From the Car Park you can go south to the Hanson Hide or West to the Screen Hide.

This is the way to the Screen Hide. The footpath crosses shingle areas with some larger pools which are good habitat for Mute Swan, Coot and Ringed and Little Ringed Plover. It is also really great for Dragon and Damsel flys.

This part of the reserve used to be a gravel extraction area. It was taken over by the RSPB and is now integrated into the greater Dungeness reserve. There are 2 hides and a shingle and sand bank protects the birds from disturbance

Along the side of the path are ditches which help to keep the reserve drier as they drain the water from the paths.

The edges of the path are banked up and make good homes for rabbits as well as species of bees which dig holes into the sandy banks.

The southern track leads to the Hanson Hide. There is a variety of willows and other plants which provide food and shelter to small birds such as linnets and goldcrests.

There are several ditches and pools around the reserve where birds such as Moorhen, Reed Warbler and Coot live

The pool on the left is a good place for frogs which are food for Grey Heron

The pool on the right is much reedier and is home to summer migrants like Reed and Sedge Warblers as well as Moorhen, Coot and Watrer Rail.

The reeds here are growing and will eventually fill the pool in unless they are managed.

Gorse bushes made a really good place for this Long-tailed Tit nest.

The path leads to the hide where you can watch the birds without disturbing them too much.

The pit was made when shingle was extracted for building. It is now home to lots of birds.

Reeds and Reedmace beds are the favourite habitas for Reed Buntings, Water Rails and, if you are very lucky, the rare visitor Penduline Tit.

Reed beds give secure shelter and food areas for birds. The most secretive bird you might see is the Bittern.

Islands were created to give the birds somewhere to loaf and rest and feed. You may see ducks like Wigeon, Pintail, and Shoveler as well as Snipe, Common Sandpiper or Redshank.

A hide is a really good way of being able to watch birds. The approach is screened and small gaps covered by flaps keep disturbance a small as possible. The pits are home to many ducks and wading birds such as Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Common Sandpipier, Snipe and Redshank.

Cormorants have taken over one of the islands for breeding. Dungeness has one of the few ground nesting cormorant colonies. Gulls also nest among the cormorants.

In winter the water level is high and reaches into the reeds. When the water levels are lower this area is a muddy edge which is good habitat for wading birds who probe the mud for food.

From the hide there is a trail through the willow carr.

At the start of the trail you can see willow and bramble bushes which is the favoured habitat of small birds, especially the summer migrants.

Bramble thicket is thick and prickly which makes it a very safe habitat as well as attracting insects and providing food in late summer.

Willow thicket or Carr is also a secure habitat that attracts lots of insects and is a good place to nest.

The trail winds through the willow carr giving access to the small birds that prefer lower, thicker vegetation. It is a good place to look for migrants like Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff and Whitethroat.

There is a viewpoint across some more reeds.This is a favourite place for Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings.

The reed stems form the frame for a Sedge Warbler's nest. These birds are sometimes parasitised by Cuckoos.

The second half of the trail is covered by a boardwalk. This makes it easier and safer to walk through.

Part of the area is covered in willow carr. Many small birds live here like blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit and chaffinch.

The woodland has been cleared to allow more light in to encourage plant growth which is good habitat for insects.

As well as willow several other species like the damp conditions like this silver birch.

The trail leads back to the car park.