- South Swale
SOUTH SWALE LNR
Map reference: O.S. Maps 178 & 179 TR 060648
LocationOn the south bank of The Swale, 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 on past Graveney for another 3km. Train to Faversham Station (2 miles or 3.5km from Nagden).
Status
SSSI ,Ramsar Site , LNR, SPA, ESAAccessAccess is via the public footpath, which follows the landward side of the sea wall. Visitors are asked to avoid Castle Coote, (see map), as this is a particularly sensitive area for nesting and roosting birds. Cars may be parked on the road verge next to the sea wall, near (but not at) the Old Sportsman Inn (TR 060648).
Points of interestSouth 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 grasshoppers, beetles, 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.
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.
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