Biodiversity

An ongoing iNaturalist project being undertaken by local naturalists that began in July 2023 had, as of March 2024, recorded 405 separate species of birds, animals, and insects. A conservative estimate of 600+ species is predicted for a full year, suggesting this an area of particularly high biodiversity supporting a number of species that are uncommon in the Faversham area.

The site’s unique position sandwiched between the wet habitat of Ham Pits, the grazing pasture along the Creek and its proximity to the SSSI and RAMSAR areas make it particularly important for those species dependent on the existence of a variety of different habitats in close proximity, requiring conservation action to be taken at the landscape scale. It also benefits from low levels of light pollution, which is increasingly seen as a key factor in the decline of moths and other night flying insects, species which early survey results suggest are numerous on this special site.

Thirteen species of birds identified on the site are on the Red List of Conservation Concern, and a further 26 species are present on the Amber List.

Clearly, the proposed extensive re-profiling of the site will decimate the biodiversity currently present.