Welcome to Hambrook Marshes
Set in the floodplain of the Great Stour just outside Canterbury, Hambrook Marshes is a site of Special Conservation Interest and borders a Local Nature Reserve.
Kent Enterprise Trust (KET), a local charity, purchased the land aiming to help create work and training opportunities in conservation and land management skills.
Our vision... Environmental Conservation in the Community
Our Mission... Sustainably improving Hambrook Marshes for biodiversity and as a community resource by engaging diverse groups in East Kent and beyond
The marshes are currently managed under a Higher Level Stewardship agreement with Natural England to promote biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
A Resource for the Whole Community
Hambrook Marshes is run for the benefit of the community. Everyone is able to use this free resource on the edge of a bustling city.
There are several plans for the future of Hambrook Marshes. Work started recently on the Riverside Path, a shared-use footpath for cyclists and walkers. This path will open up disabled access and create links from the Westgate area of Canterbury through to Chartham. Other plans include further developing the nature reserves, which can then be used as an educational resource. All future plans are carefully considered to encourage enjoyment and participation whilst promoting all forms of wildlife.
Acitivites such as willow crafts have been a great success but the Haymaking Festival especially. The day was a big improvement over last year and can be read more about under the link on the left hand side of the webpage.
With help from Lloyd-Bore Landscapes and Ecology, KET was successfully granted £164,000 from ALSF to make many further site improvements:
click here to download .pdf
- "grips" for wetland habitat improvement
- ditch renovation
- sign posts
- interpretation boards
- board walk along the reed bed
- steps on the railway mound
- safety fencing around the A2
- safety fencing at the top of the old railway
- thin the trees on the railway mound to open up "sight-lines"
The grant also paid for a project officer to manage the works and set up more activities for community groups, schools and colleges in the district. These works make the site safer for all to enjoy and create a biodiverse habitat that attracts wading birds and water voles.
Schools and Universities are encouraged to visit the marshes and learn about ecosystems, threats to the environment and natural habitats.
The Importance of the Marshes
As Hambrook Marshes is an area of marshland on the banks of the River Stour rich with biodiversity it is of huge environmental significance. The site acts as a flood plain, protecting Canterbury from flooding in times of heavy rain.
Target species we are improving the habitat for include the water vole and wading birds such as the snipe.
Grazing
Traditionally, Hambrook Marshes was grazed by cattle. Recently, 2 fields were grazed by sheep from a nearby farm, and one field by Konik ponies from Wildwood. KET is proud to
support the local economy and is looking for a local farmer who woud like to graze cattle on Hambrook Marshes.
Haymaking
To increase the number of wild flowers on Hambrook Marshes so that bees and other insects benefit, Hambrook Marshes is not fertilised. The reduced nutrients enables more wild flowers to grow. The grass and flowers are cut in July and August then turned so that the grass dries and flower seeds fall into the soil. The hay is then gathered as animal feed. With part of a grant from the Aggregate Levy Sustainablity Fund through Action for Communities in rural England, KET trained the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership volunteers and staff in the use of Austrian Scythes in June 2009.
More about traditional haymaking More about Austrian scythesWhat to do when you are there
As an area of Special Conservational Interest, Hambrook Marshes is best enjoyed for its sheer natural beauty. Relax and enjoy the calm, tranquil setting.
Everyone is welcome as long as they respect the area and leave it unspoilt. 
Hambrook Marshes is a community resource and KET welcomes input from the people keen to use and support it.
We run regular volunteer days when anyone can come along and help keep the site clean, or work on fencing, or anything else that needs to be done! Through joining the Friends group you will have a say in future developments, be able to voice your opinions, ideas and assist with managing the resource.
Volunteer Saturdays
Volunteering at Hambrook Marshes is a great way to enjoy the countryside right in the heart of Canterbury. On the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month Graham will be leading tasks through the year, carrying out seasonal work to improve the site for biodiversity and community use.
Saturday - August 7th and 21st
Saturday - September 4th and 18th
Saturday - October 2nd and 16th
Saturday - November 6th and 20th
Meet at the railway embankment. Bus fares can be reimbursed out of our grant. Start 11am, finish at 2pm. Wear strong boots and old clothes. Biscuits and hot drinks provided.
Working with the community
For the volunteer enthusiast we also need help running tasks for specialist community groups during the week (Mondays and Thursdays). If you are interested we will pay for you to be CRB checked and a full volunteer officer induction at our new Community Enterprise Hub near Herne Bay. This could also be an opportunity for work experience for those applying for jobs and needing points for a good CV. Travel expenses paid.
Phone Graham Earl on 01227 844479 or email g.earl@enterprisetrust.org
Click here to download directions to Hambrook Marshes.
Latest quarterly newsletter: Spring 2010
To apply for a Volunteer or Project Officer role in this project please look under vacancies
Kent Enterprise Trust (KET), Kent Enterprise House, The Links, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7GQ