West Sussex County Council: General Information about Pagham Harbour

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Pagham Harbour is an internationally important site for wildlife and is home to plant and animal habitats of global rarity. The shingle areas on the sea front are a backdrop for colourful flowers such as Yellow Horned Poppy and vivid blue Vipers Bugloss.

If you enjoy the outdoors, walking, beautiful scenery and maybe a bit of birdwatching then Pagham Harbour could be the place for you. The main attraction of the Reserve are the bird-watching opportunities on offer all year round. The site is important for waders and wildfowl in the autumn and winter, and the Brent Geese that come here in large numbers between September and January. Migrants in the summer include wheatears, sandwich terns, sand martins and chiffchaffs.

There is a self-guided nature trail close to the Visitor Centre in Sidlesham and the Reserve is well served by footpaths and bridleways, including paths that are suitable for wheelchairs. Please note however that some of the harbour-side paths can be wet, even at low tide and in the summer. Sensible outdoor clothing is recommended, especially in winter when it can be cold and wet due to the exposed nature of the Reserve. There is not much shelter from the elements.

The Reserve covers 1500 acres. Half of this is saltmarsh and mudflats, the rest is farmland, copses, lagoons, reedbeds and shingle beaches. The Reserve has a very high status as a conservation site which is reflected in a range of protection measures including:

• Designation as a 'Local Nature Reserve' in 1964
• Designation as a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' for its nationally important plant and animal communities
• Designation as a 'Special Protection Area' and a 'Natura 2000' site by the European Commission
• Designation as a 'Ramsar Site' as a wetland of international importance.