Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve

Banner photo credit: Christine Powell Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (NNR), near Canterbury, is a unique area of wetland with marshes, reedbeds, lakes and woodland that is home to a rich variety of wildlife especially water birds. The reserve has the largest reed bed in the south east of England, which supports a range of specialised birds and insects. The reed beds are an excellent sanctuary for migrating birds such as swallows and house martins in the summer and starlings in the winter. Bittern, marsh harrier, kingfisher, great crested grebe, coot, moorhen, reed bunting, bearded reedling can all be seen. The reserve supports a large variety of invertebrates (including dragonflies and moths) and rare plants. It also has a strong population of water voles. Stodmarsh has over 6 kilometres of footpaths, including a circular walk around the whole site. There are short and long easy access 'sensory' trails at the Stodmarsh end of the reserve, both with wheelchair access. [Image: https://www.visitkent.co.uk/media/3320/stodmarsh-national-nature-reserve-reeds-lake-1.jpg]