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Shorne Marshes, Higham Bight the Thames Estuary; While Their Importance for Wildlife Was Well Known, Until Recently There Was Little Opportunity for People to Visit

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Shorne Marshes, Higham Bight the Thames Estuary; While Their Importance for Wildlife Was Well Known, Until Recently There Was Little Opportunity for People to Visit www.rspb.org.uk The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way. As a charity, the RSPB depends on the goodwill and financial support of people like you. Please visit www.rspb.org.uk/supporting or call 01767 680551 to find out more. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. NHH-2321-10-11 FREE Visit RSPB North Kent Marshes 2 The RSPB on the North Kent Marshes Contents The RSPB currently manages eight reserves across the marshes, the most important in southern England. You can visit, or view from public rights of The RSPB on the North Kent Marshes 2 way, all of these reserves. Three of them, Northward Hill, Elmley Marshes Map of the area 3 and Cliffe Pools have car parking, and there are toilet facilities at Northward Hill and Elmley Marshes, along with extensive nature trails. Northward Hill 4 Cliffe Pools 8 The North Kent Marshes stretch over 70 miles between Dartford and Elmley Marshes 12 Whitstable, and make up huge areas of low-lying land on the banks of Shorne Marshes, Higham Bight the Thames estuary; while their importance for wildlife was well known, until recently there was little opportunity for people to visit. and Rye Street 16 Capel Fleet and Harty 18 Now we are working to provide you with the facilities you need to enjoy Nor Marsh and Motney Hill 20 this beautiful marshland countryside. Would you like to know more? 22 We hope you will enjoy exploring the North Kent Marshes with the aid Further details 23 of this guide. The Marshes are great for: Ⅲ birdwatching Ⅲ walking Ⅲ history and culture. Front cover picture: marsh harrier by Richard Brooks (rspb-images.com) s RSPB reserves on the North Kent Marshes 3 Key 8 –11 4 –7 Car park Car park Public access 9.5km of trails Higham Bight Thames see pages 16–17 You can see wildlife Es tuary from public footpaths 12 –15 Capel Fleet Cliffe Car park viewpoint Cooling Four hides see page 22 A228 • Car park High Halsto w • Raised viewpoint 0 0 Rye Street 0 2 see pages 16– 17 B You can see wildl ife from public footpaths Medwa y Eastchu rc h A289 Nor Marshes and Motney Hill see pages 20–21 Sheppey Both sites are visible Ro chester from the Riverside P Kingshill Shorne RSPB Country Park trails 9 car park Farm M 4 Marshes 2 2 A see pages 16–17 A2 You can see wildl ife from public footpaths 4 RSPB Northward Hill H u g h W Welcome to Northward Hill e l f o r d ( The Marshes lost their value for wildlife when they were r s p drained in the 20th century. The RSPB has worked to bring b - i m back the water and restore grazing, creating the right a g e s conditions for breeding lapwings and redshanks, . c o and for big flocks of wintering ducks. m ) Come here for... Ⅲ the UK’s largest heronry from February to May, with up to 150 pairs of grey herons each year. Since 2000, they have been joined by breeding little egrets, and now 100 pairs of this small white heron nest annually. In spring, turtle doves, nightingales and warblers join resident breeding bird species such as woodpeckers and tits Ⅲ bluebell woodland walks in spring Ⅲ over six miles (10 km) of trails, with fantastic panoramas over the Marshes and peaceful woodland walks. 5 Visiting Northward Hill nature reserve RESERVE FACT FILE The reserve is open at all times. Ⅲ Ⅲ Vigorous lobbying from the RSPB and local Ⅲ The main RSPB car park is at Bromhey Farm, communities helped block the Cliffe airport proposal signposted on the road between High Halstow which would have completely destroyed the reserve. and Cooling, and is available 7 am–dusk daily. Ⅲ The Northward Hill office at Bromhey Farm is the Ⅲ A public toilet is available at the main car park. RSPB’s main base for all its work on its North Kent Ⅲ In winter or after rain, trails may be muddy and Marshes reserve. there are some steep slopes. Access to all the trails Ⅲ We found a variety of Roman pottery when we is unfortunately difficult for wheelchair users. improved the ditches for wildlife. There are nine miles Ⅲ Dogs are permitted on a lead on the woodland trails and (over 14 km) of ditches and over two miles (4 km) on public footpaths, but not to the Heronry viewpoint. of fleets at Northward Hill. Contact us: RSPB Northward Hill nature reserve, Bromhey Farm, Cooling, Rochester ME3 