Bug Hunt at Western Heights

Event Date: 24/08/2026 10:00 - 13:00

Free Event

Booking not required

This event is part of WCCP's Summer Festival and is suitable for families with children aged 3 years +. This is a drop in event, join us any time between 10am and 1pm.

Join Ranger Lauren for a bug hunt at St Martins Battery, Western Heights. Explore different habitats in the area as we try to find as many different creepy crawlies as we can. Lauren will be on hand to help you with your identification and will provide bug hunting equipment to help you get closer to your finds.

The bug hunt will be based around St Martins Battery which has an accessible path around it providing access to woodland, structures and marginal vegetation to explore. However; access to chalk grassland is via a flight of steps. 

This free event has been made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, supporting English Heritage’s Reaching Greater Height Project & Dover District Council’s Historic England funded ‘Western Heights Heritage and Regeneration Project’.

Photos and videos will be taken during this event to support the projects. A photo consent form will be handed out at the start of the event.

This event is suitable for those aged 3+. Children must be accompanied at all times. This is a drop-in event, just turn up any time between 10am and 1pm, no need to book. This is a FREE event with donations gratefully appreciated.

Meeting point:

St Martin’s Battery, South Military Road, Dover, CT17 9DW
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Parking:

Free parking is available at St Martins Battery car park and other car parks across the Western Heights.

Dogs:

Dogs on leads are welcome at this event.

Toilets:

Please note there are no toilets on site.

Accessibility:

This event is partially accessible. There may be some areas which are difficult to navigate for wheelchair users. If you would like to know more information please email us on wccp@dover.gov.uk with the subject line of the event title. Thank you.

Weather and clothing:

Please wear appropriate clothing for the days weather: consider sun cream, sun hats and plenty of water if the weather is warm but ensure you bring adequate layers if the weather is chilly and bring waterproofs for the everchanging British weather.

 

Event Location - Western Heights

Western Heights Local Nature Reserve is a large area of cattle grazed chalk grassland, which provides a sanctuary for wildlife. The reserve is also of historic interest owing to two large Napoleonic fortresses: The Citadel and Drop Redoubt, which the reserve surrounds and parts of which are sunken into the hilltops of the Western Heights.

The reserve stretches over a ridge from the eastern end of Aycliffe to the western end of Dover town centre and is split into several fields: Maxton Field and Clarendon Field to the north; St David’s Field, St George’s Field and Ropewalk Field to the south; and Drop Redoubt Field and St Martin’s Battery Field to the east.

The North Downs Way, Saxon Shore Way and England Coast Path pass through the reserve and the site is easily accessible on foot from Dover town centre. Drop Redoubt Field is only a five-minute walk from Dover Priory train station. St Martin’s Battery Field provides stunning views of Dover Castle, the White Cliffs of Dover and the French coast. We manage the reserve on behalf of Dover District Council.

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