Wilder Coast Volunteering Update

Update from Nina Jones, protected warden for Sandwich & Pegwell Bay

Easter holidays are often a particularly busy time of year at Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve as day trippers start to explore the coast in the better weather and many people head to the reserve with their visiting families to seek fresh air and some exercise to work off the Easter chocolate!

We also start to see an increase in recreational activities including those on the water. However luckily, we have a team of fantastic Wilder Coast Volunteers who committed their own time this Easter break to ensure that there was always someone at the NNR to help welcome and educate visitors and to keep their eyes out for prohibited activities and wildlife disturbance.

Our team is made up of people of all ages and backgrounds but who have passion for protecting our coastal wildlife in common. We are so grateful for their continued enthusiasm and patience as it can be frustrating and upsetting to see wildlife disturbance. However, with their continued support we are starting to see an increase in awareness around the restricted access to the mudflats and saltmarsh in order to give migratory birds and vulnerable habitats the space that it needs. Their efforts play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community responsibility towards conservation and ensuring that everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of the reserve while respecting its delicate ecosystem.

This Spring the Wilder Coast Team have shiny, new lanyards to help the public identify them and they are already coming in handy with their additional QR code to help sign post visitors to the Pegwell and Sandwich Bay webpage where there is plenty of information on local wildlife and how to avoid and report wildlife disturbance. A huge thankyou again to all the volunteers for their dedication and hard work.