Royal Military Canal, Ham Street Bridge to Bilsington Bridge
19 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome19 ha
Getting here
51.06248, 0.88464
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦52+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blackbird
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦52+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blackbird
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Jackdaw +49 more · last seen 2026; Grazing marsh — lapwing, redshank, snipe and wintering wildfowl
Free
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Jackdaw +49 more · last seen 2026; Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Common Carder Bee, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Red-tailed Bumblebee +68 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
〰Waterside walks
Good match
Grazing marsh and ditches — waterside walking
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km3 signed routes nearby · 9 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Saxon Shore WayWalking route262 km▾
Named routeLength 262 kmRegional walking route
European walking route E9, Rye to DoverWalking route▾
Named routeRef E9International walking route
Greensand WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef GWRegional walking route
Royal Military Canal Pathpublic footpath · 1.3 km▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 1.3 kmPath type: footway
4 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 1Local cycle route
NCN National Route 172Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 172National Cycle Network
National Cycle Route 2 Dover to HastingsCycling route▾
Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route14.6 km▾
Named routeRef 2Length 14.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
6 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
28,567 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
28,567 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
springsummer
2026▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Collared Dove +34
- JackdawColoeus monedula2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
- RobinErithacus rubecula2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- SwiftApus apus2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
- RookCorvus frugilegus2024
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2024
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
- Rock DoveColumba livia2024
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin2024
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Hazel Dormouse · Grey Squirrel · Brown Long-eared Bat · Soprano Pipistrelle · Common Pipistrelle +1
- Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius2024
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2024
- Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2024
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐝Insects37 species
springsummer
2025▾
Ruddy Darter · Common Darter · Large Red Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Buff-tailed Bumblebee +32
- Ruddy DarterSympetrum sanguineum
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris
- Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Hornbeam · Hyacinthoides · Aspen · Bramble · Swan's-neck Thyme-moss
- HornbeamCarpinus betulus
- HyacinthoidesHyacinthoides
- AspenPopulus tremula
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- Swan's-neck Thyme-mossMnium hornum
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
28,567 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
springsummer
2026▾
Jackdaw · Woodpigeon · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Collared Dove +34
- JackdawColoeus monedula2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
- RobinErithacus rubecula2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- SwiftApus apus2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
- RookCorvus frugilegus2024
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2024
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
- Rock DoveColumba livia2024
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus2024
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin2024
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Hazel Dormouse · Grey Squirrel · Brown Long-eared Bat · Soprano Pipistrelle · Common Pipistrelle +1
- Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius2024
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2024
- Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2024
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐝Insects37 species
springsummer
2025▾
Ruddy Darter · Common Darter · Large Red Damselfly · Common Blue Damselfly · Buff-tailed Bumblebee +32
- Ruddy DarterSympetrum sanguineum
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum
- Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris
- Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Hornbeam · Hyacinthoides · Aspen · Bramble · Swan's-neck Thyme-moss
- HornbeamCarpinus betulus
- HyacinthoidesHyacinthoides
- AspenPopulus tremula
- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- Swan's-neck Thyme-mossMnium hornum
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2024
2024
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puellaAzure DamselflyCoenagrion puellaBroad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressaBroad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressaCommon Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2024Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2024Trichocera annulataTrichocera annulataTrichocera annulataTrichocera annulataEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxSyrphusSyrphusSyrphusSyrphusHazel Leaf-rollerApoderus coryliHazel Leaf-rollerApoderus coryliDock BugCoreus marginatusDock BugCoreus marginatusVolucella pellucensVolucella pellucensVolucella pellucensVolucella pellucensHornetVespa crabroHornetVespa crabroEarly BumblebeeBombus pratorum2024Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2024Southern HawkerAeshna cyaneaSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaBrown HawkerAeshna grandisBrown HawkerAeshna grandisFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctataEupeodesEupeodesEupeodesEupeodesEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumHelophilus hybridusHelophilus hybridusHelophilus hybridusHelophilus hybridusGolden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltoniiGolden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltoniiTachina luridaTachina luridaTachina luridaTachina luridaBatman HoverflyMyathropa floreaBatman HoverflyMyathropa floreaGlow-wormLampyris noctilucaGlow-wormLampyris noctilucaHairy DragonflyBrachytron pratenseHairy DragonflyBrachytron pratenseDark-edged Bee-flyBombylius majorDark-edged Bee-flyBombylius majorMinettia longipennisMinettia longipennis2024Minettia longipennisMinettia longipennis2024Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2024Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2024Lagria hirtaLagria hirta2024Lagria hirtaLagria hirta2024Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2024Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2024