Pegwell & District Association

20/10/2026

All welcome

21/09/2026

14/09/2026

Join us this Thursday, 17th September, for the first of our weekly talks at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory. Conor Jameson will present “Looking for Goshawks”, exploring this magnificent but rarely seen raptor, now well established in Kent. An award-winning author, conservationist and feature writer, Conor worked for the RSPB for 25 years and BirdLife International before becoming a full-time author. 7:30 pm–9:00 pm | £6 entrance, including refreshments | All welcome. Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Guilford Road, Sandwich Bay, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9PF. For more information visit www.sbbo.org.uk or call 01304 617341.

09/09/2026

📅 Sunday 27th September
⏰ Main event: 9.00am – 4.00pm

Join us for a fantastic day celebrating bird migration, nature and the wildlife of our coast and countryside! 🌿🪽

There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a keen birder, a nature lover or simply looking for a great family day out.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Visible Migration Watch
Get an early start! Join us at the beach near Sandilands from 6.30am to watch migrating birds moving along the coast.

Guided Bird & Nature Walks
Explore the local area with knowledgeable guides and discover the birds and wildlife around us.

Talks on RSPB Worth Marshes
Find out more about this important wetland habitat and the wildlife it supports.

Ringing Demonstration
See bird ringing in action and learn more about how it helps us understand and protect our bird populations.
Weather permitting.

Food, Drinks & Refreshments
Keep yourself fuelled throughout the day with food and refreshments available.

Vendor Stands & In Focus
Browse a range of wildlife and nature-related stands and discover more about the organisations involved.

Children's Build-a-Bird Activity
A fun hands-on activity for our younger visitors — perfect for budding birdwatchers!

Come along, bring your binoculars and enjoy a day celebrating the incredible journeys of our birds.

Everyone is welcome we look forward to seeing you there!

24/08/2026

🌿 Could You Help Shape the Future of Pegwell Bay? 🌿

Pegwell & District Association is looking for new Trustees to join our charity and help us continue protecting, promoting and celebrating one of Kent's most special landscapes.

For many years, the Association has been involved in the conservation and preservation of the unique environment, wildlife and heritage of Pegwell Bay and the surrounding area. As we look to the future, we are now seeking enthusiastic people who would like to become involved and help us take the charity forward.

We are particularly looking for people with experience or an interest in:

🔹 Chair / Leadership – helping guide the future direction of the charity
🔹 Fundraising & Grant Applications – helping us secure funding for future projects
🔹 Finance & Administration
🔹 Marketing, Communications & Social Media
🔹 Conservation, Wildlife & Environmental Issues
🔹 Community Engagement and Local Heritage

You do not need to be an expert in all of these areas, and previous trustee experience is not essential. We are equally interested in people who can bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, useful skills and a genuine passion for Pegwell Bay and the local environment.

Becoming a Trustee is an opportunity to make a real difference, meet like-minded people and help protect this remarkable part of Kent for future generations.

If you think you could help or know somebody who might we would love to hear from you.

📩 Please contact us for an informal chat and find out more.

And please share this post the right person may be among your friends, family or colleagues.

🌿 Help us protect the past, shape the present and secure the future of Pegwell Bay.

17/05/2026

Support Needed

22/04/2026

On this Earth Day, Pegwell Bay designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) stands as a vital haven for wildlife and natural heritage along the Kent coast.
Its expansive mudflats and saltmarshes are especially important for migratory birds, which rely on the rich feeding grounds here to refuel during long journeys between continents; without places like Pegwell Bay, many species would struggle to survive these migrations.
The area also supports rare plant life and fragile ecosystems, while helping to protect the coastline from erosion and the impacts of climate change. Safeguarding Pegwell Bay ensures that these essential feeding habitats remain intact, supporting global bird populations and preserving biodiversity for generations to come.

20/04/2026

Fire at Pegwell Bay NNR
A Serious Impact on a Protected Landscape

We are deeply saddened to report that a fire occurred last night at Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve.

The blaze spread rapidly through the reedbeds and, on inspection this morning, the extent of the damage is significant, with approximately 300 metres of habitat scorched.

Pegwell Bay is both a Ramsar site of international importance and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These designations recognise the area’s exceptional ecological value and the critical role it plays in supporting rare and vulnerable species. Damage to such habitats is not only locally devastating but represents a loss of national and international significance.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately and has occurred during the peak breeding bird season. It is therefore highly likely that nests have been destroyed, reptiles killed, and wildlife severely disturbed. Habitats such as reedbeds are particularly sensitive and slow to recover, meaning the ecological impacts of this incident may be felt for years to come.

This event adds further pressure to a landscape already facing cumulative impacts. We continue to observe the long-term effects of previous infrastructure works, including visible damage associated with the Nemo Link project. Incidents such as this reinforce our concerns regarding proposed large-scale developments, including National Grid’s Sea Link project. We maintain that such schemes risk causing irreversible harm to these fragile and internationally important environments, and we reiterate our call to Rethink Sea Link.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the individual who reported the fire, and to the Kent Fire and Rescue Service for their swift response. While the damage is severe, their prompt action undoubtedly prevented a far worse outcome.

We urge all members of the public to play their part in protecting this special place:

Please respect all site restrictions
Keep dogs under close control at all times
Report any suspicious behaviour

We are also aware of hedge and tree cutting at the top of the cliffs along Sandwich Road, Cliffsend, which is currently under investigation.

Protecting Pegwell Bay requires collective responsibility. Thank you for your continued support in safeguarding this unique and irreplaceable landscape.