The following listing gives details about Nature Reserves in Kent. Only those reserves of particular ornithological interest are included.Click on the map to see details about each reserve or alternatively use the text links below.

Based on LANDSAT Satellite Image Map

Bough Beech - KWT Reserve (45a)

Grid Ref : TQ495489. May be viewed from minor road between B2027 (West of Tonbridge) and Winkhurst Green. Entry permit only granted for scientific studies. OastHouse information centre and facilities for school parties. Contact AssistantEducation Officer, Kent Trust for Nature Conservation. Passage waderswinter wildfowl, grebes and Little Ringed Plover.

Burham Marsh - KWT Reserve (100a)

Grid Ref : TQ712624. Reached from Burham Court via minor road west of A229 north of Maidstone. Please keep to footpath. River, reedbed and grazing marsh. Bearded Tit, Water Rail, wadersand ducks.

Blean Woods - RSPB Reserve (765a)

Grid Ref : TR126592. Reached from Rough Common (off A290, 1.5 miles NW of Canterbury.)Open 0700 hrs to 1hour after sunset along waymarked trails and public footpaths. Woodland (mainly oak and sweet chestnut) and some heath. Breeding Redstart, woodpeckers, Tree Pipit, Nightingale, Nightjar and Woodcock. This reserve is also of exceptional interest for butterflies.

A woodland ride at Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.

Blean Woods - English Nature Reserve (222a)

Grid Ref : TR120609. North-west of Canterbury on A290. Entrance road opposite Chapel Lane at Blean. Please keepto footpaths. Mixed coppice with standard sessile oak glades, rides. Breeding species include Woodcock, woodpeckers, Nightingale, Tree Pipit and Nightjar.

Cliffe Pools RSPB

Cliffe Pools is a mosaic of c.230 hectares of saline lagoons, fresh pools, grassland, saltmarsh and scrub.

These habitats have developed on old Blue Circle clay diggings and river dredgings. The RSPB will be working in partnership with Westminster Dredging PLC to create a 'Flagship' nature reserve and the centrepoint for visitors to the RSPB's NW Kent reserves.

Birds include:

Resident; Great crested and little grebe, little egret, pochard, shelduck, redshank, lapwing, barn owl, stonechat, reed bunting.

Spring/Summer; Breeding and migrant species including; hobby, avocet, black-tailed godwit, greenshank, ruff and rarities. turtle dove, nightingale,

Autumn; Noteworthy for passage waders and other migrants; little stint, curlew, green and wood sandpipers, garganey.

Winter; Notable high tide roosts of waders including dunlin, grey plover and lapwing. Wintering duck such as pintail, shoveler, teal and pochard, and wintering raptors like hen and marsh harrier, peregrine and merlin.

Other wildlife:

Cliffe Pools are also home to a range of other wildlife including water vole and harvest mouse plus notable insects such as the the scarce emerald damselfly, shrill carder bee and green hairstreak butterfly. Plant species include nationally notable species such as sea barley and annual beard grass.

Visiting information:

Access: Take the A289 off the A2 near Strood. From the A289 follow the B2000 into the village of Cliffe. There is a car park by the church and 6 Bells pub and an ungraded track onto the site that starts at Pond Hill at the northern end of the B2000 opposite the Black Bull pub. Adjacent to the track 2 viewing mounds give panoramic views over the reserves marshes and pools.

Facilities: None on site. Cliffe village has public toilets, 2 village shops and a post office, 4 pubs (6 Bells, Evening Star, Victoria and Black Bull) and a chinese takeaway.

Additional information: Please note that Cliffe is a developing reserve and much work still needs to be done. We would recommend avoiding the southern end of the site at Salt Lane, particularly at w/e's. This area is still frequented by motorbikers, fly-tippers, etc who can be hostile towards birdwatchers. Please also be aware of potentially hazardous fly-tippings and that deep water is also present on the site.

Dungeness Bird Observatory

Grid Ref : TR063196. Founded in 1952 north of two lighthouses on Dungeness Point. Self catering accomodation for up to 10 visitors. Bring own sheets/sleeping bag, pillow cases, food. Meals can also be bought locally. Spring passage includes Little and Mediterranean Gulls, Pomarine Skua. Both passages have large numbers ofpasserines including rarities. Winter divers, grebes and ducks. Warden : David Walker, Dungeness BirdObservatory, Dungeness, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9NA.

