Manor Park Country Park

Once part of an 18th Century estate created by Thomas Douce, Manor Park is an attractive location with plenty for children to enjoy.

The park has a large, open green space and an attractive lake.

Located just a short walk to the south of West Malling town centre, visitors can take relaxing walks through meadows, often grazed by rare breed cattle.

Manor Park is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest with a variety of native trees, such as limes, birch, willow, sweet chestnut and oak, providing habitats for many creatures. Squirrels, woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue tits and robins are all found in the park.

A view in Manor Park Country Park

The lake and the surrounding copses support an abundance of wildlife, including swans, coot, moorhen, mallard and dabchicks.

In the area of the park that borders St Leonard's Street, lies the remains of the ice house - a brick building that was used to store ice from the lake, for use in the kitchens of the estate throughout the year.

In the summer the Ice House Field comes alive with flowers, including dog daisy, buttercups, and the unusual 'hay rattle'. The hay rattle is a small, yellow flowering plant that sets its seeds in small round pouches, and, when dry, these rattle in the breeze.