They're back! Highland cattle are again grazing on Folkestone Warren.

The herd were brought back to the area for the first time in 90 years last year and have again been released this week.

Five young cattle born nearby from a family which has grazed the Folkestone Downs for several years were set free to roam the area on Wednesday.

After volunteers from the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership (WCCP) cleared around a hectare (2.5 acres) of scrub throughout the winter, the cattle were allowed to come back.

The cattle had played an important part of maintaining the land until they were removed in 1924.

Kirk Alexander, partnership manager for WCCP, said: "The Folkestone Warren is one of the most important nature reserves in Britain.

"It is very important that the remaining chalk grassland is grazed otherwise the shrubs and trees will return and shade out the rare wildlife such as the orchids and the many species of insects.

"There are lots of old photographs of The Warren which show that there were few trees in The Warren as recently as 100 years ago.

"Grazing ceased in 1924 which has allowed shrubs and trees to naturally invade and many wild flowers and animals that were once common are now rare."

Along with the cattle other new visitors are coming back to the Warren as a result of clearing the scrub.

Hundreds of primroses have developed in the area and hundreds more common spotted orchids are starting to bloom.

For more information on where to see the orchids visit the map published on the WCCP website. Photos will also be published and visitors are encouraged to submit their own to be published on the website.

The partnership is also planning to hold a guided walk around the Warren. Anyone interested can contact WCCP with their contact details - preferably an email address - on 01304 241806 or email mail@whitecliffscountryside.org.uk and we will confirm the time and date for this extra walk.