TQ939679/TQ023682 - 9.00 am - 3 Miles - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

No excuses for our second visit this year. Wrap up warmly and bring a hot drink. Hopefully this will be a good winter for short-eared owls and rough-legged buzzard, but if not, the usual display of wildfowl, harriers and owls, plus merlin and peregrine should not disappoint.

Directions as for Sunday 10 February

TQ770554 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map

A pleasant stroll to round off our walks programme and take your mind off the Christmas shopping! We’ll hope to see woodpeckers, nuthatches, siskin, redpoll and grey wagtail.

The park lies to the east of Maidstone town centre and is best reached via the A249. Travelling south follow the signs for Ashford onto the A20, turning right down Square Hill Road at the first set of traffic lights. At the top of Square Hill Road turn left into Mote Avenue at a mini roundabout. The gates of Mote Park will be in front of you. Drive through and continue straight on and follow the signposts to the car park. There are toilets here.

TR068185 - 10.00 am - 2 Miles - Leaders Rob and Marie Tilley - Click here for a map  

A chance to kick start your New Year list with a visit to the RSPB’s oldest reserve. We’ll hope to see smews, goldeneyes and grebes and maybe have a spend up in the well-stocked shop.

From Lydd, take the minor Dungeness Road south, signposted to Greatstone and the Power Station. The entrance to the RSPB reserve is on the right immediately before the ARC pits. Toilet facilities, shop and refreshments are all available here.

TR227587 - 9.00 am - 1.5 Miles - Leader Sue Carter  - Click here for a map

A welcome return to this delightful spot, tucked away behind a picturesque Kent village. We’ll hope to see wintering duck, including smews, plus harriers, grey wagtail, kingfisher, redwings and fieldfare. Perhaps you’ll decide to join us for a meal in the village pub after the walk!

From Canterbury take the A257 Sandwich Road. In Littlebourne turn left (north) towards Wickhambreaux. At the church take the right-handed fork towards Seaton. Either park by the pub and walk along the lane, or take the small road to the right of the pub as you face it, then turn sharp right again and park sensibly near the right-hand bend. No facilities here.

TQ807684 - 9.00 am - 1 Mile - Leader Carole Nixon - Click here for a map

Easy birdwatching with a cafeteria to warm us up afterwards! We hope to see duck, geese and waders. Water rail is regularly seen and we’ll also be looking out for winter thrushes and maybe a brambling or two on the feeders.

Park in the car park signposted on the northern side of the B2007 Lower Rainham Road between Gillingham and Rainham. Toilets are available in the visitor centre and there is a cafeteria. 

TQ939679/TQ023682 - 9.00 am - 4 Miles - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map

This area never fails to deliver and is probably the best place in Kent, if not the country, to see wintering wildfowl and birds of prey. If time and weather permit, we’ll go on to the Raptor Viewpoint at Capel Fleet.

Follow the A249 towards Sheerness but turn off immediately before the new crossing and take the old road over the Kingsferry Bridge. The reserve is signposted on the right and the car park is reached two miles along the rough track. Toilets in car park only. No other facilities so please wrap up warmly and bring a hot drink and food.

TQ475717 - 10.00 am - 1  Mile - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

It’s several years since the group last visited this superb green space, offering a wonderful wilderness experience in suburbia. Home to ring-necked parakeets, grey wagtail, water rail, siskin and redpoll.

Take the M20 westbound then the A20(T). At Critalls Corner take the A224 north to Footscray. Turn right at the lights into Rectory Lane. Pass All Saints Church, then turn right into the stable block car park. No facilities here.

TQ782758 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Adrian Olsen - Click here for a map

A chance to visit this superb reserve on the North Kent Marshes, home of the country’s largest heronry. Breeding should be in full swing and hopefully we’ll be able to see the nests without too much leaf cover. Little egrets have joined the heron colony and perhaps, in the not too distant future, cattle egrets will breed here as well.

Leave Strood on the A228 Ratcliffe Highway, taking the left-hand turn to High Halstow from the roundabout (Christmas Lane). At the junction turn left towards Cooling. The marshland car park at Bromhey Farm is signposted on the right just past the bend at Eastborough. You will be relieved to know that there are now toilet facilities here! 

TQ551790 - 10:00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Adrian Olsen - Click here for a map

Come and see what has been achieved over the past few years and view the unique visitor centre with its renowned café and shop, or simply enjoy the great wildlife and spectacular views of the River Thames.

Take the Dartford Crossing and follow the first exit after the tunnel. Access is via the A1090 New Tank Road, Purfleet, Essex.

