Family Bat Walk at Fort Burgoyne

Event Date: 22/08/2025 19:30 - 21:00

This event is part of WCCP's Summer Festival

As the sun sets, join Ranger Lauren for an exciting adventure at Fort Burgoyne.

This event is perfect for the younger generation eager to learn more about bats, why Fort Burgoyne is so important for these nocturnal creatures and how to use bat detectors.

The evening will include:

• The opportunity to join in with a game of ‘Bat & Moth’!
• Borrowing a bat detector and learning how we can use them to eavesdrop on bats’ echolocation calls.
• Venturing into the Fort’s ditch, detectors in hand to locate and identify the bats flying around us.

This event is suitable for those aged 7+. Children must be accompanied at all times.

£2.50 per child, £5.00 per adult- booking essential.

Meeting point:

Fort Burgoyne, Fort Burgoyne Road, Guston, Dover, CT15 5FN
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The gates into Fort Burgoyne will open at 7:15pm and the event will start at 7:30pm. The gates into the Fort will close at this time and latecomers will not be admitted.

Parking:

There is free parking within Fort Burgoyne.

Dogs:

Dogs on lead welcome.

Toilets:

There are toilets on site.

Accessibility:

We regret to announce that this event is not wheelchair accessible. We endeavour to make our events as accessible as possible, but due to the nature of some of our sites, this is not always possible. We deeply apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Weather and clothing:

Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather and for dropping temperature as night falls. We recommend long sleeves and trousers to reduce the risk of insect bites.
Please wear sensible footwear. Please no flipflops, sandals, crocs or other open toed shoes.

Other equipment:

Please bring a torch. If you have your own bat detector you are welcome to bring it along, WCCP have a small number which will be handed out for attendees to use.

Event Location - Fort Burgoyne

Fort Burgoyne

Located beside Dover Castle and the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, Fort Burgoyne is a scheduled ancient monument dating back to the 1860s. Originally known as "Castle Hill Fort," it was built to defend Dover Castle. In addition to the historical buildings, a diverse range of wildlife can be found on site, including Common lizards and Slow worms, and is a site of high importance for several bat species. Currently, the main Fort Burgoyne building is closed to the public, except during events. WCCP manage Fort Burgoyne, including The West Wing, Coombe Hole and Burgoyne Heights Recreation Ground on behalf of The Land Trust.

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The West Wing

In 2023, the West Wing Battery of Fort Burgoyne was opened to the public following significant investment in the conservation of its structures and improvements to accessibility. With restricted opening times, the West Wing Battery welcomes visitors from 10 am to 4 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This area features historical elements such as the gatehouse, gun shed, tool shed, and gun platform, all dating back to the construction of Fort Burgoyne.

From the gun platform, visitors can enjoy views of Dover Town, Dover Castle, and Britain’s busiest ferry port. Adding to the experience is the immersive sound installation “I Would Rather Walk With You” by Emily Peasgood. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council as part of the Pioneering Places East Kent project, this installation combines archival audio of soldiers, bespoke choral recordings, and community-produced material. It takes visitors on a journey, honouring the site’s military history while celebrating its evolution into a community space.

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Recreation Ground

Spanning 7 hectares, the recreation ground and woodland surrounding the northern and eastern areas of the Fort offer glimpses into its ditch, as well as breath taking views of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the English Channel.