8DS. Tel: 01634 222480. E-mail: [email protected] CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT Ⅲ Water levels are crucial – not too high and not too low! How to find us We use storage reservoirs, sluices and pumps to help us. Northward Hill main car park is located at Bromhey Farm, Ⅲ Cattle and sheep lightly graze the marshes, which signposted on the road between High Halstow and Cooling. benefits breeding wading birds and wintering waterfowl. From the A228, follow the road to High Halstow and turn Ⅲ By planting new trees and allowing others to naturally left onto Cooling Road. seed, we will double the size of the woodland over the next 60 years. Ⅲ Woodland rides and glades are kept open on rotation for the benefit of woodland flowers and butterflies. 6 RSPB Northward Hill reserve trail map Reservoirs D e c o y Ernie Hemsley H i viewpoint He ronry l Marshland l viewpoint R viewpoint o Roman potter y a kilns (site of) d Ba rns Mature woodland Woodland viewpoint Cherry orchard Bromhey Farm Mixed scrub and grassland Main car park Woodland To RSP B trail Upland grazing Cliffe Pools 6.5 km N Grazing marsh COOLING Reeds Entrance/ exit Water 0 0.25 Reser ve border km Road Coo ling Vehicle entrance to reser ve R o a HIGH HALSTOW Footpath d Saxon Shore Way Public toilets Nature trails Red Dog PH Woodland sanctuary area (strictly no entry) Northward Hill season by season 7 Spring Autumn G C h Ⅲ Herons and egrets nest Ⅲ Migrating wading birds o r r i d s o in the woodland. such as spotted redshanks G n o Ⅲ Nightingales sing in the and green sandpipers can L m a n e g dense undergrowth. r be seen at the reservoirs. s s a b Ⅲ Carpets of bluebells bloom l Ⅲ Swallows gather around u l ( r r y from mid-April to mid-May. s the farm buildings. p ( r b s - Ⅲ Lapwings and redshanks Ⅲ Large numbers of p i m b - a display on the marshes. dragonflies fly over the i m g e Whitethroats sing from reserve in late summer a Ⅲ s g . e c s the scrub. o and early autumn. m c o ) Ⅲ Avocets nest on the Ⅲ Noisy jays collect acorns m reservoir islands. from the wood. ) Nightingale Common darter Summer Winter C A h Ⅲ Hobbies hunt dragonflies n Ⅲ Waterfowl gather r d i y s over the marsh. on marshland floods, G H a o y Ⅲ Marsh harriers quarter the including a variety of m ( e r r marsh and reedfleets. s ducks and sometimes s p a b Many species of butterfly l white-fronted geese l Ⅲ - i ( m r s are on the wing, including a and Bewick’s swans. p g b e the rare white-letter Ⅲ Flocks of wintering - s i m . c o hairstreak. thrushes, finches a g m e ) Ⅲ Large numbers of little and buntings gather s . c egrets return to roost in in the scrub. o m the wood before dusk. Ⅲ Wintering birds of prey ) Ⅲ Turtle doves ‘purr’ from may be seen, including overhead wires. hen harriers, peregrines, buzzards and merlins. Marsh harrier White-fronted geese 8 RSPB Cliffe Pools A n d Welcome to RSPB Cliffe Pools y H a y The big saline lagoons attract birds throughout the year. ( r s p In winter there are large numbers of wild ducks; in spring b - i m and summer rare wading birds such as the avocet breed; a g e s and in spring and autumn, thousands more wading birds . c o pass through on their international migrations. m ) Come here for... Ⅲ fantastic views from London city to Southend, from the Pinnacle viewpoint Ⅲ one of the best wetland bird spectacles in southern England Ⅲ over 200 bird species recorded every year Ⅲ six miles (9.5 km) of trails to explore Ⅲ a programme of events available to all. 9 Visiting RSPB Cliffe Pools nature reserve RESERVE FACT FILE Ⅲ Public footpaths around Cliffe Pools are open every day, Ⅲ It is a four-mile (6.5 km) walk around the reserve boundary. and viewpoints and benches provide good wildlife Ⅲ Over 235 bird species have been recorded, including watching points. Car park opening times: 9 am –5 pm many rarities. (or dusk if earlier). Ⅲ Cliffe Pools has over 3% of all the saline pools in the UK – Ⅲ All of the surrounding villages have public toilets – near they are full of unusual microscopic life which attracts the church at Cliffe, at the village hall in Cooling, and by the waterbirds. the village hall at High Halstow. Ⅲ Bumblebees are struggling nationally, but we have 18 of the 25 UK species here, including the most threatened Contact us: of all, the shrill carder bee. RSPB North Kent Marshes, Bromhey Farm, Cooling, Rochester ME5 8DS. Tel: 01634 222480 E-mail: [email protected] How to find us CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT From the A2, take slip road signposted A289 Gillingham, then after 2.5 miles (4 km) take the B2000 to Cliffe.
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