Birds at Pegwell Bay, photo by Russell Miles
Sandwich Bay, photo by Vicky Aitkenhead
Wetland at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay, photo by Vicky Aitkenhead
Oystercatcher - Mike Snelle
Ian Andrews
Tom Marshall
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay
Location
OS Map Reference
TR 341 632What3Words:
padlock.absorb.propose
Know before you go
Dogs
On lead and restricted access in some areas. See more info at the bottom of the page.
When to visit
Opening times
Pegwell Bay Country Park - please see Kent County Council website.The toilets are not always open.
Best time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
This complex mosaic of habitats holds many internationally important and rare plants and animals.
In the spring, migrant birds such as nightingales, cuckoos and warblers arrive on the reserve to breed.
In summer, visitors such as oystercatchers and ringed plover nest on Sandwich Bay’s shingle beach. Meanwhile butterflies enjoy the duneland flora and its many rare species such as lizard orchids and Deptford pink.
In the autumn and winter, seals can be seen from the end of Stonelees, just after the Country Park. During these colder months, we also see the biggest influx of waterfowl and waders such as dunlin, sanderling and grey plover, feeding in the saltmarsh and recovering from their long migrations.
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve (NNR) is important for breeding, migrating and wintering birds all year round. Its rich feeding grounds are a vital stop during the epic migrations of birds, some of which cover thousands of miles.
Worryingly, many bird species numbers have fallen steeply here. Little terns have stopped breeding and ringed plover chick numbers have declined sharply. We have also seen increasing pressure from recreational activities in parts of the bay that need to remain undisturbed for wildlife
Human disturbance harms birds' chances of survival
When we cause birds to move or fly up, it might not seem serious, but impacts include:
- Missed feeding opportunities
- Difficulty feeding chicks
- Wasted energy
- Loss of condition before long migrations
- Relocation to overpopulated sites with less food
- Reduced breeding success
We can all take simple steps to share the bay responsibly and help the remarkable wildlife of Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve to recover and thrive once again. No matter how you enjoy the reserve, whether this be walking, cycling, birdwatching or wind sports, there are ways you can enjoy this special place while minimising harm to threatened bird species.
Please DO these things:
- Do stick do the designated access routes and avoid entering restricted areas such as the mudflats and saltmarsh.
- Do keep your dogs off the mudflats, saltmarsh and upper chalk shore (see map). Please do not let your dog chase wildlife.
- Do clean up after your dog and take your litter home or put it in the bin.
- Do give wildlife space. We can cause animals to waste energy reserves, miss out on food and even abandon nests and chicks.
Avoid doing these things:
- Don’t forage. Commercial cockle collection can be reported to Kent & Essex IFCA: 01843 585 310.
- Don’t use drones.
- Don't kite surf
- Don’t use the area for metal detecting.
- Don’t horse ride at Pegwell Bay. At Sandwich, avoid the Restricted Area and grass/wildflowers by using the beach.
- Don’t disturb seals in the water or resting on the estuary sand banks. Give them a wide berth as they can be easily scared by humans.
- Don’t disturb roosting and breeding sites by use of personal watercraft. Keep to the navigational access route to and from Sandwich.
Species
Contact us
Additional information
Kite surfing information
There is no launching or landing of kites from within the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve (NNR).
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay NNR is one of the most important and highly protected sites in the country for wildlife. Under the legislation declaring the area a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), any activity that has the potential to harm the special interest of the reserve, requires legal consent from Natural England, the Government’s conservation body. Consent for Kite Surfing along with a number of other recreational activities has not been granted by Natural England. Without consent, the owners and managers of the National Nature Reserve cannot legally permit these activities to be carried out.
This brings kite surfing in line with other waterborne recreational activities which aren’t permitted to launch within the SSSI. Thanet District Council's Coast and Beaches PSPO prohibits any beach and coast activity that poses a risk to the safety of people or wildlife.
Bait digging
Please see here for voluntary agreement: thanetcoast.org.uk/media/1920963/PegwellBay_BaitandBirdAgreement.pdf
See map below for sensitive roosting sites to avoid.
Motorboats, personal watercraft, water-skiing
Access to and from the River Stour for navigational purposes only. Stick to 8 knots p/hour and avoid making wake around the river mouth. Keep all activities, launches and landings away from the waters around Sandwich and Pegwell Bay NNR, including landing or launching in the Mouth of the Stour, as these areas are protected for wildlife.
If you encounter wildlife, such as seals either at sea or on sandbanks, slow down and give them a wide berth as they can be easily scared by humans. Please follow the NE Kent Marine Wildlife Watching Code for wildlife watching guidelines.
Seals
Around the Kent coastline, we're lucky enough to have populations of both grey seals and common seals that you might spot bobbing around in the sea or resting on our sandbanks and beaches. However, seal disturbance is a major issue. Find out more about watching seals safely and what to do if you spot a seal by clicking the button below:
Help be our eyes and ears
You can report any seal disturbance you witness in the waters around Pegwell Bay and the Stour Estuary by logging this with us via the following link. Information on incidents of disturbance can help us to make a difference to enabling us to better inform the appropriate authorities of the breaking of wildlife related byelaws.
If you spot an injured seal, please contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546 (office hours) or 07787 433 412.
If you find a dead seal on the shore, contact the local authority. Call 01843 577000 for Thanet District Council.
If you spot a seal, please help us to record sightings by reporting to ZSL #inthethames
For more information on how you can help support our work to protect coastal wildlife please contact Nina Jones, Protected Area Warden: [email protected]
Bird disturbance
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay is home to many important species of bird. Unfortunately, they are often disturbed by humans and/or dogs, leading to a devastating impact on their health and survival chances.
To report disturbance, please click here: eastkent.birdwise.org.uk/reporting/
Dogs
Fenced dog zone area available in the KCC Country Park to allow dogs to safely run off lead.
A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) prevents dogs on the mudflats, saltmarsh, Pegwell beach or upper chalk shore all year round at Pegwell Bay (see map for the restricted area)
At Sandwich Bay a second PSPO states there are three zoned areas with a traffic light system for dog walking
- Off leads (under control): from car park to Prince’s enclosure.
- On leads: Prince’s enclosure.
- Not allowed: restricted area.
