welcome

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Welcome to Hambrook Marshes: a unique wildlife haven in the city of Canterbury

The beautiful landscape of Canterbury’s biggest green open space is a natural wildlife haven, home to thriving bird life and a wealth of plants and wildflower species. Open all year round, its tranquil riverside paths and wetlands are the perfect way to enjoy nature in the city.  

Visiting hambrook marshes

Hambrook Marshes is close to Canterbury city centre, easy to get to, and open at all times.

NB As a wetland, areas of Hambrook Marshes may be flooded after heavy rain, including sections of the path.

Full information for visitors, including location, travel options, facilities and accessibility.

get involved

Volunteers at work

If you love Hambrook Marshes there are plenty of ways to help out.

Make a donation | Volunteering

about hambrook

Did you know that the land by the River Stour that is now Hambrook Marshes was once a 40 feet deep quarry?

Find out more about the history, and the plants, birds and wildlife that now thrive here.

WILDLIFE TO LOOK OUT FOR IN MARCH

Goosander
Little grebes
Little grebe
Redwing

latest news

  • FEBRUARY NATURE NOTES
    Spring is definitely in the air, as demonstrated by tufts of snowdrops on the river bank, occasional flowering lesser celandine, and a great spotted woodpecker heard drumming on February 6th. More remarkable than all of these was a grass snake spotted…
  • WILLOW MAZE RESTORED
    Highlight of the month was a complete restoration of the willow maze over two days, with the help of students from the Foundation Learning department of Canterbury College, who were using the task as a social action project to develop…
  • JANUARY NATURE NOTES
    An excitement this month was the presence of a goosander on the river. Goosanders are sawbills, with serrated beaks that enable them to grasp fish more firmly. They are fairly recent colonists in the UK, having first bred in Scotland in 1871. Since…
  • WILLOW HARVEST
    Our regular willow weavers spent several days in the second half of January giving the osier bed its annual trim, in the process generating numerous bundles to take home for future use. Last year’s drought led to less vigorous growth…
  • MEADOW PLANNING
    Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership volunteers spent a day in the hay meadow mowing some of the areas that couldn’t be reached by tractor in the autumn, and raking up all the cuttings. The hope is that this will encourage flowering…
  • DECEMBER NATURE NOTES
    The marshes remained rather quiet throughout the cold snap. Before the weather closed in, a small wintering population of up to 14 snipe had been present, but these dispersed when their favoured feeding areas were iced over. A jack snipe,…
  • NOVEMBER NATURES NOTES
    The highlight of the month was undoubtedly the return of squelchy conditions, meaning that the Marshes are no longer in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Act. Flooding on November 17th led to 31 black-headed gulls and 17 mallard making use of the…