TR001337 - 9.00 am - 2-3 Miles - Leader Sue Carter

A new walk for the group and a natural haven which you will be able to return to on your way to or from Dungeness. Ham Street was one of the first areas in the country to be mapped by the Ordnance Survey and the wood was one of the first sites in the country to be designated a National Nature Reserve. The ancient wood comprises oak, birch, wild service and hornbeam and the woodland glades are carpeted in spring with bluebells and wood anemones. Wild honeysuckle is also established. We’ll hope to see and hear tree creeper and lesser-spotted woodpecker.

Take the A2070 from Ashford to Brenzett, but take the 1^st turning to Hamstreet on the right, signposted to B2067. At the T-junction turn left onto the B2067 and just before the railway bridge turn left into Hamstreet British Rail Station, where there is free parking. The walk will commence here.

TQ42/52 and 43/53 - 9.00 am - 2-3 Miles - Guided Walk with Glen Peacock

Back to this special place, home of Winnie the Pooh! Once again we’ve got local expert, Michael Scott-Ham, to show us around. We’ll have lovely scenery and maybe Dartford warblers, woodlark, tree pipits, crossbills and common redstarts. What more could you want?

Meet at the Ashdown Forest Centre which lies half a mile along the unclassified road, running east from Wych Cross to Coleman’s Hatch, off the A22.

Our second attempt to visit this relatively new RSPB reserve, home to breeding cranes and golden orioles. Be impressed by the work done to improve this site, which was once carrot fields. Later we’ll travel the short distance to Lackford Lakes, a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve with hides, a visitor centre, toilets and varied habitat.

TR222609/TR235632 - 9.00 am - 4 Miles - Leader Peter Saville - Click here for a map

A perennial favourite and one which never fails to deliver that feel-good factor. It’s a major haunt of rarities, but even on quiet days it’s still a lovely walk. Last year it hosted whiskered tern, red-footed falcons and red and black kites.

Stodmarsh village is found east of Canterbury. Leaving on the A257 towards Sandwich, turn left into Stodmarsh Road, just past the golf club. Continue straight on until the Red Lion pub. Turn left immediately and follow the rough track to the car park. Toilets are here and also at the Grove Ferry end.

TQ519567 - 10.00 am - 1–2 Miles - Leader Karen Snow

The ideal site for a spring visit, with lakes, woodland and easy access.  We’ll look for grey wagtail, great-spotted woodpecker, little-ringed plover and migrant warblers.  There are hides, toilets, cafateria, shop and information centre.

Take the A25 towards Sevenoaks. At the traffic lights past Seal continue straight on towards Riverhead. Continue across the next set of lights and the reserve is signposted on the right-hand side after the school (the turning for the stables).

TQ928270 - 9.00 am - 3-4 Miles - Leader Glen Peacock

Another new venue to an area of Romney Marsh which is full of history. We’ll be shown around a farm with lots of flowers and maybe a few tree sparrows. Then we’ll have tea and scones before viewing Romney Marsh from the escarpment and then exploring an area near the Royal Military Canal. Please note that there will be a collection.

Take the B2082 from Tenterden to Wittersham, then at The Stocks crossroads continue straight over on the minor road towards Stone in Oxney. Great Prawls Farm can be found on the right-hand side of the road near the bend and opposite the junction to Stone. Park in the driveway of the farm.

Venue to be Announced 

Contact Trevor Hatton

TR339423 - 9.00 am - 6 Miles - Leaders Rob and Marie Tilley 

We haven’t done this walk since 1999. It can be arduous but also very rewarding with stunning scenery on top of the white cliffs. If we’re lucky we may see peregrines, fulmars and kittiwakes, but if not there should be wild flowers and butterflies to interest us. Please do not get too near the edge as the cliffs here are very unstable!

Take the A2 towards Dover and at the roundabout with the A258 turn right towards the town centre, turning left into Upper Road near Connaught Barracks. (The castle will now be on your right). After the road crosses over the A2 there is a hairpin bend, with the National Trust car park (fee payable unless an NT member) immediately on your right.  Park towards the top end. There are toilets and refreshments here, but not at the St. Margaret’s end.

TR014648 - 9.00 am - 1 Mile - Leader Karen Snow - Click here for a map

This walk is suitable for the less able-bodied and in fact you can sit in your car and watch waders up close and personal! It’s a good way to hone your identification skills. Waders should be coming through on their return passage.

Go along the A2 towards Faversham and at the roundabout before Ospringe turn left (north) towards Oare. At the T-junction turn left uphill and then first right by the pub into Church Road. Follow this narrow road and park in the car park at the end by the sea wall. No facilities here.

