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Shellness
Postcode: ME12 4RP
The Swale National Nature Reserve at Shellness is a wild and remote spot, situated on the coast, just east of the seaside town of Leysdown. Predominantly the reserve is grazing marsh and supports significant numbers of wintering waterfowl. Apart from these, it is also home to birds such the marsh harrier and short eared owl. Scarce plants such as glasswort and golden samphire are found on the saltmarsh, whilst the adjacent beach has sea kale, whose young shoots used to be collected as a vegetable, along with the rare Ray’s knotgrass. The reserve is best visited in the spring and summer months when, along with the large numbers of breeding birds, a number of rare butterflies and moths can often be seen. These include such delights as the Essex emerald and the clouded yellow butterfly along with the convolvulus and bedstraw hawk-moths. Please note: The reserve is situated adjacent to an authorised naturist beach. Also look out for: