Pagham Harbour

In earlier times Pagham Harbour was a working harbour with three ports. One port was situated at the western end, of the harbour near Sidlesham Mill, and was known as Wardur. The port of Charlton was at the entrance to the harbour and the third was on the Pagham side of the harbour and was known as the Port of Wythering (Wyderinges). The port of Wardur was part of 'New Haven' a development in the Middle Ages. An attempt was made to drain the harbour for farming in c. 1873 with an embankment constructed across the edge of the lagoon to hold back the sea; this failed during a storm in December 1910 and was not reconstructed. At present the harbour entrance to the sea is just over 40 metres…

The local nature reserve (LNR) is accessed via the B2145 Selsey road. The LNR is managed by the RSPB and is made up of saltmarsh and tidal mudflats with shingle, open water, reed swamp and wet permanent grassland habitats. Examples of birds that have been spotted at the reserve are Little Ringed Plovers, Wood Sandpipers, Avocets, Grey Wagtails, Black-tailed Godwits, Pied Wagtails, Shelducks and Red-necked Phalaropes.