Hambrook Marshes, Canterbury, England United Kingdom

The site provides both local residents and visitors the opportunity to explore an area of natural beauty without going outside the city walls. During the summer months the marshes bloom into a beautiful wild flower and hay meadow, celebrated every year with the annual Haymaking Festival, where the hay is cut by the traditional method of scything. Hambrook is the perfect location for a family picnic.

There is always a host of wildlife to study throughout the year at Hambrook and our carefully managed reed and willow beds attract a variety of rare species including winter wading birds such as Snipe, reptiles, plants and insects. We also have a large number of Snakes Head Fritillary beds which bloom mid-spring. This beautiful wild flower is now a rare sight in Britain and can be easily identified by its deep purple, checked pattern flowers. The ponds and hay meadows also attract a variety of wildlife and during certain times of the year highland cattle can also be seen grazing on site.

Running alongside the Hambrook site is the Great Stour Way, Canterbury to Chartham Cycle Path, which offers a beautiful ride through some of Canterbury's most picturesque areas. Walking along the shared use footpath towards the city centre will lead you to the Westgate Gardens.

Hambrook Marshes are easily accessible by foot from the Riverside Retail Park, Wincheap and from the Westgate Towers, Canterbury along the cycle route.