The Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre sits at the southern end of the Fleet Lagoon, which is the largest and greatest example of a tidal lagoon in the UK. Bordering the seaward flank of the Fleet Lagoon lies the iconic Chesil Bank, extending 29 kilometres (18 miles) from Portland to West Bay.
Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon support an incredible diversity of wildlife within a marine or terrestrial environment. As a result, they have been granted several conservation designations, including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA), as well as others.
From the ubiquitous oystercatcher to the parachuting skylark, there is plenty to spot around the area of Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon – Ferrybridge – which the Wild Chesil Centre overlooks.
One of the species which can only be seen during the winter months is the dark-bellied brent goose, which are about the same size as a mallard duck, having a black head and neck, grey-brown back, and a dark belly. The dark-bellied brent goose is a migratory bird, and breed in Arctic Russia before travelling south in family units to the wintering grounds, which in the UK’s case, is usually along the south and east coast. The dark-bellied brent geese are particularly drawn to the site due to the extensive availability of one of their major food sources – eelgrass – in the Fleet Lagoon.