Thousands of acres of Kent's wetlands are being opened up to the public for the first time in many years.

The Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association (KWCA) today made four Medway marshes, plus others in Swale and Canterbury, available.

Walkers, birdwatchers, historians and ecologists will be able to explore and research the land in return for an annual donation of £20 towards signage, access and environmental improvements.

The land - at Halling, Motney Hill, Cooling, and North Level, Grain (all Medway), Funton Creek (Swale) and Westbere (Canterbury) - will be managed by the Wild Spaces Fund, a conservation organisation set up by the KWCA.

Its chairman, Alan Jarrett, said: "We are keen to see research, and to encourage rare birds that use our reserves. They include bittern and cetti's warblers as well as large numbers of waders and wildfowl."