A nature walk at Elmley Nature Reserve
- Meet at Kingshill Farm, Sheerness for 2pm
- Tour given by Philip Merricks
- Tickets £25 to include refreshment
- Please confirm attendance to Fleur Fillingham, GWCT Regional Organiser
- 07860 879377 • ffillingham@gwct.org.uk
Elmley is, at its heart, a family run farm with a long-term vision to restore nature and a commitment to
the sustainability of the landscape and land.
Elmley is a special place - 3,300 acres of wonderful wilderness and breath-taking beauty on an island in
North Kent, 40 miles from London. It is a family farm, and 40 years ago Philip and Corinne Merricks, were
pioneering farmers, who worked tirelessly to make Elmley such an important site for wildlife by restoring
nature to the entire estate.
We (Gareth and Georgina, Philip and Corinne's daughter and son-in-law), moved to Elmley in 2013. We
are continuing Philip and Corinne's work in enabling nature to flourish and increasing biodiversity
alongside restoring the rich historical heritage of Elmley.
On a visit to Elmley you are likely to see winter rains filling the ditches, rills and pools attracting vast flocks
of migrating waders and wildfowl which fill the marsh skies. Tens of thousands of lapwing, golden plover,
teal and widgeon are common. Dunlin dart from shore to pools and can be seen a brilliant flashes of silver
from afar. Huge 'rafts' of wildfowl shelter on the Swale but are easily disturbed by activity on the sea wall
and shore. Raptors of all shapes and sizes are common. Marsh harrier can be seen harrying unsuspecting
wildfowl on the pools and roosts. Sparrowhawks and peregrine create havoc amongst the flocks. Short
eared owl quarter the patches of rough grassland each afternoon hunting for small mammals.