21/03/2018 16:33 21/03/2018 1 AW.indd guide Trail Dungeness 46866RSPB

huge skies. huge world. other centre. visitor 860-2012-17-18

in Scotland SC037654. Front cover by Jesper Mattias (rspb-images.com). (rspb-images.com). Mattias Jesper by cover Front SC037654. Scotland in walk under under walk tranquil a to the from

207076, Wales & in charity registered a is RSPB The

by a wild wild a by day the for views fine

turns to spring. to turns

Be inspired inspired Be away Get the Enjoy

5 Look out for boxing brown hares as winter winter as hares brown boxing for out Look

can all be seen. be all can else quite like it! like quite else

Helping to give nature a home a nature give to Helping great white egrets, grey herons and bitterns bitterns and herons grey egrets, white great

4

There’s nowhere nowhere There’s Which herons will you spot? Little egrets, egrets, Little spot? you will herons Which charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. home. a nature give to everyone inspiring charity,

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation conservation nature largest country’s the is RSPB The

centre with a warming drink. warming a with centre

rspb.org.uk/dungeness

3

Enjoy wildlife watching from the cosy visitor visitor cosy the from watching wildlife Enjoy

E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:

320588 01797 Tel: 9PN. TN29 gathering on the pits as they arrive for winter. for arrive they as pits the on gathering

Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, , , Kent, Lydd, Road, Dungeness Farm, Boulderwall 2

Watch hundreds of ducks and geese geese and ducks of hundreds Watch

RSPB Dungeness RSPB

turn the reedbeds golden. reedbeds the turn

and Hanson ARC trail are free to all. to free are trail ARC Hanson and 1 sunset the watch to while a for Pause

centre visitor The £3.50. students £2.50, children

RSPB members: free. Non-members: adults £5, £5, adults Non-members: free. members: RSPB during the chillier months. chillier the during

Admission charges Admission

miss to not things Five

Autumn/winter and 10am–4pm from November to February. to November from 10am–4pm and

October, to March from 10am–5pm open

Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The visitor centre is is centre visitor The Day. Boxing and Day Christmas

Open every day 9am–9pm (or sunset if earlier), except except earlier), if sunset (or 9am–9pm day every Open

Opening times Opening who are returning to our meadows. our to returning are who

5 Hear the story of the short-haired , bumblebees, short-haired the of story the Hear

entrance. There is also a car park here. park car a also is There entrance.

their fluffy chicks. fluffy their

left off Dungeness Road, opposite the main reserve reserve main the opposite Road, Dungeness off left

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Hear the squawks of terns as they fish to feed feed to fish they as terns of squawks the Hear

to the main car park. For the Hanson ARC trail, turn turn trail, ARC Hanson the For park. car main the to

the reserve. Follow the entrance track for one mile mile one for track entrance the Follow reserve. the

give nature a home where you live? you where home a nature give

the coast. After a mile, turn right, following signs to to signs following right, turn mile, a After coast. the 3

Be inspired by our wildlife garden. Could you you Could garden. wildlife our by inspired Be

nature reserve nature By car: By from Lydd, follow Dungeness Road towards towards Road Dungeness follow Lydd, from

2 Listen out for the magical “boom” of a bittern. a of “boom” magical the for out Listen Lydd, just one mile from the reserve entrance. reserve the from mile one just Lydd,

Dungeness

By bike: By National Cycle Route 2 passes through through passes 2 Route Cycle National wildflower meadows to jewel-like dragonflies. jewel-like to meadows wildflower

1 Enjoy the wealth of natural colour, from from colour, natural of wealth the Enjoy

Ashford stop on request at the reserve entrance. reserve the at request on stop Ashford

By bus: bus: By 11, 11A and 11B buses from Lydd to to Lydd from buses 11B and 11A 11, great time for you to explore. to you for time great

a and nature for time busy A (10 miles) and Ashford (16 miles). (16 Ashford and miles) (10

By train: train: By

the nearest train stations are Rye Rye are stations train nearest the

Spring/summer Nearest town: Lydd town: Nearest

How to get here get to How do to things Top Bittern byAndrewParkinson(rspb-images.com)

