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Are you looking for Wildlife Reserves, Farms and Nature Parks? If you are a bird watcher or looking for something different to do with the kids this might help.
Beaver Water World
Waylands Farm, Approach Road, Tatsfield, Nr Westerham, Kent.
Telephone: 01959 577747
www.beaverwaterworld.com
Open every day : Summer 10am to 6pm, Winter 10am to 5pm
Beaver Water World is a registered charity dedicated to rescuing and caring for mistreated, unwanted and rare reptiles and other animals. There's loads to see and do at Beaver Water World; in our landscaped grounds see Beavers, Terrapins and Aviaries; and the heated indoor reptile house features snakes, lizards and Big Boy - the giant alligator.
Educational facilities include conducted tours, lecture visits, picnic facilities, quiz sheets, reptile handling and refreshments so school parties and youth groups can learn as well as having fun.
If you want further details of how you can help the charity please send a SAE for our leaflet or log-on to our comprehensive web site which tells you all about what we are doing, and about our plans and aims for the future. | |
Bewl Water
Off A21 at Lamberhurst, near Tunbridge Wells. Telephone: 01892 890661.
Bewl Water is the largest area of inland water in South East England. There are lovely waterside walks, cycle hire, flyfishing, watersports, picnic areas, woodland adventure playground, vistor centre and self-service restaurant. | |
Bough Beech Reservoir
Follow brown 'duck signs' from B2042 south of Ide Hill or the B2027 east of Bough Beech. Telephone: 01622 662012
This reservoir and nature reserve are excellent for bird watching. The Visitor Centre has displays on the history of the reservoir, wildlife and hop growing. | |
Bradbourne Lakes
Betenson Avenue, Sevenoaks.
Small parks with a series of pretty lakes and many wild birds including ducks, geese and swans. | |
Eagle Heights
Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford. Phone: 01322 866466. Email:
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Kent's Bird of Prey Centre: Indoor aviaries for all weather attraction; children's play area; outdoor flying displays; dramatic views over the Darent Valley; tea room and gift shop. Birthday parties and group bookings
Open: March to November, 10.30am to 5pm. December to February, weekends only from 11am to 4pm. Open to school visits all year round. | |
Golden Stable Wood - Field Studies Centre
Ashes Lane, Hadlow. Telephone: 01732 850273
(Visits by booking only - schools, youth and adult groups, families and specific interest groups welcome)
Environmental learning activities include: following the farming year; woodland and tree studies; small mammal studies; pond dipping; insect and mini-beast safaris; butterflies and moths; tracks, trails and signs; bird projects; wildflowers and fungi; discovering freshwater fish; wild fun and nightlife. There are also a variety of woodland trails. | |
Hop Farm Country Park
A228 at East Peckam, Nr Paddock Wood
Kent's landmark attraction and a wonderful day out for all the family. Shire horses, rural and hop story museums; indoor and outdoor children pay areas; animal farm; pottery and 'have-a-go' activity rooms; restaurants; paddling pool and sandpits; putting green and special events throughout the year. | |
Lullingstone Park and Visitor Centre
Castle Road, near Eynsford. Telephone: 01322 865995
Guided walks, bridalway, special events and holiday activities. Exhibits, shop and refreshments. | |
Nepicar Farm
Wrotham Heath, Sevenoaks. Telephone: 01732 883040
Traditional farmyard animals, rare breeds and a flock of milking sheep: springtime lamb nursery; visit the aviary and see the peacocks and game birds; farmyard and woodland trails; tractor and trailer rides (weather permitting); Children's play area; Tea room and Terrace serving delicious home prepared snacks
Open: March to September, 10am to 5pm | |
Oldbury Hill (NT)
A25 near Ightham, east of Seal. Telephone 01732 823570
This is the most impressive, if not the largest Iron-Age Camp in the country. The hill fort of Oldbury Hill covers 123 acres of excavated ramparts and ditches. There are waymarked trails to explore. | |
Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve
Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks. Telephone: 01732 456407
The Wildfowl Reserve is made up of 135 acres of roughly equal proportions of water and land. In addition to the Darent and the five lakes, the site contains a variety of ponds, reedbeds and seasonally flooded pools.
Seeing the reserve today it would be easy to believe that its habitats are completely natural and have always been here. In fact the character of the site is entirely man-made: every lake, pond and reedbed has been deliberately excavated, the River Darent has been deliberately been diverted into its present course and virtually every tree is either planted or descended from one that was.
The Reserve was the first example in Britain of a gravel-pit site being developed for the purpose of nature conservation. At a time when wetland habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate, it demonstrates the enormous potential which exists for creating new habitats for wildlife as well as conserving existing ones.
Click here for a summary of what can be seen at the reserve during the month of September and click here for details of a booklet entitled "The Sevenoaks Reserve".
Facilities include a Visitor Centre, four bird-watching hides, a Children's Nature Trail Pack and an illustrated guide. | |
Shoreham Countryside Centre
Shoreham Station. Telephone: 01959 525288/534404
Information and exhibits. Video presentation of the village of Shoreham. School parties by arrangement. Free | |
Toys Hill (NT)
160 hectares of heath and woodland. Waymarked walks including a route suitable for wheelchairs. Provides spectacular views of the countryside to the south. | | |
