Natural England

The first Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to be designated specifically to protect water voles has been confirmed by Natural England.

The 9,000 ha Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SSSI creates one site from eight previous smaller sites (Dungeness, Walland Marsh, Cheyne Court, Romney Warren and North Lade in Kent; and Camber Sands and Rye Saltings, Rye Harbour and Pett Level) in Kent and East Sussex and also includes 2,300 hectares of newly notified land. It is the largest shingle foreland in Europe - remarkable for its shingle beaches, sand dunes, grazing marsh and patterns of shingle deposits and soils.

The new SSSI is one of the best in Britain for invertebrates, supporting many rare and scarce species associated with shingle and sand dune habitats and wetlands. The site is home to Britain’s only population of the Sussex Emerald moth.

As well as telling the story of how the area’s unusual coastline has formed over the past 5,000 years, the habitats on the site are of national importance, and the shingle beach and its wetlands are internationally recognised.

Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “This decision will ensure that the exceptional natural resources of the area are protected for future generations. The new site will allow us to offer greater protection and manage habitats for water birds throughout the year. The vast wetlands at Dungeness, Rye Harbour, Walland Marsh and Pett Level provide unsurpassed habitats for many rare and threatened species, including the water vole, great crested newt, medicinal leech and greater water-parsnip.”

Importantly the new site includes the whole of the dynamically evolving stretches of coastline between Winchelsea Beach, near Rye, and Greatstone, north of Dungeness point, as well as the whole of the shingle foreland with its associated marsh and peat deposits. Scientists can study the patterns of the shingle and other soils to model the formation of Dungeness over the millenia to predict the likely future impacts of climate change and sea level rise on this stretch of our coast. Understanding these impacts will assist decision-makers in managing our coast for the benefit of current and future generations of people, as well as for wildlife and the unique landscapes.

The new designation reflects the huge amount of nature conservation work that has been carried out in the Romney Marsh and Rye Bay area. In many cases these efforts have restored or created new habitats that are now of such importance for wildlife that they warrant the recognition and protection afforded to them by the new SSSI.

The final boundaries were confirmed with modifications by Natural England’s Board at their April meeting after listening to the views of objectors. Dr Phillips added: “I am delighted with the level of responses we have received to the notification of the SSSI. The Board carefully considered the views of the parties and were pleased to be able to accede to a number of requests to remove small areas from within the site that have subsequently been shown not to be of scientific interest. Natural England does not seek to interfere with or inconvenience any development proposals affecting the site, providing the requirements of the planning regime are adhered to. Whilst recognizing the rights and wishes of others, Natural England has a duty to notify any areas of special scientific interest.”

Notes to editors

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

The 4113 Sites of Scientific Interest are the best sites for wildlife and geology in England. They cover the widest range of wildlife and geological interest, from Windsor Great Park to Rochdale Canal, Egdon Heath to the Valley of Stones in Dorset, and from the River Wye to the North Norfolk Coast. Natural England selects them partly because of their intrinsic wildlife interest, but also because of their scarcity, their vulnerability to damage and loss, and to the difficulty of restoring them if damaged. SSSIs represent an important fragment of the much-depleted resource of wild nature now remaining in this country. They are home to many rare and familiar plants and animals and play a vital role in delivering the targets set for the 400 key species and 40 key habitats identified in the biodiversity process. SSSIs protect the most important and threatened part of our natural heritage. Many are important to local economies and most provide wonderful opportunities for people to enjoy wildlife.

Examples of recent conservation work in the area:

• Improved management for rare species: A programme of monitoring and habitat enhancement work by the Environment Agency and the Romney Marsh Countryside Project is helping to maintain a large water vole population - the new SSSI is the first in England to be designated specifically to protect water voles. Water voles have undergone a long term decline in Britain and it is predicted they may eventually disappear from 94% of their former sites, a decline exceeding even that for the otter. The water vole is sometimes called ‘the water rat’, which is the origin of the water voles' fame as ‘Ratty’ from Kenneth Grahame's book, The Wind in the Willows. The RSPB and the Army are helping to maintain large populations of great crested newts at Dungeness, making the area of European importance for this species.
• Habitat creation and enhancement works by a number of organisations and individuals, including the Elmley Conservation Trust at Cheyne Court, the Wetland Trust at Pannel Valley, the RSPB at Dungeness, and by East Sussex County Council at Rye Harbour Local Nature Reserve, have greatly increased the numbers of birds. During the non-breeding season the area now regularly supports over 37,000 waterfowl (>20,000 is regarded as being internationally significant)
• Working in partnership with land-owners, including the Army Training Estate and the RSPB at Dungeness, Natural England is improving the condition of the area’s vegetated shingle, a globally rare habitat that is very easily damaged or destroyed.

For further information contact: Heather McMorland.
Telephone: 01733 455190 or 07970 098005 out of hours
Email: pressoffice@naturalengland.org.uk