Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Stodmarsh NNR covers a square mile of internationally important reedbeds, fens, ditches, wet grassland and open water, which provide an ideal habitat for breeding and wintering birds, invertebrates and rare plants. The reserve is especially important for bittern, marsh harriers and the shining ramshorn snail, which are rare across Europe, in addition to a strong population of water voles, which are increasingly rare in England. Stodmarsh has the largest reedbed in the southeast of England, which supports a range of specialised birds and insects. The beds are an excellent sanctuary for thousands of migrating birds such as swallows and house martins in the summer and starlings in the winter. In addition to bittern and marsh harrier, kingfisher, great crested grebe, coot, moorhen, reed bunting and bearded reedling can all be seen on the reserve. The reserve also supports a large variety of invertebrates including dragonflies and moths, and rare plants.

Location

Stodmarsh

About the area

Kent is home to the White Cliffs of Dover, an English icon that marks the point where the Kent Downs AONB stretches from the Surrey Hills down to the sea. Visitors can explore historic parklands, including Knole Park and Sir Winston Churchill’s former home at Chartwell, or beautiful nature reserves, such as the coppiced woodlands of Denge Wood and Earley Wood and the ancient fine chalk woodland of Yockletts Bank.