Rainham Marshes is one of 60 RSPB nature reserves facing proposed cuts, the Recorder can exclusively reveal.

The reserve could lose its cafe, shop, education programme and visitor centre under the plans. 

However, a document seen by the Recorder reveals the extent of planned cuts across the country, as the charity attempts to make "annual savings of £12m".

The document - which this paper understands was sent out to RSPB volunteers in September - lists 60 nature reserves set to be affected by the proposed cuts.

The scale of change is described as "significant", with more than 380 people directly affected through their "role ceasing or changing significantly" and 86 people indirectly affected.

READ MORE: RSPB Rainham Marshes 'under review' but no decisions made

A total of 32 RSPB reserves are planned to be "mothballed" or "disposed" of  completely - including RSPB Rye Meads, near Harlow, and Church Wood, in Slough.

The document said these proposals have come off the back of "significant financial challenges" for the charity with "the long-term financial sustainability of the organisation... at risk."

Part of the proposed changes includes the scrapping of the Schools on Reserves programme at 14 reserves - such as at Rainham Marshes. 

The RSPB's website currently does not allow schools to make bookings to visit any of its reserves beyond October 31, while the charity carries out a "review" of its "reserve operations".

When quizzed about the proposed changes to nature reserves across the country by the Recorder, an RSPB spokesperson refused to comment.

They redirected us to quotes previously issued, in which they said: "We continually review our operations to ensure everything we do aligns to our charitable and strategic aims and delivers the most impact for nature possible, within the resource we have.

"We focus on what we do best and where we can do this most effectively."

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They added that they are currently "looking at our nature reserve operations" as part of this, but that "no decisions or changes have been made yet".

According to the proposal document, the RSPB is currently reviewing feedback on the plan, after collecting volunteer views and comments for around a month.

The charity expects to publish an "outcome document" on November 14.

From January 2025 onwards, the charity plans to implement the "agreed model" of changes.

The RSPB manages 243 nature reserves and employs more than 1,000 people across the UK.