TR293391 - 9.30 am - 1-2 Miles - Leader Peter Saville - Click here for a map

A popular walk with stunning scenery, easy parking (small charge), toilets and cafeteria too.  Regular haunt of rock pipit, black redstart and peregrine and of course, sea birds.

Take the A260 down the steep hill and at the roundabout join the new A20 towards Dover. Pass the sign for Samphire Hoe and at the next roundabout go back towards Folkestone. After half a mile take the sliproad on the left and wait at the lights until clear to pass through the tunnel.

TR342623/TR356575 - 10.00 am - 1 Mile - Leader Robin Smith - Click here for a map                                         

We’ll reverse the usual order and visit Pegwell Bay first, on a rising tide as the waders are pushed nearer to our telescopes! Then on to Sandwich Bay to see if any migrants are lurking.

The picnic site car park for Pegwell Bay is on the east-side of the A256 between Ramsgate and Sandwich, just south of Cliffs End village. There are toilets here and a parking charge. For Sandwich Bay, head east from the bridge along Upper Strand Street. Turn right at the road junction, then follow the road, turning sharp left, for one and a quarter miles to the Toll Gate. Explain that you are visiting the observatory and you should only be charged a nominal £1. After a quarter of a mile turn right into Guildford Road, the observatory car park is on the right.

TR068185 - 10.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Karen Snow - Click here for a map

Dungeness in September can be a hotspot for passerines during migration time. Fingers crossed that the weather conditions are favourable

For directions see Sunday 4^th January

Saturday 10 October

Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve

TQ725766 - 9.00 am - 2 Miles Guided Walk - Click here for a map

Your chance to check on the progress being made to turn this special place into a sanctuary for  birds and birders alike. Even before Cliffe became an RSPB reserve it was known by birders as a top location for good birds.

Meet in the public car park by the church in Cliffe Village. No toilets.

TQ962648 - 9.00 am - 1 Mile - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

A short walk along the banks of the creek which leads into the Swale, with views across the river to Spitend Marshes. We will hope to see common seals and red-breasted mergansers on the Swale and maybe long-eared owls, finch flocks and winter thrushes in the scrub area.

From the A2 at Teynham take the side road north to Conyer and the Ship Inn. Park opposite the houses, alongside the hedge immediately before the pub. No toilets or refreshments, other than at the Ship Inn.

Sunday 8 November

Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint/Elmley RSPB Reserve                                                  

TQ023682/TQ939679 - 9.00 am - 4 Miles - Leader Sue Carter - Click here for a map

For a change we’ll meet at the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey and will look for rough-legged buzzard, harriers and merlin before driving onto Elmley to catch up with any raptors we missed earlier and to see the spectacle of wintering wildfowl.

The Raptor Viewpoint is situated along the road to the Harty Ferry Inn, just past Capel Fleet. Take the new Sheppey Crossing, go over the 1st roundabout and at the 2^nd roundabout take the exit to Leysdown and follow this road. Just before Leysdown take the turning on the right signposted to the Harty Ferry Inn. The Raptor Viewpoint is on the left about half a mile past Capel Fleet. No facilities here.

Saturday 21 November

Bedgebury Pinetum

A welcome return to this splendid pinetum, part of the Kew Gardens collection, where hopefully, we’ll see hawfinches coming in to roost, along with siskins, brambling and crossbills. Woodcock and sparrowhawk are also possible.

The Pinetum is south of Goudhurst, close to the Kent/Sussex border, on the B2079. The car park is signposted on the left, five minutes drive from Goudhurst. Toilets are available and an entrance fee is charged per car. Dress warmly and bring a torch as we will be staying until dusk.

TR225694 - 10.00 am - 2 Miles - Leader Karen Snow - Click here for a map

An easy walk towards Minnis Bay with the sea on your left and the marshes on your right. We’ll be looking out for geese, seaduck, raptors and maybe even snow buntings and shore larks, if we’re lucky.

The country park is signposted from the A299 Thanet Way, east of Herne Bay. Bear right after the small village of Hillborough, down the narrow Reculver Lane. This leads directly to the car park (where there is a small charge), with the twin towers of Reculver on your right and the information centre and toilets to your left. Please note that for much of the walk we are on the coastal path and as such open to the elements.

We Hope You Enjoy The Programme.  We Welcome Your Comments and Thank You for Your Support.

Individual (One year) £ 4.00 

Family (One Year) £ 6.00

Individual (Five Years) £ 20.00 

Family (Five Years) £ 30.00