On 18 September 2007, the RSPB, Canterbury City Council, Natural England (NE) and Swale Borough Council launched a partnership to create an exciting new nature reserve on Seasalter Levels. The reserve, which will be managed by RSPB in consultation with NE and the two local authorities, will include the existing Local Nature Reserve (LNR) – 73 ha of grazing marsh south of the railway line and part of a complex area of neglected and inappropriately developed former marshland in multiple ownership, north of the railway line, known as the Plotlands. The area of Plotlands will be steadily increased by purchase; currently the total reserve area is over 112ha

At present, there are a few pairs of lapwings and redshanks breeding in the damper parts of the LNR, and a few wintering birds, while the Plotlands are blighted by fly tipping, illegal raves and off-road driving by both bikes and cars. They have suffered years of inappropriate development. This includes siting of caravans, planting of non–native trees and fencing, which, though now much reduced by years of local authority planning enforcement actions, combine with a cover of rank grassland to render the area unsuitable for breeding waders. However, there is a good network of wide, reed-fringed ditches with some willow scrub and these hold both Cettis and grasshopper warbler.

There is little current information on non-avian groups, and surveys will be carried out next year to investigate invertebrates and ditch plants in particular. Preliminary work this summer has already revealed a very large population of the nationally scarce narrow-leaved water dropwort growing in association with tubular water dropwort, now a national BAP species, throughout the damper parts of the LNR.

Detailed plans for managing the site will be dictated by a year of site investigation. However the intention is to restore the area to its former glory by raising water levels, removing inappropriate structures and planting, re-introducing grazing and restoring the 19.5 kilometres of ditches.

Initial work on the LNR will include disabling the land drain system [having first located it!] Creating shallow surface features to hold water during the breeding season and restoring and re-profiling some of the heavily choked ditches. A programme of culvert restoration to aid water movement through the LNR will begin. Appropriate grazing goes hand-in-hand with water level management and we will explore options, these will include improvements to crossings and gateways to make grazing the site easier. At the same time we will work with the Environment Agency to develop plans for raising water levels without affecting neighbouring land. Encouragingly, the site has one of the best supplies of fresh water in North Kent

Improving the Plotlands will be a more gradual process, driven by the speed with which plots currently not within the reserve area can be purchased, the area being gradually improved as viable management units are acquired. Local Authority planning enforcement will continue and over time the area will be cleared of rubbish, abandoned vehicles and inappropriate fencing and returned to grazing marsh. Here too ditches will be restored and water levels raised.

There are no immediate plans to develop this reserve as a visitor site, but the habitat improvements planned should encourage wildfowl and roosting waders onto the current Plotlands, adding to the already impressive bird spectacle which can be enjoyed from the seawall.