Nature & Wildlife

Romney Marsh, Dungeness and Rye Harbour are some of the most important and heavily protected sites for wildlife in the south east.

Dungeness is home to one third of the UK’s national flora along with a raft of rare invertebrates, birds, and other wildlife. Among the rare insects found on site is the striking Sussex emerald moth and Dungeness has recently seen the successful reintroduction of short-haired bumblebees.

Rye Harbour is famous for its colonies of terns and breeding waders.

The ditches of Romney Marsh are home to the rare marshmallow plant, greater water parsnip, water voles and the less cuddly medicinal leech. You’ll find some of the best birdwatching opportunities in the country right here in Romney Marsh.

The RSPB reserve and gravel pits in Dungeness, Rye Harbour nature reserve and the wider farmland of the marsh, all provide landfall for many rare and migrating species. The marshland is home to marsh harriers which you can see ghosting along the ditches, lapwing noise displaying and the increasingly rare turtle dove which can be heard singing in the hedges through springtime.

All you need is a pair of binoculars. For bespoke birdwatching tours visit the experts at Plovers Tours.

Find out where to go for nature and wildlife in Romney Marsh.