Elmley, Sheppey - RSPB Reserve (3364a)

Grid Ref : TQ926905. Reached from A249 Sittingourne - Sheerness road, along farm track 1 mile beyond Kingsferry Bridge. Openevery day except Tuesdays 0900-2100 hrs or sunset when earlier. Several hides are reached along track 1.25 miles from car park. Parties over 10 by prior arrangement only. Grazing marsh, saltings, foreshore. Winter wildfowl (incl. 1800 White-fronted Geese)and waders; passage waders include Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. Breedingwaders include Redshank, Lapwing and Avocet. Warden : Bob Gomes, Kingshill Farm, Elmley, Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, Kent ME12 3RW.

Ham Street Woods - English Nature (240a) and KWT Reserve

Grid Ref : TR003337. Several woodland reserves in this area. English Nature reserve reached from minor road eastof B2067 north of Hamstreet. Please keep to footpaths. Damp Oak woodland, coppice/standards. Over 90 species recorded. Woodcock, Tawny Owl, woodpeckers, Nightingale, Hawfinch.

Nor Marsh - RSPB Reserve

An island in the Medway estuary. May be viewed from the southern shore of the Medway estuary at Riverside Country Park, Gillingham. Winter wildfowl and waders, breeding gulls and terns.

Northward Hill - RSPB Reserve (134a)

Grid Ref : TQ784759. Reached from car park off Northwood Avenue in High Halstow village. Mixed woodland and scrub overlooking the Thames marshes. Largest heronry in the UK, may be viewed by prior arrangement with warden. Woodland warblers, Nightingale. Warden : A Parker, RSPB Office, Bromhey Farm, Eastborough, Cooling, Rochester,Kent ME3 8DS.

Oare Marsh - KWT Reserve

Grid Ref : TR035647. Reached by minor road from Oare village north of Faversham. Wet grazing marsh with hide. Wintering waders and wildfowl. Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl.

A view of Oare Marshes looking east.

Sandwich & Pegwell Bay - KWT Reserve (1507a)

Grid Ref : TR340632. Country park off A256 Ramsgate/Sandwich road. South side reached from Sandwich via Sandwich Bay Estate (toll road). Inter-tidal mud-flats, sand dunes, salt marsh and coastal scrub. Breeding Ringed Ploversand Little Terns. Passage waders, wildfowl and passerines. Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Snow Bunting.

Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

Grid Ref : TR340632. Reached along road east of Sandwich via toll road. Open all year with April/May and August - November best.Hostel accomodation for 4 people. Training for ringers. Mist nets used at observatory and on ringing expeditions to the estuary etc. Passerine migrants, Kentish Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Short-eared and Long-eared Owls regular.

Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve - Jeffrey Harrison Memorial Trust Reserve (135a)

Grid Ref : TQ519568. Reached from A25 immediately North of Sevenoaks. Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1000 - 1700 hrs. Visitor centre, nature trail, hides. Flooded gravel workings. Wintering wildfowl; woodland birds.

South Swale - KWT Reserve

Grid Ref : TR035647. Reached from minor road off B2040, N of Brenley Corner roundabout at M2/A2/A299 junction. Tidal mudflats, grazing marsh, reedbed, foreshore. Winter wildfowl include Brent Geese, Teal, Wigeon.Waders include Knot, Grey Plover, Turnstone. Flocks of finches and buntings include Twite, Linnet, SnowBuntings and Lapland Buntings. Bearded Tit.

Stodmarsh - English Nature Reserve (404a)

Grid Ref : TR220610. Car park reached down track from Stodmarsh village by Red Lion pub. Public access on Lampen Wall and river wall. Three hides (one with disabled access). Lagoons, reedbeds, marsh, partially flooded meadows, damp alder/willow woodland. Shelduck, Teal, Garganey, Water Rail, Snipe, Bearded Tit,Grasshopper Warbler. Good for wintering Bittern, wildfowl, waders, Hen Harrier, Great Grey Shrike.

The view looking north-west from the Lampen Wall at Stodmarsh.

Swale, Sheppey - English Nature Reserve

Grid Ref : TR052682. From Leysdown-on-Sea (Isle of Sheppey), take road south along sea front to Muswell Manor, then along rough track for 1 mile to car park. Keep to pathways. 5 hides, 1 tower hide overlooking flooded areas.Coastal saltmarsh, fresh grazing marsh and shell beach. Autumn seawatching from Shellness point caninclude Gannet, skuas, divers, grebes. Wintering wildfowl and waders include Wigeon, Teal, Pintail,Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin. Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine and Short-eared Owl. Breeding birds include Gadwall, Pochard, Avocet, Snipe, Lapwing,Redshank, Yellow Wagtail.Snow & Lapland Buntings regular in winter.

The saltmarsh and shell beach at Shellness on the Swale English Nature Reserve.