News

SHEPWAY MARSHES PROTECT WIND IN THE WILLOWS 'RATTY' 

The water vole made famous by "Ratty" in The Wind in the Willows  is to be protected in a new 22,000 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Romney Marsh. 

Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SSSI in East Sussex  is the first in England created especially to save the water vole which is in danger of vanishing from 94% of its habitats. 

The area's shingle beaches, sand dunes, grazing marshes and soil patterns are of national and international importance. 

The site is also home to Britain's only population of the Sussex Emerald Moth and is used by large numbers of water birds.

There are many rare and threatened species, including the water vole, great crested newt, medicinal leech and greater water-parsnip.

The new SSSI includes evolving stretches of coastline between Winchelsea Beach near Rye and Greatstone, north of Dungeness.