About the Sanderling Recovery Project

The Sanderling Recovery Project is a partnership initiative working to protect and restore one of the Isle of Wight’s most important coastal wildlife refuges — the Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Together with Isle of Wight Council, Ryde Town Council, Bird Aware Solent, Natural England, and Ryde Marina, we’re taking action to reduce recreational disturbance and improve habitat conditions for Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers, and other coastal birds that depend on this vital shoreline.

Why Sanderlings Matter

Sanderlings are small, energetic shorebirds that travel thousands of miles each year between Arctic breeding grounds and their winter feeding sites on the south coast of the UK. The beaches and tidal flats at Ryde Sands and surrounding areas provide key winter refuges for these remarkable birds — offering them the food and resting space they need to survive their long migration.

Each winter, Sanderlings can be seen running along the tide line, feeding on tiny invertebrates exposed by the waves. After feeding, they need quiet places to rest (roost) — conserving energy and keeping safe from predators and bad weather. Without these undisturbed roost sites, their ability to feed and survive the winter is seriously reduced.

Why We Need to Let Them Rest

Even small, repeated disturbances — people walking dogs, paddleboarders, or beach activities — can cause flocks to take flight again and again. Every time they do, they lose precious energy reserves that are essential for migration and survival.
By limiting access to sensitive roosting areas near the Hovertravel pad and promoting awareness, we can give these birds the safe resting spaces they need. This simple action supports not only Sanderlings, but also other coastal species such as Ringed Plovers and Dunlins that share the same habitats.

Protecting a Nationally Important Site

Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek SSSI forms part of a wider network of protected coastal habitats within the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
These designations recognise the area’s international importance for overwintering and migratory birds, and the richness of its intertidal habitats — sandflats, mudflats, and seagrass beds that sustain diverse marine life.

Protecting these habitats means safeguarding food sources, roosting areas, and the natural processes that sustain the Solent’s extraordinary biodiversity.

Working Together for Wildlife and People

The Sanderling Recovery Project is a local partnership with a shared vision: to balance people’s enjoyment of the coast with the needs of the wildlife that depend on it.
Through improved signage, habitat protection, community engagement, and education, we aim to ensure Ryde remains a place where both people and wildlife can thrive.