South Swale
O.S. Map 178 & 179 TR 060648 : Nr Faversham
Post code: CT5 4BP
South Swale covers 428 hectares and is home to thousands of wildfowl and waders in winter, and some very special plants in summer. Visit on a calm sunny day in summer and it buzzes with the sound of beetles, grasshoppers, skylark, reed warbler and breeding redshank. Amongst the reeds you might also hear the ‘ching’ of a bearded reedling or catch a distant view of a marsh harrier.
Directions
By Road:
North of Graveney Marshes
and alongside Faversham Creek. From Brenley Corner roundabout where the
A2 meets the A299 and M2, take minor road to Graveney. Continue past
Graveney for another 3 km.
Cars may be parked on the road verge next to the sea wall, near (but not at) the Old Sportsman Inn (TR 060648).
Public Transport:
Train to Faversham Station (2 mi/3.5 km from Nagden).
Download Reserve Map (PDF)
Key site for
- On the beach, look for the spectacular yellow horned-poppy. Saltmarsh plants grow best in Faversham Creek: golden samphire, sea-lavender and sea-purslane together make a colourful show.
- On the landward side of the sea wall you can find many more wild flowers, including the tall, white, umbrella-like wild carrot and the short, pink, spiny restharrow.
- In winter, the mudflats and tidal waters of the Swale estuary teem with shellfish, worms and certain specialised plants. These attract huge numbers of birds to feed, especially as the tide goes out. Grey plover, dunlin, oystercatcher, godwits and curlew all probe the mud for food.
- Wigeon and up to 2,000 Brent geese rely heavily on eelgrass, which grows below the high tide mark.
- Buntings and finches often search for seeds on the beach.
- Over the sea wall, look for flocks of golden plover and the occasional short-eared owl or hen harrier hunting for small mammals or unsuspecting birds.
- The merlin, which eats mainly birds, is also a frequent winter visitor.
Wildlife update
The trial use of Konik horses on the sea wall seems to be working successfully: the animals are grazing off the coarse vegetation compartment by compartment without poaching and hence damaging the structure. It is planned to retain the animals throughout the spring and summer. The intention is to move to a more ‘natural’ and sustainable grazing regime to maintain the reed beds and away from labourl intensive cutting. The herd have expanded in number as February 13th saw the birth of a foal to the herd (see the main photograph, taken by Reserve Warden: Kevin Duvall)
