The Chesil Bank and the Fleet Nature Reserve is an informal reserve managed by the Warden who is appointed by the Ilchester Estates. The management office is located at the Chesil Beach Visitors Centre at Ferrybridge. The Wardens work is guided by the Fleet and Chesil bank Management Plan.

The area covered by the Reserve extends from the Ilchester Estates western boundary 2 km west of the Abbotsbury Beach car park to the Chesil Visitors Centre and car park at Ferrybridge. Between these limits the landward boundary is the top of the low cliffs along the Fleet land foreshore and the seaward boundary is the Lyme Bay shoreline of Chesil Beach. Outside eof this declared area the ethos of the Reserve is applied voluntarily across other parts of Chesil Beach in collaboration with the various landowners.

The Chesil Bank and the Fleet Nature Reserve operates with funding from the Fleet and Swannery Trust (FAST) and other funding organisations.

The aims of the Reserve are derived from the Chesil Bank and the Fleet Management Plan:

• To maintain the unique physical and ecological characteristics of the area
• To protect and encourage rare species of wildlife that occur or breed in the area
• To allow recreation, traditional and commercial activities which are compatible with the above
• To interpret the area to the visiting public and to gain their support for, and cooperation in, its conservation
• To encourage other organisations to help in achieving these objectives

This site provides information on the Reserve and how it is managed. For more information on the Reserve and events, recent sightings and other happenings visit the Reserve web site by clicking here