A minnis was ancient common pasture land cleared from the wooded upper slopes on the high clay caps of the Kent chalk downland.

It has been suggested that these areas, which were characteristically on the higher reaches of the Downs, formed large tracts of common unenclosed 'waste' grassland used by a number of distant settlements.

Their work is guided by a management plan[6] produced by Kent Wildlife Trust to enhance the biodiversity of the Minnis and promote the well-being of local residents and the wider community.

There are several active ponds on the Minnis providing a mix of open water, aquatic, and marginal plants attracting dragonflies, damselflies, frogs, toads, and newts.

[6] The habitat comprises mainly acidic grassland and heathland featuring a reduced variety of plants such as western gorse (Ulex gallii), heather, fungi — including some fly agaric — and many lichens.

[6] Stelling Minnis is home to a Grade I listed wooden smock mill,[7] built in 1866, and operated until 1970 when the last miller Alec Davison, died.