FH STORIES | ROAMING THE ROMNEY MARSH

THE VISITOR CENTRE

The award-winning eco-friendly Visitor Centre building welcomes you to the site, housing a café for light refreshments, friendly, knowledgeable volunteers who can offer advice on what to see and do in the area, plus a gift shop with local crafts, cards, wildlife information, and maps of the area on sale.  Locally sourced plants, produce and preserves are available too.

Fascinating displays depict the region’s natural and social history.

In the spring and summer, work by local artists is displayed, free to view at any time when the Visitor Centre is open.

Outside, there are gentle walks and picnic areas, with a boardwalk over the seasonal ponds to the reconstructed Lookers Hut, and views across the wide expanse of Romney Marsh.

Throughout the year there are a range of different activities and events for the whole family to enjoy, from book signings by local authors to nature themed craft workshops as well as wood whittling and scavenger hunts and trails. Check out the website and soon to be launched Facebook page for updates.

THE RESERVE

Romney Warren, in which the Visitor Centre is set, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Wildlife conservation is an absolute priority – the dune grassland is home to special flora, mosses and lichens, and seasonal ponds are home to nationally important populations of Great Crested Newts and Great Silver Beetles.  Rare medicinal leeches and many species of dragonfly and dsamselflies can also be spotted here.

Sign-posted trails are easy to follow around the Romney Warren Country Park (managed by the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership).  Most of the paths are level and hard, making it easily accessible for wheelchair users and those pushing buggies.  In fact, disabled access is available to 90 per cent of the site.

THE MARSH COMMUNITY GARDEN

Gardening is good for the soul, they say – and there are many opportunities for volunteers to get their hands dirty in the Marsh Community Garden, which is maintained to provide wildlife habitats, and produce grown is sold to raise money for Kent Wildlife Trust.

Check out the opportunities by calling 01797 369487, or email romneymarsh.vc@kentwildlife.org.uk.