A Fragile Future: Protecting Ringed Plovers at Landguard
Landguard Nature Reserve in Felixstowe is one of the UK’s most important coastal sites, valued for its unique wildlife, rare habitats, and rich history. Among its most vulnerable inhabitants is the Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), a small wading bird whose survival depends on careful protection and public cooperation. Find out how we are Protecting Ringed Plovers at Landguard.
Why Ringed Plovers Are at Risk
Ringed Plovers are easily recognised by their bold black-and-white markings and distinctive orange legs. What makes them especially vulnerable, however, is their nesting behaviour. Rather than building nests, Ringed Plovers create shallow scrapes directly in vegetated shingle and lay their eggs on bare ground.
These tiny eggs are perfectly camouflaged, blending almost invisibly into the surrounding stones. While this offers some natural protection from predators, it leaves nests extremely exposed to disturbance from people, dogs, and recreational activity on the beach.
Breeding Season Protection at Landguard
The Ringed Plover breeding season runs from April to September. During this time, strict protection measures are essential to give the birds the best chance of successfully raising their young.
Post-and-rope cordons are installed around key nesting areas to reduce disturbance and provide adult birds with the space they need to incubate their eggs. Even brief disruption can have serious consequences. If adult plovers are repeatedly disturbed, they may abandon their nests entirely, leaving eggs vulnerable to predators and extreme temperatures.
Once chicks hatch, the risks continue. Young plovers must feed on the open beach and cannot fly, making them highly susceptible to disturbance from people, dogs, kites, drones, and fishing activity.
Rules for Visitors, Dog Walkers, and Anglers
To protect breeding Ringed Plovers, the following restrictions apply during the breeding season:
- Dogs, whether on or off lead, are not permitted within cordoned areas or on the beach directly in front of them
- Fishing is not allowed in front of cordoned areas, as it can disturb nesting birds and attract predators
- Cordoned zones are clearly signposted and regularly patrolled
These measures are carefully balanced to allow continued enjoyment of the reserve. Dogs may still exercise freely in the northern section of Landguard, and can be walked on a lead on the landward side of the cordons. Fishing remains permitted in the northern section of the reserve and along the river.
Enforcement and Community Responsibility
Recent enforcement activity highlights the importance of these protections. In 2025, four Fixed Penalty Notices were issued to individuals who entered cordoned areas or allowed dogs inside them.
In one case, a couple walking dogs off lead received penalties and took part in a community resolution. This included a donation to the Landguard Trust and an educational meeting with the Reserve Manager. Actions like these reinforce the seriousness of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and underline the shared responsibility to safeguard wildlife.
A Conservation Priority for the UK
Ringed Plovers are a conservation priority species due to declining populations across the UK. Sites like Landguard Nature Reserve play a vital role in giving these birds a safe place to breed.
With continued public cooperation and respect for seasonal restrictions, we hope Ringed Plovers will continue to nest successfully at Landguard for many years to come.
To see how human disturbance directly affects beach-nesting birds, watch the Give Beach Nesting Birds A Chance video:
https://landguard.com/protecting-ringed-plovers-at-landguard-nature-reserve/
Article by Leonie Washington, Landguard Reserve Manager
