Iwade Reserve

The Wild Spaces Fund reserve at Funton consists primarily of inter-tidal saltings and mudflats, together with a small orchard. Extending to almost 100 acres and stretching along the shoreline for almost one mile, it gives visitors a unique and close-up view of the typical habitat encountered in the Medway Estuary.

Funton Marshes form part of the Medway Estuary and Marshes SSSI, SPA and RAMSAR Site. The area provides extensive opportunities for observing wildfowl and waders, coming into its own in the winter months when thousands of birds can be seen feeding and roosting close inshore.

The saltmarsh supports a wide variety of plant life, marsh samphire, sea bite, sea aster, sea purslane and spartina. Throughout the creek systems and over the open mud the small snail hydrobia proliferates, as does the bivalve macoma. Large numbers for birds rely on the abundance of food that this marsh provides.

Plans for the site include the creation of a scrape, bird viewing hide, and car park.

Wildlife photos: Paul Kennett, Lyn Gough

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