Goring Gap

Goring Gap is an undeveloped stretch of coastal plain located between Worthing and Ferring in West Sussex. Though not formally designated as a nature reserve, it serves as an important green corridor, connecting farmland with shingle beach habitats and buffering adjacent urban development. The area is informally managed with strong local advocacy for biodiversity conservation and landscape protection.

Land Use and Habitat Composition

• Arable farmland: Located inland, supporting ground-foraging bird species
• Hedgerows and coastal grassland: Offer shelter, nesting sites, and foraging resources for passerines and raptors
• Shingle beach and intertidal zone: Provide resting and feeding areas for wading birds and marine-associated species
• Open views and low built infrastructure: Enhance habitat connectivity and visual access for wildlife observation

Avifauna (Birdlife) by Season

• Resident and regular species:
  • Grassland: Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Stonechats
  • Raptors: Kestrels and Buzzards
  • Shoreline: Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Redshanks
• Wintering species (coastal and offshore):
  • Brent Geese, Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Crested Grebes
  • Mediterranean Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls
• Migratory species (spring and autumn passage):
  • Wheatears, Swallows, Chiffchaffs
  • Occasional records: Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel

Conservation Importance
The site’s mosaic of coastal and transitional habitats contributes to regional biodiversity. It serves as a migratory staging area and supports farmland and coastal species under pressure from habitat loss elsewhere. Community stewardship plays a critical role in maintaining its ecological integrity and resisting urban encroachment.

Search for Birds in Goring Gap