Restrictions at busy West Sussex car park: Shipping containers to be moved amid 'devastating' impact on nature reserve
Access to a popular car park, at a nature reserve in West Sussex, will be restricted whilst shipping containers are removed from the beach.
RSPB Pagham Harbour provided an advance warning on social media on Wednesday (December 17).
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds – which manages the Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve – advised: “Please be aware that parking will be limited at Church Norton car park from 18/12/25 - 20/12/25 inclusive as certain bays will be closed off.
"Please do not attempt to park in the closed off areas at any point as it will block access for contractors who will be removing the containers that have washed up on Church Norton beach.
“There should be no issues with walking around this part of the reserve when visiting, although we would advise walking along the inside of the spit rather than along the beach whilst the works are ongoing as there will be large machinery around.”
Shipping containers, which washed ashore in West Sussex, are being moved into car parks – ‘where they can be dismantled, and taken away’.
This was confirmed in a joint-statement, released by Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, West Sussex County Council and environmental management company Ambipar.
“The clean-up operation in West Sussex is making massive strides following the weekend which saw people from local communities join agency staff in the recovery effort,” the statement read.
“Volunteers and staff from the agencies, and Ambipar all worked alongside to recover debris washed up from the shipping containers from the Baltic Klipper which came ashore last week. Staff were on hand to help organise volunteers and to supply safety briefings, equipment, and bin liners.
"The next stage will be to recover the metal containers that remain on the beach."
Two containers washed up on Church Norton beach, the RSPB revealed.
The social media post added: “Unfortunately the contents of these containers, including lots of plastic, has washed into the reserves and will likely continue to wash in for some time, which as you can imagine has been devastating.
"We have been busy clearing what we can alongside official clean-up efforts, but we would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has volunteered their time to clear up litter over the last few weeks as we know there are lots of you out there.
"This has no doubt reduced the impact to the precious sensitive saltmarsh habitat and all the fantastic wildlife that can be found here.
"If you are planning to carry out a litter pick around the reserve, please stick to the footpaths and do not attempt to walk across any of the saltmarsh to retrieve litter. Please be assured that the situation is being carefully monitored and reviewed regarding litter inside the reserves.”
Pagham Harbour is a 629-hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, on the western outskirts of Bognor Regis.
As explained by the team at theamblingpath.co.uk: “Pagham Harbour is a nature reserve on one of the few undeveloped stretches of the Sussex coastline. It is a wildlife haven and contains important habitats for birds, and even seals can sometimes be spotted lying on the shingle beaches.
"Church Norton sits on the edge of the harbour where you will find St Wilfred’s, a small rural chapel. Our route loops around the beach, church and hamlet with an optional additon to walk to the RSPB visitor centre.”