Information for locals

 

  1. What does it mean to be living in an SSSI/SPA?
  2. How should I deal with garden waste?
  3. Where can I go and can’t I go?
  4. What’s so special about the shingle?
  5. What plants will work best in my garden?
  6. What plants should I avoid?
  7. How can I get involved with Fifth Continent projects?

 

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1. Q. What does it mean to be living in an SSSI/SPA?

A. Conservation loves a good acronym and around Dungeness you’ve got plenty to go around. SSSI, SPA, SAC, Ramsar, LWS, NNR. All these letters roughly mean the same thing; this is a very important area for wildlife and needs protecting.

Here’s the breakdown of what the letters mean and what that means for you. Please click each designation for details:

 

A UK designation for wildlife, it can also be for geological features and each one is overseen by an adviser from Natural England (the government’s advisory body for the natural environment). This one is called ‘Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay’ and is designated for both wildlife and its geology. Many features are listed including overwintering birds, rare invertebrates, water-voles and much more, the full citation can be found here: Dungeness SSSI reasons for designation.

Many activities within the SSSI are restricted where they could cause damage, the list includes activities such as dumping waste, using weed killer, planting plants (outside of your garden) and many more. The full list can be found here: list of restricted activities.

This doesn’t mean it’s always forbidden to do all these things but you must speak to someone from Natural England first. Contact: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk or call 0300 060 3900 for advice.

SPA is a European wide designation which is concerned with the protection of birds. At Dungeness it is specifically concerned with the marine areas which are used by overwintering birds. See the full description here: SPA Dungeness designation.

SAC is another European wide designation which this time is concerned with rare species other than birds. On Dungeness this is particularly focussed on the rare shingle plants as well as Great Crested Newts. See the full description here: SAC Dungeness designation.

Both SPA and SAC sites are again managed in consultation with Natural England and they would need to provide their consent for any of the activities mentioned before. In reality as the area this covers (on land) is largely the same as the SSSI or smaller, all three designations (SSSI, SPA and SAC) can be thought of together and the contact is the same.

Designated by Natural England. These however are sites specifically managed for nature conservation and are the highest UK designation possible. Dungeness NNR is managed jointly by Natural England, RSPB and EDF Energy (through the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership). The entire Dungeness NNR is on privately owned land so access is with the permission of the landowner and on public rights of way. This means that there are additional constraints on this area particularly around photography and parking.

Organised photography (anything from student groups, to professional photographers and film crews) must gain a permit before taking any photos. This can be booked here http://www.dungenessestate.co.uk/ or by calling 0844 7369654 (24hr Helpdesk) and must then be followed up with a call to the Romney Marsh Countryside Project – RMCP (Owen Leyshon) on 07770 670316 for more info go to http://www.dungeness-nnr.co.uk/photoshoots.php.

Parking must only be in marked bays. The shingle verges are some of the most important habitats and can be easily destroyed by driving on them, and also you’re very likely to get stuck – on average five cars a month have to be towed off the shingle causing lasting damage.

Deliberate or reckless damage under any of these designations can incur a fine of up to £20,000.

The whole of the Dungeness estate is Designated as a Ramsar Site. Ramsar is not an acronym but is short for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, named after a city in Iran where it was signed. This designation is for internationally important wetlands and was designated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). This organisation is concerned with using wetlands sustainably but does not give any further limitations on activities beyond the other designations.

LWS are a local designation for areas which are important for nature at a local level. There aren’t any of these on the coast (the SSSI basically trumps them) but there are some in Lydd and one in Dymchurch. These do not have any statutory protection but should be taken into account when determining planning applications. Most of these sites are privately owned. For information on these sites contact Kent Wildlife Trust info@kentwildlife.org.uk or call 01622 662012.

 

Other activities may be governed by other organisations for example the Environment Agency (for earthworks) or the Internal Drainage Board (for things that might affect drainage).

Consent and permitted activities can be a very complicated business. For advice why not speak to the Fifth Continent Biodiversity Officer

To return to questions click here.

 

 

2. Q. How should I deal with garden waste?

A. Advice from our Biodiversity Officer below.

Getting rid of garden waste isn’t always easy but with such sensitive habitats all around it’s important to get it right.

Shepway District Council run a green waste collection fortnightly for £46 per year. Collection happens on the same day as your recycling. In 2019 for most of the area it’s on a Monday. For more info go to https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/recycling-waste-and-bins/garden-waste

For less frequent or bulkier garden waste the local household waste depot (the tip) is at Mountfield Road, New Romney TN28 8LH. It’s open every day from 8:00am to 4:30pm (9:00am to 4:00pm on Sundays).

Alternatively, you could compost your own waste for use in your garden. Compost bins can be bought from most garden centres and DIY stores for around £40 or alternatively you could build your own.

Here’s one I built at home. It cost me around £35 for materials (that was for the wire mesh, woodscrews and staples) all the wood was from an old picket fence that we took out and the base was part of an old plastic shed base. It took two of us an afternoon to build (making it up as we went along so it could’ve been much quicker). It still needs a few more slats for the front and I’m planning on making a lid for it from an old shed door but it works for now and is great for fleshy green cuttings (as well as food waste). If anyone has a better design, please do let me know.

building compost bincompost bin completed

A garden incinerator is also a good way of disposing of waste, they are very cheap (From around £10) but must be used safely and with respect to your neighbours (no one likes smoky washing).

Whatever happens, dumping garden waste is not an option. This is how invasive plants take over and the damage to the environment can be irreversible.

To return to questions click here.

 

 

3. Q. Where can I go and can’t I go?

A. When driving it’s very simple, stick to roads and only park in designated parking spaces.

To explore the area on foot there are numerous footpaths which can be a great way to see the area. Public footpaths are all marked on Ordinance Survey maps. There are lots of places to access these on the internet. One of the best is here https://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm which will show you a photograph of the area at the same time which can help to get your bearings.

Many of the footpaths are not well marked and it is easy to get lost so it’s always advisable to have a map with you.

There are additional maintained footpaths which are permissive (not formally paths but you are allowed to walk there) these are maintained by the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership and are concentrated in the area to the south of the Long Pits.

To return to questions click here.

 

 

4. Q. What’s so special about the shingle?

A. Dungeness is the largest mass of shingle anywhere in Europe and possibly the world!

It covers a massive underground aquifer which is where all the drinking water comes from.

It is formed of many parallel ridges that have been deposited by the sea over hundreds of years.

The shingle is home to many plants and invertebrates that are incredibly rare and one that is found nowhere else in the world! A moth, the Dungeness Pigmy Footman.

The area really has its own special identity and feeling, bleak and open with few barriers and fishing boats strewn across the beach.

To return to questions click here.

 

 

5. Q. What plants will work best in my garden?

A. Many of the plants which grow out on the sand and shingle can be found in garden centres and are perfectly adapted to the local environment.

Avoid plants that require a lot of water as they will struggle on these free draining soils. Here are some examples of locally occurring plants that work well in gardens:

  • Nottingham catchfly (Silene nutans)
  • Yellow Horned Poppy
  • Sea Kale
  • Vipers Bugloss
  • Red Hemp Nettle
  • Black Horehound
  • Sea Campion
  • Wood Sage
  • Sea Holly
  • Wild Carrot

Some horticultural varieties can be great for wildlife, especially our bees and other useful pollinators. Look for ones which have wide open flower heads as these have the most accessible nectar, plants with tightly bound petals and double heads like many ornamental roses are useless as a nectar source. Try to plant a variety of species that flower at different times of year, pollinating insects need a continuous source of nectar from spring right through to autumn.

Here are some examples:

  • Laburnum
  • Irises
  • Ornamental daisies
  • Wall flowers
  • Lavender
  • Alliums

To return to questions click here.

 

 

6. Q. What plants should I avoid?

A. For pollinators it’s also a good idea to avoid annual bedding plants like pansies, petunias or begonias as these have been so heavily genetically modified over time that they are now sterile and don’t produce any pollen or nectar.

Avoid ones that are voracious growers, which produce long runners. These may grow well but are at risk of escaping and spreading out onto the shingle causing irreversible damage. If they must be grown then keep them in pots. Things like:

  • Red valerian
  • Buddleja
  • Russian Vine
  • Yuccas
  • Silver Ragwort
  • Cotoneaster
  • Snow-in-summer

Other plants simply won’t grow very well in this area. Plants which cannot tolerate any drought, have weak stems that won’t survive the wind and can’t cope with the salty air.

Many delicate fruit trees are difficult to grow here, as are Hydrangeas.

To return to questions click here.

 

 

7. Q. How can I get involved with Fifth Continent projects?

  • Take a look at the Monitoring of the Marsh project pages for surveying opportunities.
  • Come to one of our ID workshops, see the events page for details.
  • Volunteer for the Film project.
  • Take part in the Oral History Project.
  • Become an amateur archaeologist on our Hunt for Romney Port or Dig for St Martin’s Church.
  • Volunteer with the Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership. Visit their Website www.rmcp.co.uk
  • Record wildlife in your own back garden, check out our new interactive map.
  • Chat to us on Facebook or Twitter.

To return to questions click here.

 

Other useful sources of information:

To return to questions click here.