The sun is hot despite nearing dusk, the sky empty of clouds but full of swooping birds. I ask a man beside me, also looking at the birds, “Are they swallows or house martins?” I wanted to sound like I wasn’t completely ignorant.
“Neither” he says, “they are sand martins.” We continue to watch the birds and he goes on to describe the difference between the two. Despite the spontaneous lesson, I am not sure I could spot the difference. The birds move fast and almost randomly, but you can see them feasting on the glut of summer bugs. Walkers, twitchers and wildlife enthusiasts are all migrating back towards the main track away from the expansive nature reserve. We smugly dawdle knowing we are here for the night. Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent is the only national nature reserve that you can stay on overnight. The 3,300-acre site is family-owned and managed. By day it welcomes wildlife seekers and walkers but come dusk, it transforms into a place where nature reveals itself quietly to those sleeping nearby. As well as chance encounters with animal and bird life, you can also sink into a cool pond or swim from a private beach.