South swale nature reserve, view of the sea obscured slightly by the foliage of wild roses in the foreground
© Louise Kelly

South Swale

In the winter, South Swale welcomes migrating birds such as brent geese, turnstones, dunlin, avocets, osytercatchers and ringed plovers. In the summer, it's home to carpets of flowers which attract butterflies and some rare bee species!

Opening times: open at all times.
Best times to visit: winter for migrating birds and summer for a carpet of flowers and huge numbers of butterflies and rare bees.

  • Dog walking

  • No facilities

Size: 420 hectares.

Parking information: Limited along Faversham Road.

Bicycle parking: None.

Grazing animals: Cattle and Sheep.

Walking trails: The footpaths can be very muddy at times. Access is via the public footpath, which follows landward side of the sea wall. Please do not enter Castle Coote sanctuary at any time. Visitors are asked to please stay on the public right of way at all times, year round. The beach at South Swale is an important feeding, breeding and roosting area for birds all year - please don't walk on the beach, leave space for habitats and wildlife to thrive

Dogs: Dogs on leads at all times - livestock on site all year.

Access to the sea wall is through a small kissing gate. The path is muddy when wet.

About the reserve

This reserve is home to thousands of wildfowl and waders in winter, and some very special plants in summer. Visit on a calm summers day when it reverberates to the sounds of grasshoppers, beetles, skylark and reed warbler. Amongst the reeds you may also hear the 'ching' of a bearded reedling or catch a distant view of a marsh harrier. On the beach, look for spectacular yellow horned-poppy. Saltmarsh plants grow best in Faversham Creek: golden samphire, sea-lavender and sea-purslane together make a vibrantly colourful show.

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. Wigeon and up to 2,000 Brent geese rely heavily on the eelgrass which grows below the high tide mark. You can also look out for the occasional short-eared owl or marsh harrier hunting for small mammals or unsuspecting birds. The merlin is also a frequent winter visitor.

For information on Cleve Hill Solar Park see link below.

Cleve Hill Solar Park

Contact Us

If you need to get in touch regarding South Swale, for any reason, please contact:

Nadia Ward
Contact number: 01622 662012
Contact email: Nadia.Ward@kentwildlife.org.uk 

Environmental designation

  • Environmentally Sensitive Area
  • Local Nature Reserve (LNR)
  • Ramsar
  • Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
  • Special Protection Areas (SPA)