Marden Meadow

Car park currently closed but will open April-October (weather permitting)

An excellent example of an unimproved hay meadow. Designated as Kent's Coronation Meadow.

Location

Between Marden and Staplehurst on Marden Road
Cranbrook
TN12 0JQ

OS Map Reference

TQ 764 444

What3Words:
marine.shakes.beaks
A static map of Marden Meadow

Know before you go

Size
6 hectares
P

Parking information

Car Park currently closed. Charged Parking - £2.50 for the day - weekdays and weekends

Bicycle parking

None

Grazing animals

Sheep and cattle will occasionally be on site.

Walking trails

Paths are relatively flat but can become wet in poor conditions. Please stay on the paths.

Access

There are medium mobility kissing gates. The surface is grass, level, smooth. There is some flooding in winter.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July: Green-winged orchids and wildflowers

About the reserve

This idyllic reserve serves to remind visitors of just how much of this classic English landscape has been lost. It boasts one of the best remaining examples of unimproved hay meadows in Kent. Green-winged orchids are abundant in May and later in the year many daises, vetches and wild grass are common, along with rarer species such as Dyers Greenweed and Sneezewort.

The landscape of small fields surrounded by hedges with multiple ponds, provides excellent habitat for a range of birds including yellow hammers, swallows, reed warblers and skylarks.

The site is a key donor meadow site and has been part of the coronation meadows project, providing local provenance meadow seed to meadow restoration projects in the area.  Find out more about the Coronation Meadows project here.

Contact us

Matt Hayes
Contact number: 01622 662012

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)