After years of planning, we are now undertaking work on Burrowes Pit to raise the heights of the islands. This will increase the amount of breeding space for seabirds and roosting space for our wintering wildfowl as well as creating a better viewing experience for our visitors.
Common tern - Graham Parry
In total 46 islands will be raised by an average of 44cm, which will create around 22,000m² of exposed shingle. This is around the size of 3 football pitches!
These works will be carried out by an excavator on a pontoon which will work its way around the lake throughout summer and autumn. We plan to have this work finished by the 31st October.
This may cause some disturbance in the short term and over a small area, but the long term benefits of creating habitat for a thriving seabird colony will make it all worthwhile.
Black-headed gull - Andy Hay
This is a very exciting time for us as, thanks to funding from Viridor, The Community Landfill Trust and money raised from our members and supporters, we are able to carry out this large and crucial project to help significantly increase breeding seabird numbers at Dungeness.
As well as providing optimal breeding habitat for birds such as common terns and black-headed gulls, we hope to increase breeding areas for birds such as little ringed plover, oystercatcher and a number of ducks. In the winter, these islands will provide roosting space for some of the thousands of wildfowl that visit us and give a great viewing experience from the warmth and comfort of the visitor centre as well as the hides that overlook the pit.
Sandwich terns - Chris Gomersall
Please do come and visit us during this time to help support this fantastic project! We are open as normal whilst the work continues.