Romney Warren Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Romney Warren |
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| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | New Romney, Kent |
| OS grid | TR 078 261 |
| Area | 10.9 hectares (27 acres) |
| Managed by | Romney Warren Project |
Romney Warren is a special country park and Local Nature Reserve located in New Romney, Kent. It covers about 10.9 hectares (27 acres) and is a wonderful place to explore nature. This park is owned by the Folkestone and Hythe District Council. It is looked after by the Romney Warren Project, a group that includes the Council, the Romney Warren Charitable Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership. Romney Warren is also part of a very important wetland area called the Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Ramsar site. This means it's recognized internationally for its unique wildlife and habitats. It's also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which shows how important it is for nature in the UK.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Romney Warren
The story of Romney Warren began over 2,000 years ago. At that time, huge sand dunes formed along the coast. As new dunes appeared, the sea slowly moved back. This left behind old sand dunes where special plants began to grow. This created a truly unique environment for different kinds of plants and animals.
For many centuries, the land of the Romney Marshes was used to graze large numbers of sheep. The wool from these sheep was very valuable. It helped pay for the big churches you can still see in the villages across the marshes today.
Later, between 1931 and 1945, sand and gravel were dug out from the park area. These dug-out spots later became the wildlife ponds you can see there now. After that, the land was even used as a place to store vehicles.
The Romney Warren Project: Protecting Nature
The Romney Warren Project started in 1995. Its main goals were to teach people about the rich history and nature of the Romney Marsh. It also aimed to provide training and jobs for people who were unemployed or had disabilities. This project is a team effort. It involves the Folkestone and Hythe District Council, the Romney Warren Charitable Trust, Nelson Park Gardens (a local care home), the Shepway Volunteer Centre, the Romney Marsh Countryside Project, and the Kent Wildlife Trust.
The Visitor Centre: A Green Building
The main visitor centre at Romney Warren was designed to be very special. It was built using techniques and materials that help it last for at least 100 years.
- Strong Foundations: The building's base is made of steel cages called gabions. These are filled with cobblestones collected from a nearby town called Lydd. Each stone was carefully chosen and placed by hand.
- Wooden Frame: The main frame of the building is made from larch wood. This wood came from the West Country. The frame was built first so the roof could be added quickly. This protected the straw bales during the next part of the building process.
- Straw Walls: About 350 straw bales were used to create the walls. These bales are held together with strong chestnut poles.
- Living Roof: Even the roof is designed to help wildlife! It's covered in a plant called sedum, making it a green roof. This special roof helps replace the natural habitat that the building took up.
In 2003, the building was highly praised at the Kent Design Awards.
Exploring Romney Warren: What You Can Do
Romney Warren is a very important place for wildlife. It's especially known for its great crested newts. Other interesting creatures you might find here include great diving beetles, the Small Red-eyed Damselfly, and the tree sparrow. You can also see many unique plants that grow in acid grassland.
The Kent Wildlife Trust helps manage the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre. It opened in 2004 and is a great starting point for your visit.
- Visitor Centre Facilities: Inside, you'll find interesting exhibitions, local information, a shop, toilets, and places to get refreshments.
- Walking Trails: Three fun walking trails start from the Visitor Centre. They are called the dragonfly, rabbit, and sheep trails. They are perfect for exploring the park.
- Events and Groups: The park often hosts family events. If you're part of a group, you can also book a visit to the centre.
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project works hard to make Romney Marsh and Dungeness even better for both wildlife and people. Volunteers help at Romney Warren Country Park. They keep the footpaths clear and maintain a pond that the project created. Part of the park is also used by Nelson Park Gardens and the Shepway Volunteer Centre. They run a training program for adults from local care homes and for unemployed people. These trainees learn about gardening and landscaping. The plants they grow are then sold at the Visitor Centre. The Romney Marsh Countryside Project also helps manage the park's nature and organizes events.
