Visiting our reserves

General guidance for visiting our nature reserves so you can make sure you have a great time while respecting wildlife and leaving the habitat in the best possible state.

Kent is home to so many beautiful reserves, all of which provide shelter and food for a myriad of amazing wildlife. As we know, the climate crisis has had a big impact on many species, nationally and internationally. At the local level, our own presence on reserves is also having a direct impact and compounding these issues - and with some simple actions, we can reduce these impacts and protect our wildlife.

General advice

The Countryside Code is the most well-known guide to enjoying parks, waterways, coast and countryside. It provides a simple overview to guide everyone visiting the countryside:

Respect everyone

be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside
leave gates and property as you find them
do not block access to gateways or driveways when parking
be nice, say hello, share the space
follow local signs and keep to marked paths unless wider access is available

Protect the environment

take your litter home – leave no trace of your visit
do not light fires and only have BBQs where signs say you can
always keep dogs under control and in sight
dog poo – bag it and bin it – any public waste bin will do
care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance

Enjoy the outdoors

check your route and local conditions
plan your adventure – know what to expect and what you can do
enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory

Kent Wildlife Trust Advice

When you visit our reserves, remember to read all the signs that you pass. They will give you important information (e.g. sudden drops, farm sprays in use or livestock presence). In order to share our spaces without causing harm, it is very important that we follow the countryside code and obey all signage we pass.

We have implemented parking charges at some of our reserves. All of the proceeds go towards managing the reserves so that people can enjoy nature and so that wildlife can survive and thrive.

Reserve signage

No motor vehicles

No metal detecting

No fires

No camping

No BBQs

Do not pick fungi

Do not feed the animals

Dogs on leads

Recently, Kent Wildlife Trust has been getting more and more reports about disturbance related from dogs, resulting in injuries and often death for our livestock and the spread of disease. Below, please find specific advice about this issue.

Sharing our wild spaces with our dogs and wildlife

Unfortunately, the natural behaviours of our canine friends can damage our wild spaces, so we need to take action to protect our pets and our wildlife.

In what ways do dogs harm our wildlife reserves?

The presence of dogs puts a huge amount of pressure on our wildlife. For example, birds will perceive the presence of dogs playing nearby as a dangerous predator. They are then less likely to breed and lay eggs, and frequent disturbances are causing low hatch rates. Sadly, chicks are also being eaten or trampled by dogs.
Our grazing livestock are often attacked and chased by dogs. This frequently results in death for our grazers.
Dog poo that is left behind can spread diseases which kill our livestock and wildlife. Worms in dog poo can also be spread to other dogs. Additionally, poo bags are a choking hazard, so please make sure you pick up after your dog.

We want everyone to have a wonderful time when visiting our reserves. If you'd like to help us ensure these beautiful spaces continue to support wildlife for generations to come please donate or join us as a member. Thank you!

More advice