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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 during periods of heavy rain. Wellies are currently strongly advised!

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 september

latest news

  • AUGUST WILDLIFE NOTES
    With less than summery temperatures, a definite hint of autumn hung in the air, a feeling accentuated by the sight of 31 goldfinches swirling up from a patch of thistle seed-heads.  But there was still plenty of seasonal activity, with…
  • WILLOW WEAVING WORKSHOPS
    On August 8th Nicola Jarvis-Claxton gave a series of short classes on willow weaving to an attentive audience. The sessions took place close to the site’s osier bed, which is harvested each winter by a group of local willow weavers. The eager…
  • JULY WILDLIFE NOTES
    A flock of 13 swifts was seen dashing silently over the river on July 13th. This species is in decline, markedly so in the Canterbury area, and perhaps gone for ever are the days when you could expect to see…
  • VISITOR COUNT
    We ran a visitor count on two days in July. Twelve volunteers manned a succession of two-hour slots from 7am to 7pm on Sunday 18th and Wednesday 21st July. The counting was all carried out from the point where the footbridge…
  • WILLOW MAZE RESTORED
    Big thanks to the volunteers who helped restore the willow maze on June 5th. After so much rain this year, it had become very overgrown, but after a day of tying and trimming the willow shoots in and clearing the…
  • CATTLE ARRIVE
    A small herd of cattle are now resident in the middle field on Hambrook Marshes. Dog-walkers should always have dogs on a lead in this area. The cattle can be quite inconspicuous when they’re lying down, so please keep dogs…
  • MAY WILDLIFE NOTES
    Summer has arrived, and the first cuckoo was heard on the marshes on May 10th, coming from the direction of Chartham.  The surviving trunk and main boughs of the poplar on the old railway embankment that was heavily cut back…