Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey is now a private reserve and you can stay there, in various types of cottages, shepherds huts etc. but my review is based on a day visit to see the wild birds, hares etc. The entrance to the reserve is from the old Sheppey Way so you need to drive over the old Kingsferry Bridge – then a 2 mile track winds across the marshes to the car park at Kingshill Farm. You can stop the car by the side of the road along the way and watch the wildlife but you must stay in the car. Dogs are not allowed on the reserve. There are toilet facilities at the car park and the cost for parking one car is £5. It’s open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and you MUST be out of the reserve by 5.00 pm so allow time for the long drive back. The reserve is closed on Tuesdays. Blue Badge holders can drive on until they reach the first hide, which is wheelchair accessible. When we last went in February we saw a lot of hares, which was amazing; we saw most of them while driving along the track from the car park back to the road. While we were walking after the car park we saw a few hares and many birds including lapwings and marsh harriers. Then from the hide we saw shellducks, redshanks etc. Other people could see short eared owls but my binoculars were not good enough. We only walked as far as the first hide and I’m keen to go back and walk as far as Spitend Marsh. Obviously being a marsh the walking is easy. The views include some industrial landscapes and the local prisons which I find fascinating. The photos aren’t brilliant – my best ones are on my tablet and I’m not good at transferring!
“www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk”:http://www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk
