OVERVIEW
Hambrook Marshes is a beautiful 50 acre wetland area lying by the River Stour, close to Canterbury city centre. As well as a tranquil riverside walk (or jog, or cycle), there are interesting historical features, great views, and an abundance of wildlife, birds and wildflowers to enjoy. Find out more here.
HISTORY
Plenty of clues to Hambrook Marshes’ history can be seen today. The centuries of cattle grazing, the introduction of clean water supplies to Canterbury, the advent of local railways in the nineteenth century, and the years as a quarry in the later twentieth century are all visible in the landscape.
Find out more about the history of Hambrook Marshes
BIRDS
Hambrook attracts migratory birds and seasonal visitors as well as supporting its own resident population. So the birds that you might spot vary throughout the year, and the different habitats on the marshes attract and support different birds. Over 100 species of birds have been seen on or over the marshes since we started recording!
Find out more about the birds of Hambrook Marshes
From spring to autumn you’re likely to see grazing cattle, which are important to the site’s environmental wellbeing. Look out as well for slow worms, newts, frogs, dragonflies, damselflies, and all sorts of butterflies.
PLANT LIFE
You can see many different flowers and plants on Hambrook Marshes, reflecting the variety of habitats and ecosystems on the site.
We aim to manage the land in a way that allows a wide range of wild flowers to flourish to support pollinating insects, with vegetation and trees providing shelter and food to wildlife throughout the year.
management
Love Hambrook Marshes (LHM) CIO is the charity that owns and manages Hambrook Marshes. It was formed by local residents in 2014 when the site was threated by redevelopment.
Our aims
- To ensure Hambrook Marshes remains open and undeveloped
- To ensure conservation of the site through effective land management
- To protect and encourage plant and wildlife
- To guarantee the existing public access to the site
- To encourage community involvement in the site
TRUSTEES
Hilary Adams: Treasurer
Margaret Love: Founder
Richard Norman: Secretary
Sian Pettman: Litter, media, facebook
Paul Roberts: Land manager
Michael Walter: Environmental manager, newsletter
Jon Winder: Chair
Annual reports
Visitor survey
We undertook a count of visitors one weekend in July 2021. A total of 1451 people visited the marshes, on foot, on bikes, in pushchairs, wheelchairs, and even on a unicycle! Full survey report