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Kent Wildlife Trust : the largest active conservation charity in Kent

Saving the Garden of England

Sandwich & Pegwell Bay

O.S Map 179 TR341632: Nr Sandwich

Covering some 635 hectares the reserve, is divided into three sections: Pegwell Bay, the Central Section and Buffer Zone to the south of the river Stour.

The landscape is made up of a complex mosaic of habitats: inter-tidal mudflats, saltmarsh, shingle, sand dunes, ancient dune pasture, chalk cliffs, wave cut platform and coastal scrubland. It is the best remaining complex of this type in the southeast, showing a complete series of seashore habitats.


Of international importance the reserve is noted for its bird population. Please avoid disturbing resident bird life.

Directions

By Road:
Situated around the estuary of the River Stour between Sandwich and Ramsgate. The Pegwell Bay Coastal Park and car park is situated on the north side of the Stour on the A256 and is well signposted.

Public Transport:
Bus 37 Ramsgate and Sandwich passes the entrance to the Country Park.

Car Parking Charges:
Weekdays  £1.00 all day
Weekends/Bank Holidays  £1.50 all day
Parking Permit  £25.00
Registered Disabled  Free

Download Reserve Map (PDF)

Key site for

  • The reserve is of international importance for its waders and wildfowl, best seen over winter or during the spring and autumn migrations.
  • For common waders in winter such as dunlin, curlew, oystercatcher and redshank are joined by nationally important numbers of sanderling and grey plover. All these are best seen on the mudflats of Pegwell Bay.
  • For other bird life in summer including: redshank, shelduck and oystercatcher which stay to breed, and are joined on the shingle by ringed plovers and the rare little tern.

Wildlife update

  • Adult sand lizards were observed in the dunes in April, about 100m north of the juveniles’ release area in September 2004.   These are the first Sandwich adults and we may expect breeding this summer.
  • A GrantScape Biodiversity Project has facilitated the creation of new pasture at Pegwell Coastal Park with 2 km of stock fence; 2 km all weather surfaced nature trail around the Coastal Park providing good access for the disabled around Pegwell Bay and to recently enhanced grass and scrubland habitat.
  • Grantscape project works scheduled for the winter include the installation of a new bird viewing hide with disabled access and interpretative panels will be built overlooking Pegwell Bay. 
 
The Wildlife Trusts