Lancing Beach & Widewater

Tucked between Lancing and Shoreham Beach, Widewater Lagoon is a slender, brackish ribbon of water running parallel to the sea—separated from the Channel by a man-made shingle bank. This 8.8-hectare Local Nature Reserve is a rare coastal lagoon habitat, shaped by tides, rainfall, and saltwater seepage, and it’s one of Lancing’s most cherished natural treasures.

The lagoon’s calm, shallow waters and surrounding scrub provide a haven for wildlife. Mute Swans glide serenely across the surface, often accompanied by their cygnets in spring. Little Egrets stalk the shallows with elegant precision, while Grey Herons stand sentinel along the banks. Kingfishers flash electric blue as they dart from perches, and Moorhens, Coots, and Mallards are regular residents.

In winter, the lagoon becomes a magnet for waders and wildfowl: Redshanks, Turnstones, and Sanderlings forage along the edges, while Teal and Wigeon may drop in during cold snaps. Cormorants and Shags dive for fish, and Mediterranean, Black-headed, and Herring Gulls gather in noisy flocks.

Spring and autumn migration bring surprises—Wheatears, Swallows, and even Black Redstarts have been recorded. And in recent years, a Black Swan has made occasional appearances.

Search for Birds in Lancing Beach and Widewater

There are two panels that have been erected at Widewater by SDOS:

The Stanley Allen Memorial Panel
(by the kiosk at the Eastern end)

Panel 1 Information

Sponsored by donations in memory of the Society’s former President, Stanley Rowlatt Allen MBE and his wife, Peggy.

The Central Causeway Panel
(halfway along the main path at the side of Widewater)

Panel 2 Information

Sponsored by Shoreham District Ornithological Society