DAYSOUT
© Dirk Seyfried Photography
NIGHTTIME WITH NATURE
When darkness descends across the county, for many this isn’ t the time to slow down and switch off, but an opportunity to embrace the darkness and discover a world of wildlife that only comes alive when the sun goes down.
According to Butterfly Conservation, more than 70 % of the UK’ s wildlife is nocturnal, meaning you’ re likely to encounter a very different variety of wildlife after sunset than you would during the day. This can be anything from native British hedgehogs rustling through the hedgerows to a wide variety of bats swooping overhead; as the evening draws in, there is plenty to discover.
Heading to Kent’ s south coast, after-dark adventures can be found across the vast expanse of Dungeness National Nature Reserve( dungeness-nnr. co. uk). A rare and distinct landscape, its shingle expanse makes for an ideal evening expedition, as visitors can watch the unique environment take on a whole new character as darkness falls.
Start your evening at The Pilot Inn( thepilotdungeness. co. uk), a family-run restaurant set on the headland, just a few steps from the shingle beach. The restaurant offers a distinctive taste of Kent, with its famous coastal cuisine bringing together locally caught cod and haddock, traditionally battered and served with seasoned potatoes; perfect when paired with one of Romney Marsh Brewery’ s golden pale ales, crafted only a few miles away.
While you dine, watch the sun begin to set before embarking on a 30-minute walk across the shingle expanse towards The Old Lighthouse( dungenesslighthouse. com). Once a crucial navigation aid across the English Channel, it is now a popular tourist attraction on the Dungeness coast. As the light fades, keep an eye out for the reserve’ s many night-flying moths, including the rare Sussex Emerald. Known for its distinctive jade-green wings, which gradually become paler as it ages, this remarkable moth is a particularly special sight as the reserve is the only place it can be found in Britain.
The walk may also offer a glimpse of some of Kent’ s native mammals. Look out for the reddish coat and bushy tail of the red fox and various species of bat- including the common pipistrelle, one of Britain’ s most abundant bat species- and possibly the noctule, a larger high-flying species that can be seen hunting over bodies of water.
Arriving at The Old Lighthouse, you’ ll find yourself beneath one of Kent’ s most iconic landmarks and, above it, an extraordinary
DUNGENESS WALKWAY www. insidekent. co. uk • 37