the sea

Gallery

File:The Lees Tankerton Kent.jpg, Tinted photograph on postcard dated around 1905-1914 showing "The Leas" File:Beach Huts Alley - geograph.org.uk - 502881.jpg, Colourful rows of wooden huts on the grassy slopes of "Tankerton slopes" below Marine Parade File:Sunset from Tankerton Slopes towards Sheppey - geograph.org.uk - 1564606.jpg, Sunset from Tankerton Slopes towards Sheppey - geograph.org.uk - 1564606 File:Tankerton Beacon (geograph 2042331).jpg, Tankerton Beacon File:Whitstable Street - shingle spit (geograph 6430070).jpg, Tankerton Slopes as seen from "The Street"

References

{{SSSIs Kent Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Kent Special Areas of Conservation in England