Tuesday 3 March is World Wildlife Day, the UN’s annual call to celebrate and protect the world’s wild animals and plants and, importantly, to turn awareness into action. The date is a reminder to  us that safeguarding nature underpins healthy communities, economies and wellbeing.

Here in North East Lincolnshire, our coastline at Cleethorpes and the Humberston Fitties sits within the Humber Estuary, a wetland of international importance that is protected by multiple legal designations such as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Ramsar Wetland.

These designations are in place to recognise and protect the vast mud and sandflats, saltmarsh and dunes as well as the large numbers of migratory and overwintering birds and other wildlife, which are all part of a living system that connects our coast to the wider world

As part of the East Atlantic Flyway – the migration “superhighway” used by millions of birds travelling between Arctic breeding grounds and European/African wintering areas – the actions taken locally can support migratory birds on their global journeys.

That’s why avoiding disturbance, especially at high tide roosts and on feeding grounds, is critical to survival and successful migration.

Globally, nature is under pressure, with up to one million species at risk of extinction without decisive action. World Wildlife Day is a reminder that local choices such as how we walk, watch and enjoy the coast can add up to a global impact.

The DUNE Project is about helping everyone enjoy our coast while reducing disturbance to protected species and protecting fragile habitats, especially intertidal feeding grounds, saltmarsh and sand dunes, which can be easily damaged by trampling and repeated off‑path access. We’re focusing on positive, practical guidance that makes it easy to do the right thing. We have a coastline to be proud of and we want to protect it for generations to come.

What you can do this World Wildlife Day

• Give birds space: If birds look up, walk away or take flight, you’re too close. This is especially important at high tide when resting space is limited.
• Keep dogs close in sensitive areas: Use leads near roosts and saltmarsh/dunes; choose alternative routes if birds are feeding close to the beach.
• Stick to paths on dunes and saltmarsh: These habitats are fragile; repeated trampling damages vegetation and accelerates erosion.
• Time your visit with the tide: Low‑tide walks give feeding birds more space; high‑tide roosts need extra care and distance.
• Learn and share: Check out our digital storymap, join a guided walk and tell friends how small actions protect our local wildlife.

World Wildlife Day is about celebration and care. Our coast is part of a global network of wetlands that keep migratory birds on the wing and our ecosystems healthy. By choosing responsible access, we protect what makes Cleethorpes special for residents, visitors and the wildlife that depends on it.

Find out more!

For more information about the Cleethorpes DUNE project, visit our webpage. You can find out about upcoming events and sign up for our monthly newsletter: Cleethorpes DUNE project | NELC

Get involved with Citizen Science Projects to record data about local wildlife! More information can be found on the Cleethorpes DUNE project webpage under ‘Get Involved’.

World Wildlife Day: A Call to Protect Our Planet’s Biodiversity – Wildlife Alliance

Photo credits: Monica Baldwin.