Hayle Park Nature Reserve

08/09/2026

📢Show Times for The Butterfly House: 12:30 & 13:45

Join us on Sunday afternoon for this outdoor performance. Lots of activities taking place, including crafts, animal experiences, bbq, games and stalls.

Parking on available via main entrance opposite number 10 Fieldfare Drive.

Dogs are welcome on a lead, due to animals in the field.

05/09/2026

OPEN DAY - Sunday 13th Septmeber, 12:00 - 15:00
FREE ENTRY

🎭The Butterfly House HandMade Theatre will be performing their new show, with a stunning collection of handmade puppets.

🦉Animal experiences including:
Hartley Owls (photos with the Owls can be taken for a donation to Hartley Owls)
Donkeys and goats

🎨Arts and Crafts
Build a bird house
Arts and Crafts activities

🥥 Games include a Coconut Shy

🌭 BBQ, drinks and ice-cream for sale

Plus, other stalls from a range of local organizations

Parking available on site. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Bring picnic chairs & blankets.

Please note there will be vehicles moving around the reserve on 13th Septmeber. Part of the field will be closed for the event.

Entrance via main gate (near tractor barn) opposite 10 Fieldfare Drive.

SHOW TIMES: 12:30 & 13:45
Join us on Sunday 13th September for our annual Open Day! With performance of The Butterfly House by HandMade Theatre.

29/08/2026

The bats were out in force yesterday evening for our latest bat walk, with guests to the event coming from far and wide.
Thank you to Steve Songhurst from Vinters Park Nature Reserve, our bat visiting expert, who brought a heat detecting camera to go alongside of the usual bat detectors.
This allowed us to clearly see the level of bat activity around the mill ponds after dark.

27/08/2026

That’s forty-three timber bird box kits cut and ready to be assembled by young visitors to our summer event on 13th September.
Huge thanks to Dean and the team at Homeleigh Timber who have, year after year, donated all of our timber for free.
This helps us to provide these bird boxes for nothing more than an optional donation to our reserve.
Maidstone Borough Council
HandMade Theatre
Maidstone's Big Day Out
What's On In Maidstone
Maidstone Events (and things to do nearby)
Stones In The Community

23/08/2026

SHOW TIMES: 12:30 & 13:45
Join us on Sunday 13th September for our annual Open Day! With performance of The Butterfly House by HandMade Theatre.

06/08/2026

The hay cutting and baling has been completed.
The kissing Gates have had the locks removed and are all open.

01/08/2026

Over the next few days the kissing gates to both meadows will be locked while the hay cutting and baling take place

18/05/2026

🔑 Car Key found at the Reserve. Please message if it is yours

15/04/2026

Thank you to our guests who visited our tree walk at the reserve hosted by our knowledgeable trust chairman Paul Wilby.
Our reserve has a diverse range of tree species from native oaks, hornbeam, black poplar, yew, silver birch, to non-native horse chestnut and sycamore.
During an enjoyable walk around the reserve Paul focussed on some of our most ancient and grand feature trees, providing background to the species, condition and features, threats posed by disease and disturbance and historical importance in our community.
Our next event is the dawn chorus on Sunday 19th April, details for signing up here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/hayleparknaturereserve/2143910

13/04/2026

🐦 Dawn Chorus Walk

Tickets are available to experience the magic of the Dawn Chorus. We do not charge for our events, but donations are welcome. Please book via the link below

📆Sunday 19th April @ 04:45 - 06:30
📍Hayle Park Nature Reserve, ME15 6XL
🌐https://buytickets.at/hayleparknaturereserve/2143910