Monk's Wall nature reserve facts for kids

The Monk's Wall nature reserve is a special place near the quay in Sandwich, Kent. It's perfect for exploring nature and spotting amazing wildlife, especially wild ducks and other creatures that love wetlands. This reserve helps protect a unique habitat where plants and animals can thrive.

Discovering Monk's Wall Nature Reserve

Monk's Wall is a fantastic nature reserve that opened its gates in May 2000. It was officially opened by Bill Oddie, a well-known bird-watcher and TV personality! The idea for this reserve came from the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust. They designed a plan to change the ditches and control water levels. This careful planning helps create the perfect ecological conditions to attract many different species of plants, animals, and birds.

What Makes it Special?

This reserve covers about 69 acres (28 ha) of land. It's a magnet for many rare and migratory birds. You might spot long-billed waders or even the beautiful red-rumped swallow here! The Monk's Wall nature reserve works to bring back wet grazing meadows. These types of meadows were very common in the past before land was drained for farming. By returning the site to its natural state, many native plants and animals have been able to settle here again.

A Look Back in Time

The land where Monk's Wall stands has a long and interesting history. It was actually reclaimed from the river and sea many centuries ago. This amazing work was done by the monks of Sandwich! The northern edge of the reserve is still marked by the old Monks' wall, which dates all the way back to the 13th century.

In 1953, a big flood covered the entire area around Sandwich with sea water. After these fields were drained, a new river bank was built. The land was then ploughed and used for arable farming, which meant farmers used a lot of fertiliser. Now, the reserve is helping to undo some of those changes and bring the natural environment back to life.

Enjoying the Reserve

The local community really benefits from the Monk's Wall nature reserve. There's a special footpath that goes all around the reserve, making it easy for walkers and bird watchers to explore. It's a great place to connect with nature and see some incredible wildlife up close. The current warden, Ken Chapman, helps look after this wonderful place.