Ham Marsh wildlife
With 41% of wildlife species in decline since 1970 and 50% at risk of extinction, how can Ham Marsh be part of the story of bringing wildlife back to our nature-depleted UK?
The UK is now in the unenviable position of being one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, according to the State of Nature 2024 report. Urgent action is required to reverse the catastrophic decline of even familiar species, such as starlings and sparrows.
So it’s inspiring to know that we have on our doorstep a place where nature is already thriving. Due to its mixed habitat of low intensity arable fields, mixed scrub corridor, copse of mature trees and varied hedgerow, Ham Marsh provides food and shelter to 600 species (so far) recorded as part of the Save Ham Marshes iNaturalist project. Abutting onto an SSSI and a RAMSAR site, and farmed with wildlife in mind, Ham Marsh is home to 13 species of birds on the Red list of conservation concern, and 27 species on the Amber list. This successful citizen science project has provided clear evidence that Ham March is a safe haven for plant, bird and animal species. We were able to document that Yellow Wagtail, which is a target species for Swale, uses the fields for its winter roosting.
This is great news for nature recovery because if wildlife is successful here, then we have a strong base from which to reverse declines in adjacent areas. Ham Marsh can be part of a story where success breeds more success, creating a strong, resilient, diverse and, importantly, linked chain of nature across the Swale and the rest of Kent.
