A nature trail has been installed to help visitors learn about the precious wildlife at Nationally Important Nature Reserve, Pegwell Bay in Ramsgate. 

The trail is set up at seven different points around the Country Park and contains scannable QR codes to take people on both real-life and virtual journeys as they explore the wildlife-rich coastal habitat. From learning about Kent’s largest seal population to finding out about the migratory birds feeding and resting on the mudflats, it is designed to bring everyone closer to nature, regardless of their wildlife knowledge.

It is also hoped it will help prevent some of the recreational disturbances suffered by the wildlife at the site where people have flouted the rules over restricted areas set aside for wildlife.  

Yesterday, 16 October 2024, a wildlife watcher sent the charity images of two horse riders in the no-go area at Shellness Beach. The photo shows birds being disturbed as the two horses were ridden across the part of the nature reserve where people, dogs and horses are banned. Access is restricted to allow wildlife to rest, feed and recover from long flights. The breach is one of a string of incidents reported to the trust in recent months. 

Kent Wildlife Trust’s Protected Area Warden, Nina Jones explains: 

“The trail has been created to help people connect with nature and learn more about this special and precious site whilst also allowing them to learn more about why we have restricted areas. We hope this will ease some of the recreational pressures for wildlife seeking refuge at the bay. 

“This National Nature Reserve has a restricted area to protect wildlife so they can rest and feed in peace. Sadly, we are seeing birds and seals regularly suffering because people are flouting restrictions. Recently we have been made aware of multiple breaches from kite surfers, kayakers, paddle boarders, horse riders and people walking dogs off the lead, and we hope that by highlighting the need to give wildlife space, people will want to help us protect what is there. 

“This is not about trying to stop people from having fun, we have miles of coastline where we can enjoy recreational activities, so I would simply ask that people respect the boundaries of the tiny percentage of the reserve we have set aside for wildlife so it can thrive. Nature is in crisis, and our wildlife needs all the help we can offer.” 

Other pressures on Pegwell Bay 

Despite being an Internationally Important Site of Special Scientific Interest, wildlife at Pegwell Bay and the nearby wildlife site of Minster Marshes continues to be put at risk through plans of development. Kent Wildlife Trust is concerned about National Grid’s Sea Link proposal which plans to install an electricity cable connecting Kent and Suffolk, making landfall at Pegwell Bay. If the plans are approved, a converter station will decimate the thriving bird population at nearby Minster Marshes. 

Kent Wildlife Trust, supported by other conservation groups including CPRE Kent and RSPB and political advocates MPs Sir Roger Gale and Polly Billington is calling on National Grid to Rethink Sea Link and choose a less environmentally damaging route for the cable.