RUCKINGE HE CHANGING LANDSCAPE
A scenic walk through ancient forest and marshland
Tthroughout this birding walk could not be more dramatic as the walker starts on the flatlands of the Romney Marsh, beside the Royal Military Canal, and rises up into the wooded country of the Low Weald. On a clear day, the views to the south across the marshes can be wonderful, all the way to the English Channel. The riparian habitat along the water course with patches of reed, scrub and shallows attracts a wide range of birds, particularly when the water level is low, and where Great White Egrets are increasingly noted. Migrant raptors often follow the southern edge of the Low Weald and early spring is ideal for seeing continental Red Kites on the move. Arable fields either side of the canal are perfect for claiming a first Wheatear of the season. Dicker’s Wood is a fragment of the ancient Orlestone Forest that once covered a large swathe of this part Kent and Sussex. With its mature Oak and Ash trees among blocks of conifers, it still manages to retain some of the atmosphere of the old wild wood. Listen for woodpeckers, including the elusive Lesser Spotted.