The Retreat Animal Sanctuary
5 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Public accessPaid entryDogs welcome5 ha
Getting here
51.10923, 0.72786
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦58+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Jackdaw and Magpie
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- 🐾The Retreat Animal Sanctuary on site — a good way to combine wildlife and an animal visit in the same trip
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦58+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Jackdaw and Magpie
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- 🐾The Retreat Animal Sanctuary on site — a good way to combine wildlife and an animal visit in the same trip
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Jackdaw, Magpie, House Sparrow +55 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Jackdaw, Magpie, House Sparrow +55 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — White-legged Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common Darter +51 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Animal sanctuary or shelter
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
High Weald Landscape TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRef HWLTListed length 145kmRegional walking route
13 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 18Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 18National Cycle Network
NCN Regional Route 11 (Kent)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 11Regional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route1.4 km▾
Named routeRef 18Length 1.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route5 km▾
Named routeRef 18Length 5 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route47 m▾
Named routeRef 18Length 47 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route346 m▾
Named routeRef 18Length 346 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Photos
Pig at The Retreat Animal Rescue
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
8,590 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
8,590 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
winterspringsummer
2025▾
Jackdaw · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Wren · Magpie +34
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
- Great TitParus major
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- NuthatchSitta europaea2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2023
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
- SwallowHirundo rustica2023
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
- Rock DoveColumba livia2023
- JayGarrulus glandarius2023
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2023
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris2022
Roe Deer · Grey Squirrel · Brown Rat · Red Fox · Hedgehog
- Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2024
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2022
- Brown RatRattus norvegicus
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2023
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians5 species
spring
2026▾
Great Crested Newt · Smooth Newt · Palmate Newt · Common Toad · Common Frog
- Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus2025
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2024
- Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus2024
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria2025
Roesel's Bush-cricket · 16-spot Ladybird · Broad-bodied Chaser · Marmalade Hoverfly · Syrphus +21
- Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2024
- 16-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata
- Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa
- Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
- SyrphusSyrphus
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
- Dock Bug
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
8,590 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
winterspringsummer
2025▾
Jackdaw · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Wren · Magpie +34
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MagpiePica pica
- RobinErithacus rubecula2024
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2024
- Great TitParus major
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
- DunnockPrunella modularis2024
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2024
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2024
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- NuthatchSitta europaea2024
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
- SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2024
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2023
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
- SwallowHirundo rustica2023
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- WhitethroatCurruca communis
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
- Rock DoveColumba livia2023
- JayGarrulus glandarius2023
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2023
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2023
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris2022
Roe Deer · Grey Squirrel · Brown Rat · Red Fox · Hedgehog
- Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2024
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2022
- Brown RatRattus norvegicus
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes2023
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2023
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐸Amphibians5 species
spring
2026▾
Great Crested Newt · Smooth Newt · Palmate Newt · Common Toad · Common Frog
- Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus2025
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2024
- Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus2024
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Common FrogRana temporaria2025
Roesel's Bush-cricket · 16-spot Ladybird · Broad-bodied Chaser · Marmalade Hoverfly · Syrphus +21
- Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2024
- 16-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata
- Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa
- Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
- SyrphusSyrphus
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
- Dock Bug
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Coreus marginatus2024
Coreus marginatus2024
White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2024White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2024Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2024Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2024Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2024Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina20247-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctataField GrasshopperChorthippus brunneusField GrasshopperChorthippus brunneusWillow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridisWillow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridisSouthern Migrant HawkerAeshna affinisSouthern Migrant HawkerAeshna affinisEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusFour-lined HorseflyAtylotus rusticusFour-lined HorseflyAtylotus rusticusWool Carder BeeAnthidium manicatumWool Carder BeeAnthidium manicatumBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataHornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2024Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2024Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2024Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2024Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2024Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2024Red Mason BeeOsmia bicornis2024Red Mason BeeOsmia bicornis2024HornetVespa crabro2023HornetVespa crabro2023Black ClockPterostichus madidus2023Black ClockPterostichus madidus2023