A campaign to save endangered birds on the Shotley peninsula is to be launched and volunteers are being asked to play their part.

The initiative, which is being led by Suffolk Coast and Heaths' Area of Natural Beauty (AONB), backed by Operation Seabird run by Suffolk police's rural crime team and Babergh councillors, aims to protect the nesting and breeding grounds for the ringed plover on a section of Shotley foreshore.

Plans to either fence off or lay specialist netting on the shingle beach between an area close to the Shotley marina down towards the public footpath that leads back up to Shotley church.

The protection area will encourage walkers, beachcombers and dog owners, to avoid the ground favoured by the plover and other waders, which are on the RSPB's red list of endangered birds.

Alex More da Luz, a nature recovery officer for Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, emphasised the importance of the scheme.

"We know from surveys that the ringed plover have tried to nest on the foreshore here in Shotley but get disturbed and have not been able to breed.

"The plover love to feed on the shingle here and would like to nest here. We want to set up a safe space so they can rear their chicks.

"To achieve that we are looking to put up protection zones before the next breeding and nesting season ask people to keep away from this zone."

Alex issued a call for volunteers to help with three different stages of the projects, no qualifications are required and wiling helpers can put in as many hours, and days as they are able.

The first phase will be between September and December for awareness raising, then to help put up fencing, netting and a few warning signs in January, and to become plover guardians during the breeding season.

Alex said: "We're running awareness raising events down on the shingle beach on the dates below when we're looking for volunteers to come along and help.

"At these events we'll be running a competition to test people's ID skills and to try and identify five or so different species of birds they see nearby.

"We'll be giving out bird pin badges to anyone who takes part and they will also be entered into a prize draw to win a wildlife watching boat trip (in south Suffolk / North Essex – exact details TBC). The events will run between 10am – 3pm but volunteers don't need to stay for the whole day if they don't want or have other commitments – just for as long as they like."

The temporary fence erection will take place between January 24-28 2022, and Alex added: "We're also looking for volunteers to help us put up temporary fencing on the shingle in the locations that look suitable for breeding ringed plover in advance of when they start looking to breed."

The third phase will be for volunteers to be trained ringed plover guardians between February and July next year.

Alex said: "These guardians of the ringed plover will raise awareness of them and other birds to visitors and, fingers crossed if disturbance can be kept low, there will be some fluffy ringed plover chicks to show visitors through a telescope in the breeding season.

"The more volunteers we can recruit for this the more likely it will be the ringed plover can successfully rear chicks."

Suffolk Rural Crimes team will be supporting the AONB as part of Operation Seabird and will be looking to help educate the public about the disturbance they, and their dogs, could cause, however unwittingly.

PC Colin Carter said: "Part of our role is to promote awareness about nesting seabirds on the beaches and areas such as here on Shotley foreshore

"It is particulate important at the moment with even more people coming to the area. They are encroaching where these birds nest and breed and we want to help protect them.

"We are basically looking to educate people to enjoy nature. Come to this lovely area in Shotley but do it from a distance and let nature be. It is mainly about eduction but we will enforce if we have to."

Transgressors could be given an initial £80 fixed notice penalty, with a maximum fine of £1,000 if the case goes to court.

It is not just waders that need protecting as more wildlife is coming ashore.

PC Carter said: "There are also more seals around and we are trying to ensure people watch them from a distance but don't get too close. Keep dogs on a lead and don't allow children to run up to them, touch them then run away again. It frightens the seals."

If you would like to get involved as volunteer contact: [email protected] or go to

Suffolk Coast and Heaths volunteering.

The initial dates for volunteer awareness training are:

Wed 8 September

Thu 23 September

Fri 8 October

Sat 23 October

Sun 7 November

Mon 22 November

Tue 7 December

*The RSPB describe the ringed plover as a small, dumpy, short-legged wading bird. It is brownish grey above and whitish below. It has a orange bill, tipped with black, orange legs and a black-and-white pattern on its head and breast. In flight, it shows a broad, white wing-stripe.

They breed on beaches around the coast, but they have also now begun breeding inland in sand and gravel pits and former industrial sites. Many UK birds live here all year round, but birds from Europe winter in Britain, and birds from Greenland and Canada pass through on migration.

They eat flies, spiders, marine worms, crustaceans, molluscs.

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