It was the overwhelming Take part with us scale of the day that Wildlife watching Learn about our amazing wildlife on a relaxed stroll impressed me. So much with a friendly, knowledgeable guide. We run reserve scent, so much colour, so tours catering for families, beginners and more experienced wildlife enthusiasts. much sound. Family events Welcome Carol, Worcester. Meet our pond creatures or build a den amongst the wildflowers – we run events throughout the year. Nothing can prepare you for the Showing yourselves around? Then pick up a Wildlife landscape of Dungeness – mile Explorer backpack and follow the Pebble Trail! after mile of shingle; it’s wild and Help us give nature a home weird! A visit here is unforgettable. Do you want to be a part of the amazing work we do for wildlife? Ask a member of staff about the The reserve is a haven for an astounding array of many ways you can volunteer for the RSPB. wildlife. In spring and summer, you’ll be greeted by vibrant wildflower meadows humming with For dates, prices and full details the sound of bees, while lapwings swoop and about all our events, ask a member call playfully overhead. And there’s nothing quite of the reserve team or visit like hearing the resounding “boom” of a bittern rspb.org.uk/dungeness as the spring sun warms the reedbeds.

Winter brings its own amazing wildlife experiences as hundreds of ducks, geese and swans take up residence on the lakes. On a In this area… chilly day, sit peacefully with a hot drink, taking Other local attractions: in the view through the huge picture window of our visitor centre. Our friendly staff are always Rye Harbour nature reserve, Rye, on hand to help you make the most of your day. East Sussex, TN31 7TX Tel. 01797 227784 The great variety of wildlife and strangely (17 miles) wildrye.info beautiful landscape make RSPB Dungeness a A mosaic of wildlife habitats including saltmarsh, memorable place to visit at any time of year. sand dunes, rivers, reedbeds and farmland. Open at all times, entrance free. Richard Bedford (rspb-images.com) Dungeness Finding your way around

The trails will take you through some of our most important habitats. Explore and discover what makes Dungeness such a special place for nature.

Watch for marsh Main trail Hanson ARC trail harriers at the reedbed This two-mile circular trail explores the heart One branch of the red trail leads to our Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) of the reserve. Allow at least two hours. delightful Willow trail along a boardwalk to Look out for common lizards as the Hanson ARC hide; the second takes you to you walk along the trails There are six hides along the trail overlooking a viewing screen. These trails total just under freshwater pools, marshes and whispering reedbeds. a mile’s walk. Allow at least an hour to explore. This is one of the best ways to see the vast shingle expanse that makes Dungeness so different – and The paths guide you to spectacular lakeside views such a special home for wildlife. Keep your eyes and a peaceful Willow trail. You may see dragonflies peeled for grass snakes slithering into the water as whizzing by, or delicate clouds of butterflies. The you picnic by Dennis’s hide. In summer, you won’t be lake is a popular home for birds at all times of year. able to miss the shrieking calls and captivating grace Watch out for grey herons and great white egrets of common terns nesting in front of fishing on the banks. Closer by, look for the bright hide. The Nature Discovery trail offers the chance to blue flash of a kingfisher darting across the water. come face to face with great crested newts and brightly coloured day-flying moths like cinnabars.

S

E W

Scott N hide

Hayfields Christmas Springfield Makepeace Bridge hide Dell hide

Firth hide

Watchful hobbies perch on posts in Gate Denge the summer. Marsh hide Dennis’s To Ly hide Denge dd New Marsh Excavations At the reedbed, look for soaring marsh harriers, and in the spring listen for the Burrowe’s Pit bittern’s foghorn “boom”.

N Carefully check at re D u i for sc minibeasts ov along the Nature A er

Cormorants c y c t ra

stretch out Discovery trail. e il

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their wings to

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dry in the sun. a c Hooker’s k pits Water

Grassland New Diggings Shingle To Dungeness Reedbed Vivid vipers bugloss plants drip nectar – our bees Gate Visitor centre can’t get enough! Car park

Hanson Toilet ARC hide ARC pit Boulderwall Farm W Viewpoint illow t ra il Footpath

Tiptoe past basking newts and lizards Please stay on the paths at all times, on the boardwalk. as the shingle banks protect and give homes to many types of wildlife.

Visitors with disabilities may drive to some hides. Please ask in the visitor centre for details. To Ly

dd For more information on the accessibility of RSPB Dungeness, please visit rspb.org.uk/dungeness or call 01797 320588. Water Tower pits To avoid disturbing wildlife, no dogs except registered assistance dogs are allowed on the nature trails. Map © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787. licence RSPB reserved. rights All copyright. Crown © Map

46866RSPB Dungeness Trail guide AW.indd 2 21/03/2018 16:33