Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay

Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Lake with islands in Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
LocationEast Sussex
Kent
Grid referenceTR 008 202
InterestBiological
Geological
Area10,172.9 hectares (25,138 acres)
Notification2006
Location mapMagic Map

Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay is a 10,172.9-hectare (25,138-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches from New Romney in Kent to Winchelsea in East Sussex. An area of 5,129.5 hectares (12,675 acres) is a Special Protection Area, an area of 3,141.1 hectares (7,762 acres) is a Special Area of Conservation, and an area of 6,377.6 hectares (15,759 acres) is a Ramsar Site, a wetland site designated of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Part of the site is in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, parts are Geological Conservation Review sites, part is a Local Nature Reserve, and part is a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds nature reserve, and part is a National Nature Reserve.

Nationally important habitats in this site are saltmarsh, sand dunes, vegetated shingle, saline lagoons, standing waters, lowland ditch systems, and basin fens, and it has many rare and endangered species of fauna and flora. It is geologically important as its deposits display the chronology of coastal evolution.