It is also part of the Northwood Hill Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Reserve (which is 270 hectares of grazing marsh, woodland and farmland).

Also the UK's largest and most famous colonies of little egrets, they have been nesting at the site since 2000, reaching approximately 93 pairs by 2007.

The Saxon Shore Way long distance path passes through the reserve between Cooling and High Halstow.

The men smuggled over 400 pounds (180 kg) of tea from Ostend, as well as a few yards of calico and a few silk handkerchiefs on a small ship called The Sloweley.

Once they landed on the Kent shore, they hid the goods in the woodland on Northward Hill before later moving it to Chalk church.